Affordable Caribbean: Aruba
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T R I P SAVVY
[ Uncommon knowledge for mapping out the journey ahead ] Bird's eye view
Bargain hunters flock to Eagle Beach on the west coast of Aruba.
A F F O R D A B L E A r u ba
Prime Time
Holger Leue/Getty images
Fall means reliable weather and great rates in this quintessential beach getaway.
C A R I B B E A N T R A V E L M A G . com
Caribbean Travel + Life
29
I
trip savvy
affordable
Aruba on $135 a day*
in town and out
Royal Plaza Mall in Oranjestad brims with restaurants, bars and shops. Below: Away from the city, Paradera Park Apartments offers serenity and big savings.
HOTEL Average $95 in low season ($161 high) BREAKFAST Amici $7 for a veggie omelet J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 382, Palm Beach 297-586-5153 LUNCH Cuba’s Cookin’ $15 for a three-course lunch Willamena St. #27, Oranjestad 297-588-0627 DINNER Tulip $16 for keshi yena, the traditional Antillean dish of stuffed Gouda cheese J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 240, Eagle Beach 297-587-0110
GETTING THERE Air Canada flies to Aruba from Toronto. American flies from Miami and New York-JFK; Continental from Houston and Newark, New Jersey; Delta from Atlanta and New YorkJFK; JetBlue from Boston and New York-JFK; United from Chicago and Washington D.C.; USAirways from Charlotte, North Carolina, and Philadelphia. TAXI From airport to: Paradera Park $20 Amsterdam Manor, MVC Eagle Beach $22 Boardwalk Vacation Retreat $25 Aruba Beach Villas $30 RENTAL CAR Amigo Rent-a-Car from $35 per day, 011-297-583-8833; amigocar.com TAXES Room tax and service charges range up to 19 percent; departure tax is $36.75 (usually included in cost of airline ticket). INFO 800-862-7822; aruba.com *per person in low season ($167 high), based on double occupancy and excluding airfare, car rental, airport transfers, tax and service charges. (US$1 = 1.80 AWG)
30
Caribbean Travel + Life
A
ruba lacks some of the usual Caribbean calling cards — sweeping fields of sugar cane, a rich colonial history, flourishing rainforests — yet for travelers seeking a dose of sand, sea and sun, the island practically defines the Caribbean vacation. Just 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela, the arid, cactus-studded Dutch territory has
won legions of repeat visitors by mastering the formula for an easy tropical getaway: broad, immaculate beaches, a bounty of restaurants, appealing entertainment and convenient air access. Furthermore, its location south of the hurricane belt makes Aruba an ideal destination during the summer and fall, when room rates are lowest. Dining out in Aruba is not cheap, but there are ways to economize. Rent an apartment or villa and cook some meals, and keep an eye out for restaurants’ earlybird specials. At Tango Argentine Grill (297-586-8600), a three-course menu including prime sirloin or the catch of the day is $25 before 7 p.m., and the new French bistro Papillon (297-586-5400) serves a three-course early-bird menu for $30, including wine. Car rental is inexpensive, and buses connect main hotel areas to beaches, the capital of Oranjestad and the airport. Bus service is frequent and reliable, and fares are only $1.25. october
2009
Top: Gräfenhain Günter/SIME/4Corners
ACTIVITY Red Sail Sports $49 per person for a three-hour sailing and snorkeling trip. 297-586-1603; redsailaruba.com
ARUBA HOTELS Amsterdam Manor J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 252 Eagle Beach 800-969-2310; amsterdammanor.com From $159 in low season ($249 high), plus 19 percent tax and service Aruba Beach Villas L.G. Smith Blvd. 462 Malmok 800-320-9998; arubabeachvillas.com From $78 in low season ($168 high), plus 17 percent tax and service Boardwalk Vacation Retreat Bakval 20, Basiruti 297-586-6654; arubaboardwalk.com From $131 in low season ($231 high), plus 19 percent tax and service
I
affordable
The island’s best hotel bargain is originally built to accommodate Dutch marines’ vacationing family members. It’s now a casual, 19room inn across the street from the beach. The two-story lodge features clean, simply decorated, air-conditioned rooms with TVs, minifridges and hair dryers. Three family units are comprised of two adjoining rooms with a connecting door. The restaurant serves affordable meals; there’s a tennis court and a small pool that’s ideal for children; and the sand is just a quick stroll away. Palm Beach is Aruba’s most famous stretch of sand, lined with high-rise hotels, many with sky-high rates to match. A half-mile north lies Aruba Beach Villas, a fine alternative. Though Malmok Beach, across the street, is studded with coral, the 31 apartments here are an excellent value. Standard units vary in size and are comfortably outfitted with a kitchen, air conditioning, cable TV and a barbecue grill; more-expensive ocean-facing units also have a deck. There’s a small pool and
