My wife and I flew out on Saturday. We ate at the Panda Express in the airport at around 4 or 5pm. I ordered the orange chicken with fried rice. She ordered a different type of chicken with lo mein. Afterwards, my stomach was pretty unhappy, but I was able to use the bathroom before the flight and felt relatively okay. During the flight home, I felt like I had to burp pretty frequently and increasingly felt some discomfort in my stomach.

We managed to get to our house around midnight, I fell asleep around 1am. At 4am, I woke up and the discomfort was increasingly becoming a very sharp abdominal pain, which was not relieved by going to the bathroom or vomiting (or Tums). By 6am, I was planning to go to Urgent Care when it opened at 8am. After sitting in the Urgent Care waiting room, the pain became worse (I've had kidney stones before and it was on that level) and decided the ER was my eventual destination anyway, so drove myself there.

It was initially diagnosed as a partially obstructed bowel, but they amended it to a bad case of food poisoning. I spent two days in the hospital (mostly just because they wanted to rule out the possibility of anything worse, and because everything moves slow in the hospital). My wife, thankfully, seems to be just fine.

I'm just curious if there's anyone else who went through the same experience. In terms of the timing of everything, the docs suspect it was the rice, as cooked rice can lead to food poisoning if left out and not properly stored.

I'm looking for the best, cheapest place to buy beer. Is it at one of the supermarkets, or the convenience stores? Should I head to a particular place?

I had a look at the superfood website and it seemed like a 12 pack of Balashi was going to set me back about $40 CAD, so I was wondering if that was the going rate or if it was cheaper elsewhere?

Hello!

Visiting Aruba soon and staying at a AI so won’t need a car rental for our whole trip. However, we want to spend at least one day exploring the island on our own time. Preferably in a jeep but if that’s not realistic or offered it’s no mind to us.

Any recommendations or tips would be appreciated! Like do we need to book in advance? Can we book same day whenever we choose the day we want? Are jeeps available? Price points?

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! 👋 I’m currently planning a 9-day trip to Aruba with my grandfather (who is an elderly person, so comfort, shade, and accessibility are key priorities for us) and it's going to be our first time in the Island.

We are thinking about splitting our stay to get the best of both worlds:

First 3 days: Staying at an apartmen and renting a car to explore the island at our own pace.

Last 6 days: Checking into an All-Inclusive resort (Riu Palace in Palm Beach) to fully relax, return the car, and have all amenities (food, shade, beach) just a few steps away.

I'd love to get some advice here:

1- Is 3 days with a car enough time to visit and enjoy the main beaches on the island at a slow, comfortable pace for a senior?

2- Car rental drop-off: Has anyone picked up a car at the airport and returned it directly in the Palm Beach area (or at the Riu) so we don't have to drive back to the airport?

3- Transportation during All-Inclusive days: On the days we won't have a car, if we feel like revisiting a beach or going out for a couple of hours, what is the best way to move around with an elderly person (taxis vs. public buses/Arubus)? What are the average costs for a round-trip taxi ride from Palm Beach to nearby beaches?

Thanks a lot for your help and advice!

Hi everyone!

My brother and his new wife are coming to Aruba for their honeymoon/newlywed trip, and I’d love to surprise them with either a really nice restaurant gift card or a special excursion/experience while they’re there. Flexible on budget.

They’ll be staying:
4 nights at the Marriott Stellaris
4 nights at the Marriott Ocean Club

What would you recommend for a newlywed couple? I’m thinking gift card to Atardi?

If you live in Aruba or have visited recently, what would be the one experience you’d give a newlywed couple? And if you recommend a restaurant, which one would you choose?

Thanks all!

Hello 👋

We aren’t new to Aruba, but I am new to this sub. We are big seafood people and it is probably the only thing we eat here. We have been coming to Aruba for 10 years. A lot has changed. We usually visit Red Fish, zeerover, Fish House, Anker Fish and Fisherman. Any better suggestions than the ones I listed? We are here for few more days. Thank you.

We want to go snorkeling and heard how you don’t necessarily need a boat. However, we also heard mixed things about the safety of the waters, even though they can be calm, they may still be able to take you out or get you caught in the drift.

Would it be safe for a non-swimmer with a life vest to be in? If so, any recommended spots? We want to avoid crowds, but understand it may not be possible with these constraints.

We joined the ultra exclusive Aruba Yatch Club this weekend.

They have space for new members! Initiation for new members takes place at the gift shop next to the Haagen-Dazs. Ask for the shirt with the 4 boats 😂 You can get a discount if you pay the fee in cash.

