Stuff to do in Aruba...HELP!

[GentleBen]

I'm terrible about planning for vacations, as evidenced by the fact that my family and I are flying to Aruba tomorrow morning, and I haven't planned anything for us to do. I need some help, STAT!

Who has been? I have a beautiful wife and 2 daughters (10 and 7), so I'm going to need some family-friendly stuff, but also interested in restaurants, sights, activities, etc.

We aren't scuba divers, I'm likely not going fishing, since none of the girls will be interested. I think everything else should be fair game...HELP!

 

[dawgfood0612]

Been to Aruba many times, although not with young children. Red Sail Sports has some great snorkeling and other boat trips. If you snorkel all but one of the stops is near the shoreline so the water is not rough. It is a great ride on a large catamaran that has plenty of room in the front to lounge. My wife loves to go, and she just goes for the ride while I get in the water on each stop. The stop by the sunken German ship is further from the shore, leave the kids on the boat for that one.

I think they have some dinner cruises as well the family might enjoy.

There are some jeep tours of the island (we did ABC as they pick you up at the hotel), but I would not recommend going to the Natural Pool as this is extremely rough terrain for youngsters. I think some tours might leave that stop out, if so, that could be something to do.

There is a butterfly farm on the island, have not been (again, I think it is more for kids so could fit you well)

There are several restaurants that serve on the beach, Simply Fish and one down near the airport. Another cool restaurant is Papiemento's, the outside seating is in an area with huge shade trees, and you sit around a swimming pool.

With no kids, we did different things at night (casino at the Marriott Stellaris).

Hope this helps.

 

[dawgfood0612]

One last idea, there is a pirate type ship that goes out on boat tours as well, could be better for the young ones.

 

[sitardawg]

Don't end up like that blond girl

 

[dawgfood0612]

Actually, Aruba is a very safe island, the Holloway incident was one psycho. One reason we like Aruba so much is that with it being a part of the Netherlands, there is no poverty like in other Caribbean islands with people panhandling everywhere. The population is well educated, there are jobs in tourism available, I feel a lot safer in Aruba at night than I do most places in the US.

 

[BaronDawg]

Actually, Aruba is a very safe island, the Holloway incident was one psycho. One reason we like Aruba so much is that with it being a part of the Netherlands, there is no poverty like in other Caribbean islands with people panhandling everywhere. The population is well educated, there are jobs in tourism available, I feel a lot safer in Aruba at night than I do most places in the US.

Actually, Aruba is a very safe island, the Holloway incident was one psycho. One reason we like Aruba so much is that with it being a part of the Netherlands, there is no poverty like in other Caribbean islands with people panhandling everywhere. The population is well educated, there are jobs in tourism available, I feel a lot safer in Aruba at night than I do most places in the US.

Ah Yes, Aruba is far safer now that Joran van der Sloot is serving a 28-year sentence in a Peruvian prison and is now an unwilling participant in nightly games of "Hide the Salami" with all of his prison buds.

 

[puntum]

dawgfood was right on point in his info. You might consider a dinner reservation at one of the restaurants where you dine on the water...make sure you get a reservation for about 30 minutes prior to sunset as the view will be amazing. Barefoot and the Flying Fishbone come to mind...it will be a nice dinner and the kids will enjoy the unique aspect of dining shoeless right up to the water. Sunset is a big deal and you can take some great pictures taken of you at the restaurant as the sun goes down...plus the food is really good.
The jeep tour (off road) is pretty fun and the kids will get a kick out of the bumps..some of the scenery on the coast is cool. You do want to pass on the natural spring swim if you go on a tour that stops there...it is rough, cold and not worth navigating the rocks by foot. There is a distinct outdoor mall type of an area with chain stores restaurants etc..it is not far from Marriott etc. The kids will have fun if you grab dinner anywhere in that area...you can walk around after as there are little craft carts (mostly junk) etc all around. They will have fun.

 

[puntum]

the pirate ship cruise is a bit more of a party cruise...neat looking and fun....might be a bit much for the kids (in 10 years they would want to go on it without you! There are plenty of boat excursions to choose from....maybe best to ask hotel concierge for something appropriate for your aged kids.