Just returned from my first Carribean vacation, and glad it was in Aruba. What an
incredible island and a most enjoyable trip.We were interested in an all inclusive plan
and a hotel on beach, our travel agent recommended the Allegro Resort.
Our day, there were four of
us, started very early. 3am ride to Logan in Boston for 4am check-in and a 6:45am flight
on Omni Air non-stop to Aruba. Check in was uneventful and orderly, some hurry up and wait
but nothing to get riled up about. Good flight down, not crowded, pleasant people all
around. Arrived in Aruba on time and breezed thru all the formalites. GWV guides all over,
couldn't get lost if you wanted to. Transfer bus to Allegro and checkin quick and easy. We
were two couples and had requested adjoining rooms or rooms close to each other and were
pleased to have only one room between us and we had great views of island and ocean from
the 7th floor. Rooms were a bit dissapointing on first impression, a little oldish and
rundown but comfortable and clean. Large king bed, in room safe. Housekeeping and
maintenance excellent. All inclusive bracelets in place we hit the Topaz buffet and
explored the grounds. Pool area is breathtaking, beach great, get to either early to
secure chairs. Pool and beach bars had friendly staff. Buffets were good but you got a
little tired of the same offerings by the end of the week. Papaya restaraunt next to the
pool was a good change from the buffet, lunch menu better than the evening one. The
evening buffet and dinner shows at the Ballroom were enjoyable and food was good, a
different theme each night. Carusos Italian restaurant was a big disapointment food wise,
servers were top notch.
Outside the hotel we did 4
planned activites. The half day Aruba Safari by DePalm tours. This was a fun time, drive
your own land rover cross country following a guide. One problem with this was they
require 6 people per vehicle and we had 4 and others were 4 or 2 and they wanted us to
split up. We were not aware of this when we booked the tour at a special GWV orientation.
We complained loud enough and the vehicles left with only 4 people on each. That same day
we did the sunset cruise aboard the Jolly Pirates pirate ship. this was the best, great
crew, especially Julio, and you get to swing on the rope swing and drink the famous
Pirates punch. The next day we did the Seaworld Explorer, a half submerged vessel to view
the coral, the Antilla wreck etc. We did one day in town, bus ride @ $2.00 round trip. One
day to town is plenty, All the same kinds of shops. Didn't experience the restaraunts
because of the all inclusive deal but they are abundant. Ask guest services about dine
around plan, coupons to use at restaraunts and shops outside the inclusive plan. One other
trip we took was Cat People catamaran ride to the Venezuala coast and
back, a 3.5 hr trip and a bit rough, some people a little under the weather, not a lot of
amenites on this trip but comfortable and fun, drinks and snacks served enroute and back.
Only downside to the whole trip was less than friendly and supportive front desk staff
when my wife had medical emergency, a pretty bad cut on her finger. They did not respond
to our need for assistance with any enthusiasm and we ended up getting our own taxi to the
hospital for aid. Putting that aside we would return to Aruba in a heart beat and yes we
would come back to the Allegro
Returning home was okay.
Transfers to the airport and immigration and customs were no problem. Flight home on Omni
was great.
Vince
