One Happy Island ^Featured

One of my favorite places to stay is the Marriott. It has been a number of years since I visited and this time I decided to try out Marriott’s Tradewinds Club located towards the northern end of the hotel area and home to the Stellaris Casino.

Tradewinds is an adults-only boutique hotel experience with personalized service and exclusive amenities occupying 49 of the hotel’s 414 rooms. Guests can bypass the main check in area and check in to the private Tradewinds club lounge, where they are treated to complimentary gourmet dishes five times a day and the H2Oasis adults only pool and cabana.

But if you want to bring the family, the Marriott won’t let you down. With nine restaurants to choose from, like Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Atardi, (including the Island’s largest Starbucks) as well as plenty of activities like lounging by the pool or the beach, your biggest decision will what to do first.

East side of the island

If you’re looking for adventure, check out the other side of the island. The eastern side Aruba is essentially a desert. Take a jeep safari, ATV or horse-back tour to the (former) natural bridge, caverns or natural pool. It’s an amazing sight, especially on a tropical island.

San Nicolas

Located in the southern-most part of the island, this once industrial sector of Aruba is experiencing a revival with larger than life murals, painted on buildings that are a must-see in an area that has been mostly ignored by the typical tourist. Pop over to Charlie’s Bar for a good ol’ American bar and grill lunch. If you’re visiting in February, you can catch the Carnival parade, which is a must-see.

Sunset Sail – Da Palms tours

Venture out on the water on a catamaran for an evening sunset sail. Even with 50 plus people around you, the wind, salt air and occasional sea spray can drown everything out as you watch one of the most amazing sunsets the Caribbean has to offer. A nice date night idea if you’re visiting for a couple getaway.

Watersports

Almost everywhere you look there are tons of water sport adventures that can be booked through the hotel or on your own. From paddle boarding, windsurfing and jet skiing to diving, snorkeling and parasailing, the ocean is always at the ready. One activity I highly recommend is SNUBA. Perfect for those who love snorkeling and want to go to the next step without becoming a scuba diver, SNUBA works similar to diving except the air tank floats above while three or four people breathe through a 15 to 20-foot regulator. You get all the benefits of diving without the need to wear an air tank on your back or having to take any classes.

Stellaris Casino

If you love to gamble, or want to switch up your view of palm trees for slot machines, then this is the spot for you. Stellaris is the largest Vegas-style casino in Aruba and has more than 25 table games. It is located at the Marriott so when you win big, you won’t have to walk far with all that money.

When planning your trip, there is no better time to go over another as Aruba is outside the hurricane zone and the temperature is consistently warm. With a flight time of about four-and-a-half hours, you’ll be lounging on the beach with a tropical drink in your hand in no time. Book your trip, get into a breezy Caribbean state of mind and find out why Aruba is one happy island.

Travel tip: Aruba is one of 16 countries that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection have air preclearance operations. This means that you go through U.S. Customs in a foreign country rather than at your destination. It is convenient in that it’s possible to travel to a foreign country from LaGuardia or even Islip airports, however, you are required to go through double and even triple the security process on your return flight. If your flight happens to be around the busy times of the airport, security lines at customs could be lengthy. My recommendation is to get to the airport at least three to three-and-a-half hours early for your return flight.