Aruba recs?

[mikala]

It's cold outside and I'm officially d.o.n.e with winter. I'm eyeing Aruba for a trip in a few months with a 1 and 4 year old and would love recommendations. Lots of people have recommended the island in other vacation threads but there weren't many lodging, restaurant or activity recs. I'm reading through Trip Advisor but its hard to narrow down places appropriate for families with young kids.

We definitely want a suite with a door and easy access to a nice beach with calm water.

Thank you!!

[khalloc]

It's cold outside and I'm officially d.o.n.e with winter. I'm eyeing Aruba for a trip in a few months with a 1 and 4 year old and would love recommendations. Lots of people have recommended the island in other vacation threads but there weren't many lodging, restaurant or activity recs. I'm reading through Trip Advisor but its hard to narrow down places appropriate for families with young kids.

We definitely want a suite with a door and easy access to a nice beach with calm water.

Thank you!!

You probably want Palm Beach. I've never stayed there because I don't like how busy it is. We always stay in the low rise area on eagle beach. The beach is better there and not crowded. But I've heard Palm Beach is calmer. we stayed with kids at the Aruba Beach Club. It's a timeshare and we rented from an owner. They have 1 bedroom suites right on the water which I love! What I don't like about Palm each, besides the crowds is how far a walk it can be from your room to the beach. I don't want to have to walk thru a lobby, go into an elevator, etc....The low rise places on eagle beach are 2 or 3 stories tops. If you are on the ground floor you can just take a few steps and you are in the sand. Low rise hotels are not as fancy. but it like it better. Everything is just more low key and relaxed.

Aruba has many excellent restaurants. definitely don't do all inclusive. it at the same time I can't really recommend many places that you'd want to take a 1 year old and 4 year old too. There are some activities that can be nice with kids - the ostrich farm and donkey sanctuary, and the but fly farm. Also, go to baby beach. That is a great beach with small kids. But you'll need a car to get there. We always rent a car for our entire stay though. You'd need it for the ostrich farm and donkey sanctuary too.

Definitely do NOT try going to the Natural Pool with young kids. It's a scary ride.. We've done it twice without kids and I was worried for my life!

[123LuckyMom]

I've never been to Aruba. DH has been several times, and he's always stayed in a casino hotel on Palm Beach. In doing research, I think I'd prefer Eagle Beach. I really prefer smaller, low rise hotels to big resorts. We don't gamble or go out for night life, so that's no longer a draw. If we went, though, I'd definitely want to swim in the ocean. Is Palm beach a better swimming beach? That might sway me. (Is this too hijack-y? I hope not!)

[mikala]

khalloc--thanks for the response! I appreciate the tips. I was wondering about the Natural Pool and it's good to hear the warning about not doing it with young ones. I think we'll save that for a return trip sometime when they're older! I've read tons of TripAdvisor and other travel articles in the past few days and I'm getting a similar sense about the beaches. It's hard because a lot of the Tripadvisor reviews seem suspect and the non-trip Advisor articles often seem to be comped by a hotel or the Aruba tourism board so they aren't exactly impartial. Eagle Beach sounds more like our style but I'm struggling to pick a resort there because we definitely don't want all inclusive and obviously can't do adults-only resorts for this trip.

If we do Palm beach I'm thinking maybe Hyatt or Marriott Surf Club but both have lots of reviews talking about how it can be a PITA to sit on the beach and reserve a palapa and both require the long hallways-elevator-walkway trek to the beach. I'm also considering the Marriott Renaissance closer to downtown because it has the private island. The boat ride could get old but at least it sounds nice enough once you get there and the kids would go bananas over the lizards and flamingos.

123Luckymom--no worries, that isn't hijack-y at all! I'm curious about the beach differences as well.

[khalloc]

I would NOT do the Marriott downtown with kids. just my opinion. You should hit the Trip Advisor board and ask there but I believe I have seen people not recommend it with kids.

I would suggest the ABC Aruba Beach Club. our one bedroom suite there was rit on the beac. You have to make sure you are renting one that is though, but even the non beachfront ones are just a stone throws away from the beach. They brought in a crib for us. There is a kiddie pool and an adult pool. the beach is awesome! Eagle Beach is a great swimming beach. There are waves there though. I think palm beach is slightly calmer.. But IMO your 1 year old isn't going to be swimming so I wouldn't pick Palm Beach for that. palm Beach also has lots of water sports going on. I think there are swimming areas roped off there to keep the water sports people out. They have a little park at ABC too and there will be other children there.

I've also stayed at the Manchebo, which is nice. It only has 2 floors and its right on the beach. they allow kids but you won't see a lot of kids there. again, beautiful beach.

I've also stayed at the Divi Aruba Beach. that place is all inclusive. The food is fine. DH likes going all inclusive because spending money everyday at restaurants and bars bothers him. Plus we both drink up fair share when we go on vacation alone. that hotel is fine too. And the beach is beautiful. I did say not to do all inclusive. but when we do AI, we usually go out a couple of the nights to a nicer restaurant.

[mikala]

Thanks for all of the information! Based on your comments I focused more on the resorts in the ABC, Manchebo, Divi area in my research today and that seems like a much better fit for us. I just need to review pricing and availability one last time and book a place.

Thank you for all of your help! Hopefully we'll be able to pay it forward with some great recs when we return!

[khalloc]

Thanks for all of the information! Based on your comments I focused more on the resorts in the ABC, Manchebo, Divi area in my research today and that seems like a much better fit for us. I just need to review pricing and availability one last time and book a place.

Thank you for all of your help! Hopefully we'll be able to pay it forward with some great recs when we return!

I thought of one more - Casa Del Mar. They are like the sister resort to ABC. Right next door, same great beach, etc...And if you dont do all-inclusive there are still places to eat for cheaper, if that appeals to you. There are Subways, etc...on the island. Have fun. I love Aruba! I would rent a car too. And bring your own car seat. I've seen the car seats at some of the car rental places and they look older than my kids.

[mikala]

Thank you! I'll look more closely at Casa Del Mar too. Costa Linda looks intriguing as well. The websites for some of them seem really similar so I wonder if they share ownership.

I totally hear you on the rental car seat ages. I caught a glimpse the stack of rentals on our last international trip and I swear I saw a seat with the padded bar thingies that swings down over the child's head from 20 years ago. We're definitely bringing a convertible seat for the one year old and probably a Ride Safer vest for my 4 year old.

[Sweetsunshine]

We went to the Divi all inclusive about five years ago. The sister resort, the Tamarijn, was bigger and more things for kids to do. But I think that was more for older kids. I think kids under 12 stay and eat for free.

The beach was nice and I don't remember the water being too rough. Lots of pretty shells on the beach if you look in the early morning. We had a good time. Wood oven pizzas made to order at one of the outside bars would be great for kids. We went during a quiet time in mid December but it's a small resort anyways. I think it would be great for kids if you want to relax on the beach or in the pool. Rooms were pretty big.