Back in 2017 Louise was lucky enough to be invited to Aruba as a guest of the Aruban Tourist Board. She instantly fell in love with the island and has since returned to the island to holiday herself as well as training to become an accredited Official Aruba Certified Expert, which is great news if you’re looking to holiday somewhere new! Here in the UK, Aruba is like some kind of well-kept secret but once you’ve been, we guarantee you’ll wonder why you didn’t go sooner. For this reason, we want to tell you a little bit about Aruba. We would like it to shine for British holidaymakers, the way it already does for Americans visitors. Come on UK, it’s time to fly our flag a little higher in Aruba and here’s why:
One of Louise’s favourite travel photos ever taken, is the sunset image below. This beautiful pink, orange, purple sky was snapped on the first evening she ever spent on Aruba. You can see why she was instantly hooked. What better backdrop for sipping your evening cocktails?
Together with Bonaire and Curaçao, Aruba forms a group of islands referred to as the ABC islands. Collectively, these are often known as the Dutch Caribbean. Aruba itself is a tiny speck of an island situated just 18 mile off the north coast of Venezuela; so far south in the Caribbean, it’s outside of the hurricane belt! There really is no better or worse time to be on the island. Sunny days with consistent temperatures in the late twenties and a constant cooling breeze, makes for a near perfect year-round climate. The island measures just 20 miles x 6 miles so it’s super easy to get around and is jam packed with both fun things to do and areas of immense natural beauty.
Going by GDP, Aruba is the wealthiest island in the Caribbean followed closely by the Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago (2016 source). Our point, facilities are good and standards of accommodation are high. Worryingly though, tourism means everything to the Aruban economy, so post covid, as soon as it’s deemed safe for UK visitors to return, it would be great to see an increased number of British visitors on the island, supporting an incredibly, hardworking, hospitable population. It’s clear to see Arubans are incredibly proud of their island and are also leading the way with eco-tourism policies having already banned single use plastics, sun creams containing Oxybenzxone, (which is dangerous for corals and marine life), and also boast the Caribbean’s first ever carbon neutral hotel (a property we know well)!
As you would expect, Aruba’s beaches are indeed idyllic; we’re talking pure white powdery sand contrasting against crystal clear turquoise waters. The TripAdvisor 2019 Travellers’ Choice Awards saw Aruba’s Eagle Beach voted second in the Caribbean and No 3 in the world in the Best Beach category. But there’s a whole lot more to the island of Aruba than just sun, sea, and sand. Whether you want sky diving, horse riding, quad biking, kite surfing (for which Aruba is a Mecca), sail off into the sunset on a party cruise, or join an island tour, there’s an activity waiting for you! Families be sure to visit the Butterfly Farm, Animal Shelter and Baby Beach (what a name!) – where the natural sheltered shallow lagoon is perfect for young children.
The built up area of Palm Beach has a real party vibe – absolutely brilliant night life for all ages, beach bars, nightclubs, live family entertainment, excellent restaurants, sports bars and casinos – all within a short walking distance of your accommodation. Service is good and always with a smile. There’s a young feel to the island. The average age of visitors is between 25 – 59 but that’s not to say visitors of all ages don’t enjoy Aruba. The island has one of the highest repeat visitor rates of any Caribbean destination with more than half of all visitors return year after year (source, Aruban Tourist Board).
Palm Beach’s quieter neighbouring resorts of Eagle Beach and Druif Beach offer a slower pace of life for a more chilled out holiday. An excellent regular bus service and reliable taxis are readily available connecting it all up with the airport and the capital, Oranjestad. If you’re more of a sea dog than a land lover, Oranjestad is already present on a number of southern Caribbean cruise itineraries, giving you an initial introduction to the island and change to explore the capital or hit the beach whilst the ship is docked. Remember it’s a very small island and doesn’t take long to get anywhere.
The island is a complete melting pot of cultures – the population is rich with Latin Americans, Dutch (as you may expect) and Americans. A whole host of other nationalities are also residents and as such, this is most definitely a diverse destination where you will eat out or miss out! All-Inclusive resorts are readily available on Aruba and especially popular amongst the American market however in our opinion, going all-inclusive doesn’t work out the most cost effective way of booking and more importantly, you’d be missing a trick if you only eat in your resort and don’t sample at least some of the wonderful variety of cuisine on offer. This island is an incredibly versatile destination – it will provide the most romantic destination wedding and/ or honeymoon but is equally good for families, solos, or groups of friends looking for some culture and activities as well as glorious beaches. Golf courses, fantastic shopping (from designer brands to market stalls), regular live music events, carnivals, and an abundance of spas, really do mean that although Aruba may be tiny, it packs a good punch!
As you may expect, many languages are spoken in Aruba including Spanish and English, which are most widely used in addition to the national language Papiamento. The official currency is the Aruba Florin but US dollars are also widely accepted during your holidays.
If you like the sound of Aruba for your next once in a lifetime holiday, please do get in touch for a chat with regards to transport options and accommodation suggestions. Louise has visited the island using different airlines and routings so can advise of the pros and cons to each. She has also visited a wide variety of accommodations and tourist spots.
For restaurant recommendations, trips, tips and more, give me a call and let’s get you on your way to the One Happy Island, Aruba.
