Originally Posted by
DiviDiviFan
Hello old friends and hopefully hello to new friends! I have been mia for too long and after emailing my friend Peg decided to come back on board.
If anyone is interested in a old trip report here it is.
This past March/April my husband and I traveled back to Aruba for the first time since 2019. Way back when our first 2 trips where in the high-rise area, then 20 plus years at the Divi AI. I wanted to try a new place and chose the Hilton with no regrets at all.
Upon check in we met Christian our bellman who went above and beyond carrying my very heavy suitcases. Christian even asked if he could lift them onto our bed for easy unpacking and he quickly became a new friend who would come visit us whenever he saw us in the lobby or grounds to make sure our stay was great. This young man will go far he is great at his job as many Arubans are.
For years I have read advice that going AI doesn’t really save money. I have finally discovered that is correct. I actually lost a few lbs. instead of gaining by staying on Palm Beach. I walked early each morning to DD beachside to get my ice coffee, it was fun walking by each resort watching people set up their spots for the day. My hubby and I would walk somewhere new each day for lunch and sometimes breakfast.
Some of the spots we ate at were (we are not foodies):
Salt N Pepper (breakfast) – very good and loved all the salt and pepper shakers displayed.
Dushi Bagel (breakfast) – hubby got full breakfast great deal, I got a bagel and ice coffee in the fanciest glass.
Papia Mia (lunch) – we ate here a few times, the waiter/bartender got to know us and was cutting thru Hilton lobby one day to our surprise on his way to Bugaloe and stopped to say hello. We really loved the pizza and great service during lunchtime.
Scot’s Brats – became one of hubby’s favorites for lunch, I would take the short walk and get a to go order, very friendly staff and great sandwiches.
Pizza Napoli – funny story we walked for an hour one day to find this place – I thought it was near Wendy’s area asked so many locals where it was, even went inside hooter’s to ask staff no one had a clue! I finally called one day and couldn’t believe I had walked by it so many days on the opposite side of road. It is very cute inside, friendly staff but prefer Papia Mia pizza.
The Bread Basket – nice place for lunch and so cute outside.
Azzurro – loved the heated-up pasta in the flaming cheese wheel. Views were very nice at sunset as well.
Hilton:
Sunset Grille – was our nice dinner excellent filet mignon and excellent service.
Expresso martini – yummy at Miro Solo Bar (had to have one for my friend Peg)
Laguana Restaurant – ate breakfast here most days, excellent continental breakfast. I ate off menu a few days the Lemon Honey Raisin Bread French toast stuffed with cream cheese was crazy delish. Only bad meal here was my favorite Eggs Benedict they did not cook the English muffin, no one will ever make it for me like my old friend Anita at Divi so should never try it elsewhere ������ Miss Anita hope she is well!
I really enjoyed the Hilton, the most beautiful lush grounds I have seen in Aruba. The birds are so much fun to see each day and sit out on our patio hearing them wake up in the morning or sing right before their bedtimes at night. Shout out to grounds staff they are always working to beautiful their grounds and it shows. Lots of iguana’s walking at the pool and under my lounger each day one jumped into pool and swam across to other end fun to watch from the sidelines. Sunsets were beautiful but did miss the sunrise just could not figure out where to see them! Anyone know let me know so I can see this year, lol.
Our housekeeper quickly got to know us and would catch me in the hallway to show me pics of her family and tell me stories. Our room was always done early in morning which we love and stocked with bottles of water without asking. Our housekeeper would catch us with our ice bucket to fill and would insist on getting it for us. We always tip on a daily basis; I always leave a little note with pretty stickers on envelope. Our last day I found a note from her to us wishing a safe flight home. The small things like these are what keeps us and many others returning to Aruba.
I love the lobby of the Hilton and love the old pictures which hang on the walls. Oscars Market is also a great place for excellent coffees, treats you name it. I would go every night for a cup of ice cream and the young girl who worked there loved my nails/nail art as I did hers. We got to the point where we would show pictures of our past nail designs on each other’s phones.
We had lots of fun (and buckets of Chill) at the Bugaloe beach bar during sunset. Bugaloe is so fun to watch the people get on/off their boat rides and can’t say enough about the staff. Bugaloe is always busy but you never wait long for food or drinks and the singing waiters are the best! I can’t believe it took us this long to discover Chill Beer, no more Brights for us only Chill. Another regular happy hour spot we discovered was Pata Pata Beach Bar La Cabana. I read that our favorite band Equator was there, they were not but were told tomorrow. We came numerous times but they were never there hope they are ok. However, all the entertainers were wonderful, the bar staff wonderful would welcome us back each time and we got to know lots of nice folks who were staying there.
Another welcome change at the Hilton I did not have to get up early to save a spot. I would save a lounger at the pool each day and could always find one even as late as 10 am. A few steps to beach/ocean if I decided to take a dip there.
Of all our 24 or so trips to Aruba this trip was in our top 3 for sure. The airport departing was another story to which hubby swore he would never return but I have since talked him into one more try. Hopefully things have improved. We left on a Tuesday; it did not matter that we had Global Entry and flew first class (although I’m sure it would have been worse if we did not have either). The outside part after checking in had the longest line to the point where they told us we could make another line and go in the other direction. I of course decided not to move (mistake, just think of when you play this game in grocery store line, you never win)….we were out in the hot sun for 1 ½ hrs to watch 3 agents just talk on their phones and with each other. Once inside there were only 2 windows open and then one girl went to lunch so now only 1 open but at least we were inside a/c. It was sad to see about 5 of the self-service spots empty and unable to use. Once we got past this point, we were ok with GE but still had about ½ hr before boarding with a little more than 3 hrs arrival at airport. It did not and cannot ruin our beautiful trip it was all worth it in the long run, just hope for hubby’s sake it improves.
Hoping if we both stay well and healthy a return trip in May 2023!!!
Thanks for reading my very long and hopefully not boring report, miss you guys and gals! Happy 2023 to all.
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