Trip with me and my husband on our adventures together!
A travel guide to help you with tips, places to visit, good global eats and anything else that comes with taking a trip away…. let’s start the trippin’! This trip was actually minus a Vega but was packed with just as much fun!
🎶 ARUBA, Jamaica, oooohhhh I wanna take ya……🎶 I know I know, so cliché but you know I had to throw that in there since I was visiting the first place mentioned! Lol…..So, a few weeks ago, literally at the end of March me, my mom, my sister, and our girlfriends, took a girls’ trip to the beautiful island of Aruba. No joke, we have been trying to make this trip happen since 2020 but it kept getting cancelled due to Covid. But FINALLY, our Aruba 2.0 trip was planned & booked and we were on our way for a week of total relaxation, good laughs, eats, drinks and awesome company.
Beforehand…..
There were a lot of ‘what if’ moments since we booked this trip in October 2021 and there were still restrictions and guidelines to follow for traveling because of the pandemic. Thankfully, a few days before our trip, Aruba lifted some of those restrictions and we were able to travel with ease. Our constant thoughts of worry were quickly replaced with thoughts of sipping rum punch while basking all that Vitamin D and Sea. ***I will make note, that if you are traveling to Aruba, please visit https://www.aruba.com/us for the latest news and updates on what is expected of you as a traveler to this ‘happy island’. For instance, when we went, we needed an E&D card (Embarkation and Debarkation) to fill out 3 days prior upon arrival to Aruba and we also needed to get tested for Covid within 24 hours of departure to travel back into the States. The Arubian officials at the airport will check this several times, so make sure you have your negative results ready. The good thing, depending on where you are staying, you can pay to get tested right at your resort or hotel (at a discounted rate since you are a guest) or you can get tested at the airport and pay a little more. The latter option is a little sketchy IMO, just because 1. you want to get your results in time and 2. With the possibility if you are positive, you would need to go back to the hotel to quarantine. So, for a less anxious experience, I suggest you get tested the day before for ease of mind. The E&D card is standard and the process is fairly easy but again, this CANNOT be done until exactly 3 days prior to your trip.
Ok, enough about the logistics of actually getting to ‘paradise’ lol. Let’s get into the trip!
The Resort…
We arrived in Aruba at around noon time but by the time we got our luggage, went to the duty free shop to buy some alcohol (because it was cheaper…..one thing you will find out about Aruba is that it is super expensive, well because they have to import everything in) and had to go thru customs again, it was closer to around 2 pm by the time we actually got to our hotel. One of our friend’s who we were going on this trip with, owns a timeshare at the Marriott Surf Club on Palm Beach https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/auaac-marriotts-aruba-surf-club/overview/and that’s where our home was gonna be for the week that we were there.
The resort was absolutely GORGEOUS!!! Featuring everything you could think of…..a ginormous curvy pool throughout the grounds of the resort with a lazy river for ‘floating’, sandy ‘beach areas’ that were poolside for lounging and suntanning that made you feel like you were at the beach without physically being on the beach, a pump station for your floats which I have never before seen but thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread, a private kids area with a kiddies pool and some jungle gym equipment to tire those young ones out, a poolside masseuse from the resort’s spa to give you a ten minute massage to really put you into a serenity bliss, and the best part of it all……a beachfront resort with palapas to rent for the hour, the day or the week with a beach bar right at your fingertips and beachside servers to bring you some good eats and that tropical drink to solidify your paradise experience. Yeah, I couldn’t have been more blown away with this place!!
Within what I called the ‘Marriott Strip’, you had several other Marriott hotels neighboring ours that we could enjoy as well, like the Stellaris, which had an amazing singer performing on the Friday night that we were there, an amazing Gelato spot to satisfy that sweet but cold treat & some trendy boutiques to get that island shopping in. Oh, and did I mention the Stellaris also had a casino in it? Yeah, time to get your winnings on!! Nothing like taking a gamble on your trip, but isn’t that what vacation is all about anyway? Living in the moment and making it count? Note: There’s a jewelry store right across from the casino, so if you win big, treat yourself to some bling. The best part of the ‘Strip’ was that everything was within walking distance of each other, so it was easy to get around and check out other spots near our place.
That Yum Yum……
The best part of vacation is the good food, amiright? Well, Aruba’s meat is one of the best around considering they get it from Argentina. Yes, the meat is THAT good…from Steaks, to Burgers, to anything in between…..(sorry vegans and vegetarians) but no BS, everything we ate while in Aruba was delicious. We decided as a group that we would go out to dinner twice and the rest of the days we will order food on the beach or cook on the resort’s several grills. We decided to do this because you had to make a reservation everywhere and for a party of six sometimes it was a little harder since we were a bigger group, plus it was one way to cut down in food costs. For food shopping, Ling’s https://www.lingandsons.com/ is the most reasonably priced place to go. Super Foods is overpriced and commercialized. A little off the beaten path but reasonably priced too is Bon Dia Supermarket. Nothing fancy by all means but if you are looking for the basic essentials along with some wine or beer, this place will do the trick.
