AHHHHH..........ARUBA!!!!!!

The best things to do on Aruba depend on how active you like to be and if you are looking for total relaxation or active water sports. Good news! You can have both! The beaches are gorgeous, with long, white, sandy walkable stretches. There are water sports galore--jet skis, snorkeling, fishing, and, especially, windsurfing! There are tons of great restaurants and plenty of casinos. Downtown, there is shopping for good buys on jewelry and china.

One of our favorite things to do is walk around the high-rise hotels--you can walk from one to another along the beach path. It's fun to go into all the casinos and watch the action--or try your own luck.

The windsurfing competitions are held in early June.

Quick Tips:

We LOVE Baby Beach and think everyone should go there. It is at the opposite end of the island from the hotels--past San Nicolas and near the refinery. Baby Beach is a lagoon where the water never gets deeper than your waist, and is perfectly calm. After, stop at Charlie's Bar in San Nicolas, or Brisas Del Mar in Savaneta for lunch.

You have to go to the Natural Bridge because it is cool and it's Aruba's biggest natural attraction. They swear there are signs, but we've been going to Aruba for 15 years and we can never find it! So ask directions at your hotel first.

Don't swim anywhere on the Atlantic side of the island--the surf is too rough!

The Bonbini Festival is fun for a taste of Aruban folk dancing and singing on Tuesday nights.

We like Brisas Del Mar, Chalet Suisse, El Gaucho, and Ventanas del Mar restaurants.

Aruba desalinates the ocean so its drinking water is safe and good! American dollars are accepted everywhere, but in some smaller places you may get Aruban currency for change.

Best Way To Get Around:

I really think you should get a car at least for a trip to Baby Beach and out to the Natural Bridge. It is also fun to just drive around the island--everyone is friendly and you feel very safe. On the days you are just hanging by the pool, you can get a cab to take you to dinner. It's not too expensive, and the cabs are lined up outside every hotel and casino. Even though it looks like you could walk downtown, I don't suggest it. Away from the beach and your sun umbrella, it's really hot, and everyone we've seen walking looked like they were really dragging. You can take the buses, which are cheap and are probably fine, but we never have.

Best Things Nearby:
Alhambra Casino, beautiful beach at your doorstep.

Best Things About the Resort:
This is a very lovely and luxurious timeshare resort. The rooms are beautifully appointed, and they try to think of everything you might need. All the units have a nice view of the pool or the ocean or both. The pool is lovely. The atmosphere is family-friendly but also quiet enough for couples enjoying a romantic getaway.

Resort Experience:
Casa del Mar is located midway between downtown Oranjestad and the high-rise hotels.

It is adjacent to its sister resort, the Aruba Beach Club, and next door to the Divi Divi. Casa Del Mar (CDM) is newer and more elegant than Aruba Beach Club (ABC). But both have nice pools, and you can use either one.

The suites at CDM were large and nicely furnished. Our two-bedroom suite had a king bed in the master, while the second bedroom had twin beds. The living room couch opened to a queen-size bed. There were TVs in the living room, master bedroom, and second bedroom. They had cable TV.

The living space was open concept, with separate living, dining, and kitchen areas. The kitchen was larger than most timeshares and had a stove, microwave, full-sized refrigerator, and all the comforts of home. Our third-floor unit had a balcony with table and chairs, overlooking the pool and out to the sea.

The resort has a small but adequate fitness center, hair salon, beach shop, members' lounge, and general store. CDM and ABC share a minimarket.

The two sister resorts are located on an absolutely beautiful white sandy beach. The past few years, there have been problems with beach erosion in front of the resorts, bringing the water closer to the seaside restaurant. But they fill in the beach, and Mother Nature takes care of filling it back in from time to time. You can walk the whole stretch of beach up to the end where they hold the windsurfing competitions in early June. It's just gorgeous.

There aren't water sports available right at the resort, but you can make arrangements for them and for sailing and catamaran cruises at the desk. There is also a car-rental facility in the lobby.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

Best Things Nearby:
Beach, Alhambra Casino.

