As an aruban i think its very funny when tourist talk abt the heat here. Yes it is insanely warm but a lot of arubans tend to wear hoodies, sweatpants and not put on any sunblock whatsoever (thats how we know ur a tourist)( its VERY obvious). And the prices here are bery high so i would suggest going to any of the chinese stores which are everywhere. You can literally find them anywhere. They are way more cheaper than anywhere near hotels. For example palm beach or renaissance. Another reminder is that most places either are closed or close early on sundays. Another thing abt aruba is that there is barely any racism here. Were very diverse and mixed so dont expect a lot of racism. But ofc not everyone is like that
Reminder abt shopping. The stores in hotels or "malls" are way more expensive bcuz thats where the most tourists are, so its way better to go to a local chinese store and cheaped
@dmaart7 That's so interesting! We love Aruba's people and weather so much.. compared to home, it's a perfectly hot paradise.. and light clothing only haha! 😊
Have you never traveled anywhere? Were you never a tourist somewhere? I don’t understand locals to their homes pointing out or mocking tourists. So weird.
I always say never miss a sunrise or a sunset in tropical places. Getting up and watching the first sunlight to the last twilight is a great day in my book.
@@woltersworld absolutely and there is really only 2 times on vacation to stop constant questions what time is it? The response: daytime or nighttime nothing else matters! Ha!
I love it when people promote my Country, but im also sad. Cause as someone who lives here, the island seems more catered to those who visit for one or two weeks, than those who live here. It's bittersweet. Love your video's
From what I’ve read Curaçao feels more like the Netherlands and has more Dutch/European tourists while Aruba is more filled with American Tourists. Both great baseball islands who produced some of the best players in the MLB today
Aruba truly has something for everyone. I would do my morning hikes while my wife slept in. Then we would spend our afternoons relaxing on the beach. Definitely a safe island and locals were super friendly. I love Aruba!
Seconding! I type this as my family and I are back in Aruba again for the second year. I’m not big on revisiting the same place twice, especially not a small island, but man, this one just seems to gets better every time and the people here are incredible. It feels like a utopia
I was in Aruba for the whole month of February and I loved it! I did not eat in restaurants however, I only bought groceries and I can tell you that I spent five times more than I would normally back home in Canada. Even the grocery stores are very expensive. That is the only down part aboutAruba ,expensive food. The beaches were absolutely stunning, the weather is beautiful, people are kind, the drinking water was excellent, I never got sick, there was no dishonest people trying to scam you or no harassing people on the beaches trying to sell your stuff. That was also really great all in all no matter how expensive it was it was worth it . Great video Walter. 😊
@@whitneym4822 wrong. I didn’t set foot in tourist stores Ike Superfood or Lings. i rented a really cheap apartment in Bubali, no ac, no hot water. I shopped at Save more foods and the do it Centre. That is where the local shop I also occasionally bought from the reduced section of Chengs ( they will often put near to expiry date items at 50% off ) I kept all my receipts and compared prices. The cheapest bread I can get in Ottawa is $1CAD at the Superstore which is a 500g crusty bread. The cheapest bread I could find on the Island was 600g white sliced bread at $2.25 CAD. That is more than double in price. I couldn’t afford the fruits and vegetables. A 500g jar of peanut butter cost $5 CAD at the Do it Centre vs 1KG jar of No Name PB for 3.99 CAD in Ottawa ,at shoppers drug mart or Suoerstore . Rice is also double the price: 500 g white rice is $1.99 at the Do It centre vs 1kg white rice for $1.75 at the Dollarama. I can go on…
@@whitneym4822 Hi!! I’m visiting Aruba later this month and was wondering which grocery stores you recommend that aren’t super expensive, I’ll be staying in Noord!
We are here now for 2 weeks, also staying in noord, and the food is soooooo expensive, everywhere in this area! It's mad, would like to also know where to shop
@@erikarudash I just got back from Aruba, although most grocery stores have similar prices, Save on foods is generally much cheaper. The Do it Centre also has cheap stuff. The only cheap stuff at Superfoods is their white sliced bread 625g at 3.53 Florins . The price of everything went up so much since last year!
@@katherines5397 see my answer below: Save on foods and the Do it Centre are a bit cheaper. They are a little bit further down Bubali, 5 min drive from Superfoods.
Sunblock is an absolute must in Aruba I got pretty bad burns when I went there years ago. I stayed at an all inclusive, so I saved on food and ate red snapper everyday.
My wife and I went to Aruba for our honeymoon 30 years ago. Had an amazing time. We keep saying we will return but keep adding other new places to our list to visit first.
Thank you! Great video! Aruba is a fantastic island and truly has the best consistent year-round climate no hurricanes and beautiful beaches and friendly people.. one point I will emphasize that you made .. the tap water in Aruba is literally like the best in the world they invested in a desalinization factory since they are surrounded by saltwater and it's unlike a lot of Caribbean islands in that way.. No bottled water needed the tap water is crystal clear and fantastic!
I absolutely love Aruba! I went shopping by myself, I'm a female, and felt very safe. I bought a gorgeous emerald there, it is 2 carets, at about half the price in the US. I did get a very bad sunburn from snorkeling for about 4 hrs. I got sick from it. So for sure watch how much you get exposed to!
We are going for our 5th time in 3 weeks. We love it there. Between the weather, the people, and that you can drink the water and leave the resort to explore the island or just to hang out outside the resort is a major plus.
I LOVED Aruba ❤ it was soooo beautiful & sooo easy to navigate. Renting a car worked great for my party of 3. In the end, we saved money vs price of 6 days of "excursions." The WHOLE island is an adventure! DON'T MISS A THING! Rent a car 😊
One more; don’t think pastechi is only filled with cheese. You can also get beef, chicken, fish and more! Pastechi is awesome and makes for quick, cheap eats. Thanks for the great video Mark!
