My Aruba Land Vacation Review

[Arubalisa]

Just posted on CC's sister website:

http://www.independenttraveler.com/tripreports/tripreports.cfm?ID=1510

Tamarijn Aruba 12/22 - 1/3/08

[SuSu530]

Thanks for taking the time to post such a detailed report. It looks like you and your family had a wonderful holiday in Aruba. Your love for Aruba shows in all your posts. I am looking forward to spending a day in Aruba in March on the Summit (my first time there....but hopefully not my last!).

[SeaYa52]

Thanks for the excellent report. I appreciate you sharing all your knowledge of Aruba - so helpful.

 

quick question: Hw is the afternoon snorkeling? We can not make the morning tour with Jolly Pirates due to a late ship arrival. Carla with JP suggested the afternoon trip for our group. I am concerned about the visibility and winds in the afternoon - any suggestions?

Thanks again - love reading your posts.

Sandy

[Arubalisa]

Thank you for your kind words.

Snorkeling in the afternoon should not be too bad. They only spot where you might notice a difference is the Antilla. Because it is off shore. Visibility in Aruba is poorer in comparison to many other spots in the Caribbean no matter what time of day.

[Conanc]

Thanks Arubalisa. What a great review and a fair and accurate description of what to expect. We stayed at the Divi and loved it and would stay there or at the Tam again. Your review brought back some great memories of our stay!

 

Nancy

[SeaYa52]

Thank you for your kind words.

Snorkeling in the afternoon should not be too bad. They only spot where you might notice a difference is the Antilla. Because it is off shore. Visibility in Aruba is poorer in comparison to many other spots in the Caribbean no matter what time of day.

 

 

Thanks Lisa - and now I know, from your review, the pic is your dd - not you - I thought you looked mighty young.

 

You are such a great help - and wealth of knowledge. Much appreciated!

:-)

Sandy

[snowgal]

Thanks for the info Arubalisa. I was in Aruba 7 years ago and will be going there again on the Crown Princess in April. I was wondering if you used the buses and if its still easy to use?

[Arubalisa]

I was wondering if you used the buses and if its still easy to use?

No, we do not use the buses, because dh refuses to ride in anything which is not air conditioned. :rolleyes: BUT they are still safe and as reliable as ever.

 

Thank you all for your kind words.

[cruiseapril]

Arubalisa- Enjoyed your review- it made me hungry! Also, great info on the island tour. Have been to Aruba twice and will be returning via cruise ship - so have been very interested in your commentary.

 

Question- are there shops on Palm Beach or are they mostly in town?

[Arubalisa]

Arubalisa- Enjoyed your review- it made me hungry! Also, great info on the island tour. Have been to Aruba twice and will be returning via cruise ship - so have been very interested in your commentary.

 

Question- are there shops on Palm Beach or are they mostly in town?

Thank you. A new shopping mall recently opened near the Holiday Inn http://www.aruba.com/news/entertainment/opening-july-2006-paseo-herencia/ All of the resorts along Palm Beach have shops as well.

[DiveCruiser]

We spend a week last year also Loved it.

 

Bob

[maps]

Hi Lisa

 

Thanks for your great review. I just started researching Aruba for a Feb 2009 trip with my family (kids 8&9).

 

I'm going between the Tam and the Occidental (just stayed at the Occidental in Playa del Carmen, MX for our first AI experience and loved it)

 

I'm leaning toward the Tam because of the cost and low key area vs the high rises.

 

I also saw that the Divi dutch village is the same cost as the Tam for the AI and was wondering if you saw this area when you were there. For the same cost, would you take the larger room at the Divi or be right on the beach with the Tam?

 

Thanks for your help

[Arubalisa]

I'm leaning toward the Tam because of the cost and low key area vs the high rises.

Stay at the Tamarijn and with the money you are saving, you can stay on the island longer. ;) Seriously, we can stay at the Radisson for 6 or 7 nights, for what we will spend for 12 nights at the Tamarijn. The cost of the airfare stays the same.

 

In choosing between the Occidental and Tamarijn I would also closely research which area you would prefer: the high rise hotels with all of the activities, motorized watersports, restaurants, casinos or the more quiet atmosphere at the Tamarijn. The kids club was terrific for our dd at the Tamarijn so no worries there. Of course, the biggest bonus of the Tamarijn is walking directly out of your hotel room onto the beach.

 

 

I also saw that the Divi dutch village is the same cost as the Tam for the AI and was wondering if you saw this area when you were there. For the same cost, would you take the larger room at the Divi or be right on the beach with the Tam?

Thanks for your help

The Divi Dutch Village is a timeshare unit, and sits behind the Tamarijn buildings which run along the ocean. The beach wins my heart everytime hands down so I would choose the Tamarijn. If you are used to cruising, even with the 2 adults and 2 children in one of the Tamarijn's hotel rooms, you will have enough space. That was one of the first things we laughed about when we entered our room in December. It seemed spacious after the 3 of us shared a 179 sq. ft cabin the December before. ;)

 

When you say they are the same price, you didn't say if the price of the Dutch Village was all inclusive. If so then the trade off is more room for a lesser view. That is up to you.

 

This map shows the location of the Divi Dutch buildings in relation to the Tamarijn's buildings.

[Arubalisa]

Another one of my Aruba land reviews on CC's sister website:

http://www.independenttraveler.com/tripreports/tripreports.cfm?ID=1626

 

Tamarijn Aruba June 12 - 24, 2008

[Abberboo]

Hey Arubalisa,

 

I love your review, thanks for sharing. I am docking in Aruba on my upcoming cruise on Christmas Day. In your review I know you said

 

"What is Christmas like in Aruba? To start off with, the Saturday before Christmas and LG Smith Boulevard through downtown Oranjestad was closed. This is a traditional day for Arubans to do their shopping. To ease access to stores, especially for families, the street is opened only to pedestrian traffic."

