Do you remember that swoon-worthy song by the Beach Boys called Kokomo? You know, the one that goes: “Aruba, Jamaica, oh I want to take ya…”? Such a great song with lyrics that conjure up tropical breezes, salty air, soft, grainy sand between your toes and love. And even though the Beach Boys sang about multiple destinations, did you catch which one they mentioned first?
Yep, Aruba…the favorite destination for many people.
So to entice you to go someday…here’s 7 reasons you’ll fall in love with Aruba:
1) Safe Place To Vacation: One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a vacation destination is safety. Aruba is considered to be one of the safest islands in the Caribbean. Of course, you should never let your guard down wherever you go because there’s risks in literally everything we do, but because of the low crime rate, Aruba is a great option to consider for couples, families and group travel.
2) It’s Summertime Year-round: Aruba is known for being sunny and having the best tropical weather in the Caribbean with the average temperature being in the 80s which makes Aruba the perfect destination all year long. Hold on to your hats though. Those trade winds really are very real and it’s quite breezy almost every day. Well worth not being sticky hot though!
3) Low Hurricane Zone: In addition to perfect weather, Aruba sits south of the hurricane belt and usually escapes hurricanes that pop up in the Caribbean/Atlantic. Hurricane season, which begins June 1st and runs through November 30th, is the best time to travel to Aruba because the prices drop dramatically. Generally we see flights and hotels offering the best rates during this time as well.
4) Flamingo Island: It’s no surprise that Aruba has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean with its azure-colored water, colorful fish, and sugar-white sandy beaches. But the world famous Flamingo Island, located on Renaissance Island, is probably one of the most beautiful private beaches in Aruba. The island is divided into two sections, the adult only section and the family section. The flamingos are on the adult side, however, children are allowed to visit them from 9AM to 10AM. You can interact with the flamingos, feed them and of course take Instagram-worthy photos with these perfectly sculpted pink birds standing on one leg. If you stay at Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino then you can visit the island for free. Otherwise, it’ll cost you a normal fee per person, which includes the boat ride over to the island, lunch, and drinks. I’ve been to this amazing island and thought the food was outstanding!
5) Arikok National Park: One of the prettiest places to visit in Aruba and hands down one of the greatest attractions on the island is Arikok National Park. This park, which costs a small fee to enter, takes up nearly twenty percent of the island. There’s so much to see and do, like hiking with spectacular views, caves-which have paintings dating back over a thousand years, and swimming in the Conchi natural pool where you can go snorkeling and jump off a cliff. The terrain is bumpy and rocky so it’s best to rent a jeep or an ATV to explore the park. Other sites to see are the donkey sanctuary, the chapel, the natural bridge, the Boca Prins, a turtle nesting place, and windmills. Although there’s only one way in and one way out, take a map and GPS to help you get around.
6) Casinos: When clients tell me they want to go to a Caribbean island but they must have a casino on site or close by…Aruba always is an option I give to them. There are several on the island so anyone wanting to spin their luck in a casino won’t have an issue in Aruba.
7) Food: To date this little island might hold the title of “best food I’ve ever eaten” as we didn’t have one bad meal while in Aruba. Lots of people reach out and want to go to an all-inclusive resort (which I totally get) but I try to deter them from staying at one in Aruba (and thankfully there are very few here anyway) because the food is simply TOO GOOD to not get out and experience it. I have tons of restaurant recommendations for clients…so reach out when you’re ready to head to this #onehappyisland and I’ll hook you up!
So the next time you hear Kokomo by the Beach Boys, think about all the things there is to love about Aruba and give me a call. I’ll get you there fast, then you can take it slow!
Happy Travels,
TJ