Spent the month of June 2023 recently it was amazing, 2nd trip to Aruba. Beaches and restaurants are beautiful. Island is super safe to wonder around, locals are very friendly.
For the people about to go to Aruba, restaurants are indeed expensive, but, there are plenty of local eateries that might not look like much but will fill you up with a whole lot of food for a lot less. Most of them are Asian influence adjusted to local tastes- which means you're going to get both white rice and thick fries unless you tell them you only want one or the other. Glenn's Place (which I will guarantee you will not find without google maps or a taxi driver) will sell you a grouper fillet dish for ten dollars.
Quite a few have never notice the real sunset. Just after the Sun touches the water as it gets to about have way, don't blink. It pops in to a brilliant green ball lager than the sun for a split second. It's beautiful
We love Aruba and loved your video. Besides the beautiful beaches, it is fun to visit the donkey sanctuary and the National Park. It is a safe, clean, and friendly place to visit.
So cool that you visited my island of Aruba. I have traveled to quite a few countries now but none have that Thing that Arubahas. Its awlays the place where I would rather be.
We absolutely loved the day we had in Aruba whilst on a cruise. I didn't think it was too crowded or expensive. We went to Eagle Beach which was completely unlike any we're used to in the U.K. or Europe and beer at a beach bar wasn't too expensive, given the location; $6 (£5) for a bottle of Chill or Balashi was reasonable. Loved it in Aruba but our next port of call in Curacao was even more amazing.
First time I went to Aruba, I wasnt aware of how hot it can get. You can dehydrate very quickly. I ended up with a heatstroke. Next time I went we went at a different time of the year and stayed in doors but did the beaches about 7 pm.
Thanks for this video. It’s very helpful. I went to Curaçao last month, and was thinking of going to Aruba as a comparison later this year. I loved the Dutch architecture. UV protection is a must. I got a bad sunburn when I was in Curaçao and I am black! 😮
Love Love Love ARUBA!!! We will be making our 4th trip there soon in the past 2 1/2 years!! Everything you say in the video is spot on!! Great videos and maybe i'll catch you there someday. We plan to make Aruba our home away from home someday!
I've been going there for 20 years and mostly agree. I don't find the food prices to be that extreme though we have found excellent favorite restaurants off the beaten path that we return to year after year. They are often in neighborhoods a little inland. We do stay in a low rise at Eagle Beach with a kitchen and cook several of our own meals and usually make our own lunch daily. I don't bother renting a car at the airport, I've found it to often be a hassle, expensive, and it can be time consuming. The concierge/bell person at your hotel will likely know local agencies and you'll get a better price. We just take a taxi to the hotel and beat the crowd to check in. Last time there, the agency we were referred to dropped the car at the hotel. We dropped off at their nearby office at the end of our trip and they drove us to the airport, included with the car rental cost.
I've been to Aruba a dozen times and this is a very good list for a first time visitor of the island to watch. I'd add don't worry about exchanging currency since the dollar is accepted just about anywhere on the island. Don't overpack, bring as little clothing as possible, primarily comprised of shorts, t shirts, tank tops, etc. Just about anywhere you go for lunch or dinner is going to permit casual attire. Don't stay at an all inclusive resort unless you plan on eating/drinking a lot and don't plan on leaving your resort often. If you stay at one, it sort of forces you to eat all of your meals at the resort so that you can get your money's worth. By doing so, you'll miss out on many of the amazing restaurants that offer superior cuisine that are probably within walking distance of your hotel. And that's all I got (for now).
@@ponniefitzpatrick7354 The Alhambra plaza is a 10 minute walk away, lots of options there. You also have La Cabana and Amsterdam Manor, which are a 3 minute walk away. MVC serves a continental breakfast every morning, but not lunch and dinner.
You’re so on point with these helpful videos! Aruba is such fun, beautiful, and very safe! Not to mention the drier heat and regular breeze! Thanks again!
I grew up in Texas and I will tell you this.. The heat in Aruba 🇦🇼 isn’t a joke. We went there on a cruise and I had to seek shade and the cooler temperatures in stores a few times because I became overheated.. Even with me drinking a lot of water leading up to our arrival and while doing our exploring ✌🏼
We have been going for 10-12 years. Relatively speaking, we find the grocery prices higher than restaurant prices. We have no issue eating dinner out every night, but we dread paying the prices at the grocery store for the breakfast and lunch foods and snacks that we buy.
Love Aruba Mark!!! I checked the cruise ship schedules before went. We rented a buggy and went everywhere on the island loads of fun! Plan on going back soon, up next month is Madrid, Valenica and Paris for daughters UIC med school graduation trip, shared all of your videos with her! Love the channel!
I have been going to Aruba since the late 80's once or twice a year except for Covid. Back then I did the restaurant thing. Now when I go I usually go to one or two of my favorite restaurants and do a lot of the pub food at the Timeshare or resort. I have never done a "all inclusive" but this coming Aug. I plan to try it with a bunch of relatives that have never been to Aruba before. Lets just say they like to have a good time at the pool bar as well as like to eat. I have never been disappointed with any of my trips there. One place that's interesting is Baby Beach in San Nicolas. You walk out into the water that never seems to get deep until your way out. On a good day you can see the Mountains of Venezuela. There is a place to get some pub food right there. Take one of the Island tours and if you see something you want to visit again rent a car for a couple days. The Natural Pool is something to see and go in. Its located on the other side of the Island that reminds me of what it would be like to be on the Moon.
Makes me want to go back. I have a 2 week timeshare for the 1st two weeks of February. Fixed unit, fixed weeks on Eagle Beach. Sometimes Carnival is during that time. You’re right, the people on the island are very courteous, friendly and helpful. And, there is so much to do for any age.
