Located 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela, the island of Aruba is known for many things. It has emerald green waters loaded with tropical fish, year-round warm weather, beautiful white sand beaches, casinos, the finest aloe vera products, and much more.
But recently, Aruba was dubbed a new name by guitarist Neil Giraldo, who along with his wife Pat Benatar played to a sellout crowd at the annual Aruba Music Festival. Giraldo called Aruba The Happy Island of Love for its many friendly people and romantic atmosphere. This husband-wife team of more than 25 years brought the crowd to its feet playing classic songs that broke the night air like a Caribbean thunderstorm with such favorites as "Love Is a Battlefield" and "Hit Me with Your Best Shot." Headlining along with Benatar were the Doobie Brothers whose music has topped the charts 27 times and whose albums have gone platinum 11 times. There was something truly ethereal about hearing all this vintage music under the stars in this tropical haven. Music, as I found out, is as much a part of Aruba as is the cordiality of its local population.
This was my first visit to the island and I couldn't help but notice that even the license plates reflect the state motto of One Happy Island. As I meandered through the local mercado, I saw women singing, sidewalk musicians playing steel kettle drums, and smiles on the faces of people passing me in the streets.
Aruba is a small island being only twenty miles by six, but from its auspicious beginnings, it has grown up into a desired location that brings visitors back year after year. First claimed by the Spaniards in 1499, the island eventually found its way into the hands of the Dutch who took possession in 1636. In 1986, the nation became a separate entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Today, you can find many of the influences of its historic roots in the language and architecture of the island. It is not uncommon for many Arubans to speak four languages: Dutch, the official language, Papiamento the local language; English and Spanish.
Getting There Is Half the Fun
Aruba is served by several major air carriers including United, US Airways, Continental, American, and Delta Airlines. I arrived late in the evening at Aruba's Queen Beatrix International Airport after a long flight. I was anxious to get to my hotel but was dreading the typical long lines at customs. To my surprise, however, I breezed through the checkpoints within minutes. Recent construction of the concourse tripled the size of the airport that now handles 2.5 million passengers annually.
Cruise companies have discovered Aruba as well. As I made my way into town, I saw two huge mega-liners from Carnival and Princess nestled in their docks across from my hotel. If you are the type of person that just likes to unpack once and have all your meals and entertainment taken care of, then do consider a cruise. They have much to offer for families including all sorts of kids' programs.
Where to Stay
There are many hotels on the island that will accommodate any budget. Many of these are right on the beach with commanding views of the ocean. I stayed at the Renaissance Aruba Beach Resort and Casino located in downtown Oranjestad. I prefer to be where the action is, and this certainly met my expectations. Here, you are in walking distance to most of the restaurants, nightclubs, and local shopping. Recently renovated, the Renaissance has 560 rooms and was rated number one for best overall product and service by the Aruba Hotel Association's annual Freeman Survey. Everything that your heart might desire is located on their grounds, including two casinos, a private island with three beaches, a marina, tennis courts, and many different restaurants. A private boat takes you to their exclusive island that I particularly enjoyed. Thatched huts provide shade from the sun, which shines year round with 80 degree weather. Aruba also has the advantage of being located outside the hurricane belt, which means that you are never in danger of having your plans or your belongings blown out to sea.
Beaches and Outdoor Activities
Porthole Cruise Magazine has rated Aruba's Palm Beach and Eagle Beach as the best in the world. Seven miles of powdery white sand awaits you in an area known as the Turquoise Coast.
If you enjoy water sports, then you will love Aruba. Here you can dive or snorkel around many shipwrecks, windsurf, or jet-ski. There are over 20 dive sites on the island where you can find many varieties of tropical fish as well as stingrays, starfish, eels, and many types of coral.
I took the Palm Pleasure Snorkel Adventure which included drinks, lunch, and three different snorkel locations, one of which was over the Antilla, a 397-foot German WWII freighter. As I glided over the top of this wreck, I was greeted by hundreds of small fish who were as curious about me as I was about them. Light reflected through the water off blue and green fluorescent-colored fish in this vast blue ocean with great visibility. Below me, about 50 meters, I could see divers exploring the deeper recesses of this ocean vessel along with all manner of marine life.
If you prefer land excursions, tour operators will take you by Jeep, ATV, or bus to many of Aruba's natural and man-made wonders. The Natural Bridge and California Lighthouse are two landmarks that attract thousands each year.
Even though Aruba can get hot, constant trade winds help keep things cool. When you combine this with a hammock and a cool drink, then you will find yourself close to heaven on earth. The waters in Aruba are emerald green close to shore, shifting to a more azure blue and then to a hypnotic cerulean blue further out.
Shopping and Nightlife
Downtown Oranjestad offers some of the best shopping on the island. Colorful buildings show off their Dutch heritage in both style and function. Many shops sell jewelry, including tanzanite, pearls, and watches as well as many duty-free items.