Side note: if you are planning to go to Aruba, I suggest booking all your dinner reservations ahead of your trip, that way you’re guaranteed the best times for not only incredible food but amazing sunset views at some of the more popular restaurants like Flying Fish Bone where your feet are literally in the ocean while you eat. Since this was a very chill, relaxing, empowerment girls’ trip, we opted to stay on the beach everyday until the sun went down and ate when we were hungry……the good thing about that was that we weren’t rushed to go anywhere and we could go with the flow of what we wanted to do without any time restrictions. The only con about this, was that we missed out on some cool dinner experiences (especially since it was my first time being there) but that’s what the next trip to Aruba will be for!
For the restaurants we did eat at……Moomba’s at our resort https://www.yummyaruba.com/restaurants/moomba-beach, right on the beach, was like a tiki type restaurant with high top tables where you can eat some good burgers, (first meal I had in Aruba!), suck down some yummy piña coladas and daiquiris and enjoy the waves of the ocean, all while enjoying your meal and the incredible view. They have your typical American fare there with burgers, sandwiches, salads, apps….think beachfront bar type food but top notch….not greasy or too heavy for the warm weather. Moomba’s at night, turns into a nightclub with a dj, so you don’t have to go too far to dance the night away.
We also ordered room service as well as food on the beach from the Captain’s Galley, which was also at our resort. Same type of food as Moomba’s. Side note: the Mahi Mahi Wrap from the Captain’s Galley was delicious, so if you are a seafood person like I am, you will enjoy this light but flavorful sandwich. And if you are looking for a refreshing non alcoholic frozen drink, check out the Smoothie Bar right across from the Pool Bar at the Marriott Surf Club. Nothing like a little cold of paradise without those extra calories to quench your thirst in the hot sun. We were there everyday, for our mid morning pick me up.
For a nice night out and a crowd favorite, check out Gianni’s https://www.giannisristoranteitaliano.com/. Within walking distance from our hotel in what I called ‘lil downtown’ (due to its vicinity and since it wasn’t actually Aruba’s well known, populated downtown, fifteen minutes away by car) is where Gianni’s was; an upscale Italian restaurant with outdoor/indoor dining. There specialty, apparently, was cooking certain pasta dishes tableside in these big cheese wheels. We didn’t order that for the table but that seemed like the popular choice since most tables around us ordered that. Something about watching the waiter spinning, while cooking, your pasta with the melted cheese from the cheese bowl was mesmerizing to watch. Note to self….next time I go to Gianni’s, I WILL be getting a tableside pasta dish. Although, we didn’t indulge in the ‘Pasta Bowl’ dish, we did enjoy Fried Calamari and Burrata with Prosciutto for appetizers, Octopus Salad and a specialty pasta dish…..Shrimp and Lobster Alla Vodka. Our table also enjoyed the Meatballs, Fettucine Alfredo, OssoBucco, and some yummy and delectable desserts like the the ‘Chocolate Salami’, a smooth chocolate ganache with crunchy nuts and vanilla biscuits. Our frothy cappuccinos helped wash down our rich desserts.
To start your morning off right with a delicious meal, check out The Pancake Factory (part of The Pink Panther/YOLO) https://yoloaruba.com/, also in ‘lil downtown’. A savory breakfast place that serves a variety of all your morning favorites from pancakes to french toast to your basic egg dishes with a side of good ole bacon. The Pancake Factory is your fav local breakfast place by day and by night, turns into YOLO, a loungey restaurant serving up tapas and tropical cocktails. The best of both worlds within one place. They even have an outside dining area where you can sit & relax while drinking your Mango Mimosa and people watch.
Driftwood, https://www.driftwoodaruba.com/ in downtown Aruba, is the place to go for that local flare and flavor. A restaurant that makes you feel like you are on a ship eating the catch of the day is what this place is known for…. and the locals love it just as much, so you know it’s worth checking out. We ended up eating some yummy apps like Calamari Fritti & Coconut Shrimp. For our mains, we feasted on Mahi Mahi, Lamb Chops, & some of the yummiest Clam Chowder, to name a few. White wine was paired with our dishes that made our meal more delightful. Finish your palette with some local fav desserts such as the Caramel Flan and the Brownie A La Mode.
If you are in the downtown area, go have a nice lunch at Casa Tua in the Renaissance Marketplace http://www.casatuaaruba.com/. Sit outside and enjoy not only the scenic ocean view but the tasty dishes like the Onion Soup (which we didn’t try but heard it was delicious) and the Greek Salad which not only was plentiful and filling but fresh. The Carpaccio plate was the perfect ‘lite’ meal for the warm weather. Wash it all down with a Balashi, Aruba’s local beer, (the same taste as a Heineken IMO) that will quench your thirst.
