Question Hello Mark,
Is it more expensive to rent a car right at the airport because of airport taxes etc? Any rental company suggestions? Any suggestions that you have for two single gals from Minnesota would be greatly appreciated! Do they drive on the opposite side of road there? Looking for a list of fun places to go and listen to music, have dinner, have fun etc.
Thanks a million,
Leisa
Answer Hi Leisa,
I rent my car from the same place for the last 8 years, Economy Car Rental, http://www.economyaruba.com/
The prices are good and the service is great..
Do they drive on the opposite side of road there? NO, they drive on the same side as we do in the USA..
**********************************************************
Aruba's Exciting Nightlife
Place Your Bets at Aruba's Casinos
Baccarat, roulette, blackjack and slot machines beckon from the casinos of these Aruban high-rise hotels: the Allegro Aruba, Hyatt Regency, Wyndham Aruba, Aruba Grand, Seaport Casino, Holiday Inn, Aruba Renaissance Hotel & Crystal Casino, Radisson, Alhambra Casino, Marriott and the Royal Cabana. Aruba's best known casino is the Alhambra Bazaar, across from the Aruba Beach Resort.
The Alhambra is more than just a casino, it's an 8,000-square-foot entertainment center. Another popular casino on the island is the Royal Cabana Casino, located at La Cabana All-Suites Beach Resort & Casino. The casino is the largest in the Caribbean and features slots, blackjack, roulette, horseracing, craps, baccarat and Caribbean Stud Poker.
Bingo and raffles are also a feature of the casinos, where risk-takers can win luxury prizes such as cars and other big prizes. The Royal Cabana Casino is home to the Tropicana Showroom.
Kukoo Kunuku
The magical evening starts with Richard, your Kukoo Kunuku host and driver, picking you up at your hotel in our fully air-conditioned by the tradewinds...hand painted...one of a kind...1957 Chevy Bus. Our first stop is at Arashi Beach for a sunset champagne toast and a glimpse of the elusive green flash. After that we shake our maracas all the way to our favorite Kunuku local watering holes. The first drink at each stop is always on us! Enjoy our live entertainment and meet our famously friendly locals. One of the highlights of the evening will be dining under the stars at a traditional Aruban home.
Tattoo
Lit up at night like a carnival at sea, the Tattoo will be host to the most memorable evening of your vacation! Experience the magic of the tropical moon as it inspires the most reluctant feet to dance to our popular Island rhythms and your favorite tunes past and present! Dance and enjoy dinner under star filled skies while Tattoo's talented crew entertains you! Take the plunge off our wild & wicked Rope Swing! as the midnite hour tolls. Don't leave Aruba without getting TATTOO'D!
Party Time at Aruba Hotels
Aruba's hotels are noted for their festive theme parties. There is at least one theme-night party going on in Aruba virtually every night. Every Friday choices including Carnival Nights, Aruba Extravaganza Shows and Dance Shows.
De Palm Island
A privately owned island designed for fun and relaxation. The newly built facilities, such as the 300-seat theater restaurant called "Palm Terrace," the unique "Windjammer Sun Deck," the comfortable and spacious "Wild Duck Bar" and lots of "Charming Extras," such as quiet nooks for reading or resting, have been created with luxury in mind. All offer seaside cuisine al fresco.
Restaurants
Restaurants abound on Aruba, offering visitors a variety of options when dining on the island. Over 100 international restaurants are available with exotic cuisines ranging from Indonesian, French, Italian, Chinese, Mediterranean, Japanese, seafood and local fare.
Some other of our favorite places to eat are Tuscany's inside the Marriott Hotel, Madame Jennette's, Papiamento's, Valentino's Restaurant, The French Steakhouse and Le Petit Café.
You can not go wrong with any of the place I mentioned.
FAJITA FRENZY
6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Aruba Sonesta Resort & Casino at Seaport Village
MEXICAN NIGHT
6:30 p.m.-10 p.m
Best Western Manchebo Beach Resort
HAPPY HOUR
5p.m. - 6 p.m.
Radisson Aruba
HAVANA TROPICAL
8 p.m.-10 p.m.
Wyndham Aruba
Places of Interest..
Oranjestad
The capital city, located on the southern coast near the western end of the island, is extremely picturesque with its Dutch colonial architecture in pastel colors. At the marina, merchants come to sell fresh fish and produce right off the boats every morning and deep sea fishing boats depart for half-day or full-day excursions. The downtown area with shopping malls surrounding it is the primary shopping area on the island.
Fort Zoutman And Willem III Tower
The oldest building in the country, this Dutch fortress now houses the Historical Museum of Aruba, where Caiquetio artifacts from the prehistoric past are now on display alongside remnants from the Dutch colonial period and other items of local interest. The Fort is home to the weekly Bon Bini Festival featuring local talent, foods, arts and crafts.
De Olde Molen
This old windmill was first built in 1804 in Holland and then shipped to Aruba piece by piece and reconstructed in 1960. It now features a moderately-priced restaurant that specializes in continental dining.
Bushiribana
On the northern coast midway down the island lie the abandoned gold mines that were the center of Aruba's gold rush during the nineteenth century. Nearby sit the ruins of an old pirate castle that some say goes all the way back to 1499, the year that Alonso de Ojeda landed here.
