T R I P SAVVY

[ Uncommon knowledge for mapping out the journey ahead ]

Bird's eye view

Bargain hunters
flock to Eagle
Beach on the west
coast of Aruba.

A F F O R D A B L E A r u ba

Prime Time
Fall means reliable weather and great rates
Holger Leue/Getty images

in this quintessential beach getaway.

C A R I B B E A N T R A V E L M A G . com  Caribbean Travel + Life 29

trip savvy I affordable

Aruba on in town and out

$135 a day* Royal Plaza Mall in

Oranjestad brims
with restaurants,
HOTEL bars and shops.
Average $95 in low Below: Away from
season ($161 high) the city, Paradera
Park Apartments
BREAKFAST
offers serenity and
Amici
big savings.
$7 for a veggie omelet
J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 382,
Palm Beach
297-586-5153

LUNCH
Cuba’s Cookin’
$15 for a three-course lunch
Willamena St. #27, Oranjestad
297-588-0627
DINNER
Tulip
$16 for keshi yena, the
traditional Antillean dish of
stuffed Gouda cheese
J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 240,
Eagle Beach
297-587-0110

ACTIVITY
Red Sail Sports
$49 per person for a three-hour
sailing and snorkeling trip.
297-586-1603;
redsailaruba.com

GETTING THERE
Air Canada flies to Aruba
from Toronto. American flies
from Miami and New York-JFK;
Continental from Houston and
Newark, New Jersey; Delta
from Atlanta and New York-

A
JFK; JetBlue from Boston and
New York-JFK; United from
Chicago and Washington D.C.;
ruba lacks some of the usual won legions of repeat visitors by mastering
USAirways from Charlotte, Caribbean calling cards — the formula for an easy tropical getaway:
North Carolina, and Philadelphia. sweeping fields of sugar cane, a broad, immaculate beaches, a bounty of
TAXI rich colonial history, flourish- restaurants, appealing entertainment and
From airport to: ing rainforests — yet for travelers seeking convenient air access. Furthermore, its
Paradera Park $20
a dose of sand, sea and sun, the island location south of the hurricane belt makes
Amsterdam Manor,
MVC Eagle Beach $22 practically defines the Caribbean vacation. Aruba an ideal destination during the sum-
Boardwalk Vacation Retreat $25 Just 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela, the mer and fall, when room rates are lowest.
Aruba Beach Villas $30 arid, cactus-studded Dutch territory has Dining out in Aruba is not cheap, but
RENTAL CAR there are ways to economize. Rent an
Amigo Rent-a-Car from $35
apartment or villa and cook some meals,
per day, 011-297-583-8833;
amigocar.com and keep an eye out for restaurants’ early-
TAXES
bird specials. At Tango Argentine Grill
Room tax and service charges (297-586-8600), a three-course menu
range up to 19 percent; including prime sirloin or the catch of
Top: Gräfenhain Günter/SIME/4Corners

departure tax is $36.75 (usually the day is $25 before 7 p.m., and the new
included in cost of airline ticket).
French bistro Papillon (297-586-5400)
INFO
serves a three-course early-bird menu for
800-862-7822; aruba.com
$30, including wine.
*per person in low season Car rental is inexpensive, and buses
($167 high), based on double connect main hotel areas to beaches, the
occupancy and excluding
airfare, car rental, airport
capital of Oranjestad and the airport. Bus
transfers, tax and service service is frequent and reliable, and fares
charges. (US$1 = 1.80 AWG) are only $1.25.

