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Aruba Arriba!

An April 2007 trip to Aruba by angelasnell79

Divi Divi TreeMore Photos

Our annual trip to Aruba, April 28 - May 5 2007.

  • 18 reviews
  • 1 story/tip
  • 20 photos

Aruba Arriba!Best of IgoUgo

Overview

Divi Divi Tree
We took a taxi from the Airport to the Manchebo, the same hotel we stayed in last year. The driver was very nice and didn’t charge us for our 4 bags. The trip from the airport to the low rise hotel area was , about the same as last year.

Upon checking into the Manchebo we were delighted to find that they were able to reserve the room we requested, the same as last year. It has an amazing ocean view and is the most private balcony on the property. We unpacked (quickly) and then grabbed a cab and headed to Ling & Sons grocery to get some food for the week. We bought a few things to snack on and a few cases of Balashi and headed back. I was surprised at how well-stocked the grocery was, though the fruit seemed to be of a lesser quality than that which we see back home in New England.

Over the course of the week we snorkeled, rode horseback, explored the island, swam, shopped, ate, drank, and more. We stayed during two local holidays – Queen’s Birthday and the following day was Labor Day, which wasn’t a huge inconvenience but there were some stores that were closed (including the grocers). There are a few things about the island this year worth mentioning. For one, construction seems to be going at a quick pace. The new Riu resort on Palm Beach loomed like a giant monstrosity. We heard news of plans to build a new golf resort by Baby Beach (one of the last unspoiled public beaches on the island). Things were a bit more expensive but in reality prices seemed rather reasonable. We felt safe almost everywhere (except for a few sketchier areas in downtown Oranjestad). The weather was of course perfect, it did not rain once the entire week and was warm and breezy as always. I hope you enjoy this report, I have taken careful steps to give informative details on the various places we went and activities we participated in. All in all, it was a great, relaxing week and we can’t wait until next year!

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Manchebo Beach Resort and SpaBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Manchebo"

Relaxing on the beach
We came back to the Manchebo for our second visit to Aruba, and we were even lucky enough to get the same room (at our request) as last year, too. The rooms have been updated; there is new furniture and the bedspreads are of a darker color as well. The flat screen TV looks nice, but we had a lot of problem getting the remote to work properly and the reception was fuzzy. These things don’t bother me too much, as I certainly don’t fly all the way to Aruba to watch television!

After a second year at this resort I feel 100% confident in saying that it is the best beach resort in Aruba. The beach is never crowded, the palapas are both plentiful and well spread-out. There is a lot of privacy on this beach. We rarely saw any children, the beach is almost exclusively couples (which it helps that the soon to be adults-only Bucuti resort is next door).

The pool at the Manchebo is small, but no one comes here for the pool. This resort is all about relaxing on the beach. The hotel staff are all wonderful, friendly, helpful and feel like family. I heard there were plans to replace the green ground covering with something a little easier to walk on in the coming year.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by angelasnell79 on May 30, 2007

Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa
J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 55 Oranjestad, Aruba
(297) 582-3444

Aruba Beach ClubBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

Aruba Beach Club Entrance
We did not actually stay at the Aruba Beach Club, but we will be there next year. The ABC is located directly next door to the Manchebo, and the Casa del Mar is on the other side. We walked over following the advice of a couple we met while on the island to check out their facilities, and walked away with a timeshare purchase that we will be using next year! The rooms were just renovated and are quite nice. The bathrooms at the ABC are much larger and newer than those at the Manchebo, although there is no bathtub. The pool is larger and nicer, and the grounds are nicely manicured. There are a few shops at the resort and we expect to have a wonderful time there next year. We will miss the Manchebo, but thankfully we will be on the beach right next door!
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by angelasnell79 on May 30, 2007

Aruba Beach Club
J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 53 Oranjestad, Aruba
+297 5823000

Italian Gourmet Garden TerraceBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

We dined at the Italian Gourmet Garden Terrace restaurant at the Manchebo where we stayed the first night we arrived in Aruba. I was disappointed to see that the lamb was no longer on the menu. My husband and I split a creamy, seafood crepe appetizer, which was delicious but not necessary as our dinners were large and tasty. My husband had a steak and I had fish. We each had some red wine. The live music was provided by a local guitar player, and the serve was good (though we did wait on water a bit).