Don't leave Aruba without trying some of their world famous aloe products. This is considered something of a national treasure and the aloe plant is even incorporated into their coat of arms. The dry climate is perfect for growing this medicinal plant, and it is used in a wide range of local cosmetic products. After I burned the top of my head one day, I bought a tube of the extra cooling Aruba Aloe. The pain was gone within seconds, and I also found it just great for general skin use. You can pick up any of these aloe products in almost any store or pharmacy.
Just a block away from the hotels and tourist shops, the popular mercado beckons travelers looking for the best bargains. Main Street, as it is known, is where many locals shop for clothing, CD's, food, and local drinks. I tried a fresh mango drink made with ice, sugar, and milk, and it was just the thing to cool me down on a hot afternoon. One day a month, merchants bring their wares out to the sidewalk, musicians magically appear, and the whole area turns into one big block party!
About one hour prior to sunset, I walked to the boardwalk that borders many of the hotels along Palm Beach. This is a great place to find a good restaurant and a fantastic location to watch the sun set over the horizon. I watched as a ball of orange descended on the water and backlit a number of boats that were anchored just offshore. As I was trying to take in my last glimpse of light, a local Aruban man standing nearby turned to me and said with a proud tone, "This is why I will never leave this island."
As day turns to night, Aruba takes on a different atmosphere where fun-seeking travelers can dance the night away in one of the many clubs and restaurants. You can also spend your time (and your money) in any number of casinos that dot the island.
Dining in Gastronomic Heaven
Aruba is home to over 100 restaurants that include Italian, Mediterranean, Indonesian, French, and Mexican cuisines. You can enjoy a quiet, romantic dinner right on the beach at sunset or a noisy, raucous time at a local hot spot.
I opted for the noisy and raucous at the infamous Carlos and Charlie's. While the Mexican cuisine was good, people come here to be entertained, embarrassed, or both. Here, serving customers is not a passive event. What can you expect? Flamboyant, costumed employees in chicken suits will pour tequila down your throat from a shot glass, making you dance by yourself to up-beat music on a table, or pull you into a conga line. You know, stuff like that. Even though I hate to dance and tried to stay out of the limelight at the other end of my camera, I couldn't escape and found myself being yanked out of my seat and onto the dance floor by a hostess. Well, when in Rome…
Now if you are in the mood for red meat, then by all means make a reservation at El Gaucho Argentine Grill. Designed in the traditional décor that an Argentine cowboy or gaucho might employ, this restaurant is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I have never had Argentine beef so I wasn't sure what to expect when I ordered a T-bone steak. You can forget about any preconceived ideas you might have about wimpy portions that you might experience back home. Here, you will get a monstrous-sized piece of beef that is enough for three. If that isn't enough, the side dishes of corn, broccoli, and onions are meals in and of themselves. The meat was tender, flavorful, and seasoned just right. If I thought the food would have lasted several more days, I would have brought a doggy bag all the way home. One caution: Come here hungry or don't come!
If you are a seafood lover like I am, then you will have many choices. But if you like your seafood fresh, and I mean really fresh, then you need to give the Aqua Grill located in the hotel zone a try. A new restaurant on the island, the Aqua Grill offers some of the finest seafood flown in daily from Boston. The décor was inviting and cool with a definite New England feel. A combination of dark woods, custom designed lamps, and black and white pictures of ocean scenes all added to the comfortable ambiance. I was escorted to my table past a display of fresh snapper, crab legs, and other delicacies all close enough to visually inspect. Even the kitchen was located in a brightly-lit area behind a glass partition where cleanliness and quality are obviously a key concern of management.
For an appetizer I had the Manhattan clam chowder. The clams were soft and chewy without being too fishy, and the broth was tangy and seasoned just right. Since I very rarely get good crab, I also tried the Alaskan king crab legs with drawn butter, polenta, and spinach on the side. The crab was every bit as fresh as if you had caught it yourself, and the portions took me a good hour to consume. Even thought I was in Aruba, I continued the Alaskan theme and topped off the meal with a deliciously self-indulgent baked Alaska.
Manager Juan Keyter expressed my sentiments very succinctly. "Aqua Grill is made through people. It's the staff, the service, the ambiance, and the quality of food that makes it special." Everything from the service to the food was exceptional, and my opinion is that the Aqua Grill will be the premiere seafood restaurant in Aruba. I give it my highest rating -- four smiles.
Aruba has been ranked among the world's top ten destinations to visit and first choice in the Caribbean according to Travel Weekly magazine. It is also not surprising that The Travel Channel highlighted the island as one of the best romantic hot spots for newlyweds. Perhaps they are simply discovering what many have already found out -- that Aruba truly is the Happy Island of Love.