Honeymoon in Aruba

The weather lends to allowing many activities. We did as much as we could while still being able to sleep in and get relaxing beach time. Try scuba or go on a Jeep safari. Horseback riding can be rocky, so if you have never gone, you may not want to try it here. Try an ATV 4x4 instead. See the Natural Bridge and Natural Pool. Rent a floaty or bring your own--the water in the ocean is like a bath in October, and you may never want to come out. Make sure to catch sunset every night; it's gorgeous. And ask the desk--they will be able to tell you what time it is.

Quick Tips:

Stay at a hotel that gives you a breakfast plan; then you will be able to enjoy all the wonderful restaurants on the island. Dinners can be costly but worth the price. Please try places like Papiamentos and Flying Fishbone, which give you the atmosphere as well as excellent service and food.

Best Way To Get Around:

The airport is a good 15 to 30 minutes from most hotels. If you booked a package, then you probably received a bus trip included. Keep in mind that your bus will stop at every hotel on the route before it gets to yours. We decided to take a taxi to cut the time of the trip and get to the beach sooner. The taxi was about , including tip.

On your other days, rent a car! Taxis are expensive for normal getting around, and the buses run on a slow and slower schedule. If you miss a bus once, you will wait sometimes for a half-hour for the next.

The Radisson came highly recommended to us. They recently had a 50-million-dollar renovation, and the hotel and grounds were beautiful. Very comfortable and lush. There were waterfalls and gardens, 3 pools including a kids pool. There was a daytime program for children and activities.There are 3 restaurants, a casino and small coffee cafe. The guest rooms were well appointed, with a lot of storage space, in a West Indies style.

I highly recommend trying the Grouper sandwich at Gilligans, their restaurant located on the beach. Also if you get a chance check out their drink menu, it's huge. Order a frozen alligator for me!!

We ate breakfast every morning at Laguna's, the buffet is plentiful, and I would also recommend getting a "breakfast plan" with your stay. It helps to cut the costs of the day as well as taking care of one meal with no worry. Due to the Caribbean climate we normally only eat breakfast, then a late-day snack before going to a restaurant for dinner.

We personally had many troubles with our stay, which led to the Radisson giving us the certificate that we used for our England stay. There were check-in problems as well as housekeeping and concierge issues.

But having said that, many others that we have spoken to and read about had no troubles and enjoyed every minute of their vacations.

Flying Fishbone is for the romantic sunset dinner. You must get table on the water, have a glass of wine, and wiggle your toes in the sand as the sun sets before you.

The staff cannot accommodate you enough, as the service and food is impeccable. Check them out online (flyingfishbone.com) before you go. You can make a reservation yourself or have your concierge do it from the hotel. Give them a few day’s notice at least. as the tables by the water for sunset book up fast.

Food recommendations : We loved it all! We shared it all. Crabmeat, Apple & Celery Salad for an appetizer, Shrimp Shii-take & Blue Cheese Casserole for one of the main courses, Grilled Scallops for the other main course, and for dessert - Crème Brûlée. Not to be a bore, but my husband and I have a "thing" for Crème Brûlée and try it at least once wherever we go. Flying Fishbone does it well.

Tomato Charlie's is quite good and one of the most reasonably priced meals we had. Their bruschetta is awesome, the tomato tower is not to be missed, and they have some of the best pizza on the island. Our waiter, Oscar, was great, friendly, and very funny. He made the experience even better.

The owner, Mike, was our tour guide and was awesome. For a windy island, this was a smooth ride. He took us out for a full-island tour that lasted 30 minutes. It was worth every penny.

He explains the area and is very informed. Although the company is from Seattle, WA, Mike runs it and spends half or more of the year on the island. You can get some pictures that can only be taken from up above that will stun your friends and family!!