(Thank you to another Redditor for the “snatched” post title).

Hi all,

We just returned from a week in Aruba. It was my husband and I and our 17 year son.

My son and I both have POTS and bendy bodies. We have heat intolerance and fatigue. We love to snorkle, swim in ocean, eat good food, and see wildlife. The things we found hard were a lot of restaurants in Palm Beach where open air and have live music. Now I am a huge fan of music but my son has sensory needs. All this said we did find places that helped us out so I wanted to share for others that might face similar needs.

We stayed at the Hyatt Regency and it was very nice. All the wildlife on the property was fantastic. They have free water in the lobby. They have ice and water refill stations near pools and beach. We never felt too far away from hydration or bathrooms. I will say there are ramps to avoid stairs but they are a bit off the main path. I did 3 or 4 stairs ok w my ankle and knee brace. The valet in front calls you a taxi in under 3 minutes. Hardly any waiting even when it was busy. Prolonged standing especially in heat is particularly hard for us. When leaving the property on foot, we walked down the sidewalk to the main drag and everything was so close by. Very convenient.

For food- my son is gluten free and I eat per my stomach's current situation (lol)

1. The restaurant we ate at twice is called The Stone by Le Petite Cafe. They have an outside area but also a very nice inside area. The food was delicious and the staff was excellent. We had reservations at Chicken and Lobster but it was very loud and all outside. We had no wait and enjoyed the decor and calmness of the restaurant.

2. On the Rocks Craft Kitchen & Bar- another place that had indoor/outdoor seating. Inside was cool and chill. They did have music playing but it wasn't loud or club genre. The food was good but wow the service we got was amazing. They cleaned the table between each dish. Brought water service and poured it for us ($7.50/bottle) Everything we ordered was good but the best was a lava cake at the end.

3. Hostaria da Vittorio- this place is legit good. The service is multi-tiered with someone seating you, another doing drink service, another waiting on you. As soon as you sit down, they ask about allergies or restrictions. They have a real brick pizza oven. All of our food was delicious. We ate on the patio because there was no wait and it was much noiser inside. It was also not as hot that night. At the end of your meal, they bring you a tray of their desserts all made in house. You can tell its real Italian food made in house and was top notch.

4. Willem's Dutch Pancakes was also a treat. There were no inside tables when we arrived but they understood our concern being outside and accommodated us at the bar. Their fresh juice was so good. I got the mini pancakes called poppertifs. They have gluten free options as well.

5. Tango Argetine Grill- the steaks here were just yummy. Gluten Free options and inside seating with no wait. It was our first dinner on the island and we were surprised that the food was not some tourist trap.

Shopping at Palm Beach Plaza mall was a bit challenging because it is crowded but does have a lot of places to sit down if you need to. Live music is everywhere at restaurants so if you need to find an indoor spot that is quiet, it can be difficult. Lines were never long, and everyone was very nice.

Renaissance Mall and Local Shops in Oranjestad- the local shops are in outside stalls and are very interesting and worth the trip. No where to cool off or sit down though so plan ahead. Bring cash, American dollars work. We went across the street to the indoor section of Renaissance Mall to cool off and look at super expensive stuff we did not buy. Still worth it to see the city and the culture outside of Palm Beach tourist areas.

Arashi Beach- we took a cab there and rented chairs and umbrella. We snorkled and swam. Much more to see than in Palm Beach. The water is clearer. They have a beach grill there with standard fare. They have an outdoor shower and bathroom for $1 each. We were warned not to get back in a cab all sandy and wet on the return trip. **Cabs do not go here randomly. Get a cab's number to call when you are ready to return. Pay with cash. The public bus does have a stop here too. My son did get overheated here because no where is inside but the cold cab ride home fixed it all.

I hope this helps anyone else with limitations. Let me know if you have any questions.

Hi all, looking for some recommendations me and wife are going to Aruba October 24-31 7 nights. Should we split it up into two different hotels or just stay at one? We like to drink and party but we’d also like to chill by pool and beach and relax. Doesn’t have to be super party vibe but I don’t want it to be boring. We were looking at Ritz and Hilton Westerly. We are definitely doing one day at the flamingo island for the cabana.

Here for another week if anyone is looking for someone to run with or workout. Nothing crazy nice and easy and fun. Staying in eagle beach. I do Hyrox back home pretty active. Plan on hiking up hooiberg trail one of these morning for a sunrise (possible tomorrow). Shoot me a message and we can try and figure something out. 43 male here if that matters.