OUT + ABOUT During World War II, the captain of the German freighter
MVC Eagle Beach,
ARUBA HOTELS MVC Eagle Beach J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 240, Eagle Beach 297-587-0110; mvceaglebeach.com From $85 in low season ($130 high), plus 19 percent tax and service
Antilla scuttled the vessel to keep her out of the hands of Dutch marines. The ensuing blast split the 400-foot vessel in two, inadvertently creating a star tourist attraction just a few hundred yards off the coast. The wreck has been underwater long enough to evolve into a giant apartment complex for fish, with brain coral, tube sponges and fan worms adorning the walls. It’s a popular dive site, but with the bow and mast almost touching the surface, snorkelers can get in on the fun too, and several operators run daily trips to the wreck.
a hot tub, and rates include continental breakfast, Wi-Fi, snorkeling equipment, kayaks and, in winter, use of windsurfing equipment. Just inland from Palm Beach, Boardwalk Vacation Retreat is a 13-unit apartment complex set amid lush foliage at the edge of a residential community. Each of the one- and two-bedroom units is spacious, with an open kitchen, rattan furnishings, and TVs with DVD players. Most have a terrace with a hammock, teak furniture and a barbecue grill; two upstairs units near the pool have balconies. It’s a three-minute walk to the sand, and guests are provided with beach chairs, umbrellas,
Jeff Jaskolski/SeaPics
trip savvy
coolers and snorkel gear. You’ll also have access to the adjacent racquet club, tennis courts and fitness center. Located in the hilly and remote residential community of Paradera, the family-owned, 17-unit Paradera Park Apartments caters to independent travelers. Although there’s nearby bus service, you’ll need a rental car for the 15-minute drive to the beach and restaurants. But what you give up in location you gain in savings, and the setting is peaceful, with a garden-wrapped pool next to a two-story collection of studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments. Each has a small kitchen,
free Wi-Fi and daily maid service. WORTH A SPLURGE Just across the street from Eagle Beach, Amsterdam Manor occupies a clutch of charming, Dutch-style two- and three-story buildings and attracts a cosmopolitan clientele. Most of the leastexpensive rooms don’t have sea views but are just 100 feet from the sand. All 72 rooms have a kitchenette, free Wi-Fi, and a balcony or patio; one- and two-bedroom suites are also available. One of the hotel’s two restaurants is right on the beach. A fall special (valid through December 19) offers either a 20 percent discount on standard room rates or a free upgrade to the nexthighest room category. — David Swanson
Paradera Park Paradera 203, Paradera 297-582-3289; paraderapark-aruba.com From $85 in low season ($115 high), plus 17½ percent tax and service
R E A L L U X U RY C O M E S N AT U R A L LY
What is your idea of the perfect escape? Environmentally responsible all-inclusive luxury resort, nestled in the midst of a nature preserve, affording beautiful beaches, eco-adventures, and experiences unlike any others.
Bonaire! Where the year-round average air and water temperature is 82 degrees, and the clear calm waters beckon you to dive, snorkel, swim, or simply sit, relax and connect with the beauty of nature you find around you.
Super Saver Offer!
• • • • • •
Bonaire is served non-stop by Continental Airlines from Houston, by Delta from Atlanta, and by Insel Air from Miami.
Private round trip airport transfers Welcome bottle of wine and cheese platter Roundtrip airport transportation Adventure activities at Tres Ríos Nature Park All taxes and services
S 5U t 6 3 $ nigh per two for
75 min Geothermal Massage for two
For reservations 1 800 209 1663 [email protected] www.haciendatresrios.com
www.tourismbonaire.com
T R E S
R Í O S ,
R I V I E R A
M AYA ,
M É X I C O
[ Uncommon knowledge for mapping out the journey ahead ] Bird's eye view
Bargain hunters flock to Eagle Beach on the west coast of Aruba.
