Aruba Review – A Vacation Guide
We recently traveled to Aruba for the first time! It was a wonderful experience and we plan to go back again and again – there’s so much to explore and enjoy on this Caribbean Island. We learned some helpful tips along the way, and I’d love to share our experiences through an Aruba Review with others so you have a good idea of what to expect and how to plan your trip to Aruba. Here’s a Vacation Guide packed with everyone you need to know for a successful and amazing trip to Aruba!
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Aruba Airport Arrival
The Aruba Airport, Queen Beatrix International Airport is known for being…slow. Yes, it’s true that Aruba is on Island Time, but even getting out of the airport can be a pain. You don’t just arrive and get on with your trip. Nope, expect to stand in at least 3 long lines!
The first line you hop onto as soon as you get off the plane. The next one separates people traveling with children (longer line) and travelers without children. Here you show your passports and move to the main area of the airport where you can use the bathroom and pick up your luggage (try to use just carry-ons if possible!) The Duty-Free Shop is also located here.
Next, you wait in another long line to get through – literally just to get outside I think! There were just a lot of lines and everyone is tired and hungry and just be forewarned that it does take time to get through the airport once you arrive. They do offer a service where you can skip the line, but it’s like $155 per person, so it really depends on if you think it’s worth it.
Using Jet Blue Vacations, we were able to secure a van/bus that picked us up from the airport and brought us to our hotel. This was a great option – it was free, and while it was only about a 20-minute ride (they drop off other travelers to other hotels on the way), it was nice to explore the area a little bit and see what other hotels were like and where some shops and restaurants were located.
Just an added note – we had a reservation for 7 pm for dinner. We landed around 4/4:30 – and by the time we finally made it to our hotel (The Holiday Inn in Palm Beach), we had about 15 minutes to change and get over to the restaurant – luckily it was Moomba which is right next door to the Holiday Inn Resort. I’m glad I didn’t make the reservation any earlier because we were not expecting such long lines to get out of the airport!
Each person traveling to Aruba needs an ED card. There is a $20 per person sustainability fee, and this is the official site to purchase. (There are a bunch of scam sites that charge more). You will need to upload your passport and add information for each person traveling – it’s very easy. Then you will get an e-mail after you pay the $20. (Kids under 8 years old are free, but still need the ED card) I would suggest taking a screenshot of the “ok to board” picture, or printing it out in case there are any issues. (We did both!) You fill this out up to 6 Days before your arrival in Aruba.
Palm Beach Aruba
Palm Beach is located on the Western side of the island, north of Eagle Beach in the high-rise section. This was an excellent spot for us – we traveled with teens and there is a ton of shopping and dining within walking distance. We didn’t need a car at all staying in Palm Beach. Unless you want to check out Baby Beach or the other side of the island, there’s plenty to do without a car.
Palm Beach is very kid-friendly and walkable. If you are looking for a bit more quiet and seclusion, I’d suggest Eagle Beach where the resorts are a bit more geared to adults. However, there isn’t a ton to walk to depending on where you are in Eagle Beach, so just keep that in mind. A quiet stay for a couple staying at an all-inclusive resort would be great.
In Palm Beach, there is Paseo Herencia Mall which is a ton of fun at night. Spend the day at the beach, go there for dinner and nightlife. There are tons of gift shops and regular stores including the popular Aruba Aloe store, great restaurants, bars, dessert stands, and even entertainment at 8pm nightly in the center by the fountain. Definitely worth checking out!
Also, in Palm Beach Aruba there are no lifeguards! There is a roped-off area for swimming where we stayed and floats are welcome because the water is clear and calm. Enjoy some floating and just relax. These are the best & easiest floats to bring – just blow them up when you get there (actually the towel hut will also blow up bigger floats for you!)
Holiday Inn Aruba
We chose to stay at the Holiday Inn Aruba for the location. It has some reviews of being “outdated” and while the rooms, sure, are a bit outdated compared to more modern hotels, it’s really not a big deal. The rooms were clean, the resort area was beautiful, and the staff and other guests were friendly. It’s a big resort- and located right on the beach and directly across the street from Paseo Herencia Mall. Beachfront and walkability were necessities for us!