Alex and I definitely want to go back to Aruba. My new favorite beach in the world is Baby beach. No wake, great for people who are not strong swimmers. Also, yes the sun is extremely strong there. Definitely apply that super high SPF sunscreen otherwise you'll be zapped. Also watch out for those donkeys, if you chose to feed them, do it with a flat hand. Another thing to be aware of, if you plan on renting a car you should know that most rental car companies do not want you to drive regular cars such as a little Kia offroad and if you do so and damage the vehicle that's on you. ATV's and UTV's however are tolerated on most roads in Aruba except for the highway and is a great way to visit the National Park in the north. Amazing scenery.
I was just there with my family in June this year, and was told that UTVs and ATVs are no longer allowed in the National Park. So your only option really is to rent a 4x4 or take a guided tour if going into the National Park.
Another beautiful 'Sunshine State'. It reminds me of Super Mario Sunshine, the place is just gorgeous. Sunsets/sunrises are beautiful and yeah those resturants are expensive, hope they are worth every penny
One thing you missed about the price is……most prices are in AUD not US dollars so it might seem high but don’t freak out. Prices are compared to NYC prices. Super foods is expensive on most items as well for food shopping. Aruba is very safe but just be aware crime does happen but you won’t no about it. If you rent a car be mindful there is barley any lights. They use round abouts which are great but first timers could get confusing. Def visit baby beach and mangel halto. Sundays most beaches are more packed due to locals being off that day.
I watch a lot of your videos, and man let me tell you, you're spot on with this one. I was just there for the 1st time last month, and this all rang true.
Omg I just left on the 11th! So jealous, i want to be back right now, I was at my first all inclusive also! It was divi tamarijn Aruba and it was incredible
Great video! I've only been to one Caribbean island and it was Aruba. Loved it. Everyone speaks English and no worries about the water. I think what was missed was transportation. You have to agree upon a price before going anywhere or else the drivers will take you for a "ride" (pun intended). The evening rates were higher than the day time rates and I don't think think that cabs operated on Sunday. I also did use the bus system to go from Oranjestad to the high rises. The schedule is not reliable but they do have random vans coming up that supplemented the bus service. I did not understand this at first until I asked someone. They follow the bus routes and you pay the van driver the same fee as the bus fare. I didn't think there was a safety issue because there were a few people already in the van. (This was 5 years ago and things may have changed but that was my experience). Also, all of the beaches are public, hotels are not allowed to reserve a section of the beach for their guests. There was one exception as I was staying at the Marriott in downtown Oranjestad and they did have a "private island" where you had to take one of the Marriott boats to get there.
Thank you so much for this brilliant video!!! I'm so glad I found this channel. I've never been to Aruba, but wanted to go next year, so this is a perfect video for me. 🤗🥰
I'll give another DON'T...if you have your scuba license, do not skip out on the Antilla shipwreck! The story behind it is that when the Austrian decided to invade the Netherlands, there happened to be the Antilla parked off Aruba. When word of what happened reached the Dutch Marines, they took care of business. The crew was "held" as POW's...like where are they really going to go. But the captain was also a trained chef. After the war, he stayed and opened his own restaurant. Next don't...this is where while diving, I ended up in a bloom of jellyfish. So my last DON'T...don't get caught in a bloom of jellyfish!
We have been going to Aruba every year since 2019. We stay at the same all-inclusive, as a matter a fact we stay at Barcelo that is shown at the 8:24 mark in the video. Even though we know that there are great restaurants to go to, it is just way too expensive to eat 2 meals a day for 8-10 days. We will eat out maybe a few times we are there,cause we do have our outside favorite spots, but the rest of the time we eat in the hotel and the food is perfectly fine. We would rather save the money for excursions, or for renting a car and going to Baby Beach, or Eagle Beach. With that said, it is a wonderful island, great weather, great people… we have made friends with others who stay at the same resort as us, as well as becoming friends with some of the locals. Looking forward to our 6th trip there this coming June🤗
One don't i think you missed - don't forget to do the pre-arrival visa paperwork to get your green check mark. I don't remember what it was called exactly, but we dId it online a week before our fight and printed it out. You have to have it to check in for your flight leaving the US, and you need it to clear customs enetring Aruba. One of the couples who were supposed to be traveling with us didn't do it (travel agent said they didn't need it - wrong) and were trying to do it on their phones at the airport and ended up missing their flight and one day at the all-inclusive resort.
Liked your comment about the driving! Here in New England, we say that Vermont is the only place where they total their cars at 20 mph---because the scenery is absolutely gorgeous. Although if you're driving behind them, it can be a bit of a shock.
I went to Aruba over 10 years ago and just like he said, we ended up eating at Wendy's the last couple days for lunch bc we got tired of breaking the bank for every single meal. Felt sacrilegious doing it on vacation in a foreign country, but just felt like we had to after a while.
I’d like to add a tip- locate a good taxi driver! If you don’t want to drive but you want to see the whole island, you can hire a taxi driver to take you on a day trip. They will show you the best sights, and it’s very reasonable. It was the highlight of our trip!
Thank you so much for this very informative video of Aruba. I am travelling there in February from the UK and many of my queries were addressed in your video. I am really looking forward to it now.
I'm Aruban 🇦🇼 and great video btw. All 3 ABC islands are unique, but we are united by our language Papiamento (Papiamentu on Curaçao) and love for baseball & football 😂. Aruba 🇦🇼 is more metropolitan/developed, culturally diverse and oriented towards people from North-America. Curaçao 🇨🇼 is more traditional, has a preserved, rich culture and is catered towards Europeans. While Bonaire 🇧🇶 is more oriented to Europe, centered on eco-tourism and nature.
love aruba i’ve been there a lot how we save money on food. We typically go to lings and sons OR the new Superfood they have great options. We get some lunch meat for some sandwiches and we pick up some steaks maybe some other meats and store them in the fridge. We stay in a larger room so we have a freezer so having that and having the ability to freeze meats to cook later on is a game changer so we do not feel forced to eat out every night.