A F F O R D A B L E A r u ba
Prime Time
Holger Leue/Getty images
Fall means reliable weather and great rates in this quintessential beach getaway.
C A R I B B E A N T R A V E L M A G . com
Caribbean Travel + Life
29
I
trip savvy
affordable
Aruba on $135 a day*
in town and out
Royal Plaza Mall in Oranjestad brims with restaurants, bars and shops. Below: Away from the city, Paradera Park Apartments offers serenity and big savings.
HOTEL Average $95 in low season ($161 high) BREAKFAST Amici $7 for a veggie omelet J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 382, Palm Beach 297-586-5153 LUNCH Cuba’s Cookin’ $15 for a three-course lunch Willamena St. #27, Oranjestad 297-588-0627 DINNER Tulip $16 for keshi yena, the traditional Antillean dish of stuffed Gouda cheese J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 240, Eagle Beach 297-587-0110
GETTING THERE Air Canada flies to Aruba from Toronto. American flies from Miami and New York-JFK; Continental from Houston and Newark, New Jersey; Delta from Atlanta and New YorkJFK; JetBlue from Boston and New York-JFK; United from Chicago and Washington D.C.; USAirways from Charlotte, North Carolina, and Philadelphia. TAXI From airport to: Paradera Park $20 Amsterdam Manor, MVC Eagle Beach $22 Boardwalk Vacation Retreat $25 Aruba Beach Villas $30 RENTAL CAR Amigo Rent-a-Car from $35 per day, 011-297-583-8833; amigocar.com TAXES Room tax and service charges range up to 19 percent; departure tax is $36.75 (usually included in cost of airline ticket). INFO 800-862-7822; aruba.com *per person in low season ($167 high), based on double occupancy and excluding airfare, car rental, airport transfers, tax and service charges. (US$1 = 1.80 AWG)
30
Caribbean Travel + Life
A
ruba lacks some of the usual Caribbean calling cards — sweeping fields of sugar cane, a rich colonial history, flourishing rainforests — yet for travelers seeking a dose of sand, sea and sun, the island practically defines the Caribbean vacation. Just 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela, the arid, cactus-studded Dutch territory has
won legions of repeat visitors by mastering the formula for an easy tropical getaway: broad, immaculate beaches, a bounty of restaurants, appealing entertainment and convenient air access. Furthermore, its location south of the hurricane belt makes Aruba an ideal destination during the summer and fall, when room rates are lowest. Dining out in Aruba is not cheap, but there are ways to economize. Rent an apartment or villa and cook some meals, and keep an eye out for restaurants’ earlybird specials. At Tango Argentine Grill (297-586-8600), a three-course menu including prime sirloin or the catch of the day is $25 before 7 p.m., and the new French bistro Papillon (297-586-5400) serves a three-course early-bird menu for $30, including wine. Car rental is inexpensive, and buses connect main hotel areas to beaches, the capital of Oranjestad and the airport. Bus service is frequent and reliable, and fares are only $1.25. october
2009
Top: Gräfenhain Günter/SIME/4Corners
ACTIVITY Red Sail Sports $49 per person for a three-hour sailing and snorkeling trip. 297-586-1603; redsailaruba.com
ARUBA HOTELS Amsterdam Manor J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 252 Eagle Beach 800-969-2310; amsterdammanor.com From $159 in low season ($249 high), plus 19 percent tax and service Aruba Beach Villas L.G. Smith Blvd. 462 Malmok 800-320-9998; arubabeachvillas.com From $78 in low season ($168 high), plus 17 percent tax and service Boardwalk Vacation Retreat Bakval 20, Basiruti 297-586-6654; arubaboardwalk.com From $131 in low season ($231 high), plus 19 percent tax and service
I
affordable
The island’s best hotel bargain is originally built to accommodate Dutch marines’ vacationing family members. It’s now a casual, 19room inn across the street from the beach. The two-story lodge features clean, simply decorated, air-conditioned rooms with TVs, minifridges and hair dryers. Three family units are comprised of two adjoining rooms with a connecting door. The restaurant serves affordable meals; there’s a tennis court and a small pool that’s ideal for children; and the sand is just a quick stroll away. Palm Beach is Aruba’s most famous stretch of sand, lined with high-rise hotels, many with sky-high rates to match. A half-mile north lies Aruba Beach Villas, a fine alternative. Though Malmok Beach, across the street, is studded with coral, the 31 apartments here are an excellent value. Standard units vary in size and are comfortably outfitted with a kitchen, air conditioning, cable TV and a barbecue grill; more-expensive ocean-facing units also have a deck. There’s a small pool and
