Three Different Aruban Adventures: Why This Caribbean Island Keeps Calling Me Back

The author is Ellen Grenci

Some destinations are beautiful. Others are relaxing. And then there are those special places that keep calling you back, each time giving you a completely different experience. For me, that place is Aruba.

My love affair with the island began about 20 years ago, when my husband and I honeymooned there.  It was September, during hurricane season, and Aruba's location outside the main hurricane belt made it appealing. We wanted somewhere warm, beautiful, and relaxing, where we could spend our days doing absolutely nothing.

Well, almost nothing!

Three visits later, I’ve experienced Aruba as a newlywed, a mom, and a friend celebrating a milestone birthday. Three very different vacations. One Happy Island.

First Visit: A Honeymoon with a Little Adventure

We spent 10 days at the Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive. I hadn't traveled extensively then, so the idea of having restaurants, beaches, and everything right at our fingertips was pretty incredible.

My favorite part? Opening our room’s sliding door and stepping straight onto the beach. It was exactly the kind of tropical escape we had imagined.

But our plans to do very little didn’t last long.

We rented a quad (no longer legal in Arikok National Park) and explored the Natural Pool, the natural bridges and old gold mines, and even went horseback riding.

One little piece of Aruba history that I'll never forget: the famous Natural Bridge collapsed just one week before we arrived in September 2005! We were disappointed to miss seeing it standing, but the remains of the original bridge and the nearby Baby Bridge are still worth visiting today.

What began as a relaxing honeymoon became our own little island adventure.

 

Returning with the Family: Turtles, Snorkeling, and Beach Time

We shared this special place with our children, many years later. staying at the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino on Palm Beach for 7 days. The location was also perfect for our family.

Our mornings were for adventure, our afternoons were for the beach, and our early evenings were spent enjoying the pool before heading out to dinner.

Swimming with the sea turtles in Tres Trapi was our favorite adventure. We booked a private guide who supplied the equipment, filmed us underwater, and shared information about the turtles—even their names! I love seeing wildlife when I travel, and this experience that really stayed with me.

We sailed out to the Antilla shipwreck on a half day catamaran tour with DePalm tours, where we snorkeled in some of the clearest, bluest water I've ever seen. My son loved being able to jump right off the side of the catamaran. I absolutely recommend this excursion.

We also revisited the Natural Pool, this time by Jeep, instead of our questionable honeymoon transportation choice!

 

Girls' Getaway: Great Food, Nightlife and Palm Beach Fun

My third visit was celebrating a dear friend’s 50th birthday at the adults-only Riu Palace Antillas.

I loved being able to walk into Palm Beach’s shopping and nightlife area, with restaurants, bars, and entertainment close by.

We enjoyed the restaurant scene, and experienced more of Aruba's nightlife. One evening, we headed toward the California Lighthouse area for dinner at Faro Blanco, an Italian restaurant with a beautiful setting.

It was a completely different side of Aruba, and a reminder that this island is just as wonderful for couples and friends as it is for families.

The Food: A Reason to Leave Your Resort

If there's one thing I consistently recommend about Aruba, it's getting out and trying the local restaurants.

A few personal favorites:

• The Flying Fishbone (Savaneta): A memorable dinner in Savaneta, with the possibility of dining with your feet in the water. Reserve ahead and ask about waterfront seating.
• El Gaucho Argentine Grill (Oranjestad): We still remember our incredible honeymoon steak dinner in Oranjestad.
• Quinta del Carmen (Noord): Beautiful ambiance, wonderful food, and an unexpected little story of its own. This is where our family met a very special four-legged vacation guest!
• Linda's Dutch Pancakes (Palm Beach): Don't skip breakfast here! Their traditional Dutch pancakes are absolutely to die for.

For accommodations, consider two popular resort areas:

• Palm Beach  for beachfront resorts, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife, making it convenient for families, couples, and friends.
• Eagle Beach offers a quieter atmosphere for travelers who want to relax on the beach and enjoy their resort.

I encourage visitors to consider a traditional hotel rather than automatically choosing an all-inclusive. Aruba's restaurant scene is too good to miss!

 

Here are a few things I'd share with anyone planning their first trip.

1. Renting a vehicle: Aruba has plenty of traffic circles (and no stop signs), so driving may take a little getting used to. If you're not comfortable navigating them, don't worry! Taxis and tours are easy to arrange, taxi fares are set rather than metered, and many excursions include hotel pickup.

If you do rent a vehicle, keep in mind that you'll need a 4WD vehicle to reach the Natural Pool. A regular rental car cannot handle the rocky terrain, and not every rental company permits off-road driving—even with a Jeep. Check with your rental company before heading out to make sure this is allowed. (If you do make the trip, try to arrive early in the morning, before larger tour groups arrive, for a less crowded experience).

U.S. dollars are widely accepted, but bring cash for taxis, as most operate on a cash basis.

2. Hotels and excursion operators may provide snorkeling equipment, but packing your own  means you're ready to explore whenever you want. I also like bringing a couple of packable floaties.
3. Some of Aruba's most popular restaurants book up, especially those with waterfront seating. If there's somewhere you really want to try, don't wait until you arrive to make plans.
4. Here's my very important beauty tip: Aruba is windy! Those lovely trade winds are part of what makes the island so comfortable, but don't plan on having a perfect hair day. If you have curly hair, I wouldn't even bother straightening it. Consider yourself warned!

One Unexpected Aruba Souvenir

Remember when I mentioned that we met someone special at Quinta del Carmen?

Well, it was a cat.

While enjoying an early outdoor dinner when we heard a little meow. A friendly cat had made her way around the restaurant, hoping someone might share a little food.

When our waitress asked if we needed anything else, we jokingly replied, "We'll take the cat to go!"

Then the joke became a plan.

Our waitress connected us with local rescuers, and we worked with shelters to have the cat trapped, spayed, and eventually flown home.

Aruba even has organizations like Sgt. Pepper's Friends that coordinate animal rescue and flight volunteers. Travelers returning home can sometimes help transport a rescued dog or cat to its forever family.

She wasn’t the souvenir we expected, but she became our family’s favorite.

Why Aruba Keeps Calling Me Back

What brings me back isn’t just the beach. It’s how comfortable and welcome I’ve felt exploring beyond the resort.

A honeymoon adventure. Family memories. A birthday celebration. And one very lucky cat.

After three trips, Aruba still finds new ways to win me over. I’d return in a heartbeat!

Let’s start planning your next island adventure!

Ellen Grenci is a Connecticut-based travel advisor with Magic Family Getaways LLC, helping families, couples, and groups plan memorable vacations.

 

Magic Family Getaways is a family-run travel agency and award winning travel agency in Essex County, NJ. Magic Family Getaways is licensed, bonded and insured to book travel across the United States with its head office in Montclair, NJ.