Looking to escape the gloom of late Spring here in Canada, we packed our bags and decided a trip to Aruba was exactly what we needed. Sunshine, crystal clear, blue waters and endless beaches.. sounds perfect right?
In this travel guide, we will be sharing places to stay, things to do and where to eat while visiting the Island of Aruba. We also will be sharing some of our travel tips and tricks that will make your Aruba trip SO much better.
Let’s get into it!
Things To Know Before You Go
Best Time To visit Aruba
Aruba is located in the Caribbean, but out of the hurricane belt, making it a great destination to visit at any time of the year. Aruba is also known for it’s predictably warm and sunny weather all year round. There truly is no “bad” time to visit. However, if you are looking to travel on a budget, then visiting Aruba between March and November will give you the best bang for your buck!
Currency
The official currency of Aruba is the Aruban Florin. However, US Dollars is widely accepted, as well as all major credit card companies. If you are out exploring the Island in more rural parts, make sure to have cash on you as some local small businesses will not accept Credit Cards!
How to Get to Aruba
Aruba is a relatively small Island, and there is only one International Airport that you will fly into. Reina Beatrix International Airport (AUA) is located on the Southern portion of the Island, and is very close to the main tourist areas!
Aruba is also a popular port for some major cruise ships. If you are stopping in Aruba from a Cruise, then you will dock in Oranjstead (the Captiol of Aruba).
How to Get Around Aruba
Aruba is a relatively small Island, but there truly is so much to explore. We highly recommend renting a car! Aruba’s driving rules are very similar to North America, unlike most Caribbean Islands! You drive on the right side of the road (like in North America) and you drive on the left side of the car (like in North America). We felt very safe driving around the Island.
Most rental car companies are based out of the International Airport, and will provide a shuttle if they are just offsite. We booked with Economy Rentals through Expedia and had a great experience!
Where to Stay in Aruba
The main tourist area is in Palm Beach, which is where you will find the majority of Hotels, Resorts and Rentals are located. We had the opportunity to explore properties in this area and on the east side of the Island.
Palm Beach is a gorgeous white sand beach with crystal clear waters to enjoy during the day. And if you enjoy the walking around in the evening and exploring various restaurants and shops on foot, then we recommend staying in this area!
Hilton Aruba
The Hilton Aruba is located in the heart of Palm Beach and has been newly renovated from top to bottom. They have two pools, and plenty of palapa’s and beach chairs located right a gorgeous stretch of Palm Beach. They have 3 Restaurants on site, including Sunset Grille which has one of the best views of Palm Beach at sunset in our opinion! The Hilton Aruba also has a spectacular Spa and Fitness center, daily activities for people of all ages and a Casino! They are also home to a world famous bird sanctuary, housing various exotic birds with quite the personalities. They have daily encounters, where you can get up close and personal with a few of them and learn all about them! This is a great Resort for both couples and families as there is so much to do!
The Hilton Aruba is a historic property, and was once the Aruba Caribbean Hotel, which was the first luxury hotel on the Island, opening in 1959! They are the site where the famous Aruba Ariba Cocktail was created! We made sure to order a few during Happy Hour and we were not disappointed. We highly recommend trying on of these cocktails during your stay at Hilton Aruba!
Boardwalk Hotel Aruba
If you love smaller, boutique style hotels, then Boardwalk Aruba is the perfect place for you! Located on a historic Coconut plantation, their unique property houses individual Casita’s of various sizes, perfect for those looking for a home away from home. The property has two pools, a secondary location of the famous Eduardo’s Beach Shack, and is just a short walk across the street to Palm Beach. (With a shuttle coming soon).
Boardwalk Aruba has a private beach area of Palm Beach with Palapa’s and comfortable beach chairs. They share food and beverage service with the Ritz Carlton, so you can order delicious food and drinks from them, and enjoy them at 15% off! If you are looking to pack your own snacks, Boardwalk Aruba equips every room with a cooler, and on your way off the property you can fill it with Ice from their Ice Machine! They truly thought of everything.
We stayed in a few different rooms and we loved every single one of them. First we stayed in their One Bedroom Casita, which comes equipped with a full kitchen, large living area, and a private patio with a barbeque. They also have a Two Bedroom Casita which is perfectly for groups and families.
