Aruba talk again, sorry need advice

I have been to Aruba once, but it was a stop on our cruise. DH and I are planning on going in Oct and need some help since I don't know much about it.

A) Worth staying at an all-inclusive or just booking a Hotel and do our own thing? Now my thoughts, I know Aruba has so much to offer, great Restaurants, etc.. but I was thinking all-inclusive for the days we just want to chill at the Hotel, drinks all day, maybe grab lunch there and we can still go out for dinner if we wanted to.

B) Book through a Travel Agent or on our own?

C) Anyone been to the RIU Palace there? This is an all-inclusive place, just renovated in 2007, 8 miles from the airport.

D) Where did you stay and how was it?

Thank you everyone

Re: Aruba talk again, sorry need advice

My DH and I went in October a few years ago and are going back this October. We rented a house, near the airport, not the beach. It has it own pool (which was a plus for us) and a full equiped kitchen. We bought groceries and ate breakfast at the house, packed lunch and sat at the beach all day! It was wonderful.

There are so many wonderful restaruants that we knew that we didnt want to stay at an all-inclusive.

I frequent a message board all about Aruba. They give some really good advice and tips. There is also a section on there where people are renting thier timeshares at the various resorts for a good price. You might want to check that out.

Last time we flew we used Song...which is no longer flying but now we booked with Jet Blue and they have direct flights

Here it the link to the message board

LINK

I didnt use a travel agent to book our last trip...but then again I ususally book all of our trips myself.

Re: Aruba talk again, sorry need advice

I have been to aruba twice and I loveeee it!
I would definitly stay at an all inclusive. The first time we went we stayed at the Occidental and I loved it the food was great! Second time we went we stayed at the Riu and it just opened and it was great too. If I had to choose one hotel I would definitly go with the Occidental though. We also went out to dinner even though we had the all inclusive. You must go to the flying fishbone and el gaucho. If you google them you could see whats on the menu and I would make reservations as soon as you book your trip.
We booked both vacations through Liberty Travel but I called around to different libertys and matched prices. I was shocked at the price difference by town.
We took american airlines both times but my parents have taken Jet Blue.

FM me with any questions!

Re: Aruba talk again, sorry need advice

We went in December.

I wouldn't recommend an all-inclusive becuase, like the above poster said, there are so many great restaurants there.

We went into the Riu to the casino and stayed next to it. It looked really nice.

I would recommend the Hyatt or the Radisson (not far from the Riu). We staed at the Hyatt and the Westin (used points). They are in the process of updating the Westin and the rooms are beautiful, but, I didn't really love the pool area - and they had no hot tub.

ETA- We booked on our own - we used points for the hotels so I booked our airfare/rental car.

Message edited 4/30/2008 10:55:27 AM.

Re: Aruba talk again, sorry need advice

Thank you everyone.

Again, only reason I am leaning towards the all-inclusive is for the days we just want to stay at the Hotel, relax and not really worry about it.

I appreciate all the comments

Re: Aruba talk again, sorry need advice

i went last august-and stayed at the divi divi AI

everyone told me not to stay at an AI bc theres so many great restaurants-which is true, but im so glad we stayed at an AI

we got up, went straight to bfast n had lunch at the hotel-dinner too. we ate out 2 nites at el gaucho and (im forgetting where else) but it was very good.

if i were to go again, i would def do AI, and i would go to the RIU. its GORGEOUSSSSSSS-huge and the restaurants looked so nice in there!

Re: Aruba talk again, sorry need advice

I just went in October for our HM, it was great, we stayed at the Rennasiance Ocean suites(located in the low rise area). its the only hotel that has a private beach, which you can only get to by boarding a boat (5 min ride) over to the Island. It was really cool, and never ever packed! theres 2 sides to it, the family side and the adult only side.

I wouldn't go AI just because theres soooo many good places to eat. but I know my hotel offered food vouchers that you could buy, as little or as many as you wanted, so maybe that would be an option, then a few nights are paid for and you can use whenever.