I got to aruba twice a year to the point that i have my own personal taxi driver, airbnb and my favorite bar where i know everyone is Five O'clock somewhere in the Renaissance Marketplace
Someone sorta mentioned it, but "Don't be afraid to rent a car!" Just don't drive if you're not a good driver or it you've been drinking, and it's fine.
ALL beaches, with the exception of Renaissance and De Palm, are public... as are the palapas. YES you can grab any unoccupied palapa on the beach, you just can't use any resort/hotel chairs that may be there... and, if unoccupied, you mat move them aside. There are very few hotel/resort owned palapas in Aruba, and they usually on grounds nearer the buildings. There's info, including a court decision, available. The unoccupied palapa that you show in the video is free to use, and available to anyone, guest or not. Your reserving/paying for a palapa makes no difference. You're reserving/paying for the seating... not the palapa.
The palapas are free. They are on public beach areas. Hotels do not own them and nobody can charge for them for you to use. It is first come first serve. The hotels put their chairs underneath them. But if you see one with their chairs and nobody... you can use the palapa but the chair. The 'border' is from the walkway infront of the hotels up to the water. That whole area is public property. There are a few markers. They blue towery looking things made of concrete. Enjoy ⛱️
The first time I went to Aruba in 1981 I exchanged a lot of my US for Netherland currency. When I tried to use it in Aruba they didn’t want it-they wanted US dollars. If you do rent a car don’t fill up the tank because gas is expensive and you’ll never use even a quarter tank on that small island. The car rental workers love it when a car comes back with a lot of gas in it because they drain it and use it themselves. Also don’t pass up the chance to visit the north side of the island and watch the huge waves coming in and crashing into the coral cliffs but watch your step up there!!!!! I Scuba dive and the diving there is amazing. So if you’re into the ocean do it in the morning and then go do some other things because the high noon sun will literally bake you midday.
Great video. I would agree with 99%. I would recommend staying away from Cuba’s Cooking especially on Monday. We love the first experience and had a great time. The following year was horrible. Everything was totally ridiculous from the wait time, food orders getting mixed up and dealing with their rude manager that wanted to argue more than provide a solution. The place looks inviting but stay away. We are going back to Aruba in a few days but not patronizing Cuba’s Cooking again. 😮
You can actually just roll under a palapa as long as it’s not occupied. You do have to pay for the beach bed chair thing (if you don’t want to use them you can just remove them from under the palapas) but the hotels are not allowed to chase you away from the palapas because they are on public property as all beaches on Aruba are public. If you do get in trouble, just contact the beach police and they will sort it out for you. This is due to a court ruling where they dictated that because the hotels built them on public property without government permission, they are officially public property now.
![ARUBA: Most COMPLETE Travel Guide • 70 Do's and Don'ts (+ Maps & Prices) [2024]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VU0YFIvloS4/mqdefault.jpg)
As an aruban i think its very funny when tourist talk abt the heat here. Yes it is insanely warm but a lot of arubans tend to wear hoodies, sweatpants and not put on any sunblock whatsoever (thats how we know ur a tourist)( its VERY obvious). And the prices here are bery high so i would suggest going to any of the chinese stores which are everywhere. You can literally find them anywhere. They are way more cheaper than anywhere near hotels. For example palm beach or renaissance. Another reminder is that most places either are closed or close early on sundays. Another thing abt aruba is that there is barely any racism here. Were very diverse and mixed so dont expect a lot of racism. But ofc not everyone is like that
Reminder abt shopping. The stores in hotels or "malls" are way more expensive bcuz thats where the most tourists are, so its way better to go to a local chinese store and cheaped
why would anyone wear a hoodie or sweatpants in anything over 75 degrees lol
Thanks for the advice
@dmaart7 That's so interesting! We love Aruba's people and weather so much.. compared to home, it's a perfectly hot paradise.. and light clothing only haha! 😊
Have you never traveled anywhere? Were you never a tourist somewhere? I don’t understand locals to their homes pointing out or mocking tourists. So weird.
Im currently in Aruba.
2 huge Do's is wear strong sunblock and Take advantage of happy hour bars/restaurants! Doing both things are key here.
Thank u!!!
Please aruba is in which country precisely
@@GlobbalCEO It is an autonomous Island country of 'Kingdom of the Netherlands' in the Caribbean, 30 km off the coast of Venezuela.
I always say never miss a sunrise or a sunset in tropical places. Getting up and watching the first sunlight to the last twilight is a great day in my book.
Sounds like a good plan!
@@woltersworld absolutely and there is really only 2 times on vacation to stop constant questions what time is it? The response: daytime or nighttime nothing else matters! Ha!
I love it when people promote my Country, but im also sad. Cause as someone who lives here, the island seems more catered to those who visit for one or two weeks, than those who live here. It's bittersweet. Love your video's
I'm sure. I've been going to Aruba all my life, and I live all the way in NYC. I'm starting to realize how sometimes obnoxious tourists can be.
@DeeztNutztkk537 they stay on route one and that's it
@@StanTheGuitarKid Hello, question is Aruba a good place to visit in late September?
@@stanleybaker1928 In the video, he says its nice all year-round. It doesn't have a rainy season, and its tropical.
From what I’ve read Curaçao feels more like the Netherlands and has more Dutch/European tourists while Aruba is more filled with American Tourists. Both great baseball islands who produced some of the best players in the MLB today
Aruba truly has something for everyone. I would do my morning hikes while my wife slept in. Then we would spend our afternoons relaxing on the beach. Definitely a safe island and locals were super friendly. I love Aruba!
I was wondering how safe it was. Good to know!
Aruba is a beautiful island. It’s one of those places that you’ll wanna revisit!