We also spent a night in their Plunge Pool Casita, which is a unique One Bedroom Casita with your own private plunge pool! There is only one Plunge Pool Casita on the property, and we think this would be a great room to book for couples that are looking for a romantic getaway.
The Palapa Lodge 360 is a super unique room on this property! It is located on the second floor of the Palapa lodge, and has a spacious king bed, a beautiful claw foot tub, and a large balcony.
Aruba Ocean Villas
If you are looking for an adults only, luxurious hideaway in Aruba, then Aruba Ocean Villas is the perfect place for your vacation! Tucked away on the east side of the Island, Aruba Ocean Villas houses the only Overwater Villas on the Island. They are truly a unique property with both Overwater Villas and Beach Villas. Each Villa is uniquely decorated, so no two are alike! And this place truly is the epitome of luxury!
We stayed in the Penthouse Sophia Overwater Villa, and it is gorgeous! A large King sized bed, the stone bathtubs of my dreams both inside and outside the Villa and luxurious decor truly makes this place one of a kind. There is an outdoor bedroom that would be perfect for a romantic evening listening the ocean waves crash below your Villa. The large deck outside the Villa is perfect for sun tanning and relaxing. There is also direct access into the ocean right from your deck!
We got a sneak peak of their newest Villa, Penthouse Villa Kita Bonita. This Villa is absolutely gorgeous and would be such a perfect place to celebrate a special occasion like an anniversary or honeymoon with your partner!
Aruba Ocean Villas has a restaurant located on the property called The Old Man and The Sea, serving up some incredible food for every meal right on the beach. Every stay has breakfast included, and each day the chef cooks up something completely different! They also have a common sand beach area for all of the guests to utilize, with drink and food service! If you are not staying at Aruba Ocean Villas, you can dine in for dinner by reservation!
What To Do In Aruba
Aruba has no shortage of things to do, whether you are looking to have a relaxing vacation, an adventure filled vacation or something in between! We were so busy our entire trip and there is still SO much to see and do on the Island. We are going to share some of our highlights and things we can’t wait to go back and see!
Beach Hopping
Aruba is known for their beautiful beaches all around the Island and we got to visit quite a few of them!
Palm Beach is the main “tourist” area beach where most Hotels and Resorts on the Island sit. This beach is over 2 kilometers long, is comprised of soft white sand and has clear blue waters.
Eagle Beach is just a short bike ride or drive away from Palm Beach and is a less crowded option in comparison. Eagle Beach is considered the best beach in Aruba, so it is a must visit during to trip! The beach is soft white sand, and lined with palm trees for plenty of shade. The water is crystal clear!
Baby Beach is located on the East side of the Island and is popular among locals and tourists alike! The beach is located in a cove, and is shallow, making it perfect for families. The water is the most beautiful color of blue! The beach has Palapa’s available on a first come, first serve basis. There are also two restaurants and bars located at either end of the beach for food and drinks!
Mangel Halto is a beach on the East side of the Island that is incredibly popular with divers and people looking to snorkel. There is a long stretch of beach, as well as cliff access with stairs directly into the ocean. This water is an incredible blue color and is home to some very diverse fish and reefs!
Ride in a Submarine
Check off riding in a Submarine from your bucket-list with Atlantis Submarines and De Palm Tours! Set sail on a boat to the middle of the ocean where you will board the Submarine. You will descend 135 feet to the bottom of the Ocean, passing thriving Coral Reefs and hundreds of beautiful fish! We had the pleasure of sitting at the end next to an intern who is studying Marine Biology, and he pointed out and named many incredible fish throughout the tour. We saw Sting Rays and Turtles as well! Highly recommend this experience.
Visit an Aloe Vera Farm
Did you know the Aloe Vera is Aruba’s top export? Their year round dry and sunny climate makes for the ideal place to grow Aloe Vera! You can visit Aruba Aloe, the famous farm located in Oranjestad, for free. They offer daily free tours of the Farm loaded with plenty of information about how Aloe grows and how it is used!
