Aruba Lisa-Restaurant Help

We will be in Aruba in Feb on the Carnival Sunshine. We are doing a horse back ride so will get back to the ship around 6:30. We are looking for a restaurant within walking distance of the pier that serves Argentina beef but will not break our wallet. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Allison

El Gaucho is THE place on the island to go to for Argentinian beef and right there in downtown Oranjestad, but it is not going to be cheap.

Texas de Brazil and Amazonia Churrascaria are other options, but again, expensive.

What about La Petit Café? I have eaten there before but not sure how far it is from the pier.

Thanks for your help. I knew you would be the one w/the answers!!

ArubaLisa, did something cause you to change your mind re: El Gaucho? I noticed in some earlier threads from a few years ago, that you did not recommend El Gaucho.

Just Curious.

To be honest, we do not eat there however it is the only "restaurant within walking distance of the pier that serves Argentina beef". :)

El Gaucho is a very popular restaurant. Many people who vacation in Aruba eat there every year. Even though we vacation on the island every year, we haven't eaten there in about 6 years. It is very "touristy", crowded and noisy. Like Arubalisa said, if you are looking for Argentinian beef in the downtown area, that is the place to go. Expect to pay a lot more for a steak in Aruba than you would at home.

Does Texas de Brazil serve Argentina beef? We really want somewhere close to the port that serves Argentina beef. If we choose Texas, how far of a cab ride is it from the ship? Is the dining experience lengthy? Just concerned about getting back to the ship as we have a horseback riding tour planned and won't get back to the ship until 6:30. We leave @ 10.

I am not sure where their beef comes from. It is not going to be a quick dinner. There is an extensive salad bar and then the waiters will travel table to table with the different cuts of meat. It is not cheap and you surely would want to make sure that you ate your money's worth. ;)

The restaurant is located in the Palm Beach area and a taxi would be $11 each way. I would leave yourselves a minimum of 20 minutes to get back to the ship.

I am not sure where their beef comes from. It is not going to be a quick dinner. There is an extensive salad bar and then the waiters will travel table to table with the different cuts of meat. It is not cheap and you surely would want to make sure that you ate your money's worth. ;)

 

The restaurant is located in the Palm Beach area and a taxi would be $11 each way. I would leave yourselves a minimum of 20 minutes to get back to the ship.

How long has it been since you took a Taxi, Lisa?

That trip is $15 to $18 at least (in 2014, that is)

If you paid $14 - $18 for a taxi from downtown to the highrise area (where Lisa is referring to), you paid too much. I take taxis all of the time every year in Aruba, and I've never paid that much. Here is a taxi fare link.

http://www.aruba.com/sigma/Aruba_Taxi_Fares.pdf

$14 on a Sunday with the $3 surcharge? But otherwise, $11 is the "legal" fare. ;) :)

Aruba Lisa, we are 2 senior women cruising alone. Would it be safe for us to take a taxi from the cruise ship to Palm Beach? We have always done a ship's catamaran excursion, but that is so expensive, and we would like more flexibility.

Thank you.

Aruba Lisa, we are 2 senior women cruising alone. Would it be safe for us to take a taxi from the cruise ship to Palm Beach? We have always done a ship's catamaran excursion, but that is so expensive, and we would like more flexibility.

Thank you.

You will be perfectly safe taking a taxi and going to Palm Beach on your own. I know several women who vacation alone in Aruba. Just make sure you go to one of the areas that rents umbrellas. The most danger you will face there is the sun!:)

Aruba Lisa, we are 2 senior women cruising alone. Would it be safe for us to take a taxi from the cruise ship to Palm Beach? We have always done a ship's catamaran excursion, but that is so expensive, and we would like more flexibility.

Thank you.

Our Moms are in your age range, and when they cruise to Aruba, they buy day Passes ($20-ish dollars per person) for the Radisson Hotel because it gives them access to chairs, lounges, towels and the pool (which has just been renovated and looks simply gorgeous!)

At the end of their day, they now have a tradition of having a drink at Gilligans

before returning to the ship.

And they always look Happy!

The Radisson stopped selling day passes awhile ago. Since at least November 2012 http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=36196687&postcount=3

There are vendors however at the south end of their beach who rent chaises and umbrellas.

Thank you for the good information. We are thinking about taking a taxi to the entrance to De Palm Pier and getting chairs and an umbrella near the Bugaloe Bar and maybe having lunch there. Is this a good plan? thank you in advance.

Thank you for the good information. We are thinking about taking a taxi to the entrance to De Palm Pier and getting chairs and an umbrella near the Bugaloe Bar and maybe having lunch there. Is this a good plan? thank you in advance.

Sounds perfect :):):)

I too find it to be a perfect day off a cruise ship!

then we will do it! Thank you both for all the help.:)

Aruba Lisa, if you were on a cruise ship docked in Oanjestad this feb. and you just had to have a flying fish sandwich, where would you go for a cutter, Mac/cheese pie and a Banks? Thanks Lou

I don't know of anywhere in Aruba for flying fish sandwiches. I've only heard of them in Barbados.

Aruba Lisa, if you were on a cruise ship docked in Oanjestad this feb. and you just had to have a flying fish sandwich, where would you go for a cutter, Mac/cheese pie and a Banks? Thanks Lou

Agree, you find this in Barbados, not Aruba.