Best Things About the Resort:
Aruba Beach Club (ABC) is located on one of the nicest beaches on Aruba. There is a large pool and a kiddie pool. It is a very relaxed place. ABC is adjacent to its sister resort, the Casa Del Mar (CDM), and the two resorts share amenities.

Resort Experience:
Our studio unit (called a Superior) was like a large hotel room with a kitchenette. Deluxe units are larger, but I haven't seen them. The studio is perfect for a couple, or for two couples who get along really, really well.

The resort is only two stories high, and each has a view of the pool or the ocean. If you are on the second floor, you'll have a balcony; if you are on the first floor, you'll have a little patio area with table and chairs.

The ABC pool is great--very large--and there is a kiddie pool. There is also a poolside bar and barbecue that serves lunch. They are talking about bringing back a full-service restaurant to the resort. There is one (The Seagull) at sister resort CDM.

There is a minimarket, and the fitness facility is shared with CDM. There are also a hair salon, beach store, and members' lounge.

The rooms are nicely furnished, and the resort is in the process of re-doing the decor. It's not as luxurious as the CDM, but it is a perfectly comfortable and acceptable timeshare accomodation.

The beach area in front of ABC is wider than at CDM, and there are plenty of huts on the beach with lounge chairs. The beach is absolutely gorgeous, and just walking it from end to end is a joy.

There are not water sports available right at the resort, but arrangements can be made at the desk. There is also a car-rental agency in the lobby.

• Unit Type: Studio
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

Brisas Del Mar is a bit out of the way, but worth finding. It is about halfway between Oranjestad and San Nicolas, in the town of Savaneta. As you are driving the main highway toward San Nicolas, watch for the big sign on the right-hand side, with a mermaid pointing her arm in the direction of the restaurant.

Driving up to Brisas Del Mar, it doesn't look like much--in fact, it looks a bit like a bar. But don't be fooled! The restaurant sits right on a sea wall at water's edge, looking out over those beautiful aqua waters. Local fishermen keep their brightly colored boats anchored at the dock beside the restaurant.

The inside of the restaurant is small enough that every table has a lovely view out over the water. The restaurant is open-air due to the perpetually perfect weather in Aruba.

Cuisine is local Aruban fare--fresh lobster, conch, squid, wahoo, or Aruban beef, chicken, or pork. My husband always gets Aruban-style red snapper--the Aruban style referring to the spicy red sauce similar to Creole. I am more of a landlubber, so I always get the Aruban beef with hot sauce. The food is exceptionally good and the atmosphere so relaxed. Service is also always very good. We like to go for lunch or late lunch, so that we can look out at that beautiful water--and the lunch prices are less than dinner, but the food is just as good!

Charlie's Bar is a fun place on Main Street in San Nicolas. San Nicolas is at the other end of the island from the hotels where the refinery and Baby Beach are - we like to stop there for lunch after a morning at Baby Beach.

Charlie's has a bar, but also cozy wooden booths and large tables for casual dining. The place is covered from ceiling to floor with memorabilia left behind by visitors - license plates, job badges, marriage licenses - you name it! There is also a lot of really bad art on the walls.

The food is good, but don't be fooled by the ambiance - it's not cheap! I like the beef tips with "honeymoon sauce" - very, very hot! My husband likes the shrimp. They have a good selection of seafood prepared in the local Aruban way, and plenty of beer.

If you ask nicely, they may let you get behind the bar to have your picture taken, as we did. Charlie's is just a really fun place and if you are going to that end of the island (which you should), stop in at least to check it out and leave something of yours behind.

Bonbini means "Welcome" and the Bonbini Festival is Aruba's way of saying that every Tuesday night. The Festival is a show that emphasizes traditional Aruban songs and dances, presented by Aruban groups of all ages. Every week the program is different, but you will always see a fun show of song and dance. At various times during the program, you may come up on stage to dance with your own partner, or perhaps you will be nudged onstage by one of the performers.

Local craftspeople sell their wares, and there is Aruban food available at a very low cost, usually around $5. We have had wonderful chicken and rice dishes and a variety of other local fare.

The show takes place at Fort Guzman in downtown Oranjestad, just around the corner from the Sonesta Hotel (see my photo of the Fort Guzman tower). The entry fee is $3.