 

What is it like on actual Christmas Day, is everything closed? I am trying to figure out what to do. I am even a bit worried that any sightseeing attractions will be closed.

[Arubalisa]

Thank you for your kind words. Christmas day all of the stores in Oranjestad will be closed. There will be some tour operators running. What exactly where you looking for when you say "sightseeing attractions"?

[Seal]

Nice to see your writing again--we'll once again be back on the island--about the 4th of October for about 10 days--WE LOVE THE ISLAND--this is only our 2nd land trip to the island--we had been there many times from the cruise lines--can't learn a lot from just a few hours

 

 

Have you ever heard of anyone getting terrible itching from the ocean water--really very strange--I used Hawaiian Tropic lotion--

 

anyone heard of this before ???

 

NANCY :D

[Arubalisa]

Have you ever heard of anyone getting terrible itching from the ocean water--really very strange--I used Hawaiian Tropic lotion--

 

anyone heard of this before ???

 

NANCY :D

Thank you Nancy for your kind words.

I have actually had the experience you describe with H.T. as well as similar other lotions. Very very miserable experiences for sure. I stopped use sunscreen totally which did not work out so well either. :(

What did I do to solve the problem? I now avoid all sun products containing aloe. In other words, no after sun "soothing" lotions etc.

AND I now use only Coppertone Sunblock Lotion Oil Free.

"Coppertone® Oil Free Sunlock Lotion is:

• Oil-free and non-greasy so it feels fresh and clean
  
• Non-comedogenic so it won't clog pores or promote breakouts
  
• Waterproof for up to 80 minutes
  
• Effective in blocking damaging UVA and UVB rays
  
• Hypoallergenic and PABA-Free
  
• Fragrance-free"
  

Since using only the Coppertone I have never had the problem again.

[Seal]

Thank you Nancy for your kind words.

 

I have actually had the experience you describe with H.T. as well as similar other lotions. Very very miserable experiences for sure. I stopped use sunscreen totally which did not work out so well either. :(

 

What did I do to solve the problem? I now avoid all sun products containing aloe. In other words, no after sun "soothing" lotions etc.

 

AND I now use only Coppertone Sunblock Lotion Oil Free.

"Coppertone® Oil Free Sunlock Lotion is:

• Oil-free and non-greasy so it feels fresh and clean
  
• Non-comedogenic so it won't clog pores or promote breakouts
  
• Waterproof for up to 80 minutes
  
• Effective in blocking damaging UVA and UVB rays
  
• Hypoallergenic and PABA-Free
  
• Fragrance-free"

Since using only the Coppertone I have never had the problem again.

 

I'm going to follow your advice--I really love the water in Aruba--we stayed at the Hyatt--and I just loved the calm ocean there--I'm going to try your coppertone--can't be worse--funny--it didn't bother me for a day or so then I felt this stinging and itching and rinsed off with the outdoor shower on the beach--after that I had to go to the room and use lots of soap and it still drove me crazy--think I put cortaid or something to stop the stinging and itching--Thanks for your advice!! that was the first time it's happened to me--i live about 2 city blocks from the ocean here in Seal Beach--but--I don't use sunscreen here

 

Again--Thanks

 

Nancy:D

[Arubalisa]

I'm going to follow your advice--I really love the water in Aruba--we stayed at the Hyatt--and I just loved the calm ocean there--I'm going to try your coppertone--can't be worse--funny--it didn't bother me for a day or so then I felt this stinging and itching and rinsed off with the outdoor shower on the beach--after that I had to go to the room and use lots of soap and it still drove me crazy--think I put cortaid or something to stop the stinging and itching--Thanks for your advice!! that was the first time it's happened to me--i live about 2 city blocks from the ocean here in Seal Beach--but--I don't use sunscreen here

 

Again--Thanks

 

Nancy:D

You are welcome! You describe the exact same symptoms and agony that I used to go through. I am also jealous you live so close to the beach. :o

[Abberboo]

Thank you for your kind words. Christmas day all of the stores in Oranjestad will be closed. There will be some tour operators running. What exactly where you looking for when you say "sightseeing attractions"?

 

Hey Arubalisa,

 

I forgot to reply when you asked me back what I wanted to see. Here is what I wanted to accomplish on my day in Aruba. I want to go to mass at one of the Catholic churches first thing in the am. Then I was hoping, and this might not be possible if cabs and transportation is hard to find due to it being Christmas day when I will be in Aruba: spend a few hours at Eagle or Palm Beach, see the rock sculptures, Alto Vista Chapel, the gold mines, the California lighthouse and the natural pond. Of all these things, is anything close to each other? Is it at all possible to do all this in one day?

 

Thank you!!!

[Arubalisa]

Hey Arubalisa,

 

I forgot to reply when you asked me back what I wanted to see. Here is what I wanted to accomplish on my day in Aruba. I want to go to mass at one of the Catholic churches first thing in the am. Then I was hoping, and this might not be possible if cabs and transportation is hard to find due to it being Christmas day when I will be in Aruba: spend a few hours at Eagle or Palm Beach, see the rock sculptures, Alto Vista Chapel, the gold mines, the California lighthouse and the natural pond. Of all these things, is anything close to each other? Is it at all possible to do all this in one day?

 

Thank you!!!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=16171858&postcount=6