We also ate breakfast at the Italian Gourmet each morning, as holders of a Visit Aruba Plus card we were entitled to 2 free breakfasts (up to a $12 value) for each guest. Breakfast was better this year, though the daily pancake special didn’t change as often as last year. I was lucky to get to have the pineapple pancakes at least once! Coffee here is quite good and the two egg omelet is a great bargain.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by angelasnell79 on May 30, 2007

Salt & PepperBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Salt & Pepper"

We did not have an all-inclusive stay this year so we did get to try a few new restaurants. I had heard a lot of people raving about Salt & Pepper, so we headed down to Palm Beach one evening for dinner. We chose to dine outside. True to what I had heard and read, their menu of tapas (mini appetizers) was extensive. Initially we had planned on each ordering several tapas each for dinner, but after hearing the specials I opted to try the Caribbean curry chicken tapa and the Wahoo filet in a pineapple orange sauce with white rice, and my husband had a meatball-esque tapa and a mahi mahi fillet. We were in agreement that the food was fantastic, though my wahoo was by far the best of what we had. We also split a pitcher of their famous sangria. Service was excellent here, and the location was great as it was right on the main strip in Palm Beach (next door to Tango’s Restaurant). I would definitely come back to try some more of the delicious tapas!
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by angelasnell79 on May 30, 2007

Salt & Pepper
Irausquin Blvd. 368-A Palm Beach, Aruba
(297) 863280

Ostrich FarmBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

We took a tour of the island’s ostrich farm and concluded it with a meal at the restaurant on-site. It was lunch time, and we each ordered the ostrich burger. The meat was cooked slightly more than we requested (we wanted medium rare) and the taste wasn’t very inspiring. The passion fruit smoothie I had was absolutely delicious though. The restaurant decor was very nice, styled in African art which went well with the ostrich theme, but I doubt we would be back.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by angelasnell79 on May 30, 2007

Ostrich Farm
Oranjestad, Aruba
(297) 585-9630

French SteakhouseBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Us
Of course, since we were staying at the Manchebo it was only fitting that we spend one night at the French Steakhouse. The restaurant was almost empty, something that I am sure can’t bode well for the resort. The service and food was excellent though, so perhaps it was just an off night for them attendance-wise. I had the certified 12 oz Churrasco and my husband had the Dutch style filet mignon. Both cuts of meat were superb. The live piano was of course nice and the wait staff were extremely accommodating. We had a wonderful, relaxed yet elegant meal.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by angelasnell79 on May 30, 2007

French Steakhouse
Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa. Oranjestad, Aruba P.O. Box 564
+297-582-3444

Madame JanetteBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Madame Jeanette's"

I had been told by most everyone I spoke to about our return trip to Aruba that we absolutely had to eat at Madame Jeanette’s. We took a cab (it is in Noord, tucked away along one of the more residential streets) in an old Cunucu (farmhouse). From the moment we arrived I knew it was something special. The open-air dining area was lit with hundreds of small white lights. The menu was extensive, and while I was disappointed by the fact that they were sold out of the bottle of California Pinot Noir I wanted, the Italian Merlot was probably almost as good. We skipped on the appetizer and went straight for the main course. I had the almond crusted grouper fillet, and my husband had the chicken cordon bleu. My husband’s meal was gigantic (as was mine). The food was insanely good, and they have some delightful onions they put out with thick home made bread. The atmosphere here was so warm and inviting. The service was superb, the best I experienced on the island. We had the most romantic dinner here and I plan to return again next year.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by angelasnell79 on May 30, 2007

Madame Janette
Cunucu Abao 37 Oranjestad, Aruba
297/587-0184

Donkey SanctuaryBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Donkey
After a long search driving through old Cunucu neighborhoods we finally found the Aruba Donkey Sanctuary. Donkeys are endangered on the island now, and a small group of volunteers runs the facility which gives a home to some 15 donkeys. Unfortunately, the Sanctuary was closed for the holiday when we were there, but we were able to go up to the fence and fed them some apples. I would like to go back some time when you can actually go inside and see them.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by angelasnell79 on May 30, 2007

