Budget Traveling to Aruba

[Andrea J.]

ya know in Aruba after a day at the beach, and dinner and a drink or 2 I am exhausted.
I would much rather go back to laCabana, put on my PJs and watch tv or crochet...... but instead we go to the casinos, an usually lose.

so, keeping budget in mind....the casinos are not budget friendly

[Pegmeister]

I think I’m much more apt to budget at home day to day rather than when we’re on vacation as that’s our splurge. However, I find that restaurants are a good place where you can save. Try the local spots, or the food trucks, order a selection of appetizers or tapas for a late lunch and then have dessert for dinner. Get a pizza and enjoy it on your balcony with a nice view of the ocean, grab muffins or pastries for breakfast in the room rather than a large breakfast at the resort restaurant. Then spend your savings at the casino.

[Andrea J.]

that is what Paul says "I would rather spend it in the casino"

speaking of "non budget".........I made reservations for madame janette for our upcoming trip in Dec

I think I’m much more apt to budget at home day to day rather than when we’re on vacation as that’s our splurge. However, I find that restaurants are a good place where you can save. Try the local spots, or the food trucks, order a selection of appetizers or tapas for a late lunch and then have dessert for dinner. Get a pizza and enjoy it on your balcony with a nice view of the ocean, grab muffins or pastries for breakfast in the room rather than a large breakfast at the resort restaurant. Then spend your savings at the casino.

[Aruba4ever]

I agree- I only gamble in Aruba and never more than I can afford to lose. Still I was put in check by a couple of pros...I thought I could play at their level....not! Only gamble what wont drive you nuts losing in the morning is my thoughts on gambling. I lost more playing high stakes poker than I wanted and stopped, lol. I will go back next trip but won't bring money like I use to play poker.

So sorry to hear you had a bad experience. Gambling can be very dangerous for those addicted to it.

[Aruba4ever]

I agree. Look for some food values to save money. The new place near the Holiday is a great buy! Great HUGE pizza that would easily feeds my family of 3 with food home. I think I had one piece and a little of another....and I am not a small person, lol. Smaller with my 20 lbs. loss since August but not small

I think I’m much more apt to budget at home day to day rather than when we’re on vacation as that’s our splurge. However, I find that restaurants are a good place where you can save. Try the local spots, or the food trucks, order a selection of appetizers or tapas for a late lunch and then have dessert for dinner. Get a pizza and enjoy it on your balcony with a nice view of the ocean, grab muffins or pastries for breakfast in the room rather than a large breakfast at the resort restaurant. Then spend your savings at the casino.

[Traceyd14]

Renting timeshares from owners has been the key to budgeting for us. If you can wait to book, you can really find last minute deals and hopefully that doesn't get ruined by the higher cost flights. You just have to balance. Having a kitchenette or full kitchen helps for a few light breakfasts or lunches in the room. We take our own drinks to the beach, but we also splurge on happy hours that turn into happy nights. And we don't set a budget for dinners. Some nights we have appetizers and some nights we go all out. We are budget travels more out of choice than necessity. We'd rather take more trips than blowing it all on one.

[Aruba4ever]

Agreed! If we were going 1x yearly we would live it up in all aspects from a suite at the Ritz to fancy meals all week....but now I refuse to spend the cash it requires for 1 trip when it can pay for 2.....and we still want to go 3+ times yearly still. So we wont be stay in a suite at the Ritz, lol. It was fun while it lasted but I enjoy the trips no less not staying there at this point.

Renting timeshares from owners has been the key to budgeting for us. If you can wait to book, you can really find last minute deals and hopefully that doesn't get ruined by the higher cost flights. You just have to balance. Having a kitchenette or full kitchen helps for a few light breakfasts or lunches in the room. We take our own drinks to the beach, but we also splurge on happy hours that turn into happy nights. And we don't set a budget for dinners. Some nights we have appetizers and some nights we go all out. We are budget travels more out of choice than necessity. We'd rather take more trips than blowing it all on one.

[Andrea J.]

famous words..... "it was fun while it lasted"
ahhh the irony!

Agreed! If we were going 1x yearly we would live it up in all aspects from a suite at the Ritz to fancy meals all week....but now I refuse to spend the cash it requires for 1 trip when it can pay for 2.....and we still want to go 3+ times yearly still. So we wont be stay in a suite at the Ritz, lol. It was fun while it lasted but I enjoy the trips no less not staying there at this point.

[cpjones]

We just plain do not budget. We do make some financial decisions such as choosing days to fly with lower rates or a less pricy meal. We stay where we love even though there are lot of cheaper options. For the past couple of years we've treated each trip like it might be our last.... so we simply do what we want!

[Pegmeister]

We just plain do not budget. We do make some financial decisions such as choosing days to fly with lower rates or a less pricy meal. We stay where we love even though there are lot of cheaper options. For the past couple of years we've treated each trip like it might be our last.... so we simply do what we want!

After getting through the pandemic, it made us feel like we deserve to splurge!! We also prefer to just enjoy.