Either way, you will love Aruba.

We really wanted to stay at Bortucci(sp?) but it was completly booked. I had heard so many good things.

Also, as for a TA, we tried to book everthing on our own and went to a TA for the 2nd part of our HM and she did sooooo much better on prices and even had access to better flight times that we couldn't get online. They don't charge anything so you could also just price it out with them and see what they come up with. I found it so much more helpful and will use a TA from now on. Good luck and enjoy Aruba!

Re: Aruba talk again, sorry need advice

Aruba is great, dont do the all inclusive, there are too many great restaurants that you will want to go to!

Gauchos is a MUST! It was hte best steak of my life! And the piano/cigar bar across the street is great!Flying Fishbone was romatic...there were so many nice places.

We actually went with friends who did the all inclusive package at our hotel, we ate at SOME of the same restaurants and at the end we paid less with our food and all our drinks! When we were at the hotel everything got charged to the room, and some of the restaurants near the hotel we were able to do the same as they have some agreement I guess.

We stayed at the Renaissance which is downtown. Loved it because we could walk to everything. they are not on the beach but rather the marina. To go to the beach you take a boat out of the lobby to a private island with flamingos and other wild life, it was amazing! We loved it there!

I am a price shopper for vacations, so I booked on my own, the airfare through expedia and the hotel through libertytravel.com which also included transfer to hotel!

Re: Aruba talk again, sorry need advice

We went once and stayed at the Bucuti and a second time and stayed at the Tamarijn. I know everyone says the restaurants are so great, but I found that some of them were also way overpriced. I think it depends on what you want to do while you are there. If you will be out and about on the island a lot, doing an all inclusive might be a waste.

I liked the convenience of the all inclusive, since we wanted to totally relax and just veg out on the beach or at the pool each day. We went out a few times to eat and rented a car for two days when we were at the AI, but mainly hung out at the hotel. If I go back, I will probably do an all inclusive again.

The Bucuti was beautiful - we stayed at the Tara Suites on our honeymoon. The suites are for adults only, no kids. I think their beach is the best on the island from what I saw, and the whole stay was quiet and romantic.

The Tamarijn was almost the opposite Lots of families, louder and not as nice, but still clean and I thought the food was pretty good for an all inclusive. They had more activities and stuff planned for kids available.

I would go back to either place, I liked them both.

Message edited 5/6/2008 2:56:48 PM.

Re: Aruba talk again, sorry need advice

Aruba was amazing. DH and I went last summer. We stayed at the Westin. We got a really good deal because they were still finishing the RIU which is next door. The Westin has been recently updated. It didn't have the same sort of ambiance as the Hyatt - which was a bigger property and more extravagent. For what we paid, we really enjoyed our stay.
We did not do the All inclusive because people had told us there were a lot of places to eat. It may be worth doing it (I'm assuming in any hotel) if you don't mind spending the extra money. If you still plan on going out to dinner, figure each nice resturant is going to be about $100. Then add alcohol, and appetizers. So it all may work out to the same price, it just depends on whether or not you are trying to save a few bucks or not. If you do breakfast or lunch at the hotel, and it's not all inclusive, figure 50 bucks or so. Then depending on how many drinks you want at the beach....KWIM? (Hope this makes sense)
But you can't go wrong with ARUBA, and like PP's have said - GAUCHO is incredible.
And if you have any jewelry shopping...or any designer shopping...save if for Aruba! NO TAX! and lots of discounts!
Have a great vacation!

Re: Aruba talk again, sorry need advice

DH and I went to Aruba 2 or 3 years ago - we stayed at the Hyatt

for us we really enjoy nice dinners so we didn't do an AI

if you're looking to save some $ during the day - have breakfast/lunch outside the hotel - by the Hyatt was a Dunkin Donuts that was great for breakfast and iced coffees

Also not sure if they still do that but when we did order food/drinks at the pool we charged to the room. Then at the end of the trip we got most of it comped because DH was at the casino, something to think about if you gamble.