Aruba
Oct. 22 - Oct. 26, 2020 (5D4N): Aruba holds a special spot in my heart - it is the 50th country that I’ve visited and it is also the first time that I have traveled internationally since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. If this is your first time visiting the island, I’d suggest taking at least the island tour to get an overview of the island, and then the rest of your vacay can be spent on the beach!
*Highly Recommended
Day 1
Noon arrival in AUA from JFK (~4.5 hrs via Delta)
Taxi to Modern Hotel Aruba* ($32)
Lunch @ The Beach Bar (2 for 1 HH drinks)
Beach time
Sunset
Dinner @ Wacky Wahoo*(Taxi is $9 from the hotel)
Supplies from Unicasa Supermarket
Drinks by the hotel pool
Day 2
Beach hopping (only possible if you have a car):
Arashi Beach (where locals go)
Boca Catalina (good for snorkeling)
Palm Beach
Lunch @ Mama’s Truck*
Gelato @ Gelatissimo* on Depalm Pier
Hang out by the hotel pool
Dinner @ Craft*
Drinks by the hotel pool
Day 3
Island Ultimate Jeep Safari* with ABC Tour:
7:45 am hotel pick-up from Big G
Natural Pool (couldn’t swim in it, see tips below)
Fontein Cave (you will see fruit bats)
Fish pedicure
Baby Beach (snorkeling gears included)
Drive through San Nicolas
Lunch @ ABC Office
Sushi & drinks @ Southbeach Lounge
Day 4
Aruba Champagne Breakfast and Lunch Cruise with Snorkeling* with Pelican Adventure:
9 am Depart from Pelican Pier
Boca Catalina
Eagle Beach
Pick-up rental car from Hertz @ Marriott’s Aruba Ocean Club
Hang out by the pool
Dinner @ Zeerover* (bring a bug spray if you are there after dusk)
Day 5
Palm Beach (I know, just can’t get enough of this beautiful beach)
Lunch @ The West Deck*
Return Hertz rental @ the airport
2 pm flight back to NYC from AUA (priority pass lounge access)
Other points of interest:
Eat @ Pika’s Corner Aruban Cuisine, Madame Janette, Pinchos Bar and Grill
Drinks @ Brickell Bay Sand Beach Lounge
Walk around downtown Oranjestad
Tips:
Make sure you read up on the latest COVID-19 testing/entry requirement. In short, vaccinated travelers do not need to get tested.
Taxi fares are all regulated on the island; inquire about your taxi rate with the hotel so you’d have the exact change.
Visa/Mastercard, as well as USD, are accepted on the island but local currency is preferred at the local gas station.
A rental car is preferred if you plan to have meals outside of the Palm Beach area as taxi rates are expensive. I’d suggest renting a regular car if you don’t plan on doing any off-road traveling (east coast of the island).
In some cases, some off-road excursions such as access to the Natural pool inside the national park are inaccessible without a tour (unless you do a 2-mile hike in the heat).
Please note that it is too dangerous to swim in the Natural pool due to strong waves between October to April.
Allow extra time to go through security at the airport as US Immigration takes place in AUA before boarding (Global Entry works).
You can purchase duty-free goods after US immigration if you are running short on time.