Catamaran Cruise
With clear blue ocean waters, and warm sunny weather all year round, Aruba is a great place for a Catamaran Cruise excursion. We were fortunate to experience a Pelican Adventure Tours Sunset Cruise with a dinner provided after the cruise at Pelican Restaurant. We set sail in the late afternoon and had unlimited drinks with snacks provided as we sailed into the Sunset. When done, we returned to the dock where we had a three course meal that was included in the price of our ticket!
Renaissance Island
This is one of the number one attractions on the island of Aruba! If you have ever seen the famous photos and videos of a Flamingo beach in Aruba, this is the place! If you are not a guest of Renaissance Aruba, you can purchase a day pass to visit the Island which includes lunch and a drink, as well as access to the beach and the boat transfer! Make sure to book this attraction well ahead of your trip as it sells out quickly.
Visit Alto Vista Church
This incredible Catholic Church was built in 1952 on top of the original site of the first Church built in 1750 by a Spanish Missionary. It considered a very spiritual sight and is so beautiful and peaceful.
Places to Eat in Aruba
Jake and I are HUGE foodies. We could absolutely write an entire blog post on all of the food we ate while in Aruba. Aruba is a mecca of incredible Restaurants and Bars for all tastes. We ate some truly incredible food during our visit to Aruba and we can’t wait to share our favorite recommendations with you.
Eduardo’s Beach Shack
With a location directly on Palm Beach, this is a highly accessible walk up stand that offers great Smoothie Bowls and Healthy Breakfast and Lunch choices. Our favorites were the Smoothie Bowls, the Banana Pancakes and the Avo Smash!
Eduardo’s also has a new location directly within Baordwalk Aruba, so if you are a guest there, you can have delicious breakfast and lunch right on site!
Gianni’s Ristorante Italiano
This Italian Restaurant is located in the hear of Palm Beach and is home to some incredible Italian food! If you have ever dreamed of having Pasta served to you from a Giant Wheel of Cheese, than look no further. With an extensive menu, you really could eat at this Restaurant every night of your vacation and still not eat your way through the Menu. We had a great meal here, and we highly recommend visiting Gianni’s during your vacation. Make sure to make a reservation as they fill up quick and this place always has a line!
Azia Aruba
This Asian fusion restaurant is a great spot to fulfill your Sushi cravings! Azia has a very cool atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor seating and serves up some incredible food and specialty cocktails. We had a great meal and really enjoyed our Sushi rolls!
Lola Taqueria
We can confidently say we absolutely LOVED this restaurant. They were serving up some incredible Mexican inspired food and excellent Margaritas. Lola is located in the heart of Palm Beach and is all outdoor seating. If you visit on a Tuesday, they have $1 Tacos which were excellent. We highly recommend a visit to Lola during your trip to Aruba.
Old Man and The Sea
This restaurant in located on the grounds of Aruba Ocean Villas on the East side of the Island. With string lights hanging from the Palm Trees, and your toes in the sand, this is truly a unique and magical dining experience. They have a large menu with so many amazing choices, but we LOVED the Surf and Turf and the Stuffed Chicken dishes. We had some incredible meals here and we highly recommend the drive to the East side of the Island for this restaurant. You need a reservation, so make sure to do that prior to your vacation.
Flying Fishbone
Located on the East side of the Island, this restaurant came highly recommended to us by SO many people. They have a truly unique dining experience.. right in the Ocean! If you are okay with visiting at 4pm, they have an exclusive seating with tables directly in the Ocean. On a platform, sit with your toes in the water and eat some incredible seafood! We had a great meal, but definitely make sure you bring sunscreen!
Sunset Grille
Located inside of the Hilton Aruba, Sunset Grille is a beautiful restaurant with a patio overlooking the Ocean with the perfect view of the Sunset! They have a wide variety of wonderful dishes on the Menu, and cocktails as well. If you are visiting the Hilton Aruba, make sure to try the Aruba Ariba which originated right in the hotel! We loved the Risotto and French Onion Soup!
In Conclusion
With year round sunny weather, beautiful white sand beaches, and SO many incredible things to do, Aruba is the perfect place for a vacation at any time of the year. We met so many people that have been visiting Aruba for 10+ years, and we can absolutely see why! This is an incredible Island with kind people, great food and world class beaches.
Is Aruba on your bucketlist?
‘Till next time!
Kaylee and Jake