Shopping & Scenery…
Downtown Aruba is a haven for all the luxury shops that you would find on Fifth Avenue in NYC. Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, you name it, they have it. Conveniently situated right next to the Renaissance Wind Creek Casino, you can gamble and shop the day away. Having some newer products as well as the ones we see in the States, this is the luxury fashionista’s playground. Best part of the shopping is that it is tax free, which if you are buying a purse or handbag from these luxurious conglomerates, the tax itself can be several hundred dollars. Make note though, anything over $1000 dollars, you will have to declare it at the airport.
Of course we had to check out all these stores and ended up buying a few things at Gucci. That tax free discount was enticing for us to finally cave in and splurge on ourselves lol. Not only does downtown have all these popular luxury shops for you to choose from, but it also has local stores that sell souvenirs and gifts for you to bring back home. One store I absolutely fell in love with was ‘Designs of Color By Dariana’ https://www.instagram.com/designs_by_dariana/. They had the most beautiful & colorful graffiti inspired statues featuring my favorite animals like lions and elephants. They were one of a kind pieces that would compliment any home or office space but it might cost as much to ship it as the price of the item. But, you do have the option to ship it home if you really want a different piece of art.
Heading back near the Marriott Surf Club (a 10 min. cab ride from downtown Aruba and ‘5th Avenue’) on the main street in ‘little downtown’, there are a ton more shopping choices where you can find anything for anybody. There are a variety of stores & pop-ups, and even many vendors that sell knock-off name brand items, where you can negotiate a reasonable & fair price without offending the people selling them. They are willing to work with you to try to make a sale. The majority of our shopping were done at these outside vendors for gifts and souvenirs for our loved ones. There is so many shops to choose from on the main street from jewelry, to clothing, to accessories, to shoes….you name it, you’ll find it.
Since I own a women’s empowerment apparel & lifestyle company….(check it out here!– http://inspiherempire.com), I love supporting other female owned businesses especially when their story is one that is inspiring and uplifting. I say this because I came across a company like this on the same strip as the vendors and stores I just mentioned. The store, named Vadavas Jewelry https://www.vadavas.com/, is located right next to the entrance of the Paseo Herencia Mall….an outside mall featuring something for everyone. Vadavas was started in 2013 by Diana and her four children where the name itself stands for the the first 2 initials of the first name of each of Diana’s children…..VA-leria, DA-niela, VA-lentina & S-ebastian. The brand itself is driven on inspirational & meaningful pieces that are designed by Diana and her children and are handmade by single moms in Aruba & Colombia. The whole focus behind the vision of VADAVAS is ‘to provide work opportunities for leading moms at home so they can have an extra income source without having to sacrifice more time with their children.’ I absolutely LOVE that and you know I needed to support their mission and this female driven empowered company.
Excursions…
One thing that was on my bucket list to do while in Aruba was go to Flamingo Island https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/auabr-renaissance-aruba-resort-and-casino/renaissance-island/. I did some research before our trip to see what the process was on how to actually get there. My findings: If you are staying at the Renaissance in Downtown Aruba, then you can get a day pass to get to the island with no problem. All you would have to do is tell the front desk when you would like to go, reserve your spot and you were on your way. But, we weren’t staying at the Renaissance Downtown or any Renaissance for that matter. We were at the Marriott Surf Club which was a 10 minute cab ride to downtown itself. Being from another hotel, there was no guarantee of a reservation to get to see my pretty pink birds, because we weren’t hotel guests. We were told that the only way to get there was if the hotel was less than 80% full, obvs because they accommodate their guests first before they accommodate the rest of the public. And since there was no guarantee of getting there just by ‘winging it’, I knew I had to find out a way to get there if the hotel was at full capacity. I was determined to get there somehow. A 10 minute boat ride from the main island, with the most clearest of waters, softest of sands, & of course, the most prettiest flamingos. So, the question is, how could we get there?
I am part of an Aruba FB page where all people who travel to Aruba let you know a ton of info as far as anything you want to know about the island. So, I asked away on this platform. A lot of suggestions were that we book a spa day so we were guaranteed a ride over on the ferry. So that’s exactly what we did. We booked a spa day for the three of us at the Okeanos Spa on Flamingo Island http://renaissancearubaspa.com/home.cfm. We made sure when booking our ultimate relaxation, that we were on the island itself, getting pampered. Somehow, there was a mixup to our reservation and they booked us at the spa in the Renaissance Hotel where you catch the ferry. Because of this mixup on their part, we got a discounted rate for our massages at the hotel spa and then were given free day passes to Flamingo Island where normally, (since we weren’t hotel guests) we would have had to pay $120+ per person. They also gave us a complimentary drink ticket per person, 
at the Papagayo Restaurant, on Iguana Island, the other side of Flamingo Island. Both islands are right next to each other and you can enjoy each one with a short walk to each. On Iguana Island you have the main restaurant I just mentioned, lounge chairs, cabanas, hammocks and floats that you can grab at the shack for free as soon as you get off the ferry. Oh, and of course iguanas lol. Although, I saw more of them on the Flamingo side. One thing I did notice on Iguana Island was the sandbar in the middle of the water where people were sunbathing on. The water was crystal clear and knee length so there was no ‘deep’ end. I also noticed that there was a short rock wall enclosure around the beach so you could fall asleep on a float without having the worry of drifting off to sea.