Seconding! I type this as my family and I are back in Aruba again for the second year. I’m not big on revisiting the same place twice, especially not a small island, but man, this one just seems to gets better every time and the people here are incredible. It feels like a utopia
Ive been to Aruba 7 times. We stay for 2 weeks and your opinions were spot on !! 🇦🇼
I was in Aruba for the whole month of February and I loved it! I did not eat in restaurants however, I only bought groceries and I can tell you that I spent five times more than I would normally back home in Canada. Even the grocery stores are very expensive. That is the only down part aboutAruba ,expensive food. The beaches were absolutely stunning, the weather is beautiful, people are kind, the drinking water was excellent, I never got sick, there was no dishonest people trying to scam you or no harassing people on the beaches trying to sell your stuff. That was also really great all in all no matter how expensive it was it was worth it . Great video Walter. 😊
@@whitneym4822 wrong. I didn’t set foot in tourist stores Ike Superfood or Lings. i rented a really cheap apartment in Bubali, no ac, no hot water. I shopped at Save more foods and the do it Centre. That is where the local shop I also occasionally bought from the reduced section of Chengs ( they will often put near to expiry date items at 50% off ) I kept all my receipts and compared prices. The cheapest bread I can get in Ottawa is $1CAD at the Superstore which is a 500g crusty bread. The cheapest bread I could find on the Island was 600g white sliced bread at $2.25 CAD. That is more than double in price. I couldn’t afford the fruits and vegetables. A 500g jar of peanut butter cost $5 CAD at the Do it Centre vs 1KG jar of No Name PB for 3.99 CAD in Ottawa ,at shoppers drug mart or Suoerstore . Rice is also double the price: 500 g white rice is $1.99 at the Do It centre vs 1kg white rice for $1.75 at the Dollarama. I can go on…
@@whitneym4822 Hi!! I’m visiting Aruba later this month and was wondering which grocery stores you recommend that aren’t super expensive, I’ll be staying in Noord!
We are here now for 2 weeks, also staying in noord, and the food is soooooo expensive, everywhere in this area! It's mad, would like to also know where to shop
@@erikarudash I just got back from Aruba, although most grocery stores have similar prices, Save on foods is generally much cheaper. The Do it Centre also has cheap stuff. The only cheap stuff at Superfoods is their white sliced bread 625g at 3.53 Florins . The price of everything went up so much since last year!
@@katherines5397 see my answer below: Save on foods and the Do it Centre are a bit cheaper. They are a little bit further down Bubali, 5 min drive from Superfoods.
Sunblock is an absolute must in Aruba I got pretty bad burns when I went there years ago. I stayed at an all inclusive, so I saved on food and ate red snapper everyday.
Yum!! The red snapper, not the red burned tourists
Cool! Which one?? Tia Vic in Ga
@@chefvld I don't remember
My wife and I went to Aruba for our honeymoon 30 years ago. Had an amazing time. We keep saying we will return but keep adding other new places to our list to visit first.
Thank you! Great video! Aruba is a fantastic island and truly has the best consistent year-round climate no hurricanes and beautiful beaches and friendly people.. one point I will emphasize that you made .. the tap water in Aruba is literally like the best in the world they invested in a desalinization factory since they are surrounded by saltwater and it's unlike a lot of Caribbean islands in that way.. No bottled water needed the tap water is crystal clear and fantastic!
Your videos are so helpful, simple, honest. Aruba is now my next visit on my list. Thanks again! 🏖
Thank you. That is what we are going for
I absolutely love Aruba! I went shopping by myself, I'm a female, and felt very safe. I bought a gorgeous emerald there, it is 2 carets, at about half the price in the US. I did get a very bad sunburn from snorkeling for about 4 hrs. I got sick from it. So for sure watch how much you get exposed to!
We are going for our 5th time in 3 weeks. We love it there. Between the weather, the people, and that you can drink the water and leave the resort to explore the island or just to hang out outside the resort is a major plus.
@Marie_Adams 5th yr
Absolutely our favorite island , beautiful, wonderful people can’t wait to get back
going to Aruba tomorrow.. we went last year as well. such as beautiful, relaxing place.
I LOVED Aruba ❤ it was soooo beautiful & sooo easy to navigate. Renting a car worked great for my party of 3. In the end, we saved money vs price of 6 days of "excursions." The WHOLE island is an adventure!
DON'T MISS A THING! Rent a car 😊
Palm Beach is my favorite spot on the whole Island
And the best dive experience of my life!
I was just there a week ago. Loved the pastechi.😋 And yes you are right, they don't harass you in Aruba for stuff like in some places.
That's true!
One more; don’t think pastechi is only filled with cheese. You can also get beef, chicken, fish and more! Pastechi is awesome and makes for quick, cheap eats. Thanks for the great video Mark!
And the pastechi isn’t actually from Dutch origin. It’s from Venezuela.
Spent the month of June 2023 recently it was amazing, 2nd trip to Aruba. Beaches and restaurants are beautiful. Island is super safe to wonder around, locals are very friendly.
One Happy Island🌴
So happy I came across your channel, it is very helpful for traveling plans.
Thank you Monica. Glad you found us
For the people about to go to Aruba, restaurants are indeed expensive, but, there are plenty of local eateries that might not look like much but will fill you up with a whole lot of food for a lot less. Most of them are Asian influence adjusted to local tastes- which means you're going to get both white rice and thick fries unless you tell them you only want one or the other. Glenn's Place (which I will guarantee you will not find without google maps or a taxi driver) will sell you a grouper fillet dish for ten dollars.
Quite a few have never notice the real sunset. Just after the Sun touches the water as it gets to about have way, don't blink. It pops in to a brilliant green ball lager than the sun for a split second. It's beautiful
We love Aruba and loved your video. Besides the beautiful beaches, it is fun to visit the donkey sanctuary and the National Park. It is a safe, clean, and friendly place to visit.
