I thought this was an interesting thread on the aruba forum TexasMom just posted.....
Read on to page 2
This is from page 1jenndrez
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 8
First Trip to Aruba - One week away!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello All,
I'm leaving for my first trip to Aruba on Tuesday, May 27th and staying one week with my boyfriend. We are staying at the Manchebo Beach Resort.
I've previously traveled to Turks & Caicos and Antigua...I'm excited to see how they all compare....
Here are some general questions I will throw out to the board. I'm sure many of these are repetitious of those already asked in prior threads. But I don't have the time to dig through past postings (plus I ultimately want the most up-to-date responses)
1) General comments from anyone who has stayed at Manchebo?
2) Any good Italian restaurants on the island?
3) Recommend a car rental for a day? (best company to use?)
4) Is it safe to walk around "off resort"?
5) Any beaches you can recommend that are nearly deserted? (i.e. no cruise ship people)
6) Where is the best snorkeling?
7) Is the water calm at Eagle Beach?
Thanks in advance everyone - All comments / stories much welcome!
Jenn
05-21-2008, 04:44 PM post #2 (permalink)
Arubalisa
Moderator
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 2,250
Images: 11 Welcome to the forum!
Quote:
2) Any good Italian restaurants on the island?
Been a recent topic of discussion, see this thread: Giannis
Quote:
3) Recommend a car rental for a day? (best company to use?)
http://www.arubaroyal.com/ Aruba Royal will deliver to your resort. You will need a 4 x 4 to see the Natural Pool. All other areas are pretty much accessible by car.
Quote:
4) Is it safe to walk around "off resort"?
Absolutely positively beyond a shadow of a doubt safe. Take the same precautions you do at home.
Crime "The crime threat in Aruba is generally considered low although travelers should always take normal precautions when in unfamiliar surroundings. There have been incidents of theft from hotel rooms and armed robberies have been known to occur. Valuables left unattended on beaches, in cars and in hotel lobbies are easy targets for theft. Car theft, especially that of rental vehicles for joy riding and stripping, can occur. Vehicle leases or rentals may not be fully covered by local insurance when a vehicle is stolen or damaged. Be sure you are sufficiently insured when renting vehicles and jet skis."
As a disclaimer, in 13 years of travel to Aruba I have never heard of a tourist and an armed robbery.
Quote:
5) Any beaches you can recommend that are nearly deserted? (i.e. no cruise ship people)
Dos Playa especially the second beach is one of the more remote ones. But you will have to hike to get there. I believe the closest road is also now blocked by construction. When hiking anywhere or going off road, be sure to bring plenty of fresh water. For your own safety, DO NOT SWIM on the Eastern side of the island, the water is rough and treacherous and the signs are posted there for a reason.
Quote:
6) Where is the best snorkeling?
See
http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/ABC/Aruba/index.htm for additional info, but imho the best snorkeling:
Catalina Cove
Boca Catalina
Mangel Halto
There are also some excellent snorkeling excursions by boat.
Quote:
7) Is the water calm at Eagle Beach?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Just depends on the weather and conditions. The water on Palm Beach except during a storm, will be lake like and flat with the exception of passing power boats.
Looks like today there are some small waves on Eagle Beach.
http://www.bucuticam.com/tarabeach.jpg The Bucuti where this Cam is located is next door to the Manchebo.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aruba Bound! ~ Hoosier Kitties ~ Our-Cruises ~ Blogging to Aruba
When Will Dh Take Me Back to Aruba? 331 Days, 02 Hours, 10 Minutes, 48 Seconds.
05-21-2008, 04:55 PM post #3 (permalink)
Oxblood
Banned
Join Date: May 2008
Location: All of the island!
Posts: 19 To answer you're question about walking around off the resort and crime, yes there is some, and if I was you I wouldn't walk around much at night unless your in the downtown area, even then be careful.
I once was sitting with my girlfriend outside of the Black Hog Saloon, waiting for my dad and little brothers to get down playing in the arcade there, and a truck full of Arubians (most likely drunk), pulled up, and threw a full cup of soda at us (You know, like the size of a large from Taco Bell, McDonalds, etc.). Luckily, it missed us. We had done nothing wrong, we were just sitting there. There had to have been more than 10 of them in the bed of that pickup truck. When they pulled up yelling and acting crazy, we both just got that feeling that something bad was going to happen, and sure enough...
To me, the area's where the Arubians live (Not Downtown, or where the hotels are located) looks like a third world country. Goats, chickens, dogs running around. Children walking on the streets with no shoes, very dirty, and in scraggly clothes. It's just scary and quite sad. Not to mention, I really don't think the true natives there are too found of Americans, I mean let's be honest, who he?
