We arrived at Queen Beatrix International Airport in Aruba on Saturday, November 8, 2014, and I must say, it was not like anything that I had expected. Peeking out of the airplane window, I quickly realized that we were not approaching a remote island untouched by civilization, but a modernized country. I must admit, this expectation was my own mistake. I did not conduct any research prior to booking this trip. Initially, this trip was supposed to be a gift for my mom’s birthday; I wanted her to get away with my grandma for a weekend. Unlike me, they prefer all-inclusive hotels so that they do not have to worry about how much money they spend on food and drinks. Shortly after gifting the trip, I decided to join them on the trip. Unfortunately, my grandma broke her hip about two weeks prior to departure, so Conrad took her place.
Aruba does not have many options for cheap all-inclusive packages. Before booking a hotel or activity, I use TripAdvisor to get a better feel of the hotel or activity. There is a reason why the Occidental Grand Aruba Resort is rated 20 out of 24 resorts in Aruba. I ignored the negative reviews due to the hotel’s attractive LivingSocial deal. My mistake.
It is rather difficult to stay unbiased towards Aruba after the welcome that we had received at the Occidental Grand Aruba Resort. But anyway, let me tell you about the trip itself. After a bitter start, we went to dinner. I must say, the Occidental Grand Aruba Resort had better food than most all-inclusive resorts that I have recently stayed at. For one, the hotel actually served seafood. As strange as it sounds, it has been a long time since I stayed at an all-inclusive resort that offered fresh seafood at their main buffet. I was quite surprised. Overall: Decent accommodations. Comfortable rooms. Clean pools.
The hotel itself is located on Palm Beach – a renowned two-mile-long strip of beach. The beach is packed with tourists. It resembles Cancun, Mexico and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Definitely not a hidden gem. The water is decent, but it certainly cannot be compared to the Bahamas or Turks and Caicos per say, but it is decent.
The location of the island allows for coral reefs, but in return has darker water. Very clean, but not the kind of water that you can see your toes five feet in. Palm Beach is located on the opposite side of the dive sites. I really wanted to finally go night diving, but for some reason no place had any availability.
We had two full days on the island. We spent the first day lounging on the beach, swimming, drinking, eating, and eventually walking around the nearby town.
I booked a snorkeling trip with Jolly Pirates for our second day in Aruba. I came across Jolly Pirates on TripAdvisor. The cruise had such good reviews that I decided to give it a chance. My mistake. If you want to feel like you are back in High School or in your early years of College, the “Sail, Snorkel, Swim Aruba & Swing” is your cruise. If you are looking to actually snorkel, I would not recommend this cruise. Actually, I do not really recommend snorkeling here at all – either snorkeling in Aruba is very overrated or I have been spoiled by other snorkeling spots around the world. With alcohol included, this cruise solely revolves around drinking. Let me first mention that the boat is packed to capacity. Then, imagine the line to the bar. I waited about 20 minutes just for a cup of water.
There are only three stops. Your time to snorkel is limited. By the time that you get into the water and dunk your head, you are called back to the boat.
Aruba failed to secure a spot in my heart. I cannot say that this was a horrible trip, it just happened to come with some unfortunate experiences. Regardless, we had a wonderful time together and made some unforgettable memories that I will cherish forever.
If you enjoy touristy destinations such as Cancun or Punta Cana, Aruba promises a comparable experience in a similar environment. Otherwise, head over next door to Curacao or Bonaire.
