School me on Aruba , leave in 1 week.....

[SXSMAN]

Alright cool cats and kittens .

I've never been.

Some stats.

1. How , Jet Blue

2. Where we are staying ( Hyatt) Wife and myself

3. At least one beach day , 1 day sea kayaking , 1 day snorkeling/snuba. (I haven't gotten off my duff and learned to scuba .)

Yet.

Well be there 5 or so days . Might also go to the natural pool.

And other ideas from those that have come before me are welcome.

Thanks , Jonathan (SxS)


SxS

[racer]

Isn't that the country where Blonds (young and old) go missing or dead?

Don't do anything suspicious like buy a new life ins. policy on her

[A930Rocket]

I hope your wife is anything but blonde unless you want an extended vacation...

[fireant911]

My wife and I were there 10 years ago as one of the stops on our honeymoon cruise. It is a very windy little place - be sure to look at all the trees that show signs of this. Great snorkeling.

[mca]

No tips ... but I freaking love Aruba. I've been to many tropical spots and Aruba is hands down my favorite.

Looking forward to going back soon. Have fun!

[stomachmonkey]

I hated Aruba.

Beautiful place if you like Arizona.

It's a desert island, anything lush is not native.

The nicest areas are on the hotel side. The most dramatic surf you can't go near.

Seems scuba, gambling and eating are the major draws.

There is a ranch where you can go horse back riding. They also rent quads. The rear brakes are disconnected because "the guests find it easier". If you decide to go quad riding in the hills and let your wife go horse back riding you will find the whole brake thing counter intuitive and forget all about it till you are deep in the hills on terrain that is all shale which is nothing more than naturally occurring fields of broken shards of razor sharp slate. If you happen to forget about the rear brake thingy which has been known to happen then you will end up in the ER which is staffed by very attractive female Dutch doctors but it will definitely F up the rest of your vaca.

Your wife will sit there telling you "I told you so" while they pick rocks out of your skin and bandage you head to toe like some Egyptian Mummy.

Ask me how I know.

Oh, and the wind, it never stops, ever. F'ng annoying.

I hate that place.

[gshase]

I remember it well, I let my 11 year old daughter drive a car solo for the first in the area where the light house is. Every place we went we took our snorkel gear would find a quiet spot and snorkel. Most small shops sold some great French bread, cheese, ham and gold beer. If I recall something called (FLEX on the beach) Is really good. I know you will have a good time.

[chocolatelab]

it just went off season. shouldn't be lots of folks. hopefully no hurricanes. find a very quiet spot and enjoy some Carib beer for the afternoon.

[85eurocarrera]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

I hated Aruba.

Beautiful place if you like Arizona.

It's a desert island, anything lush is not native.

The nicest areas are on the hotel side. The most dramatic surf you can't go near.

Seems scuba, gambling and eating are the major draws.

There is a ranch where you can go horse back riding. They also rent quads. The rear brakes are disconnected because "the guests find it easier". If you decide to go quad riding in the hills and let your wife go horse back riding you will find the whole brake thing counter intuitive and forget all about it till you are deep in the hills on terrain that is all shale which is nothing more than naturally occurring fields of broken shards of razor sharp slate. If you happen to forget about the rear brake thingy which has been known to happen then you will end up in the ER which is staffed by very attractive female Dutch doctors but it will definitely F up the rest of your vaca.

Your wife will sit there telling you "I told you so" while they pick rocks out of your skin and bandage you head to toe like some Egyptian Mummy.

Ask me how I know.

Oh, and the wind, it never stops, ever. F'ng annoying.

I hate that place.

Yep. Dumpy little desert island. I was there shortly after the Vander Sloot deal. I don't think the bus driver liked me asking all those questions.

[Doug E]

We just returned from spending a week there and had a great time ... we will definitely be going back !

We were at the North end of the island on a Marriott property. Don't remember where I saw the Hyatt but I think it was in the hotel district (vs. being closer to Oranjsted).

We had a rental car so we did our own touring (Lighthouse, Baby Beach, Natural Bridge, Gold Smelting Ruins, Rock Formation, etc...). Unfortunately the natural pool is only accessible via a jeep tour.

Plenty of watersport activities available on the beach (parasailing, jet skis, etc...) or you can check out De Palm Tours and/or Red Sail Sports for other options (catamaran cruises, snorkeling trips, etc...).