30 Caribbean Travel + Life  october 2009

trip savvy I affordable

ARUBA HOTELS The island’s best hotel bargain is OUT + ABOUT During World War II, the captain of the German freighter ARUBA HOTELS
Amsterdam Manor MVC Eagle Beach,originally built to MVC Eagle Beach
J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 252
Antilla scuttled the vessel to keep her out of the hands of Dutch marines. J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 240,
Eagle Beach
accommodate Dutch marines’ vacationing The ensuing blast split the 400-foot vessel in two, inadvertently creating a Eagle Beach
800-969-2310; family members. It’s now a casual, 19- 297-587-0110;
star tourist attraction just a few hundred yards off the coast. The wreck has
amsterdammanor.com room inn across the street from the mvceaglebeach.com
From $159 in low season been underwater long enough to evolve into a giant apartment complex for fish, From $85 in low season
beach. The two-story lodge features clean,
($249 high), plus 19 with brain coral, tube sponges and fan worms adorning the walls. It’s a popular ($130 high), plus 19
percent tax and service simply decorated, air-conditioned rooms percent tax and service
with TVs, minifridges and hair dryers. dive site, but with the bow and mast almost touching the surface, snorkelers
Aruba Beach Villas Paradera Park
L.G. Smith Blvd. 462 Three family units are comprised of two can get in on the fun too, and several operators run daily trips to the wreck. Paradera 203,
Malmok adjoining rooms with a connecting door. Paradera
800-320-9998; The restaurant serves affordable meals; a hot tub, and rates include continental coolers and snorkel gear. You’ll also have free Wi-Fi and daily maid service. 297-582-3289;
arubabeachvillas.com paraderapark-aruba.com
From $78 in low season
there’s a tennis court and a small pool that’s breakfast, Wi-Fi, snorkeling equipment, access to the adjacent racquet club, tennis WORTH A SPLURGE Just across the street From $85 in low season
($168 high), plus 17 ideal for children; and the sand is just a kayaks and, in winter, use of windsurfing courts and fitness center. from Eagle Beach, Amsterdam Manor ($115 high), plus 17½
percent tax and service quick stroll away. equipment. Located in the hilly and remote occupies a clutch of charming, Dutch-style percent tax and service

Boardwalk Vacation Retreat Palm Beach is Aruba’s most famous Just inland from Palm Beach, residential community of Paradera, two- and three-story buildings and attracts
Bakval 20, stretch of sand, lined with high-rise hotels, Boardwalk Vacation Retreat is a 13-unit the family-owned, 17-unit Paradera a cosmopolitan clientele. Most of the least-
Basiruti
297-586-6654;
many with sky-high rates to match. A apartment complex set amid lush foliage Park Apartments caters to independent expensive rooms don’t have sea views but
arubaboardwalk.com half-mile north lies Aruba Beach Villas, a at the edge of a residential community. travelers. Although there’s nearby bus are just 100 feet from the sand. All 72
From $131 in low season fine alternative. Though Malmok Beach, Each of the one- and two-bedroom units service, you’ll need a rental car for rooms have a kitchenette, free Wi-Fi, and
($231 high), plus 19
across the street, is studded with coral, is spacious, with an open kitchen, rattan the 15-minute drive to the beach and a balcony or patio; one- and two-bedroom
percent tax and service
the 31 apartments here are an excellent furnishings, and TVs with DVD players. restaurants. But what you give up in suites are also available. One of the hotel’s

Jeff Jaskolski/SeaPics
value. Standard units vary in size and are Most have a terrace with a hammock, teak location you gain in savings, and the two restaurants is right on the beach. A fall
comfortably outfitted with a kitchen, air furniture and a barbecue grill; two upstairs setting is peaceful, with a garden-wrapped special (valid through December 19) offers
conditioning, cable TV and a barbecue units near the pool have balconies. It’s a pool next to a two-story collection of either a 20 percent discount on standard
grill; more-expensive ocean-facing units three-minute walk to the sand, and guests studios and one- and two-bedroom room rates or a free upgrade to the next-
also have a deck. There’s a small pool and are provided with beach chairs, umbrellas, apartments. Each has a small kitchen, highest room category. — David Swanson

R E A L L U X U RY C O M E S N AT U R A L LY

What is your idea of

the perfect escape? Environmentally responsible all-inclusive luxury
Bonaire! resort, nestled in the midst of a nature preserve,
affording beautiful beaches, eco-adventures, and
Where the year-round average experiences unlike any others. S
3 6 5U t
air and water temperature is $ nigh
Super Saver Offer!
per two
82 degrees, and the clear calm • Private round trip airport transfers for
waters beckon you to dive, • Welcome bottle of wine and cheese platter
snorkel, swim, or simply sit, • Roundtrip airport transportation
relax and connect with the beauty • Adventure activities at Tres Ríos Nature Park
of nature you find around you. • All taxes and services
• 75 min Geothermal Massage for two
Bonaire is served non-stop by Continental
Airlines from Houston, by Delta from For reservations 1 800 209 1663
Atlanta, and by Insel Air from Miami. reservations@haciendatresrios.com
www.haciendatresrios.com
www.tourismbonaire.com
T R E S R Í O S , R I V I E R A M AYA , M É X I C O