Donkey Sanctuary
Oranjestad, Aruba

Ostrich FarmBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Ostrich in your face!
The Ostrich Farm was fun, but I don’t think we will need to do that again. It was interesting to hear about how quickly the birds grow, and how strong the eggs are (a human can stand on one!). The tour was quick, but we were the only ones there. The cost was $12 per adult. There is a restaurant on-site that serves ostrich meat (the meat comes from a much larger ostrich farm in neighboring Curacao). The food was OK, but not anything to rave about. The African decorations are a nice touch.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by angelasnell79 on May 30, 2007

Ostrich Farm
Oranjestad, Aruba
(297) 585-9630

Rancho DaimariBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Natural Pool"

Natural Pool

This year we decided to take a horseback riding tour. The tour we opted for (see "Nature Tours – Rancho Daimari") took us through the desert outback of the island, over sand dunes to the eastern shore where the Natural Pool can be found. We had tried to reach the Natural Pool the day before in our rental, but the 4 wheel drive would not engage properly on the vehicle and please be warned – the road immediately before you arrive at the pool is in very poor condition.

On the horses it was much easier, and there are also ATV tours that will take you that looked like fun. The pool itself is small, and there were a lot of people there. It is hard to get to, as you do need to climb over a lot of slippery rocks (and even some people) to get down into it. There are fish in the pool, which was kind of neat. The water splashes down over some tall rocks and fills the pool area. It was rather breathtaking to watch the rough Atlantic waters splashing against the rocks. As the island of Aruba is very small, I recommend seeing the Natural Pool as an enjoyable nature stop.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by angelasnell79 on May 30, 2007

Rancho Daimari
Palm Beach, Aruba
+297-586-62

CavesBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Tunnel of Love
This year we also decided to check out the caves that can be found along the southeastern coast of the island. Each of the caves is relatively easy to find, and they are all along basically the same road. The first cave we came to, the “Tunnel of Love,” was actually staffed. There was a guide who took us down to the entrance, took a picture of us with our camera, and explained the various details (length, depth) of the cave. Unfortunately there is no outside source of light at this cave and we were not prepared with flashlights (the staff did not have flashlights for use either) so we could only walk into the cave a little ways, and then climb back out and walk around back to see the exit. There are two more caves after this one, though we only stopped at the very next one. This one has holes in the ceiling and thus can be fully explored without the use of flashlights. There were bats in the caves, but they kept to themselves. It was hot, and of course when you are actually in the caves there is no wind, so it stays hot.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by angelasnell79 on May 30, 2007

Palm Beach (General)Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Eagle Beach"

Divi Divi Tree
Of course, we stay on Eagle beach so this is our favorite. Located in the low-rise hotel area, Eagle Beach is long, wide and relatively un-crowded. This is a very relaxing stretch of shoreline, and making the walk from one end to the other seemed to be quite a popular form of exercise. The sand quality is superb, though there did appear to be more rocks and rougher water as you got closer to Palm Beach.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by angelasnell79 on May 30, 2007

Palm Beach (General)
Palm Beach, Aruba

Mi Dushi Taste of Aruba Snorkel CruiseBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Snorkeling
We took this cruise on a Thursday. The cruise goes from 9:30am to 2:30pm, and includes three snorkel stops, your own disposable mouthpiece, along with the gear—fins, snorkel vest, snorkel, and mask—open bar and lunch. When the Kukoo Kunuku bus arrived at out hotel at 8:50am to pick us up and bring us to the pier, we knew it was going to be a good time. The bar was open almost immediately on boarding the Mi Dushi sailing boat, and they served just about anything you could think of. We started with mimosas and moved on to Polar beer in the afternoon.

The first snorkel stop was the Antilla Wreck, the largest wreck in the Caribbean. As this was both my husband and my first time snorkeling, we found this stop to be rather difficult. It is farther away from shore and that was was much choppier. Also, there were many other boats anchored here with their own groups or divers, so it was crowded. There were a lot of interesting fish to see, however. Eventually we figured out what we were doing and by the time we made it to the second stop we were pros! Once you have been stopped at the third and final snorkel spot, some of the crew drive to the shore in a small motorboat that is towed behind the sailing vessel. They pick up a delicious hot lunch that was catered by Le Dome restaurant, purported by many to be one of the best on the island. The meal consisted of curry chicken, beef, and onions in gravy, white rice, fresh cucumber salad, pasta salad, and corn on the cob. It was very good and the portions were very generous. By the time lunch was served, the open bar had most everyone feeling good, and the more daring of us used the rope swing on board to dive into the water. Afterwards the bus takes everyone back to their hotel, and the music is playing and everyone was singing along, clapping their hands and just having a grand old time. For $50 per person ($10 discount for booking online) this was by far the best “bang for our buck” that we had on the island and I literally cannot wait to do it again next year. Also worth mentioning, the crew was absolutely wonderful.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by angelasnell79 on May 30, 2007

