Before leaving London was ever set, we talked about taking a holiday as a part of the journey back to America. We thought a lengthy stay in Australia would be a great final stamp in the passport. As wrapping up life in the UK got in the way, we had to scrap Australia. The planning for a trip like that could not be done on the fly, and we were honestly so tired that there was no way we would enjoy such a worthy destination.
Our holiday pitstop location had to change. What better way to recharge the batteries & get over jet lag, than some time on a warm beach?
The family stayed in Aruba from Saturday through Wednesday before Christmas. The time difference between London & Aruba was only four hours, but everyone passed out by 7:30 each night. That meant everyone was up & at 'em by 6AM the next morning; we actually had to wait for breakfast service to start!
After breakfast, the remainder of the day was outside. Time in the pool dominated because we happened to be the only people there most of the time, aside from a few lizards.
The beach, however, was jammed! The water was beautiful and the waves were the perfect height for both kids to enjoy.
Aruba is not a culinary hot bed. We immediately figured that out on the taxi ride to our hotel: KFC, Hard Rock Cafe, Burger King, Benihana, Hooters, Señor Frogs, and TGIFridays. We scoped out a few local places, but the quality wasn't stellar. It was fine, but nothing I'd say you must eat. That could also be since the prices were outrageous! Many of the food items are imported so we were not surprised at the prices, but the pastas & pizzas were not remotely worthy of the prices listed on the menu.
Then again, it was 85 degrees and sunny - we got over the mediocre food.
Would I rush back to Aruba? Probably not. There are many other islands in the sea to visit, which I bet are somewhat similar. It certainly fit our criteria for a recharge before the busy Christmas holiday.
I've always been intrigued by Aruba, and your photos are stunning. However, food is such a big thing for me on vacations that I could see why you might not go back (and why I might not move Aruba up on my list for myself). I don't doubt that you will get to Australia at some point :)
ReplyDeleteFood is big for us as well. My romantic ideas about the island included more Dutch influence in the cuisine choices and decor. We knew that island prices would not be the best part of the vacation, but I was surprised at the lack of authenticity. There are many more islands in the sea to explore. Fingers crossed for Australia!
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