After having a delicious Chicken Salad Sandwich & Piña Colada at the Papagayo Bar & Grill https://www.arubarestaurants.com/restaurant/papagayo-bar-grill/, we made our way over to what I have been waiting for this whole trip! Upon walking on the path that led straight to the beach where the flamingos migrated, I was in awe that they literally were just walking amongst beach goers and sunbathers. I’ve never seen anything like it and I was in heaven. The locals said they way to sway the flamingos to follow you in the water is to buy some of their food at this little coin operated stand (literally like a gumball machine) that was right next to the flamingos ‘home’…… a man made little pond where they can sleep and rest in between attracting and engaging with the public. I ended up buying some food, I believe it was a couple of quarters for a handful of feed, and put it in my hand and made my way to a flamingo on the beach walking around. They followed me in the water and fed off my hand, actually pecked to get the food but it actually startled me where I jumped a little bit. Although, they are very chill birds and won’t bother you unless you are trying to pick them up, aggravate them etc. (which I DON’T suggest doing btw), you still have to be careful. Feeding, & interacting with them is at your own risk.
I was so happy I was able to check off a couple of items on my bucket list…..taking a selfie, feeding and taking several pics with these beautiful creatures, but we also came here to relax and enjoy the rest of island. And that’s exactly what we did. We got floats at the shack as soon as we got off the ferry and laid in the water for several hours just soaking up the sun and enjoying the scenery and more relaxation from our already tranquil day. The water on the flamingo side is obviously the same as Iguana Island but I did notice that on the shoreline, there were a lot more rocks. We had to make our way to the crystal clear water part where there were no rocks but to cross over the rocks barefoot in the water not only can be painful but dangerous to some. The water was chest height, well at least for me…’Im 5’4 btw, but was clean and clear once you get past those bumpy rocks. I suggest bringing water shoes so you can avoid your feet getting jacked up. On the flamingo side, they also have that rock enclosure, so once again, you won’t have to worry about drifting off to sea. That was the best part. We could fall asleep on our floats and take in the sound of the water. It was so relaxing.
The beach on Flamingo Island was small. On one side is where the flamingo’s ‘home’ was and on the other side were these over water cabanas. For $370, you could rent it for the day. They fit 4-6 people and might be a nice way to have your own private area guaranteed, especially when there are limited lounge chairs on the beach. That $370 dollar price tag also gets you sparkling water, a bottle of sparkling wine, food, & personalized cabana butler service. The cabanas had seating inside, a table for drinks/food and a decent size over the water canopy net where you can sunbathe on. The canopy also had stairs that lead you right into the water so you wouldn’t have to get on the sandy beach for water access. We looked into getting a cabana while we were there but they were already sold out. Since there are only like 6-8 of them, prior reservations are a MUST. And again, I believe the Renaissance books there guests first before accommodating other guests from different hotels. Definitely noted for the next time I go.
My mom, sister and I spent the whole day at Flamingo Island and it was everything I wanted to experience and more. I was so happy I was able to see one of my favorite birds in their natural habitat. And also enjoy a gorgeous beach with white sands for the ultimate relaxation. We did notice that while on the beach, we kept hearing planes but couldn’t see them. We found out on the ferry back to the mainland that the airport was right there and the reason we couldn’t see the planes was because they were too low due to them landing. An airplane went right over our heads while we were on the ferry going back to shore. Literally, right over our heads, so just a heads up. The noise wasn’t bothersome to us. We were more curious as to where it was coming from but we got our answer upon our departure.
The rest of our time in Aruba was spent on the beach, just relaxing and hanging out with each other. It was an awesome girls’ trip which is exactly what every one of us needed……with good laughs, great eats, and with amazing company. Something all of us craved to refuel our mind, body and souls. We definitely are planning on doing another girls’ trip in 2023! Stay updated for that vacation with more Aruba tips, dips and day trips!!
Have you been to Aruba? If so, let us know with a comment or suggestion!
Hope you enjoyed what I shared with you!! If you are visiting and have questions, don’t hesitate to ask me with either a comment below or send me an email!
Check back for our next trippin’ adventure!
Until the next trip with us!!