You traveling with kids ? Even if not, you still might want to check out De Palm Island ... all inclusive day trip (either full or half day) with food, drink, snorkeling and water park. Snuba and underwater walk are extra but worth it. We really enjoyed the day we spent there and it was a great way to introduce our kids to snorkeling.

Sunsets are around 6:45 so lots of time for evening fun.

Feel free to PM me with any specific questions.

Hope you enjoy it ... we wish we were still there

[dad911]

Loved Aruba, natural pool was well worth the hike to get to, kids had a blast swimming in it.

[Dottore]

...Aruba
abaho
ao centro
pra dentro

Repeat often.

[sammyg2]

Hot, dry, flat and windy all the time. It's actually a desert. 80 degrees at night, 90 during the day.
Stay on the resort strip. Don't go into the real part. The locals suck.
Snorkeling is great.


Many years ago, Exxon owned a large refinery on the island.
The local gubmint extorted a desalinization plant, electrical generating plant, all sort of things. they were FEES.
They passed a law that a high percentage of locals had to be employed and couldn't be fired, so exxon had to hire almost 1000 deadbeats who refused to do ANYTHING.

They passed law after law until the refinery could no longer break even due to the incredible costs from the parasitic locals.
Exxon eventually had enough and told them to shove it up their stoopid hind end and filled the entire refinery with salt water and walked away, leaving it almost worthless.

Eventually a company called coastal bought it for almost nothing and re-opened it, but it cost a fortune and wasn't worth operating. The refinery has changed hands a few more times, currently valero owns it and is trying to sell it but no one is stoopid enough to buy it because of the local leeches.

[sammyg2]

Oh, and Los Angeles gets as many hurricanes as Aruba. Not really an issue there.

There's a golf course there, I can't remember which hole but it was a par 4 that was about 120 yards.
The reason it was a par 4? You have to hit directly into the wind and usually can't get on the green in less than 2.
Gotta lay up on a 120 yard hole. that tells ya a little about the wind.

[85eurocarrera]

See if you can hook up with some locals and jet ski to Venezuela. Locals I talked to said it was fun.

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

...currently valero owns it and is trying to sell it but no one is stoopid enough to buy it because of the local leeches.

Well, Valero was stoopid (stupid) enough to buy it. Must be some really stoopid (stupid) people working for Valero!

Valero...isn't that where you work?

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by DARISC

Well, Valero was stoopid (stupid) enough to buy it. Must be some really stoopid (stupid) people working for Valero!

Valero...isn't that where you work?

No I do not work for valero. I work for one of their competitors.

You are the one who has demonstrated over and over a thorough lack of intelligence and understanding, now it's your lack of memory too.

sad really ........

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

No I do not work for valero. I work for one of their competitors.

Well, I got it half right.

[SXSMAN]

Home from watching the game and you've been busy .

Originally Posted by racer

Isn't that the country where Blonds (young and old) go missing or dead?

Don't do anything suspicious like buy a new life ins. policy on her

I've been telling her for a number of weeks to be on her best behavior or I'd take a policy out against her.

She didn't laugh.

No kids !

Rental car

De Palm Island is on the short list

We both enjoy hiking but I'm still not where my foot needs to be and it's been 10 months.



Yeah , I know , "I'm screwed"

Not even sure about walking on the beach with-out some sort of foot wear.

I've been in pools so I know I'll be ok in the water.

Still having some trouble with the tendons the Doc cut.

One thing I wanted to do before going was to get a prescription mask for better under water viewing and forgot.

Hope to find a place that may rent some.

Thanks for the ideas , keep them coming.

Sorry you had a bad time stomachmoney , I'll stay off the quads.

I remember hiking on lava fields and seeing all the signs about not running and to be careful.

Saw a couple of people leaving,bloody knees and hands that needed stitches.

Not for me on vacation.

I'd rather kick back with the wife and have a nice bottle of wine and some cheese and bread.



Alright sammyg2 and DARISC , don't make me take you with me !

(Seems like you both need to chill,might not be too bad a place to do so)

I tip my glass to you all

SxS

[klm2500hd]

Little bar on the beach at the Marriot. Order a mosquito, maybe 2. You won't make it to 3. 1 sip, mouth was numb. 1/2 a glass and I was buzzed. 2 drinks in it was nap time. Has a liquor in it called Coacoi(sp?) not available in the US.