Mi Dushi Taste of Aruba Snorkel Cruise
Oranjestad, Aruba

Rancho DaimariBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Rancho Daimari Horseback Ride to the Natural Pool"

On Horseback

Rancho Daimari will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the ranch for both the horseback ride and also the ATV tour they offer. The horses were Palominos, and they were all very friendly and well-trained. Anyone can ride, even if you have never been on a horse before. Javier, our tour guide, was bursting with energy and really made the whole experience a lot of fun. We rode the horses along the Aruba desert outback, over sand dunes. There was a point in the beginning of the trail where the horses went into a trot, and later on there are a few spots (along the white sand and along the ocean) where they broke into a full gallop. It was amazing!

We stopped at the Natural Pool, where there is a corral to keep the horses while the riders enjoy some lemonade and walk down the steps to the pool. We spent quite a long time there, so if you are looking for a way to get to the Natural Pool but don’t want the stress of trying to tackle those roads by yourself in a vehicle I highly recommend the horse ride! On the way back from the Natural Pool we got to ride the horses along the ocean through the surf. The tour guide took pictures several times of everyone with their cameras, so you even get to have some good pictures. For $60 per person, it was a very good time.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by angelasnell79 on May 30, 2007

Rancho Daimari
Palm Beach, Aruba
+297-586-62

Iguana Joe'sBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

There was a coupon in one of the free local travel guides for a free Jr. Sized Pink Iguana at Iguana Joe’s, which I cashed in. The drink was delicious, but we didn’t stay as at 9pm the place was dead. We have never had the food there so I can’t speak for that but the drinks are good, but a little pricey.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by angelasnell79 on May 30, 2007

Iguana Joe's
Royal Plaza Mall Oranjestad, Aruba

Carlos'n Charlie'sBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Carlos & Charlie's"

A night out to Carlos & Charlie’s. We are not big bar/club people so we only stayed from about 9:30pm to 12am. “The Yard” drinks are a good bargain if you want to get a lot of alcohol here. The place doesn’t actually get busy until after 12am, and that’s precisely why we left when we did – it does get crazy! All in all this is a good time but appears to mostly attract younger crowds.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by angelasnell79 on May 30, 2007

Carlos'n Charlie's
West Straat 3-A Oranjestad, Aruba
+297-582-0355

Alhambra CasinoBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

The Alhambra Casino is located across from the Manchebo hotel where we stayed. It is small, and seems to have a lot of locals playing the slots. It is one of the first casinos built on the island. Not as flashy as some of the other casinos in the Palm Beach area, but a lot of fun nonetheless.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by angelasnell79 on May 30, 2007

Alhambra Casino
47 J.E. Irausquin Blvd. Oranjestad, Aruba
+297-583-5000

The Aruba Experience - the second time aroundBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

We had a lot of fun this year, much more than last year even and we had a lot of fun then, too! We saved more money this year by not going out to eat every night, and because of that, I am looking forward to having the timeshare next year as there is a kitchenette where we will be able to prepare meals if we wanted to. The collapsible cooler we brought with us to the island was invaluable, as the savings in buying Balashi from the grocer instead of the resort are large. Plus, we had the added bonus of bringing some snacks and drinks down to the beach to watch the sunset on more than one occasion.

The sun is very strong in Aruba, and despite my careful planning and liberal application of SPF 50 sunblock, I still was rather pink by the end of the week, though neither of us got a painful burn (thankfully). Please don’t underestimate the intensity of the sun!

Aruba is a very safe island, and while it has gotten a bad rap lately (particularly for the Natalee Holloway disappearance) it still remains one of the safest destinations in the Caribbean. There are very few places on the island where you may feel uneasy, mostly in the inner city areas.

See you next year, Aruba!

About the Writer

angelasnell79
angelasnell79
Epsom, New Hampshire

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