My first time in Aruba was in 2014. It was a stop on a Southern Caribbean cruise, one that I was greatly looking forward to. But I left feeling a bit…meh. The island was beautiful, but I left feeling like I really didn’t see the island. I was determined to give it a second chance someday. When a few of my classmates from training decided to fly down for a long weekend, I hopped on the invite. I never like to write-off a place off completely, so I had to give the One Happy Island a second chance.
I guess second time is a charm because I really enjoyed my time on the island. The weather was perfect and it was the perfect quick beach getaway to kick off the summer. I will stop rambling now since this is supposed to be a photo diary, but you can read more at the end.
SEE & DO
Flamingo Beach
The Renaissance Aruba has a private beach (free for hotel guests, $99/person for visitors) where flamingos roam free. I was surprised at how gentle they were but still kept my distance. Definitely fun to experience.
Palm – Eagle Beach
During the day the Palm-Eagle Beach area is filled with people swimming, jet-skiing and going on boat rides. At night, it’s the liveliest place in the island to take in the nightlife. If casinos aren’t your thing, the Palm-Eagle Beach area is especially perfect with its various bars, clubs and restaurants. We did a catamaran sunset cruise our last night there and it was definitely the highlight of the trip.
Casibari Rock Formation
I didn’t go to Casibari on this trip, but it’s definitely one of my favorite places on the island. The walking trails around and through the rock formation are stunning and the views of the island from the top of the formation are worth the hike.
SLEEP & EAT
We stayed at the Renaissance Aruba in Oranjestad, about 5 minutes from the airport. The hotel is split into two, the Marina and the Oceanview Suites. The Marina is adults-only with a pool, casino, restaurants and a high-end shopping mall. The Oceanview Suites are more family-friendly and accommodating to bigger groups. We stayed at the Oceanview Suites and it was perfect accommodations with a mini-kitchen in the room in addition to the pools on the premises and private beach access.
We mostly ate while we were out, but one place that I would say is a must try is The Dutch Pancake House. It was recommended to me by so many people and it certainly lived up to the hype. My go-to was the Seaport Breakfast (pictured above), the perfect combination (and portion) of all my favorite breakfast foods, both savory and sweet.
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