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Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. #107567
09/15/2016 05:40 PM
09/15/2016 05:40 PM
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 33
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Lakegirl480 Offline OP
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Lakegirl480  Offline OP
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After our horrible disappointment on our BVI charter we have booked a trip to Aruba at a resort. Although I would love a "do-over" charter, it just wasn't in the budget this soon after returning. I'm cautiously excited about this trip and maybe it'll live up to the dream vacation the BVI trip was supposed to be.

Looking forward to sharing info over the next few months.
Lakegirl480

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Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: Lakegirl480] #107568
09/23/2016 08:52 PM
09/23/2016 08:52 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 152
Westchester County, NY
Roaruba Offline
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Roaruba  Offline
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Posts: 152
Westchester County, NY
We will be there in June for 10 days. Where are you staying? We love Aruba and go every year.

Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: Roaruba] #107569
01/05/2017 09:11 PM
01/05/2017 09:11 PM
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 33
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Lakegirl480 Offline OP
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Lakegirl480  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 33
La cabana

Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: Lakegirl480] #107570
01/10/2017 03:28 PM
01/10/2017 03:28 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 61
horncusker Offline
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horncusker  Offline
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Hey there - can you give the general vibe of Aruba? I am trying to decide between there and Bermuda this fall. I have been to Curacao, St Martin, Anegada, Tortola, Turks, Jamaica, St John, St Thomas, Belize etc. So I am wondering what Aruba is like...thanks!

Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: horncusker] #107571
01/10/2017 04:57 PM
01/10/2017 04:57 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,478
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Aruba is very Americanized, more than Dutch SXM. There's not a lot of Dutch flavor to it, and of course, no french influence like on SXM. LOTS of US chain restaurants and lots of other high end restaurants. Prices for cars and groceries and liquor are higher than SXM. Restaurant prices are perhaps a bit higher than SXM, alcohol in bars much higher. GREAT tourist transportation system, with buses which run all the time, clean, cheap. The climate is very dry, and outside of the resort areas, the landscape is desert. There is a pretty constant wind, usually 15 mph at least. There are a bunch of big hotels, highrises, and lots of timeshares and condos. The island is cleaner than SXM. The perception is that crime is much lower in Aruba. I'm not exactly sure that's true, but that is the perception anyway.


Carol Hill
Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: Carol_Hill] #107572
01/10/2017 08:24 PM
01/10/2017 08:24 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 61
horncusker Offline
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horncusker  Offline
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Thanks Carol - very interesting - still thinking - might just go back to SXM - HA!

Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: horncusker] #107573
01/10/2017 08:48 PM
01/10/2017 08:48 PM
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Posts: 2,668
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LBI2SXM Offline
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Carol is right on about Aruba. It is a nice vacation island. I have been to all of the islands you have listed and I am partial to Curacao and I will say it's much different than Aruba. Have not been to Bermuda, would love to some day, it's only 2 1/2 hours away from us. One thing if you are going in the fall, remember Aruba is out of the so called hurricane belt, Bermuda is not. Enjoy where ever you go! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: LBI2SXM] #107574
01/11/2017 04:51 PM
01/11/2017 04:51 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 61
horncusker Offline
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horncusker  Offline
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Yeah, I use the "sailors theme" for Hurricanes...June, too soon, July, stand by, August, a must, September, remember, October, it's over.

But that doesn't always work...ha...I was in the Turks last year in October and there was a hurricane bearing down on Bermuda and we dodged a tropical storm in T&C. I really liked Curacao, and plan on going back in 2018, just looking for a new spot for this year.

Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: horncusker] #107575
01/12/2017 11:54 AM
01/12/2017 11:54 AM
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Posts: 2,668
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LBI2SXM Offline
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If you are into "laid back and relaxed", try looking into the Out Islands in the Bahamas. Very beautiful, beaches and water to die for. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: LBI2SXM] #107576
01/12/2017 10:45 PM
01/12/2017 10:45 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 61
horncusker Offline
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horncusker  Offline
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I would kind of like the best of both...a bit laid back and a bit of nightlife close by...

Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: horncusker] #107577
01/13/2017 10:56 AM
01/13/2017 10:56 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,478
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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What's your definition of 'nightlife'???


Carol Hill
Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: Carol_Hill] #107578
01/16/2017 02:31 PM
01/16/2017 02:31 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 61
horncusker Offline
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horncusker  Offline
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Um, having some places that offer some drinks and music - nothing to RAGING (lol) after dinner time until around midnight or so...

Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: horncusker] #107579
01/16/2017 02:36 PM
01/16/2017 02:36 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,478
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Didn't know if you meant like clubs or casinos or whatever. Have you considered the BVI?

edit--never mind, I see you've already been there.

Last edited by Carol_Hill; 01/16/2017 02:37 PM.

Carol Hill
Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: Carol_Hill] #107580
01/17/2017 09:46 PM
01/17/2017 09:46 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 61
horncusker Offline
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horncusker  Offline
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Well, clubs and casinos are fun too...I just don't want to go to somewhere that is too remote (think Anegada...) this year...

Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: Lakegirl480] #107581
04/19/2017 08:41 AM
04/19/2017 08:41 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,348
Rhode Island
RonDon Online content
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Quote
Lakegirl480 said:
La cabana


This hotel complex is not on the beach. You'll have to cross street to get to beach---even tho' all photos we saw before we booked looked like it WAS on beach. When we stayed there a couple of years ago, unless hotel has updated, we found you have to get up and out to beach really really early to get a chair.

Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: RonDon] #107582
04/19/2017 09:13 AM
04/19/2017 09:13 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,478
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Isn't LaCabana a timeshare? Somehow 'timeshare' and 'dream vacation' don't really seem to fit in the same sentence to me.


Carol Hill
Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: Lakegirl480] #107583
04/21/2017 03:19 PM
04/21/2017 03:19 PM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 108
Florida
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Kamehameha Offline
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We are also going in July for 3 weeks, as we did last year. We've been going annually since 2004. BUT, we have 2 weeks in Curacao and love that even more. Not so Americanized, but very Dutch and lovely. Check that out after Aruba.


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Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: Carol_Hill] #107584
04/21/2017 05:41 PM
04/21/2017 05:41 PM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 108
Florida
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Kamehameha Offline
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We are proud timeshare junkies, beats the heck out of a measly hotel room, as long as you do your research. Try Grand Solmar in Cabo, Royal Sea Aquarium in Curacao, Renaissance or Marriott in Aruba, Marriott throughout Hawaii, Royal Resorts in St. Maarten or thoughout Mexico. Have you ever even tried one?


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Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: Kamehameha] #107585
04/21/2017 07:49 PM
04/21/2017 07:49 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,478
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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If that question is aimed at me, I have stayed at MANY timeshares in SXM, yes. My point was to equate a timeshare with a dream vacation, which to me means "luxury" is a non-starter. We've been to Tahiti, an African safari, and hotels all throughout the Caribbean, including several luxury all inclusives. THOSE experiences I would call a "dream vacation". Staying at a timeshare hotel, not so much. Other people's definition of 'dream vacation" might be different.


Carol Hill
Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: Carol_Hill] #107586
04/22/2017 11:15 AM
04/22/2017 11:15 AM
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Kamehameha Offline
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I've never heard of a "timeshare hotel" unless you mean the small 1 room lockoff units which we avoid. My timeshare usage always yield a "dream vacation" with on site restaurants, room service, full kitchen which is convenient, in unit laundry facilities, at least 4 rooms, multiple TV's, beautiful common areas, multiple pools, work out rooms, beachside cooking grills, concierge services, activities, etc. Each to her own "dream!"


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Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: Kamehameha] #107587
04/22/2017 04:15 PM
04/22/2017 04:15 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,478
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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OK, that does NOT describe timeshares in SXM, at least. There are NO timeshares in SXM that have room service or concierges. They have activities' desks, but concierges, no. There are very few rooms in timeshares in SXM, other than the very upper tier units, that have in unit laundry facilities. Most SXM timeshares do NOT have BBQ grills. While I'm not personally familiar with LaCabana, I kind of doubt that they would have those amenities, but not familiar with LaCabana.


Carol Hill
Re: Just booked Aruba July 2017 for 10 days. [Re: Carol_Hill] #107588
04/24/2017 03:18 PM
04/24/2017 03:18 PM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 108
Florida
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Kamehameha Offline
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This is the southern Caribbean forum, not just SXM so I was talking about timeshares in a number of places and the ones I own or trade into have all the amenities I mentioned. Simpson Bay in SXM has grills. I've grilled out at Royal Sea Aquarium in AUA, Marriotts on Kauai, Oahu, shell resort on the Big Island. Had a terrible stay this year at Costs Sur in PV, but they even had a concierge. Must have had a good time at LaCabana -- don't remember much! When we fly MIA to AUA or CUR, we pack in checked luggage a few frozen porterhouse steaks & 4 lbs of shrimp to throw on the barbie to share with other guests. Love the potlucks. Enjoy your next trips.


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