How fast can you start a gorgeous getaway in the Caribbean Sea? Well, that depends on how fast you can pack your togs and book a holiday in Aruba.
Get going on the fly so you have more time to sloooow down on Aruba’s long blond beaches in the South Caribbean Sea.
You’ve got a busy itinerary of sunbathing ahead of you, so give yourself over to “island time”. What’s island time? Well, when the sun’s up, you while away the hours snorkelling and surfing on some of the world’s most famous waves. Then, as the arvo rides off into the sunset, tuck in with Aruban fusion cuisine and tropical cocktails. If you like the sound of that, you’ll love scoring some awesome Aruba package deals on your way outta town!
On Aruba holidays, you may have 99 problems, but a beach ain’t one—and by “problems” we mean the daily dilemma of having to choose which beach to start at. If you kick off your adventure near Oranjestad, the capital, then you’ll be close to Surfside Beach, a surprisingly secluded stretch of sand near the airport and Oranjestad’s city centre.
While you’re in the capital, score one of lastminute.co.nz’s Aruba car hire deals and drive to the Butterfly Farm on the northwest side of the city for some serious socialising. West of the Butterfly Farm, you can round the coast all the way to Eagle Beach and then down to Renaissance Beach. Further south, hike through the ruins of Balashi Gold Mine, which was dug into the Spanish Lagoon during the early 19th century. If you’re body-surfing on the north coast at Andicuri Beach, you can still stop a treasure hunt for history at the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins to the west. You have some shopping to do, after all, and a little gold goes a long way.
With all its easygoing Caribbean vibes, it may be easy to forget that Aruba has long been a part of the Netherlands. Take a shopping trip through downtown Oranjestad and you’ll remember as soon as you pass Dutch cheese shops and try on European fashions in designer boutiques and waterfront shopping malls.
While you’re on an Aruba holiday, you’ve got to sample the island fusion fare. Ladle in the cool island soup—a fruity local favourite—and pastechi, which are delicious meat or cheese pies that you can eat by the handful. For the biggest selection of restaurants, go to—you guessed it—the waterfront in Oranjestad.
The sun’s gone down—now what? You can hit the big-city bar and club scene in Oranjestad for some incandescent happy hours and live music. Or hightail it to the town of Palm Beach, northwest of the capital, where the party doesn’t start until about midnight. To bide your time, join a pub crawl with fellow travellers and local Arubans!
Are you ready for Aruba? Save on flights and accommodation when you book awesome Aruba packages with lastminute.co.nz. We’ve got the best deals, so all you have to think about is finding the perfect wear-everywhere bathers—hey, the turquoise waters of the Caribbean look good with everything.
Reviewed on 13 May 2024
Reviewed on 11 May 2024
Reviewed on 11 May 2024
Nothing says holiday like spending a lazy day at Eagle Beach, a popular beach in Oranjestad-West. Make time to visit the shops and casinos while you're in the area.
If a restful holiday is part of your travel plans, Palm Beach might be the perfect place to visit during your trip to Palm Beach. Stroll along the seaside or experience the entertainment choices in this relaxing area.
After visiting Aruba Town Hall, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Oranjestad-West. Stroll along the seaside or discover the beautiful sunsets in this romantic area.
^Savings based on all package bookings made with Flight + Hotel on lastminute.co.nz from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019, as compared to the price of the same components booked separately. Savings will vary based on origin/destination, length of trip, stay dates and selected travel supplier(s). Savings not available on all packages.