Nice pictures... Just four of you at the wedding?

bltst2

i'm heading to Ruba for my honeymoon, my fiancee and I are the adventures type. Which water activites do u recommend? snuba? snorkel sailing? Snuba combo?
how much did it cost?

what evening tour activities do u recommend as well?

how much did u spend per day?

Just don't let your teenage daughter out alone on this island. Many states are advocating a boycott for travel to this island.

we are going April 17-23

All,

1. Didn't really get married. My GF has some family members that like to keep tabs on her life, via my BLOG/Photo Gallery. We thought it would be a funny practical joke to host a pretend marriage and just post the pictures. To say the least, I received alot of calls from friends and family expressing both joy and concern on my sudden nuptials. It was alot of fun.

2. Snorkle/SNUBA was great, the highlight of the trip. The SNUBA is a regulated oxygen dive, with the tank floating in the water above and the divers on 20' air hoses. I've never been that deep in the ocean before and it was really enjoyable. We saw lobster, starfish, shark, octopus..etc..Really great. Check the pictures...I think the Snorkle, SNUBA combo was about $175/person.

3. The island is very tourist driven, so you can do alot of adventure type items. We rented a Jeep and went exploring around the eastern side of the island, which was alot of fun. Talk to the conceriege at the hotel, they can certainly make some recommendations. Jeep rental was about $80 a day. Watch out for AUTO/STANDARD transmissions. We lucked out and get an Auto, but it was only what was available. If you don't specify, you might get a standard. I was the only one that could drive stick, so that might have been bad.

4. Evenings were pretty quiet. There are not alot of clubs, bars, etc...We generally had a late dinner, spent some time in the casino, a drink in the hotel bar, and then went to bed.

5. Costs were not excessive, we kept them in check. I think the hotel was the most, about $200/night. I estimate the total cost to be about $200/day/per person. We drink alcohol, gamble, eat at nice restaurants, did some touristy stuff - but in general, we just spent alot of time at the beach and pool.

6. FATWALLET SAVERS - I recommend purchasing something likethese floats to save some money at the hotel. They will rent to you, for about $5/day, a foam float. If you want to save some money, pack a floatation device for the ocean/pool. Most hotels only let you swim about 100' from the shore, and with the large boats going past, the waves are active. Floats are a must.

Definitely check out the Jolly Pirates snorkel & sail tour. The website is www.jollypirates.com

For ~$30 apiece (in December of 2003, with a coupon we found locally - prices probably have gone up with inflation), we were treated to 2-3 hours of sailing on a pirate ship! It was priceless. We stopped at 2 places to snorkel, and there was an open bar with complimentary drinks on deck (though somewhat limited in choice). Our favorite part was having the chance to jump off the side of the ship from this giant rope swing fixed about 25 feet or so from one of their masts. If you liked, you could jump multiple times, right into the ocean. VERY ENJOYABLE! One of their staff was doing back-flips off the rope into the ocean.

As far as restaurant recommendations, the Driftwood was the best we visited. They had many seafood selections at reasonable (for Aruba) prices, and the food was delicious. I believe the restaurant is in downtown Oranjestad, just off the main drag.

You might want to try and find the "Natural Pool". It is a hidden gem (you can find info on the net). You need to rent a jeep to get there, but it's really spectacular.
You also have the adventurous feeling of finding a place that isn't on the path most traveled.

We went a few years ago (while on a cruise) and it was the high-point of a 10 day vacation!

Steak lovers need to try El Gaucho for dinner. My husband is a meat and potatoes guy and said it was one of the best pieces of steak he ever had. We were there a couple of years ago for our honeymoon and still meet people who were there that tried it & loved it. Here is the website.

http://www.elgaucho-aruba.com/

I've been to Aruba about 10 times. I love the island. Marriott is at the far end of the island but very beautiful resort. See Hans at Tropical Car rental for a nice car. Jeeps are fun but very hot in day time. Madame Jeanette is excellent for dinner. Downtown, we like Mambo Jambo for bugers and Iquana Joes for Ribs. Le Petite Cafe is great. Say hello to Issac in Kay Jewelers for us(tell Rich and Cathy from PA sent you). Be sure to bargain, bargain, bargain for any jewelry purchase. Great prices if you are willing to work a little for it. Lots of free beer, wine and soda in Jewelry stores. The area near Playa Linda is getting quite popular in the evening for dinner. Tango across the street from Hyatt has great steaks. Hyatt is fun for casino and great lobby bar with band at night. If you really want to rock, head to Carlos and Charlies downtown. Lots of partying late at night. Sometimes there is even a line to get in. A little something for everyone. Despite what happened last year, Aruba is still very safe as long as you stay in a well lit areas and are aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Much like you would just about any where you go. Have a great time, I'll be there in August.