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Aruba

Tourism Board Training & Portal
Agent Training Certification

AUA - Oranjestad is the capital. The island is dry, brown, and dessert-like.  It is below the hurricane belt. There are lots of casinos, high-end shopping, upscale island, no poverty, not third world, very clean, very safe! Beautiful calm, turquoise waters, okay snorkeling & scuba diving. Great beaches- very wide & long, however, water can have a strong undertow in points as well as can go from shallow to deep fairly quickly. Will perform weddings at sunset & beyond. To marry in Aruba (legally) you must marry at the town courthouse (inside). Easy to get around- taxis are regulated. Everyone speaks English. Lots of restaurant options on the island, all-inclusive is not a necessity. Not much at all in the way of “site-seeing” (island tour, butterfly farm, natural bridge, snorkeling excursions, catamaran cruises).  Lots of water sports & water-related activities (including a submarine tour). A decent amount of golf courses. Not many all-inclusive resorts:  RIU Palace Aruba, RIU Palace Antillas (adult only), Divi Beach, Tamarijn, Manchebo, Renaissance Marriott, & Barcelo.

Arrival/Departure Service:  First Class Experience Aruba (not available to be book with TOs at this time)

Family Resorts:

  • Moderate: Hilton Aruba- Distance from hotel to town, 5 miles. Distance from hotel to Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA), 7 miles. Located in the heart of the Palm Beach Strip Meal Plan: Breakfast - Club rooms included breakfast.  Meal plans available for groups. Target Clients are Family and Couples.
  • Moderate:  Renaissance- located in the heart of Oranjestad.  They have two casinos, a mall and Aruba’s only private white sand beach island.  To visit Flamingo Island, there's a two-night minimum.  Kids are only allowed at certain times of the day.
  • Moderate:  Marriott Aruba Surf club- A vacation ownership in Palm Beach that has one, two- and three-bedroom villa rentals.
  • Moderate:  Boardwalk-not available through preferred TOs at this time.  Cute villa hotel.
  • Luxury:  Grand Hyatt Aruba- Great for high-end families or couples, foodies or honeymooners.   They have several meal plans and participate in the Aruba dine around plan. They have a huge casino on site. They also allow pets.
  • Luxury- Ritz Carlton Aruba (club level rooms are a good value). Located right on Palm beach. High-end luxury for families and couples.
  • Budget: RIU Palace Aruba (budget resort, but All-Inclusive)- formerly known as the Riu Aruba Grand. Two Swimming pools, Ideal for family and friends’ getaways, rooms are a bit dated. Located on Palm Beach. It has exchange privileges.  With a casino on site.

Adults Only Resorts:

  • Luxury:  Aruba Ocean Villas (must be booked direct)-overwater bungalows
  • Moderate:  RIU Palace Antillas (all-inclusive)- Ideal for couples and friends. Located right on Palm beach.
  • Moderate-Renaissance Marriott (tower building only, located across the street from the ocean-ferry ride to a private island beach, located downtown)
  • Moderate:   Bucuti & Tara-recommend is non-inclusive but does include BP plan (American Breakfast Plan) & has the option to add on Aruba dine around plan (meals at nearby restaurants.) Top-notch service & romantic ambiance, amazing beach (Palm Beach). 3 miles from town and 7 from AUA. Target client is romance. No room service.

Activities:

  • Wine on Down the Road Culinary Tour:  This is commissionable directly with Kukoo Kunuku.  Their website is https://www.kukookunuku.com/#tours
    • Tour operators offer their pub crawl, but not the culinary tours.  Wine on Down the Road is a great way to experience some of our great dining all in one evening.  So perfect for even the AI traveler as they can just go out the one night and feel they have experienced the island.  For the EP traveler, they may find a restaurant they want to go back to and try more in-depth, or if they have been researching the island and realize there are so many to choose from, this allows them to knock several off at one time.

Tours (DePalm is the major DMC in Aruba):

  • The Natural Bridge collapsed
  • Natural Pool Tour
  • ATV’s & Jeeps
  • DePalm Island, has private cabanas

Restaurants:

  • Flying Fish Bone
  • Screaming Eagle (Dinner in Bed)
  • Gianni’s (known for Pasta in cheese wheel)
  • Amore Mio - nice relaxed cafe style Pizzeria
  • El Gaucho Argentinian Steakhouse
  • Madame Jeanette
  • Papiamento’s (which will close for Weddings $5 )
  • Aqua Grill
  • Hostario Vittoria for Italian

Unique Restaurants with one set menu with pairing (very upscale):

  • Fools and a Bull
  • Kitchen table by White

Aruba Dine Around Plan:  https://arubadining.com/dine-around-plan/