Expert: Andy Mendyk - 9/19/2003

Question
Hi Andy,

thanks for making yourself available! Staying at Marriot 9/26-- 10/2. Will be renting a car from Thrifty at airport.. With a Friday, "low season" arrival, how much time between deplaning and beach? Will need to go through customs, luggage collection, rental agency and a friday afternoon drive to the marriot. Flight arrives 2:57pm.

Also.. how much of a walk to other restaurants in high-rise area from the marriot.. If we want to go to Moomba, for example, is it more than 5 minutes?

How is the Marriot casino? Is there a band?

thanks again for volunteering yourself for my inquisition.

Dave

Answer
Hi Dave! I would give a good "guesstimate" that by the time you deplane, yo can be at the Marriot nothing more then an hour. When you get off the plane, go up the escalator which will be Aruban Immigrations. After your passport or birth certificate is validated and they get the immigration card, (which you will fill out on the plane..bring a pen with you!), you will then go downstairs to the street level to get you luggage. Go outside and head directly across the street to the Thrifty Rental. Drive to/thru downtown Oranjestad, and follow the signs to the "High Rise Hotels". There are plenty of resturants both in the Hotel and adjoining hotels. Hyatt has good places to eat, as I go there often. The Stellaris Casino at the Marriot is nice, but go to the Copacabana Casino at the Hyatt also. Ocassionally, most Casinos have a band playing inside, but the schedule for that differs week to week, but I have always seen live bands at the Hyatt everytime I went there. If there is anything else in particular I can help you with, feel free to contact me again...and...Have a Great trip!!!