Rating: Very Good
- Airport is on “Aruba Time” – everything opens late, airport gates
aren’t open until after noon. Contintal Airliners, take a taxi to the hotel less than
$20 and worth it, take taxis everywhere.
- Sunburn – watch for the top and bottom of your feet when on the beach and your arms
when horseback riding.
-Rancho Notorious Horseback – We were both first-time riders. I liked it a lot. My
wife didn’t . She said her horse wouldn’t listen and she had to get off half-way
through. She waited a half hour for a shuttle bus to pick her up. I recommend it only if
you are used to riding a horse. Otherwise it is risky. It is not for everyone.
- ABC Tours – Half Day Bus Tour: Lunch at Pelican’s Nest on the dock was very
good I liked the chicken. The bus was half hour late picking us up. It brought us back to
the hotel an hour late from the half day tour. It was on “Aruba Time” also
whenever they feel like showing up. But, still I recommend it as long as you have no other
plans for that day and are not time-sensitive. Now, you may ask how can I recommend it.
They answer is they took us to all the tourist sites we wanted to go, they took our
pictures there, it was a small group, they answered questions, and Marvin even took us to
Baby Beach which was way on the other end of the island.
- Red Sail – Sunset Cruise – 1.5 hours, has drinks, only a few snacks, but it
was good.
- Beach Volleyball - most days at 11 AM, fun and a lot of kids play, so it is really
all-inclusive. Your feet will get hot in the sand.
- Butterfly Farm – good walk near the Wyndham, nice place lots of butterflies.
- Allegro All-Inclusive – included meals and I liked all the meals – very good.
- Lounge Room – Internet only $1.00 for 3 minutes, good deal, also had billiard
tables. Phone calls are $5 per minute, so don’t call anybody.
- Dine-Around Vouchers – best thing is we got $200 vouchers which are also good for
the gift store – Logo Shop at the Allegro. The prices in all the gift shops are high.
2 or 3 times that in a 7-11 or Quicky Mart. So bring your own toothpaste, razors, etc.
- The rooms weren't that great, but I didn’t come to stay in a room. If nitpicking, I
could say we had to ask for towels a few times, the a/c was loud, the shower water was too
hot and leaked when it was off. But, I wouldn’t complain about these minor things. It
had a great balcony with a view of the ocean and pool on the fifth floor.
- Food - The best restaurant in the hotel was Caruso's, the Italian restaurant –
great.
- I also liked the brick-oven pizza served every night for dinner.
- Breakfast Buffet was very good, We had it every morning and liked it a lot.
- Pappaya’s Lunch – sandwiches, my favorite is the salmon sandwich – very
good.
- El Gaucho – steak house, my wife doesn’t like steak, but she
loved the shrimp, soup, and even the steak. I liked it a lot too.
- Dinner Buffet, varies served in Ballroom can be combined with the show – good.
- Le Petit Café – best known for hot plated food cooked in front
of you; but we had ordered salads and the waitress didn’t like that too much so she
copped a bad attitude with us. OK food. Bad service.
- Lighthouse Restaurant – very good, but I like Caruso’s better.
- Stuff we don’t like in general that other people might: Casino, Alcoholic drinks.
- Walks on the boardwalk, most of the big hotels are next to ours. The Hyatt had a great
pool and exotic birds, the Radisson was nice, Holiday Inn was big but I didn’t like
the pool. The Marriot was huge, but far away, not near any other hotels.
- Beach – very good, plenty of chairs and shade. Water was salty but good. They give
everyone 2 towel passes, but towels run out in the afternoon.
- Pool – great pool, stretches under a bridge, has a swim-up bar, lots of fun
activities like water polo and aqua excersizing. I just wanted more water volleyball.
All in all, a great honeymoon vacation.
Any questions, please e-mail me.
Brian