OUT + ABOUT During World War II, the captain of the German freighter
MVC Eagle Beach,
ARUBA HOTELS MVC Eagle Beach J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 240, Eagle Beach 297-587-0110; mvceaglebeach.com From $85 in low season ($130 high), plus 19 percent tax and service
Antilla scuttled the vessel to keep her out of the hands of Dutch marines. The ensuing blast split the 400-foot vessel in two, inadvertently creating a star tourist attraction just a few hundred yards off the coast. The wreck has been underwater long enough to evolve into a giant apartment complex for fish, with brain coral, tube sponges and fan worms adorning the walls. It’s a popular dive site, but with the bow and mast almost touching the surface, snorkelers can get in on the fun too, and several operators run daily trips to the wreck.
a hot tub, and rates include continental breakfast, Wi-Fi, snorkeling equipment, kayaks and, in winter, use of windsurfing equipment. Just inland from Palm Beach, Boardwalk Vacation Retreat is a 13-unit apartment complex set amid lush foliage at the edge of a residential community. Each of the one- and two-bedroom units is spacious, with an open kitchen, rattan furnishings, and TVs with DVD players. Most have a terrace with a hammock, teak furniture and a barbecue grill; two upstairs units near the pool have balconies. It’s a three-minute walk to the sand, and guests are provided with beach chairs, umbrellas,
Jeff Jaskolski/SeaPics
trip savvy
coolers and snorkel gear. You’ll also have access to the adjacent racquet club, tennis courts and fitness center. Located in the hilly and remote residential community of Paradera, the family-owned, 17-unit Paradera Park Apartments caters to independent travelers. Although there’s nearby bus service, you’ll need a rental car for the 15-minute drive to the beach and restaurants. But what you give up in location you gain in savings, and the setting is peaceful, with a garden-wrapped pool next to a two-story collection of studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments. Each has a small kitchen,
free Wi-Fi and daily maid service. WORTH A SPLURGE Just across the street from Eagle Beach, Amsterdam Manor occupies a clutch of charming, Dutch-style two- and three-story buildings and attracts a cosmopolitan clientele. Most of the leastexpensive rooms don’t have sea views but are just 100 feet from the sand. All 72 rooms have a kitchenette, free Wi-Fi, and a balcony or patio; one- and two-bedroom suites are also available. One of the hotel’s two restaurants is right on the beach. A fall special (valid through December 19) offers either a 20 percent discount on standard room rates or a free upgrade to the nexthighest room category. — David Swanson
Paradera Park Paradera 203, Paradera 297-582-3289; paraderapark-aruba.com From $85 in low season ($115 high), plus 17½ percent tax and service
R E A L L U X U RY C O M E S N AT U R A L LY
What is your idea of the perfect escape? Environmentally responsible all-inclusive luxury resort, nestled in the midst of a nature preserve, affording beautiful beaches, eco-adventures, and experiences unlike any others.
Bonaire! Where the year-round average air and water temperature is 82 degrees, and the clear calm waters beckon you to dive, snorkel, swim, or simply sit, relax and connect with the beauty of nature you find around you.
Super Saver Offer!
• • • • • •
Bonaire is served non-stop by Continental Airlines from Houston, by Delta from Atlanta, and by Insel Air from Miami.
Private round trip airport transfers Welcome bottle of wine and cheese platter Roundtrip airport transportation Adventure activities at Tres Ríos Nature Park All taxes and services
S 5U t 6 3 $ nigh per two for
75 min Geothermal Massage for two
For reservations 1 800 209 1663 [email protected] www.haciendatresrios.com
www.tourismbonaire.com
T R E S
R Í O S ,
R I V I E R A
M AYA ,
M É X I C O
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