There are several towers you can stay in at the Holiday Inn Aruba. However, they take your requests with a grain of salt and kind of just put you wherever. We didn’t request anything because we simply didn’t know the difference anyway, and it worked out fine.
We stayed in the Sea Tower (which – if you get stuck on the side by Moomba, it’s LOUD with music playing till 1:00 am…) but even that wasn’t too bad. I never sleep well at hotels, but the beds are surprisingly comfortable, and even with the music next door – for some reason, it didn’t really bother me. Or – if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em! One night we just had drinks and danced at Moomba till 1:00 anyway!
There are 3 pools at the Holiday Inn Aruba (the one by the Sea Tower had fewer little kids), and there are chairs and umbrellas all over, up for grabs. There are stores inside the resort, along with a Casino, and a snack shop with light snacks and drinks. There are also several restaurants at the resort, ranging from fancier/more expensive ones like Da Vinci Ristorante and Corals Restaurant to a Gelato hut and open-air beach dining like Sea Breeze Restaurant and Oceanside Bar & Grill.
There’s also a great walking path from the Holiday Inn over to other hotels, restaurants, and stores, plus huts to rent floats and snorkeling gear. (We didn’t see anything snorkeling near the hotels, though).
Chairs & Palapas on the Beach
Each hotel has its “section” of the beach, although all Aruba beaches are public. At the Holiday Inn, you can grab as many chairs as you want and set them up on the beach wherever you’d like, free of charge. But the palapas need to be reserved ahead of time through the website here, and they get sold out quickly. They are $30 per day and get charged to your room should you reserve one (up to 2 weeks before your stay you can reserve). You can also request an umbrella for $40 per day, which they will set up for you. I wouldn’t suggest bringing your own umbrella or buying one – it will get wrecked or end up in Venezuela – the wind in Aruba is no joke!
We didn’t use a palapa or an umbrella throughout our whole stay. In the mornings, there is some shade from palm trees, then we’d go have lunch or hang by the pool. (It’s easier to find umbrellas by the pool in the afternoon) There are also cabanas by the Sea Tower Pool that can be reserved for $60 per day, and a huge palapa that covers a bunch of chairs like a “community palapa” that was a great option for napping!
While the palapas are a great way to protect yourself from the sun, they are stationary. So, you can’t move them when the sun moves, or tilt them like an umbrella. You will have to keep moving your chair around to stay under the shade, and if you fall asleep and the sun shifts…well just make sure you have plenty of reef-friendly sunscreen on! (Bring your own sunscreen, it’s pretty expensive on the island!)
Restaurants on Palm Beach Aruba
There are a plethora of restaurants within walking distance in the Palm Beach Area. They range from high-end Italian like Patrizia’s of New York (with great Sangria!) to Eduardos—a cute little Playa Bowls-type spot with breakfast bowls, protein smoothies, avocado toast, and more. There are Mexican food places, all-you-can-eat rib nights, Burgers & Bagels, gelato shops, and everything in between.
There are some fun spots too, with great vibes. Moomba is a great restaurant where you can eat right on the beach, feet in the sand, watching the sunset. We did have some annoying wind experiences here…but it was a beautiful setting for a 7 pm sunset reservation when we first arrived in Aruba. They have live music some nights, plus music and dancing till 1 am most nights. I found their food to be “just ok,” but the drinks and dancing were a great experience! They also have a breakfast buffet, but again, not the best! Go for some dancing, though!
Another fun spot was Bugaloe. It’s about a 15-minute walk from the Holiday Inn Aruba – which you can walk on the sand or the pathway. Then the restaurant itself is out on De Palm Pier. They have daily specials, reasonable prices, bands, and DJs. On Wednesdays, they have karaoke, which was so much fun! We danced and sang and had drinks over the water. It definitely has the island vibe, and we had a really fun waiter here, too, which makes the experience that much better.