So cool that you visited my island of Aruba. I have traveled to quite a few countries now but none have that Thing that Arubahas. Its awlays the place where I would rather be.
and We love it when tourists enjoy our Island and are happy.
We absolutely loved the day we had in Aruba whilst on a cruise. I didn't think it was too crowded or expensive. We went to Eagle Beach which was completely unlike any we're used to in the U.K. or Europe and beer at a beach bar wasn't too expensive, given the location; $6 (£5) for a bottle of Chill or Balashi was reasonable. Loved it in Aruba but our next port of call in Curacao was even more amazing.
It’s very expensive if you go outside of cruise
I prefer Curaçao my self.
First time I went to Aruba, I wasnt aware of how hot it can get. You can dehydrate very quickly. I ended up with a heatstroke. Next time I went we went at a different time of the year and stayed in doors but did the beaches about 7 pm.
Thanks for this video. It’s very helpful. I went to Curaçao last month, and was thinking of going to Aruba as a comparison later this year. I loved the Dutch architecture. UV protection is a must. I got a bad sunburn when I was in Curaçao and I am black! 😮
Hahahah... always look for the shades when you're on one of these islands. Just follow the path of the locals. They stay in the shadows
Love Love Love ARUBA!!! We will be making our 4th trip there soon in the past 2 1/2 years!! Everything you say in the video is spot on!! Great videos and maybe i'll catch you there someday. We plan to make Aruba our home away from home someday!
I've been going there for 20 years and mostly agree. I don't find the food prices to be that extreme though we have found excellent favorite restaurants off the beaten path that we return to year after year. They are often in neighborhoods a little inland. We do stay in a low rise at Eagle Beach with a kitchen and cook several of our own meals and usually make our own lunch daily. I don't bother renting a car at the airport, I've found it to often be a hassle, expensive, and it can be time consuming. The concierge/bell person at your hotel will likely know local agencies and you'll get a better price. We just take a taxi to the hotel and beat the crowd to check in. Last time there, the agency we were referred to dropped the car at the hotel. We dropped off at their nearby office at the end of our trip and they drove us to the airport, included with the car rental cost.
What rental agency did you use?
Yes it is more expensive than netherlands
Can you give us some recommendations for restaurants
We like Pinchos near downtown, Papiemento inland from Palm Beach and Madam Janettes inland from Eagle Beach.@@helencheung7120
I just arrived back to NY from Aruba! I loved it there and everyone was so friendly! Flying Fishbone was an amazing restaurant!
I've been to Aruba a dozen times and this is a very good list for a first time visitor of the island to watch. I'd add don't worry about exchanging currency since the dollar is accepted just about anywhere on the island. Don't overpack, bring as little clothing as possible, primarily comprised of shorts, t shirts, tank tops, etc. Just about anywhere you go for lunch or dinner is going to permit casual attire. Don't stay at an all inclusive resort unless you plan on eating/drinking a lot and don't plan on leaving your resort often. If you stay at one, it sort of forces you to eat all of your meals at the resort so that you can get your money's worth. By doing so, you'll miss out on many of the amazing restaurants that offer superior cuisine that are probably within walking distance of your hotel. And that's all I got (for now).
Please recommend some place to stay ( not all inclusive)
@@ponniefitzpatrick7354 MVC Eagle Beach. I stay there every summer. I just got back 5 days ago.
@@Kunuku_Benedict thanks. How far walking is food and breakfast? My group has people of all ages 14-77 so I want to be sure food is easily accessible
@@ponniefitzpatrick7354 The Alhambra plaza is a 10 minute walk away, lots of options there. You also have La Cabana and Amsterdam Manor, which are a 3 minute walk away. MVC serves a continental breakfast every morning, but not lunch and dinner.
@@ponniefitzpatrick7354 Also, Superfood is a 10 minute walk away from MVC.
We were there in December 2019 it was very nice, and yes, stay hydrated it was sweltering hot and humid.
Good advice
You’re so on point with these helpful videos! Aruba is such fun, beautiful, and very safe! Not to mention the drier heat and regular breeze! Thanks again!
I grew up in Texas and I will tell you this.. The heat in Aruba 🇦🇼 isn’t a joke. We went there on a cruise and I had to seek shade and the cooler temperatures in stores a few times because I became overheated.. Even with me drinking a lot of water leading up to our arrival and while doing our exploring ✌🏼
I live here lol
@@XWRV. lucky guy, what part?
@@Toulippy the capital
We have been going for 10-12 years. Relatively speaking, we find the grocery prices higher than restaurant prices. We have no issue eating dinner out every night, but we dread paying the prices at the grocery store for the breakfast and lunch foods and snacks that we buy.
Love Aruba Mark!!! I checked the cruise ship schedules before went. We rented a buggy and went everywhere on the island loads of fun! Plan on going back soon, up next month is Madrid, Valenica and Paris for daughters UIC med school graduation trip, shared all of your videos with her! Love the channel!
Awesome. Hope the videos can help. Tell her congrats on graduation!!
@@woltersworld Thank you will do !
I have been going to Aruba since the late 80's once or twice a year except for Covid. Back then I did the restaurant thing. Now when I go I usually go to one or two of my favorite restaurants and do a lot of the pub food at the Timeshare or resort. I have never done a "all inclusive" but this coming Aug. I plan to try it with a bunch of relatives that have never
been to Aruba before. Lets just say they like to have a good time at the pool bar as well as like to eat.
I have never been disappointed with any of my trips there. One place that's interesting is Baby Beach in San Nicolas. You walk out into the water that never seems to get deep until
your way out. On a good day you can see the Mountains of Venezuela. There is a place to get some pub food right there.
Take one of the Island tours and if you see something you want to visit again rent a car for a couple days. The Natural Pool is something to see and go in. Its located
on the other side of the Island that reminds me of what it would be like to be on the Moon.
