Vacation in Aruba

I didn't have such a good time.

It's a small island, but nice. You can ride a motorcycle around it in a few hours. The little town is Dutch and has some charm. There are some big hotels on the beach. Cruise ships stop there. It's very dry - lots of cactus! Have fun! (Don't know about gay life there.)

I was there when I was 30. I ditched my folks and walked into town, which probably wasn't a very safe thing to do, late at night. I went to a bar, which was straight, as far as I knew. A local sent a beer over to me, which was probably stupid of me to accept. That all said, nothing bad happened to me.

It was an idyllic place, but my hunch is that it is not a safe place to be out. You should research that elsewhere to be safe.

It was the only vacation I've ever taken with my late folks, and wish I could do it again now. That's for the wisenheimers out there.

I'm a wiseacre, not a wisenheimer.

Smarty-pantsers, too?

What a Henny Youngman!

It sounds like Williamsburg with sand

[quote] As we walked down the strip, it seemed like every other person was Jewish,” Chaya Blasberg says. “People would look at my husband in his black hat, and stop us to ask with surprise: ‘Is Chabad in Aruba?’ We made many contacts just that first week.”

It is very popular with secular (non-religious) Jews from the Northeast R7 because it's a desert island that never gets rain and the Dutch were traditionally more welcoming than the Brits on the other islands.

So does it get affected by hurricanes? Aren't we coming up on hurricane season?

Yes, R9, and earth quakes. And tarantulas, but they are nocturnal.

Aruba? I love Aruba!

Where the hell's Aruba?

Hope you meet some nice friends there!

Flamingos have the stinkiest nests in the world, except to other flamingos, apparently.

The boys there are to die for!

The best thing about Aruba is the sea breezes that keep it nice and cool even in blazing sunshine. Also Palm Beach has great hotels with casinos. Also direct flights. Gay life? Never found any.

Be very careful. Aruba can be a very dangerous place.

It's one of the most Americanized of the islands. That can be a good or bad thing depending on your taste. Also the longest flight (as are Barbados and St Lucia)

The Ritz there is very nice and not too expensive compared to other islands. Though actually in summer you can can great deals almost anywhere - except Sandy Lane.

Isn't it horribly over developed? Or is that St. Martin? I always think of Aruba as downmarket even though I have never been. Maybe because it was hot in the 80's??

R16 where are you getting your info? Aruba is one of the safest islands in the Caribbean. Google it.

I was there on a cruise. Mainly just walked around the town (Oranjestad) a little bit. It was quite hot and humid, even in December.

I like Aruba for its beaches and weather. The island itself is kinda flat and scrubby looking. But the beaches and the weather are perfect for me. I can't stand to bake in the sun with no wind and lots of humidity. Aruba is the opposite of that. It's breezy, sunny, with gorgeous beaches and the nice Palm Beach strand with a variety of nice hotels, restaurants, casinos, clubs, etc. Other than Aruba I like the Virgin Islands . . . the U.S. ones. I felt safe in Aruba, now that Joran Van Der Sloot is gone. No problem scoring pot (big + for me), and the direct flights make it easy to get to. Other than Aruba I like the Virgin Islands . . . the U.S. ones. Love St. Thomas. Wish I could live there.

I was there maybe 7 or 8 years ago. There was at the time a gay bar in town. It was not very popular at all and mostly locals. I went home with a couple and we had ehhh sex. There was a part of the beach that was supposedly where people went to cruise. I went twice and never saw anyone cruising. I never found Aruba super unsafe, mostly boring. It was pretty and all, but it was like the side of Roosevelt Island.

Above should read *size of

The other thing I'd add is there's a lot of Dutch guys there and I found it very difficult to tell who was actually gay or just Dutch.

Of the ABCs, Curacao is the one that markets itself to the gays. Bonaire is for diving and Aruba, beaches.

It's close to the equator, so expect strong sun.

IIRC, like much of the caribbean, the stores will post and quote you prices in the local currency. When you ask if they accept US dollars, they will say "yes" and use a calculator to calculate the conversion price as if no one has ever asked before. Then when the register opens, you see if filled with US dollars. Then they'll give you change in the useless local currency.

I recall the entire island of Curaçao smelled of petroleum. Apparently they refine Venezuelan oil there.

My friends brought home a bunch of conch shells.

Can I go to Aruba in September? Or am I dumb cunt? Weather?

I wish I had spent more time there. I thought I went on a bus but I don't remember that it was desert...I guess it has been too many years.

Natalie Holloway

It is the Kmart of the Caribbean

hurricane Irma will wipe it off the map

The Dutch have big dicks, but don't piss them off...

So should I not go in September? Anyone?

I want to Tampa in September and that was bad enough, humidity so thick you could cut it with a machete.

Are you still gong, OP.

I've been gong, forty years next month.

should i buy travel insurance?

Seriously, I really have limited vacation and hear people rave about Aruba. Should I go in September (15-20) or is it a mistake?