I really enjoyed Carlito’s for lunch – they have an open-air spot right next to the beach, with a great bar and lunch menu. You’ll find salads, mozzarella sticks, sandwiches, great quesadillas, plus other easy eats here. It’s along the path where many restaurants and stores are – the perfect spot to stop and grab a quick lunch and a drink with a really fun ambiance with license plates, shirts, and other things hanging from the ceiling.
There are a couple of restaurants that we didn’t make it to that we wanted to, but will have to check out next time. Oak restaurant is supposed to be upscale and have great food – but the reservations are like 3 months out! We didn’t have trouble with any other restaurants as far as getting seated, but this one was just impossible to get into. We only made a reservation once, for the first night there, and always managed to get a table with no wait at any restaurant we tried. (We went in late March). The other restaurant we wanted to try was Azzuro Ristorante Italiano. It’s beautiful with great views of the sea, plus they make homemade pasta and make it in a cheese wheel that I’ve heard is delicious. Next time!
Aruba Weather
The weather in Aruba is pretty much always sunny and around 80-90 Degrees Fahrenheit year-round. It’s beautiful and warm, with the most perfect sunsets over the Caribbean Sea, mornings with blue sky, and a breeze every day. While this breeze is nice, it can become more like…pure gusty wind. Hold on to menus and napkins if eating at restaurants on the beach. Don’t bother with a cute hair-do, and don’t bother using spray sunscreen (it will just blow away and not get on you at all!)
The wind was really our biggest hang-up. We heard it was windy, but I think it was exceptionally windy while we were there. Like – hard to eat at certain places, covering your food from sand, and sand pelting your legs. It’s also hard to tell if you’re burning because it doesn’t really feel hot in Aruba, the wind makes you not realize that you are burning to a crisp. Aruba is very close to the equator, so the sun is extremely strong! Make sure to keep reapplying your sunscreen – and wear a UV Hat. We ALL got burnt scalps!
Better yet, invest in some UV clothing! Especially when we went on a boat tour, we all wore rash guards to protect ourselves from the sun’s harsh rays. Plus, be sure to grab some towel clips, or you will be chasing your towel along the beach!
Shopping in Aruba
There’s a wide range of shops in Aruba. There are gift shops with souvenirs – sweatshirts, hats, magnets, and more. There’s also high-end shopping with name brands, beautiful jewelry, and we found a couple of local artist shops that had some great one-of-a-kind pieces.
The Paseo Herencia Mall is directly across the street from the Holiday Inn and has stores like Calvin Klein, Aldo, Pandora, Psycho Bunny, and Little Switzerland. You will also find beach & souvenir shops there and the Aruba Aloe store.
If you travel to the capital of Aruba, Oranjestad, where the Cruise Ships come in, you will find an array of more stores. Stores like Zara, Nautica, Hugo Boss, Swatch, and Swarovski are at the Royal Plaza Mall. A couple of streets away, you’ll find Bath & Body Works, Victoria’s Secret, Adidas, and Under Armour. There’s also the I Love Aruba Store and some other souvenir shops around the area. Take the free trolley when you get to Orangestad for a great viewing of what stores the area has to offer.
Besides regular stores in the area, there is also the Aruba Flea Market and other small market shops lined up. Here, you will find some hand-painted souvenirs, knick-knacks, fun jewelry, hats, and more from local vendors.
From the Holiday Inn Aruba in Palm Beach, we were able to easily take the city bus right in front of the hotel. The last place to get off is right in Orangestad. You get back on right where it dropped you off when you’re ready to go and take the bus back to your hotel. Just a couple of dollars a person, and it’s a super easy ride (but plenty of crazy drivers and speed bumps! Plus a lot of roundabouts). Do some shopping, have some lunch at Lucy’s on the water, and head back to your hotel for an afternoon dip!
