Any advice on Aruba?

Question

I have a choice of Riviera Maya or Aruba for vacation. I've been to Riviera Maya a few times and love it. I've never been to Aruba. My questions are:
1. Has anyone been to both and how do they compare?
2. What is a good place to stay? (I prefer tropical ambiance but not a stuffy "tea party" lol)
3. Are there any all-inclusives in Aruba?
4. How is the snorkeling (and where is it?)
5. How is the water off the beaches (aqua? is there snorkeling off beaches?)
6. What is there to do besides the beach?

Thanks for any help you can give!

Answer 1

been there several times... going there again in april 0f 07 for 2 weeks......(aruba that is) .. also been to playa del carmen.....like aruba much more.....contact lisaaruba here.... she has alot of good advice and even has a very helpful website she has created.......contact me if you want and i'll tell you all about doing it the right way.....if possible, look towards staying in the eagle beach area, not as much of a cluster f*** as the palm beach area... has more of a european feel and much better beach with more elbow room.....if you like glass elevators and mcdonald thenm go to palm beach area and all the high rises........i stayed at manchebo for a week and then came back 2 months later and stayed next door at the bucuti........bucuti is 2x nicer with truely the best staff on the island

Answer 2

My husband and I just got back from Aruba. We fell in love with it. Very friendly people, very beautiful water, very safe island. We have visited many of the Caribbean islands and found this one to be our favorite. We stayed at the Marriott which is wonderful. We felt pampered. The Palm Beach area is a fun setting as you can walk down the boardwalk at night and hear the music from different hotels. Some of the restaurants are right on the beach, with tables in the sand. It was romantic. The waters are a gorgeous green and there are lots of water sports available. The shops in town are modern and offer the same variety of items as other Caribbean islands. There is nightlife downtown too if you're looking for it. The food was good. And we felt very safe in Aruba, more so than many of the other islands that we have visited. We didn't go snorkeling but heard that there is a private island where people go to spend the day and see lots of pretty fish, etc snorkeling as well as boat trips to sunken ruins. Next trip we will try this. We met people that have returned for years to Aruba, as once you visit, you fall in love with it and the people. I have never been to Riviera Maya so cannot compare the two. I hope that this helps.

Answer 3

I have never been to Riviera Maya but I have been to Aruba.
Aruba is a very nice place to visit. It has great beaches and hotels and plenty of nice restaurants. It also has a few casinos in several of the hotels. There is not much to do in Aruba other than beach stuff. You can tour the island in half a day; you’ll see the lighthouse, a national park that’s kinda like wilderness, a cave with some petroglyphics, and a natural bridge where the water comes under it and washes onto a small beach. There is a tour that takes you in a jeep across some of the desert areas but I would skip this.

You really don't need a car in Aruba, there's not that much to drive to see. Baby Beach is kinda nice but don't feel disappointed if you don't get there. Its not that special. You can easily take a public bus to town from the beach areas. There are lots of water sports in Aruba including jet skis, snorkel and scuba, parasailing and wind surfing and just lounging on the beaches. The casinos are nice, but small. Restaurants are rather expensive. I do recommend the Marriott in Aruba; it’s a great hotel.

Answer 4

Go to Aruba, it is much nicer.

Try Bucuti Beach Resort on Eagle Beach (Tara Suites)

I would not opted for an all inclusive resorts as Aruba has a great variety of restaurants.

Aruba is really not a diving destination. There are some wrecks for snorkeling, but if that is a huge priority, this might not be the best island for you.

The water and the beaches are fantastic.

There are alot of tourist things to do in Aruba if you get bored at the beach (island tours, boat/fishing charters, shopping district, casinos, clubs, etc).

I can not wait to get back.

Answer 5

I have been to Riviera Maya 1 time and to Aruba 5 times. Personally I do not like Cancun or other Mexican area, so I may be biased to give any advise in favor of Aruba. In any case, we usually stay in Low Rise Hotels in Aruba : personal preference Manchebo Beach Hotel. Some say it looks like Days Inn, but we like it. Snorkeling is most excellent in Aruba ( go to Malmok Beach), with clear blue water and plenty of fish. If you like good wave surfing - my suggestion Dos Playas Beach (Atlantic Side). Very hard to get in - unpaved bad road ( but great fun)- you will need 4W SUV or good Jeep.

Answer 6

my wife and i have been to Aruba twice and loved it. I have stayed at both the Raddison and the Whyndam and both were all inclusive. We liked the resddison better less corporate.Snokerling was great water is very clear and you can do that off the pier of a day trip right near the hotels i listed. as for what to do Relax you can go shopping or sightseeing gold mine and light house. A great place to go. take this from someone who has been to the bahamas a few times we loved aruba much more

Answer 7

This is second hand, but my son as gone to both the Maya Riviera and Aruba ( as a scuba driver), and absolutely rates the former as number one in variety of things to do and chilling out. Highly recommended.
P.S, is that he also went this spring to the Bay Islands (Roatan) off of Honduras, and he intends to return this sumber to buy an acre of land for +- $30,000. This guy has been through the Carribean on a methodical basis, and I'd listen to what he says, Good luck.

Answer 8

My husband and that i in simple terms have been given back from Aruba. We fell in love with it. Very friendly human beings, very alluring water, very secure island. we've visited lots of the Caribbean islands and located this one to be our time-honored. We stayed on the Marriott that's dazzling. We felt pampered. The Palm sea coast section is a calming placing as you could walk down the boardwalk at evening and hear the track from distinctive inns. countless the eating places are real on the sea coast, with tables interior the sand. It replaced into romantic. The waters are a dazzling eco-friendly and there are various water activities accessible. the department shops on the city are cutting-edge and furnish the comparable variety of things as different Caribbean islands. there is nightlife downtown too while you're searching for it. The nutrition replaced into solid. And we felt very secure in Aruba, extra so than lots of the different islands that we've visited. We did no longer bypass snorkeling yet heard that there is a private island the place human beings bypass to spend the day and notice a lot of somewhat fish, etc snorkeling besides as boat journeys to sunken ruins. next holiday we are able to try this. We met people who have back for years to Aruba, as as quickly as you bypass to, you fall in love with it and the persons. I even have never been to Riviera Maya so won't be able to evaluate the two. i'm hoping that this helps.

Answer 9

Say hi to Natalie Holloway !