Aruba: The Island of Aruba

Aruba

 
Fast Facts:


Entry Requirements: A valid US passport is required.

Departure Requirements: Aruba’s departure tax is $36.75

Language: Dutch is the official language, but English is widely spoken.
Currency: Aruban florin, but the US dollar is widely accepted.
Electricity: 110 volts/60 cycles (same as US).

Climate: Aruba has a tropical climate, and trade winds cool the island. The average temperature is 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainfall averages about 18” annually.

Sunning, sailing, diving, dining, and partying – in the vast Caribbean, vacation fun is spelled “Aruba”! And there’s a beachfront resort for every type of vacationer, from singles, to families, to couples.

Aruba is the Caribbean of your dreams, an island of azure seas, brilliant beaches, colorful towns, dazzling resorts, and fun in the sun.
By fun, we mean windsurfing, jet-skiing, water rides, swimming, sunbathing, tubing, water-skiing, casino gambling, sailing, golf, tennis, sightseeing, horseback riding, Jeep tours, snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking, shopping, biking, and dining. And that’s just for starters.

Making it all possible is Aruba’s mild climate – the year-round average temperature is 82 degrees, thanks to cooling trade winds – and the friendly Arubans themselves, who are hospitable, well-educated, and often speak several languages.

The island offers a wide range of accommodations to welcome you, beginning with luxury high-rise hotels that provide opulent surroundings, stellar service, and numerous comforts. Many of the low-rise hotels are characterized by a homey feel, gorgeous pools, and casual-style dining. Villas are ideal for groups, but if you’re on a tight budget or planning on an extended stay, Aruba’s spacious apartments can fill the bill. Many of the accommodations are located on the southwestern shore, along a stretch of white-sand beaches.

You’ll find fabulous cuisine in many of the resorts, as well as outside, as International menus highlight Indonesian, Japanese, Chinese, Dutch, Italian, French, and Cantonese cuisine. Families with kids will also find all of the popular fast-food chain restaurants.

Island-wide, the sights are lovely, from colonial ruins to Mother Nature’s handiwork. Explore the arid, desert-like interior on an ATV, and marvel at the iconic divi-divi trees that line the shores.

Aruba makes it a breeze to leave your cares behind.



Beach Scene:

Palm Beach: On the southwest coast of the island, where constant trade winds keep you cool, Palm Beach’s white sands invite you to bask, stroll, Swim, dive, into myriad water sports, and gaze in wonder at the unique divi-divi trees!

Hadicurari (Fisherman’s Huts): Aruba’s northwestern coast is home to this secluded stretch of sand, not far from Palm Beach. Here, the shallow waters are so good for windsurfing that the beach hosts an annual pro-am competition. There are shade huts along the beach to provide a break from the sun.

Baby Beach (Sereo Colorado): Far away from the high-rise hotels and resorts, Baby Beach is a family favorite with heavenly white-powder sand and calm turquoise waters. Bring snorkeling gear to explore the coral reef and its thousands of colorful Caribbean fish.

Eagle Beach: This wide expanse of pristine white sand and friendly surf stretches along the coast for miles. Hugging gentle waters with small waves. Popular with locals, the beach is easily accessible and slopes gently down to the water.

Note: Public nudity of any kind is illegal in Aruba. However, topless sunbathing and swimming is not against the law, and is tolerated on most beaches in the resort areas.

The Island of Antigua

Antigua Fast Facts:
Entry Requirements: A valid US passport, return or onward tickets, and proof of accommodations are required.

Departure Requirements: Antigua has a $20.00 airport departure tax.

Electricity: Antigua’s electricity is largely 220 volts/60 cycles, while some areas and hotels provide 110 volts/60 cycles, or both.

Language: English

Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar, but the US dollar is widely accepted.

Climate: Antigua has a tropical climate with low humidity, with the islands tempered by sea breezes and trade winds. The average temperature ranges between 70-86 degrees Fahrenheit (water temperatures average 80 degrees Fahrenheit); average annual rainfall is 39”.


Come be charmed by a tropical playground where the sun is always shining, the people are always welcoming, the recreation is whatever you want it to be – and where there’s a beach with your name on it!

Antigua is famous, and rightly so, for its 365 lovely beaches – one for each day of the year. There are beaches for family fun, for water sports excitement, for glorious reef diving, for clothing-optional sunbathing, for making you believe that you’re the only beachgoer on the island. Which one will suit your taste?

But there’s so much more here beyond the beautiful beach. Graceful and evocative, the historic district of English Harbour in St. John’s is home to Nelson’s Dockyard National Park. A one-time base for the British Navy in the great age of sailing ships, the dockyard has been completely restored, and it is now the only existing Georgian naval dockyard in the world. Nelson’s Dockyard comes alive in spring during annual Sailing Week, an international regatta that lures more than 1,500 sailors who make a roundtrip to Dickenson Bay and back. Smaller regattas are held throughout the year, including the Classic Yacht Regatta for traditional wooden craft.

For shoppers, St. John’s is the destination. There’s a wide variety of duty-free shopping for international visitors at Heritage Quay, next to the cruise ship piers. Pick up everything from jewelry and liquor, to tobacco and linens, to exquisite handmade jewelry.

For partygoers, it’s Shirley Heights. Every Sunday night, tourists and locals gather to celebrate week’s end with a huge party at this historic British fort on a bluff above English Harbour. To the lively strains of steel band and reggae music, barbecue and rum punch are served under the backdrop of a spectacular and romantic sunset.

And how can anyone resist a tropical climate with year-round warm temperatures and seemingly endless sunshine? The Beach Scene
Rendezvous Bay: One of the last undeveloped major beaches in Antigua, Rendezvous Bay stands on the southeast coast where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean. This beach is for seclusion, as it is accessed only via a walking trail. The seas are tranquil – ideal for snorkeling!

Galleon Beach (Freeman’s Bay): Easily reached, this quarter-mile stretch of golden sand is situated in English Harbour on the southern tip of Antigua in the heart of the National Park. The surrounding area is a beautiful blend of rolling hills, tropical vegetation, marine life, nautical atmosphere, and historical sites.

Hawksbill Beaches: Actually four beaches in one location – Royal Palm Beach, Sea Grape Beach, Honeymoon Beach, and Eden Beach – Hawksbill is bordered by resorts and gets its name from a huge rock that protrudes from the water just offshore. Eden is the only clothing-optional beach on Antigua.

Dickenson Bay: Acknowledged as the island’s most popular beach, Dickenson Bay is full of action: beach bars, restaurants, parties, and water sports rule. Dip into clear, turquoise waters by day; after the sun sets, indulge in cool cocktails at one of the bars strung along the beach.