Things to Do in Aruba
If you’re looking for more than lazy beach days, great local food, and vibrant shopping, there are some other great things to do in Aruba. It’s a beautiful Caribbean Island to explore and take in. There are bus tours that show you the entire island, sunset sails, snorkeling, ATV tours visiting caves and natural pools, cliff jumping, horseback riding, barhopping party busses, and more!
For our first time in Aruba, we opted for the Dolphin Catamaran Snorkel and Sail with Open Bar. It’s about 3 hours long, has light snacks, and plenty of Aruba Ariba to go around! The tour brings you to 2 snorkeling spots, one with a shipwreck and one by the coral reef. You are SURE to see tons of fish and maybe even a turtle!
They supply you with snorkel equipment and fins, plus life jackets if you choose. It’s a great time. There was music, drinks, fun people, and colorful fish. Everything we were looking for! At the end, we also tried the spiral slide and the rope swing. So funny, make sure you take a video!
In addition to fun tours and boat rides, there are huts around the beach where you can rent floats and kayaks, go tubing, and parasailing. There’s plenty to do! There are also movie theaters around if you need to get out of the sun one day.
Some more popular spots to explore are :
- The California Light House – built in 1910’s, amazing views, popular restaurant nearby & ice cream
- Renaissance Island – this is where the Flamingos are! You can stay at the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort or purchase a day pass
- Arashi Beach is supposed to have great snorkeling (go early morning to see sea turtles!)
- Baby Beach has calm, clear, shallow waters
- The Butterfly Farm – tours last 20-25 minutes, and you can stay as long as you’d like
- The Donkey Sanctuary – no admission fee, but you’re welcome to hug and snuggle a donkey with any donation!
- The Aruba Aloe Factory & Museum – free 15-minute tours, learn a lot about local history and culture. Their sunscreen products are pricey, but highly rated!
- The National Archaeological Museum – a small free museum open Tuesday through Sunday
- Super Food Plaza Aruba – It’s a grocery store that people seem to be obsessed with!
Aruba Airport Departure
Departing Aruba is sad in so many ways. Your vacation is over and now you will be waiting hours in line. We took the bus that we booked for free through JetBlue Vacations, which was convenient. They picked us up at about 1 pm for a 5:00 flight (Holiday Inn will hold your luggage after you check out so you can grab lunch before you leave and not worry about your bags!)
They do tell you to arrive 3-4 hours before your flight because the lines can be so long. (Saturdays are the worst, and people miss their flights!) We left on a Friday, and yes, the lines were long. You are outside, in a very long line, and it is hot. It’s a covered area, and they do have a spritz thing, spritzing water, but it’s so windy there that none of the water gets to you, so it’s pretty pointless. Also, everyone is a bit grumpy because vacation is over!
There is also the option again to skip the line for about $155 (each person), but the better option really is just to try traveling during the week, or off-peak season. Spring break can be rough for hotel pricing and long lines at the airport.
There is food at the Queen Beatrix International Airport, but the lines for food are also very long. They have things like Chinese, Quizno’s Subs, Ice Cream, and Auntie Anne’s Pretzels (worst line by far for some reason!)
*** Aruba Travel Tip!*** Use the MPC App for Departure!
We used the MPC app, and that really helped speed up the departure process. It’s the MPC app (Mobile Passport Control) and it’s just for leaving Aruba. You add the airport and passengers in the app, then do the rest once you are on the WIFI at the airport. At US Customs, be sure to tell them you are using the app and show them the QR code. This will get you into the designated MPC user line! Trust me, every little bit helps at this airport.
The End of the Journey
We had a really great experience traveling to Aruba. We learned a lot, had a ton of fun, and really relaxed and enjoyed ourselves. We are already planning to go back and try some excursions and restaurants that we weren’t able to check out this time.
Hopefully, this Aruba Review Guide will help you with your vacation planning – I wish I had something like this when I was planning our trip! I didn’t really know what to expect, and a firsthand experience would have been helpful.
Have the best time ever, Aruba is a magical place!
More Favorite Pics From Aruba
“Better to see something once than hear about it a thousand times.”
