Aruba Unpacked: My Four-Day Aruba Itinerary

But this trip to Aruba, I approached things a little differently. The idea behind Aruba Unpacked is simple: come with less, experience more. Less stuff. Less worrying about what you’re going to wear next. Less stressing about what comes next. And more room for the experiences, people, spontaneous moments, and memories that make traveling so special.

As someone who spends a lot of time thinking about clothes (it’s literally my job), I loved the idea of challenging myself to be a little more intentional about what I brought.

We planned our itinerary ahead of time, which honestly made packing so much easier. Instead of filling my suitcase with a million hypothetical outfits, I could focus on what I actually needed for each day.

And the timing couldn’t have been better. With football season right around the corner (go 49ers!) I was craving a few days to completely unplug before life got busy again.

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Aruba a few times now and it’s one of my favorite places. But what I loved most about this trip was getting to experience different sides of the island while still having plenty of time to slow down.

So, I packed my favorite pieces, left the unnecessary items at home, and headed to Aruba for four days.

Here’s how it went.

Day 1: Arriving in Paradise

We flew from New York and landed in Aruba around lunchtime, and headed straight to The St. Regis Aruba Resort, which was our home for the trip.

Usually when traveling somewhere for just a few days, there’s this temptation to immediately start checking things off a list.

But this time, we did the opposite.

We checked in, unpacked, explored the resort and spent some time in the afternoon enjoying the fact that we were finally on vacation.

We had time to take in the hotel and just enjoy being in Aruba. No rushing to the next reservation. No changing outfits three times. No feeling like we needed to be doing something every second.

Just sunshine, beautiful surroundings, and time to relax.

It was such a simple way to start the trip, but honestly, exactly what I needed.

Day 2: Spa Days, Butterflies, & a Really Good Dinner

Day two was all about slowing down.

We started the day with massages at The St. Regis Spa, which might be one of my favorite ways to officially get into vacation mode.

Between work, travel, and everything that comes with football season, it’s not always easy to find the time to completely switch off. So having a morning where the only thing on the schedule was relaxing, felt pretty amazing. 

After the spa, we headed to the Butterfly Farm..

This was such a fun experience - and definitely one of those moments that reminded me why I love exploring when I travel.

There were butterflies everywhere, and I spent the entire visit hoping one would land on me. I was very invested in making that happen - I even wore my sparkliest outfit because I read somewhere butterflies love sparkles. 

That night, we went back to The St. Regis, got dressed and headed upstairs to Akira Back for dinner. It’s a rooftop restaurant that mixes modern Japanese dishes with Korean influences, and it was such a beautiful setting for a night out.

And yes, I was very happy to have an excuse to wear one of the dinner outfits I did pack.

One of my favorite things about the day was balance. We had time to relax, explore somewhere new, and enjoy an incredible dinner without ever feeling rushed.

Day 3: Exploring a Completely Different Side of Aruba

Day three was one of my favorite days of the entire trip.

When most people picture Aruba, they probably think of turquoise water, white-sand beaches and beautiful resorts. And while all of that is absolutely part of what makes the island so special, there’s so much more to discover.

We spent the day exploring  with Isla Aruba, taking a private island tour that brought us into Arikok National Park.

I love how dramatically the landscape changes as you move through Aruba.

One minute you’re looking out at the bright blue ocean, and the next you’re surrounded by rugged terrain, cacti and limestone cliffs.

It almost feels like you’re visiting two completely different destinations in one trip.

We spent the day taking in some of Aruba’s natural wonders, and it was such a cool contrast to the beaches we’d been enjoying.

This was also the day I was especially grateful for packing with intention. Swimsuit, comfortable clothes, sunscreen, shoes. That’s all I really needed.

No complicated outfit planning. No worrying about changing into something else. Just getting outside and enjoying the experience.

And I think that’s what I loved most about this day. We weren’t just seeing Aruba. We were getting to know it a little better.

After a full day of exploring, we headed back to the hotel, got ready, and made our way into Oranjestad for dinner at Olivia Restaurant.

The restaurant is led by Michelin-starred chef Jeremy Ford, and its menu draws inspiration from  Aruba’s culture, farmers and fishermen.

I always love when food tells you something about the place you’re visiting. It makes dinner feel like more than just another reservation.

It was the perfect ending to a day that reminded me how much there is to experience when you venture beyond the places you already know.

Day 4: One Last Slow Morning

And just like that, it was our last day.

Isn’t it funny how four days can somehow feel both incredibly short and exactly what you needed?

We kept our final morning simple, enjoying breakfast at The St. Regis and soaking up a little more time in Aruba before heading to the airport

No squeezing in one last activity. No trying to make the morning more complicated than it needed to be.

Just enjoying where we were.

And when it came time to pack up, I realized something.

I spent so much time before the trip thinking about what I could leave out of my suitcase.

But, by the end, I was thinking about how everything I was bringing home had nothing to do with what I packed.

The feeling of finally slowing down. Exploring a new side of an island I already loved. A beautiful dinner after a full day outside. The little moments that weren't necessarily the biggest things on our itinerary but ended up being some of my favorites.

Those are the things that stay with you.

What I Learned From Packing Less

I’m not going to pretend that I have suddenly become someone who can travel with one tiny carry-on suitcase for every trip.

I still love fashion. I still love putting outfits together. And I’ll probably always be tempted to pack an extra pair of shoes.

But this trip reminded me that being intentional about what you bring can make more room for what you experience.

You don’t need an outfit for every possible scenario or a schedule packed from morning until night to have an incredible vacation.

Sometimes it’s better to leave a little room for the unexpected.

Pack the swimsuit you love. Bring the dress you're actually going to wear. Leave behind the five maybe outfits.

And give yourself the freedom to slow down, explore, connect, and enjoy wherever you are.

Because the best things you bring home from Aruba aren't going to fit in your suitcase anyway.

Come With Less. Experience More.