I avoid the Caribbean in Hurricane Season.

r39 thank you. i felt the same way but everyone says "oh aruba is outside the hurricane belt"

I thought Aruba was homophobic?

I went there on my own about 8 yrs ago via jet blue rewards and got a decent room at the Westin via priceline. Aruba is one of those island destinations where once you are out of the resort zone, it's a bit lackluster. There's just not much to it. And basic staples are pricey because so much of it is imported. Yes, I went to Oranjestad, and the one gay bar a friend who'd been to Aruba (and loved it, and the bar) told me about. It was hard to find (this was pre-gps and iPhone), but I got there at maybe 8 and was the only person there. The two lesbian bartenders were very very nice and told me it didn't get going ubtil around 11. I could not see sitting there for 3 hours and I don't drink, so I did not stay. It just wasn't that important to me.

The beaches are quite nice and you can take a costal bus up to some that are clean and uncrowded. But bring everything you'll need, the one I went to did not even have a snack bar.

OP, I took a beach vacation to Tulum (Mexico) earlier this year and liked it much better.

The advantage to Aruba is that it's a desert island and so odds are very very high it will not rain on your beach vacation. That's an issue with much of the Caribbean

I've never heard of a hurricane hitting Aruba. It's lovely. Go.

Didn't a hurricane hit last year? I would do Palm Springs or Vegas. Avoid Carribbean during this time of year. Right, bitches?

Aruba is outside the Hurriance belt - so no worries there. September weather will be like all weather in Aruba mid to high 80s with a breeze. Not much of a gay scene (that we could ever find) but always felt safe. Above average food for the Caribbean- if you look for it and are willing to pay. Book away!

Agreed but this year looks like a shit show of hurricanes

[quote]I thought Aruba was homophobic?

The Dutch and French islands are the least homophobic of the Caribbean islands.

Aruba is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, so they're not subject to all of Dutch law, but do have civil unions, recognize same-sex marriages that were performed in the Netherlands, and have been talking about full marriage equality in the near future.

You'll be fine.

Zero gay bars when I went. Two years ago

How is Aruba in February?

Seems far to travel for a desert island with tourists in hotels and not much else.

Aruba is off the hurricane belt, so while it's possible, it's less likely to have one sweep through. But, the weather could obviously still be affected by a nearby storm.

That said - who goes to Aruba in July?

Loved it. But it rained a lot in Feb. And every native apologized. "This never happens!" Not helping

R21 are you serious about living St Thomas? That place is horrible - it’s so third world. I was there on and off for over two years for work on a commercial construction project - it was fun at first but very quickly I realized how crappy it is - the islanders are the meanest, nastiest people and downtown Charlotte Amalie after dark is very dangerous. The airport is a disaster and even reserving a van doesn’t insure pleasant transportation to your lodging. I had an apartment on the East End near Red Hook which is about the only decent place on that shitty island.

I love Aruba.

Agree with you R54. St. Thomas is a physically beautiful island but it has been overdeveloped and has serious problems with crime.

Having traveled all over the Caribbean & Bahamas for the past 25 years, the best islands in my opinion are: Anguilla, Grand Cayman, Harbour Island/ Eleuthera, Mustique, St. Barth’s, Vieques, and Virgin Gorda.

My list is based on the beauty of the island and beaches, friendliness of locals, safety, good boutique hotel choices, and restaurant quality. I don’t care at all about huge resorts, golf, gambling, or a gay scene and so I’m sure many people may disagree with my choices.

Worst shit hole and dangerous, we were attacked and robbed . I would never go back back.

Aruba looks great when they give it away as an exotic island vacation on a game show. But once there you might be like hmmmmm. I guess that's what resort hotels are about: just stay there and don't venture out too far.

r27 That must stink like Cheryl's pussy.

Big mistake in my opinion. Aruba is full of the lowest trash from America and Europe you can imagine.

Im going next month

Crickets

I used to work there. incredibly friendly place. have never seen or heard of crime. If you are going to buy kilos of coke though, you will deal with criminals. Gays are accepted, no big deal. It does rain there, but the locals will always tell you wow it has not rained since 1945! Windy hot, you will burn fast but you are never hot due to the winds. The local money is the Guilder 1 -1.77. Everyone you have to deal with speaks English. Cabs are plentiful, rent a cars for the week is a good way to go. Pretty quiet island, no edge, no danger, but also no hassels. It is just beneath the Hurricane belt, so 99% of Hurricanes do not affect it. Due to group travel companies, a lot of Bostonians go there. A reliable safe easy vacation with NONE of the danger of St Thomas, Jamaica, and so many islands. The people are descendants not of the warrior Carib tribe, but the Arawaks. A pretty laid back gentle lot.There is a Dutch Marine base on the island, all 19-25 year old impossibly fit blonde haired fit men. The Dutch are extremely casual with Gays, and many might even give you a go, if you find one. have fun. A place to only visit once