Hooiberg
Shaped like a haystack (Hooiberg means Mt.Haystack in Dutch), this mountain looms prominently from the middle of the island. At 541 feet, it is not the tallest mountain (Mt.Yamanota and Mt.Arikok at 617 feet and 577 feet respectively are both taller), but it is the most accessible. Climb it's 500 steps to the peak where it is possible to see across to the coast of Venezuela on a clear day.
Natural Bridge
One of the main attractions on the east coast is this coral formation 25 feet high and 100 feet long, which has been carved out by the pounding surf over the course of the centuries.
Boca Prins
A favorite pastime along the beach here is to join the locals in dune sliding. Sneakers and a strong pair of jeans are definitely encouraged.
Casibari And Ayo
Just north of Hooiberg, a strange geological formation of large diorite boulders looks as if it had just been dumped here in a pile. Scientists still have not been able to explain how these rocks got here.
Arikok National Park
Surrounding Mt. Arikok near the center of the island is a natural preserve which features some of the oldest Arawak drawings, as well as trails that showcase Aruba's great variety of plants and animals like the divi-divi and kwihi trees, rare and exotic cacti, aloe, tropical flowers, birds and iguanas.
There's also an old Aruban "cunucu" house, "cas ditorta," made of mud and grass. Together with the Coastal Protection Zone, Arikok National Park encompasses 25 percent of the island.
Fontein And Quadiriki Caves
The Quadirikiri cave is famous for its two chambers where sunlight shines through and is the perfect backdrop for unique pictures. Be adventurous and dare to go down the 100-ft. long tunnel, home of hundreds of harmless bats.
The Fontein cave is the most popular of the caves as it is the only one that has Indian drawings on the ceilings, providing a real sense of island history to this cave.
Cunucu
The Papiamento word for "countryside," the Cunucu is the rugged, rambling interior of the island which is generally flat but punctuated by all kinds of vegetation. Small pastel houses fenced in by cactuses line the roadside.
Daimari
Near the site of the first gold discovery is a functioning coconut plantation. Daimari is private property and is where you'll find Gotcha Paintball and horseback riding.
Savaneta
On the southeastern side of the island is the oldest town in Aruba, Savaneta, the original capital. This is where the Dutch first settled after re-establishing control of the island in 1816. Today, it is an active fishing village, but there are still the remnants of an earlier time. The oldest house in Aruba, a cas de torto or mud-hut dating back some 150 years, is still standing here.
Balashi
Northwest of the Spanish Lagoon, Balashi still preserves the ruins of an old gold smelting plant that was used during the nineteenth-century gold rush. Today, this area hosts Aruba's desalination plant where all of the drinking water is produced. While on island, please don't forget to order a "Balashi Cocktail," as the locals call it.
Bubali Bird Sanctuary
More than 80 species of migratory birds from herons, egrets and cormorants to coots, gulls, skimmers, terns, and ducks nest in and around these two interconnected man-made lakes.
"California Dunes" at Hudishibana
Popularly named for the offshore wreck of the famous ship "California," the isolated northwestern tip of the island features some of the most spectacular scenery, with large rolling sand dunes and an old stone lighthouse that is, however, closed to the public. Diving here is recommended only for the most experienced divers.
San Nicolas
The second largest city in Aruba, San Nicolas is a modern development that rose with the island's oil boom. The area has a typical British Caribbean heritage.
Alto Vista Chapel
The picturesque Chapel of Alto Vista, the first chapel of Aruba, exudes tranquility on its high setting above the sea. The chapel was built by the Indians and Spanish and is often referred to as the Pilgrim's church.
The bright yellow chapel is reached by a winding road lined with white crosses marking the stations of the cross. It is a special place for peace and contemplation, surrounded by the Aruban countryside.
Museums
Archaeological Museum: Zoutmanstraat 1, Oranjestad. Exhibits and artifacts from the island's prehistoric period. Open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Phone (297) 828979.
Historical Museum: Fort Zoutman/Willem III Tower, Oranjestad. Exhibits and artifacts from the early Spanish and Dutch periods. Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is an entrance fee of U.S. $1.15. Phone (297) 826099.
Numismatic Museum: Zuidstraat 27, Oranjestad. 30,000 historic coins from Aruba and around the world. Open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Phone (297) 828831.
Local Arts and Crafts
Artesania Aruba: L.G. Smith Blvd. 178, Oranjestad, opposite Tamarijn Aruba Beach Resort. Pottery and other local handicrafts. Phone (297) 837494.
Bonbini Festival: Fort Zoutman, Oranjestad, every Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A variety of local handicrafts is available for sale.
Creative Hands: Socotorolaan 5A, Oranjestad, just opposite the post office. Pottery, ceramic, porcelain Japanese dolls, paintings and other local handicrafts. Phone (297) 834665.
Just Local: Cashero 51, Santa Cruz
Local Cultural Events and Exhibits
Cas di Cultura (Cultural Center), Vondellaan 2, Oranjestad, offers concerts, ballet performances, folkloric shows and art exhibits. Please check with your hotel for current information, or call the center at (297) 821010