Makes me want to go back. I have a 2 week timeshare for the 1st two weeks of February. Fixed unit, fixed weeks on Eagle Beach. Sometimes Carnival is during that time. You’re right, the people on the island are very courteous, friendly and helpful. And, there is so much to do for any age.
I love Aruba, you mentioned going on the natural Bridge but that collapsed in 2005
the smaller one is still there...and it is developing cracks. You're not supposed to walk out onto it, unlike what is shown at 9:14
Alex and I definitely want to go back to Aruba. My new favorite beach in the world is Baby beach. No wake, great for people who are not strong swimmers. Also, yes the sun is extremely strong there. Definitely apply that super high SPF sunscreen otherwise you'll be zapped. Also watch out for those donkeys, if you chose to feed them, do it with a flat hand. Another thing to be aware of, if you plan on renting a car you should know that most rental car companies do not want you to drive regular cars such as a little Kia offroad and if you do so and damage the vehicle that's on you. ATV's and UTV's however are tolerated on most roads in Aruba except for the highway and is a great way to visit the National Park in the north. Amazing scenery.
I was just there with my family in June this year, and was told that UTVs and ATVs are no longer allowed in the National Park. So your only option really is to rent a 4x4 or take a guided tour if going into the National Park.
Spent my honeymoon in Aruba in 2003, stunning place ❤
Another beautiful 'Sunshine State'. It reminds me of Super Mario Sunshine, the place is just gorgeous. Sunsets/sunrises are beautiful and yeah those resturants are expensive, hope they are worth every penny
That’s why we’re going to an all inclusive resort! I’m going in August 2024! I’m excited 😆
One thing you missed about the price is……most prices are in AUD not US dollars so it might seem high but don’t freak out. Prices are compared to NYC prices. Super foods is expensive on most items as well for food shopping. Aruba is very safe but just be aware crime does happen but you won’t no about it. If you rent a car be mindful there is barley any lights. They use round abouts which are great but first timers could get confusing.
Def visit baby beach and mangel halto. Sundays most beaches are more packed due to locals being off that day.
I watch a lot of your videos, and man let me tell you, you're spot on with this one. I was just there for the 1st time last month, and this all rang true.
Thanks Justin 😀
You’re spot on with all the don’ts!
You were great in explaining the island greatly appreciated! Finally got there can’t wait to return
Omg I just left on the 11th! So jealous, i want to be back right now, I was at my first all inclusive also! It was divi tamarijn Aruba and it was incredible
We love the Tamarijn!
Great info; well presented. 👍
Thank you
Great video very helpful information! We recently visited on a cruise stop loved it so much we want to plan a weeklong vacation next year 😊
Great video! I've only been to one Caribbean island and it was Aruba. Loved it. Everyone speaks English and no worries about the water. I think what was missed was transportation. You have to agree upon a price before going anywhere or else the drivers will take you for a "ride" (pun intended). The evening rates were higher than the day time rates and I don't think think that cabs operated on Sunday. I also did use the bus system to go from Oranjestad to the high rises. The schedule is not reliable but they do have random vans coming up that supplemented the bus service. I did not understand this at first until I asked someone. They follow the bus routes and you pay the van driver the same fee as the bus fare. I didn't think there was a safety issue because there were a few people already in the van. (This was 5 years ago and things may have changed but that was my experience). Also, all of the beaches are public, hotels are not allowed to reserve a section of the beach for their guests. There was one exception as I was staying at the Marriott in downtown Oranjestad and they did have a "private island" where you had to take one of the Marriott boats to get there.
All taxi rates are set by the government
All taxi rates are set by the government $3 more on Sundays,,and these are the rates but very old,,they need gas money,so tip well !!
Thank you so much for this brilliant video!!! I'm so glad I found this channel. I've never been to Aruba, but wanted to go next year, so this is a perfect video for me. 🤗🥰
I'll give another DON'T...if you have your scuba license, do not skip out on the Antilla shipwreck! The story behind it is that when the Austrian decided to invade the Netherlands, there happened to be the Antilla parked off Aruba. When word of what happened reached the Dutch Marines, they took care of business. The crew was "held" as POW's...like where are they really going to go. But the captain was also a trained chef. After the war, he stayed and opened his own restaurant.
Next don't...this is where while diving, I ended up in a bloom of jellyfish. So my last DON'T...don't get caught in a bloom of jellyfish!
Most of the restaurants add a 18% gratuity to your bill. Check for that before you leave an additional tip.
I'm originally from the Island and I love coral. I really miss it and maybe tempted.
Thank you for this video. It was very helpful. We are traveling to Aruba next month for the first time.
We have been going to Aruba every year since 2019. We stay at the same all-inclusive, as a matter a fact we stay at Barcelo that is shown at the 8:24 mark in the video. Even though we know that there are great restaurants to go to, it is just way too expensive to eat 2 meals a day for 8-10 days. We will eat out maybe a few times we are there,cause we do have our outside favorite spots, but the rest of the time we eat in the hotel and the food is perfectly fine. We would rather save the money for excursions, or for renting a car and going to Baby Beach, or Eagle Beach. With that said, it is a wonderful island, great weather, great people… we have made friends with others who stay at the same resort as us, as well as becoming friends with some of the locals. Looking forward to our 6th trip there this coming June🤗
One don't i think you missed - don't forget to do the pre-arrival visa paperwork to get your green check mark. I don't remember what it was called exactly, but we dId it online a week before our fight and printed it out. You have to have it to check in for your flight leaving the US, and you need it to clear customs enetring Aruba. One of the couples who were supposed to be traveling with us didn't do it (travel agent said they didn't need it - wrong) and were trying to do it on their phones at the airport and ended up missing their flight and one day at the all-inclusive resort.
Wow that’s terrible! It’s called Aruba ED card. I had no idea about this card and quickly filled it out on my phone!