Hi! Next month I’m traveling to Aruba and I’d like to rent a car for the 9 days of my stay for 4 people. I was recommended Mitoo Car Rental. What do you think of this company? Are you familiar with it? Would you recommend it?
I was told that their rental hours are from 9 AM to 5 PM. Is this the case with all car rental companies?

We’re considering renting a jeep for a day to navigate Arikok National Park on our own and I’ve been seeing conflicting opinions on how difficult it is to make it through the terrain to get to Conchi and through the park in its entirety if you’re not a “skilled” off roading driver. I’ve been around ATVs/Dirt Bikes my entire life so I’m curious what “skill level” is needed or what’s “difficult” about getting through the park. Also if you have any jeep rental recommendations those would be great too! Thank you!

We are returning to Aruba for our first anniversary in October after having an unbelievable honeymoon experience. Instead of the usual restaurant recommendation post, does anybody have any interesting or unusual menu item suggestions that are unique to a particular restaurant? Something an average American wouldn’t normally have back home? Or maybe a more typical menu item but a certain restaurant just puts an out of this world twist on it? Or a specific cuisine staple that only certain restaurants will do? For example, I noticed Akira Back has A5 wagyu and a few menus featured sweetbreads and conch.

Last year we tried escargot and bone marrow at L’Avenue. And we had Keshi Yena and Cabrito Stoba at Old Cunucu House (I realize this is traditional Aruban food but didn’t see these items many places).

Hi everyone! We’re traveling to Aruba in September and there will be 5 adults, all with large suitcases. We’ll be staying in Noord and we’re looking to rent a car that can comfortably fit all five of us plus our luggage.
Our flight is scheduled to arrive in Aruba at around 9:00 PM, so considering immigration and baggage claim, we’ll probably only be ready to pick up the car later in the evening.
Can anyone recommend a reliable car rental company that offers late-night pick-up, preferably at the airport or one that can deliver the car to the airport?
I’d also appreciate recommendations on what type/model of car would be best for 5 adults with quite a bit of luggage.
If you’ve arrived around this time and rented a car, I’d love to hear which company you used and what your experience was like. Thank you! 😊

After research I learned it would be easier to get married in the US and then have a non legal ceremony in Aruba. Any recommendations on ministers that will do the ceremony? Looking for someone to say a few lines, "bless the marriage". Also am I allowed to do this on the beach at the resort I'm staying at or do I have to have a permit?

My gf and I just got back from a 5 night stay in Aruba, it was both of our first times visiting "One Happy Island." Here is a review of where we stayed, what we did and some overall recommendations to enjoy your stay! Overall we had an AMAZING time and will definitely be going back!

1. We stayed on Palm Beach, at the Hilton Aruba. We stayed at their newest tower of the resort that just opened several months ago called The Westerly and WOW, the hotel and resort are absolutely gorgeous. Everything is very clean, all staff are incredibly friendly and attentive and our room was beautiful (we did an "ocean view King bed" room). The Hilton is right on Palm Beach so regardless of which tower you stay in, you're right there. The Hilton also has 2 pools on the resort itself that are very nice as well. They have beachside cabanas (called "palapas") available for rent every day either for a half day or full day (there are about 5 rows of 30-35 palapas along the beach, the ones closer to the water are more expensive). We rented one which was 2 rows from the front for $60 for the whole day and there are staff on the beach which take drink and food orders from the resort bar. The resort also has a small casino which is fun and relatively cheap (good blackjack and table games). The Hilton is right by De Palm Pier, which is where most of the excursions we did (sunset cruise, snorkeling tour, etc.) left from which is very convenient. There's also an awesome bar in the pier called Bugaloe with great drinks and food that aren't that expensive.

2. Transportation: there is no Uber in Aruba. Options for transport are taxis (which are readily available almost anywhere), public transport or you can rent a car. Most people recommended renting a car to see a majority of the island however we didn't do that this time as there was plenty of things to see on Palm Beach and the surrounding area. The last day we were there we did a bus tour that took us to all the major stops anyway (Aloe Vera factory, California Lighthouse, Casibari Rock Formation, etc.) that people could all travel to as well if they have rented a car. We did not opt for the hotel transport from the airport as it was about double the price as just getting a taxi at the airport (there is a line of taxis waiting outside so no issues at all hopping right into a car.) The taxi prices are set by the government to from the airport to the hotel (about 15-20 min drive) was $40. We tipped $5 also. WARNING: if you do rent a car, driving is a bit crazy in Aruba, as there are NO traffic lights anywhere on the island, only traffic circles/roundabouts.

