Pristine white sand beaches + turquoise blue waters = a fantastic place to get away and recharge for a few days. Give me a short flight, a free room night and some points, and I will create myself a grand experience! I was tired from a pretty eventful and stressful year, and headed full speed into a pretty significant birthday like a tractor trailer on an open highway in the desert. I needed a few days to rest and recharge. MAN, did I hit the vacation jackpot!!
This little island is full of wonderfully friendly and kind people. It is only 20 miles from one end to the other, so renting a car for one day to see the whole thing is a must. Baby Beach is a short ride to the East end of the island where the locals have hidden a public beach that is one of the most beautiful places on the island. The opposite end of the island boasts the ‘high rise’ area where all the larger resort properties and shopping areas are situated. There are many local restaurants as well as chains like the Hard Rock Café. It’s easy to spend a day/evening wandering through the shops and restaurants. TIP: Rent a car from the airport and it will be far less expensive than renting from a hotel. We took a taxi from the hotel and picked up a car the day before we were to leave. We were able to take the car back on our schedule instead of waiting for a ride and it only cost the money we would have paid to get to the airport anyway.
The Renaissance hotel in Aruba has two locations. The Ocean Tower has its own beach and is family friendly. There is a small shopping area in the parking lot with restaurants, Dunkin Donuts, souvenir stores and a movie theatre. The Marina Hotel directly across the street is easily accessible via their fancy golf cart shuttle. The hotel is connected to a Starbucks, local souvenir shops, and a little mall with some high-end shopping (think Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Kate Spade). There is also a casino connected and the hotel is for adults only. Yes, please!!
The hotel gave me a ‘membership’ card to the casino with $25 in credit to play. I pretended I knew how to play the slots for a bit and then decided to try something more exciting. I’m not an experienced gambler, so I learned how to play Roulette. It was a lot of fun once I got the hang of it! I won a little cash, tucked it in my pocket and went to bed.
Don’t be disappointed that there is no beach at the Marina Hotel property – a boat drives under the street into the hotel lobby to pick up passengers and deposit them at the hotel’s private island. It was one of most beautiful places I’ve seen and PERFECT for a few days of doing nothing. There is a lagoon that is just a few feet deep and floats/snorkel masks are provided. There are cabanas for rent that come with a Concierge ready to meet any whim. Of note: One beach is also for adults only and I understand that being topless is ok on that side of the island. I didn’t notice anyone topless when I wandered in that direction, but I wasn’t exactly looking. I was scouting the best spot for plopping on the sand! This side was smaller and didn’t have as many lounge chairs and umbrellas, so the fully clothed beach was definitely the one for me!
You will encounter flamingos wandering the beach and having lunch in the surf. They are particularly ok with having their photo taken with tourists, but remember they are wild animals – don’t touch!
The Flamingos!
The end of the island near the Renaissance is also where the cruise ships dock, so keep that in mind when planning your trip. If you like little junk and trinket shops like I do, there are PLENTY within a short walk from the hotel. If you don’t like crowds (like me) you’ll want to pay attention to when you venture in that direct.
The beaches are far less crowded at Renaissance Island than in the high-rise district, which is perfectly perfect for a weekend getaway for me. Although you should never take valuables to the beach, I didn’t feel like I had to keep all my belongings in my pocket since I was never more than a few yards away, even when floating on a raft watching the fish chase each other under the water.