Liked your comment about the driving! Here in New England, we say that Vermont is the only place where they total their cars at 20 mph---because the scenery is absolutely gorgeous. Although if you're driving behind them, it can be a bit of a shock.
as a local, i was expecting a really big outsider view that exaggerates, but yeah hes definitely right about everything here
Can you recommend some local restaurants
@@helencheung7120 i would reccomend sizzle but that recently closed, idk what type of food you like
What great scenery.
I went to Aruba over 10 years ago and just like he said, we ended up eating at Wendy's the last couple days for lunch bc we got tired of breaking the bank for every single meal. Felt sacrilegious doing it on vacation in a foreign country, but just felt like we had to after a while.
Great points! Well done!
Thanks!
I’d like to add a tip- locate a good taxi driver! If you don’t want to drive but you want to see the whole island, you can hire a taxi driver to take you on a day trip. They will show you the best sights, and it’s very reasonable. It was the highlight of our trip!
I am
From Aruba, I just started vlogging recently! Great content and very informational
And on point👏🏽
what a great and wonderful video, thanks for uploading this video🐯🐱🐱
Thank you so much for this very informative video of Aruba. I am travelling there in February from the UK and many of my queries were addressed in your video. I am really looking forward to it now.
That’s why you always go all inclusive!!
Thanks for sharing, not heard of this place before
That was great, thank you ❤ love your channel
Appreciated your video and information!!
I'm Aruban 🇦🇼 and great video btw. All 3 ABC islands are unique, but we are united by our language Papiamento (Papiamentu on Curaçao) and love for baseball & football 😂.
Aruba 🇦🇼 is more metropolitan/developed, culturally diverse and oriented towards people from North-America. Curaçao 🇨🇼 is more traditional, has a preserved, rich culture and is catered towards Europeans. While Bonaire 🇧🇶 is more oriented to Europe, centered on eco-tourism and nature.
Thank you. Will be there for two weeks near Thanksgiving
Great video. Thank you!
love aruba i’ve been there a lot how we save money on food. We typically go to lings and sons OR the new Superfood they have great options. We get some lunch meat for some sandwiches and we pick up some steaks maybe some other meats and store them in the fridge. We stay in a larger room so we have a freezer so having that and having the ability to freeze meats to cook later on is a game changer so we do not feel forced to eat out every night.
They now have an estate winery and distillery located in Alto Vista!!
Thanks that was a GREAT video! Thanks for the good info.
A low-risk destination in Hurricane Season. I enjoyed my week there. I was 'all inclusive' so it didn't feel expensive.
I got to aruba twice a year to the point that i have my own personal taxi driver, airbnb and my favorite bar where i know everyone is Five O'clock somewhere in the Renaissance Marketplace
Someone sorta mentioned it, but "Don't be afraid to rent a car!" Just don't drive if you're not a good driver or it you've been drinking, and it's fine.
Car or gator 😀
ALL beaches, with the exception of Renaissance and De Palm, are public... as are the palapas. YES you can grab any unoccupied palapa on the beach, you just can't use any resort/hotel chairs that may be there... and, if unoccupied, you mat move them aside. There are very few hotel/resort owned palapas in Aruba, and they usually on grounds nearer the buildings. There's info, including a court decision, available. The unoccupied palapa that you show in the video is free to use, and available to anyone, guest or not. Your reserving/paying for a palapa makes no difference. You're reserving/paying for the seating... not the palapa.
Excellent video! Very informative :)
Great advice, cheers
Thanks
Yes it's very nice
stunning sunsets, so true !
Great Video! You captured Aruba in less than 15mins
Thank you so much!! We will be in Aruba by next week!!!
The palapas are free. They are on public beach areas. Hotels do not own them and nobody can charge for them for you to use. It is first come first serve. The hotels put their chairs underneath them. But if you see one with their chairs and nobody... you can use the palapa but the chair. The 'border' is from the walkway infront of the hotels up to the water. That whole area is public property. There are a few markers. They blue towery looking things made of concrete. Enjoy ⛱️
The first time I went to Aruba in 1981 I exchanged a lot of my US for Netherland currency. When I tried to use it in Aruba they didn’t want it-they wanted US dollars. If you do rent a car don’t fill up the tank because gas is expensive and you’ll never use even a quarter tank on that small island. The car rental workers love it when a car comes back with a lot of gas in it because they drain it and use it themselves. Also don’t pass up the chance to visit the north side of the island and watch the huge waves coming in and crashing into the coral cliffs but watch your step up there!!!!!
I Scuba dive and the diving there is amazing. So if you’re into the ocean do it in the morning and then go do some other things because the high noon sun will literally bake you midday.
Marriott charges $10 to reserve one and I can prove it.
Not every palapa is free
Hotels put the Palapas there..not our government..so they are nor free for anyone to use
Very informative THANKS
Thanks for your advice.
Great information🎉thank you❤
Great video. I would agree with 99%. I would recommend staying away from Cuba’s Cooking especially on Monday. We love the first experience and had a great time. The following year was horrible. Everything was totally ridiculous from the wait time, food orders getting mixed up and dealing with their rude manager that wanted to argue more than provide a solution. The place looks inviting but stay away. We are going back to Aruba in a few days but not patronizing Cuba’s Cooking again. 😮
Same feelings about towers ( see Sir Isaac Brock battle of 1812 Queenston Heights) . Natural reactions !
Best video ever thank you !
You can actually just roll under a palapa as long as it’s not occupied. You do have to pay for the beach bed chair thing (if you don’t want to use them you can just remove them from under the palapas) but the hotels are not allowed to chase you away from the palapas because they are on public property as all beaches on Aruba are public. If you do get in trouble, just contact the beach police and they will sort it out for you. This is due to a court ruling where they dictated that because the hotels built them on public property without government permission, they are officially public property now.
Love from Trinidad 🇹🇹❤