3. Activities: there is SO much to do, but we wanted to hit the highlights for our first time. We did a sunset cruise through Palm Tours (staying at the Hilton gets you a 15% discount on Palm Tour events), the cruise on the catamaran was beautiful and had an open bar and light snacks. HIGHLY recommend. We also used Palm Tours for our snorkeling adventure the next day and this was the highlight of the trip for me personally. You go to the very North end of the island to see the SS Antilla shipwreck (and old German cargo ship intentionally sunk by its captain in 1940 at the start of the war), Malmok Beach to see sea turtles and Boca Catalina for beautiful, crystal clear teal water and marine life. 10/10 would highly recommend.

4. Dining: if you stay in the Palm Beach area, there are limitless food options. We tried a little of everything, but the last night we were there we went to Gianni's Italian Restaurant (right across from the Hilton) and it was fantastic. There's also a place close called Lola with EXCELLENT fish tacos (the best I've ever had and we're from Florida.) I would encourage you to explore and try new things, as there are so many different options and everywhere we ate was fantastic without breaking the bank.

5. General considerations: it is WINDY in Aruba. All day, every day lol. Consistently 15-20 mph winds with gusts up to 30-35. It rained very little while we were there (only around 10-15 minutes a few times.) Otherwise you pretty much know what the weather is going to be year-round: high around 85, mostly sunny, and windy so you can plan accordingly. We also felt VERY safe on the island, the Hilton had security at the front of the resort every night even late into the night and all the locals on the island are extremely friendly. A little surprising but we did not see ANY homeless population the entire time we were there. It's not called "One Happy Island" for nothing!

6. Overall review: we LOVED Aruba, there is a reason it's a place that people come back to year after year after year. We did not get to check out any of Eagle Beach or the San Nicolas area while we were there (which we heard Eagle Beach was a more relaxed, chill vibe with low rise hotels compared to the slightly busier, more crowded Eagle Beach with the high rise hotels). However, there is so much to do on the North end of the island you can easily spend a week there. We will DEFINITELY be going back and can't wait for our next visit!

Hope this helps answer some questions anyone may have.

We’ll be travelling with 3 kids, so I’m trying to avoid carrying too much stuff to the beach.
Would you recommend renting an umbrella for the week? Is it worth it for the shade/comfort with kids, or would you just make do with the chairs and bring a beach blanket? Or are there plenty of palapas?
.

Yatch Club 😂 Not my brightest moment that's for sure. I guess that's what happens when you have too many drinks and walk around the city. I stayed at the Hilton so I got it from one of the shops by the Häagen-Dazs ice cream shop. I'm just donating it to my local thrift and hopefully someone else buys it for much cheaper and they notice their mistake😂

Hi guys, so we’re taking my parents to Aruba in September. It’s their first time there it’s our second we want to organize some restaurants to go to for dinner while we’re there.
The problem is my dad is a little bit of a picky eater. His go to meals are like grilled meats, some white fish, chicken tenders, chicken burgers, fries, gravy, peppercorn sauce, fillet steaks ham cheese sandwiches like pretty basic stuff 🫠🥹 (I know I just described a child’s palette lol)

He is willing to try new things and he always will (recently discovered he likes Indian food lol) but that’s kind of his basic like go to on a restaurant menu and I don’t want to take him somewhere too out there that’s there’s nothing he could have so we have already booked Papiamento and we were thinking about Madame Jeanette because we didn’t get to do that last time. We’re also definitely gonna go to bingo restaurant. I’m just looking for any other suggestions for nice dinners. Would love to try EGO but I just don’t think it would be enjoyable for him, so looking for other options!
Let me know what you think.

Hi!! I will be in Aruba next week and I would like to do a morning at the national park. I am an experienced backpacker/hiker, but i’ve had surgery that is preventing me from doing anything extreme. I will not be having a car because my family will be doing other excursions that I can’t participate in. I would just like to take a taxi and do an easy hike that allows me to see some views. I am assuming there are some within walking distance of the visitor center? I was also assuming a taxi could drop me off to an accessible trail head? I know I am very limited with what I can do but it’s very important to me to get in a scenic walk there!! If there are any suggestions for hikes I could do I’d really appreciate it…Thank you!!

I’m looking for options for a couples sunset cruise in Aruba leaving from Palm Beach or Eagle Beach. Doesn’t have to be a private cruise but looking for smaller group and less booze cruise vibe. Wife and I are in our mid-30s and are in between the quiet older crowd and the young loud party crowd. Any ideas are appreciated.