Hope that helps.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last edited by Oxblood; 05-21-2008 at 04:57 PM.
05-21-2008, 05:12 PM post #4 (permalink)
cindyo
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Reniassance Island
Posts: 1,029
Images: 40 Dear oxblood, I think you have "over-done" this picture of aruba. I have yet to see sragly looking kids, I have yet to see any poverty, I have yet to see "wild" arubians. Lets face it, arubans livelyhood depends on tourism, probably every facet of their lives. Do they hate americans, heck no. We have had the pleasure of meeting, knowing, and communicating with fine people on the island. You have painted an unfair picture of the place. If you're so "scared" why the heck do you go, free vacation on the folks??
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cindyo
2009 is our 12th trip.
Renewing our vows April 2008, Divi Phoenix w/ Rev. Gibson at sunset....
Next Aruba trip in 279 Days, 14 Hours, 17 Minutes, 55 Seconds.
05-21-2008, 05:49 PM post #5 (permalink)
Oxblood
Banned
Join Date: May 2008
Location: All of the island!
Posts: 19 Cindy, please do not come in here and treat me like garbage. I had a bad experience happen to me, and im just sharing everything I have seen while vacationing in Aruba. Over-done? Not the least. I'm trying to prevent the OP from possibly getting hurt. Just because you have had nothing but good times in Aruba doesn't mean everyone else has. There has been many more times when I have almost gotten in fist fights with Arubians, there has been times when weirdo's have offered us rides to somewhere (with no taxi license), and so on. This isn't painting an unfair picture of Aruba, it's just what I have personally noticed.
05-21-2008, 06:09 PM post #6 (permalink)
cindyo
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Reniassance Island
Posts: 1,029
Images: 40 Oxblood, your trip is in 283 days? Then you should have put 283 till you get beat up, killed, mugged in aruba. Why the heck do you go? It sounds like your scared to death. You talk about the island like its garbage. It the hat fits, wear it pal.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cindyo
2009 is our 12th trip.
Renewing our vows April 2008, Divi Phoenix w/ Rev. Gibson at sunset....
Next Aruba trip in 279 Days, 14 Hours, 17 Minutes, 55 Seconds.
05-21-2008, 06:15 PM post #7 (permalink)
cindyo
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Reniassance Island
Posts: 1,029
Images: 40 To quote Oxblood....
"To me, the area's where the Arubians live (Not Downtown, or where the hotels are located) looks like a third world country. Goats, chickens, dogs running around. Children walking on the streets with no shoes, very dirty, and in scraggly clothes. It's just scary and quite sad. Not to mention, I really don't think the true natives there are too found of Americans, I mean let's be honest, who he?"
How to make yourself popular in aruba...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cindyo
2009 is our 12th trip.
Renewing our vows April 2008, Divi Phoenix w/ Rev. Gibson at sunset....
Next Aruba trip in 279 Days, 14 Hours, 17 Minutes, 55 Seconds.
05-21-2008, 06:17 PM post #8 (permalink)
rob o
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: renaissance island, iguana joes
Posts: 242 Quote:
Originally Posted by Oxblood
There has been many more times when I have almost gotten in fist fights with Arubians, there has been times when weirdo's have offered us rides to somewhere (with no taxi license), and so on. This isn't painting an unfair picture of Aruba, it's just what I have personally noticed.
Many times....fistfights? Times when weirdos offered you rides? Young man, you must be creating bad situations for yourself. If you go around and look for trouble, you will find it. The faster you learn that, the better your chance of surviving adolescence. My guess is that you find yourself in similar trouble in the USA.
Oxblood.... you're just 18 and still have a lot of growing up to do.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
....with CindyO near California Lighthouse with High Rise shoreline in background
Next Aruba trip in 279 Days, 14 Hours, 11 Minutes, 48 Seconds.
05-21-2008, 07:15 PM post #9 (permalink)
Oxblood
Banned
Join Date: May 2008
Location: All of the island!
Posts: 19 You all can make as many assumptions about me as you want, I honestly don't care, and you don't know me. Like I said, im just trying to help the OP so she doesn't get hurt.
You would have to be extremely naive to think Aruba is heaven on earth, and nothing bad could happen there. Does anyone not remember a girl being kidnapped and killed there? C'mon now, I think im the only one here that's keeping things real...
05-21-2008, 07:29 PM post #10 (permalink)
confused1
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 108 I must be going to the other Aruba (the good one)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
confused1
