Bon bini, or welcome, to the island of Aruba. Here, miles of pristine white sand stretch before you, the sky and Caribbean Sea converge in spectacular fashion—a kaleidoscope of turquoise and the faintest blue—and the weather is a constant 83 degrees year round. The surroundings are so heavenly, it’s as if you’re reliving a perfect day over and over again: A Groundhog Day for honeymooners, if you will.
My fiancé Jason and I took a pre-wedding trip there, and were grateful to escape a bone-chilling NYC winter, if only for a little while. We quickly discovered why it’s the most revisited island in the Caribbean, with over 800,000 visitors each year (the return visitor rate is more than 60 percent). This cosmopolitan hotspot offers top-notch activities, dining, and events, no matter what your vacation M.O. is. The Arubans’ happy-go-lucky spirit is infectious—hospitality is deeply engrained in the culture. It even says so in their national anthem: “The greatness of our people is in their great cordiality."
Aruba Hotels
Located on the fringe of the Hurricane Belt, Aruba is sheltered from most tropical storms, making it an ideal beach getaway regardless of what month couples are getting married. It’s a short flight away for East-Coasters—just over two hours away by plane from Miami and four hours from New York—but it’s also close to Venezuela and Colombia. The island is home to over 22 major hotels, from sprawling high-rises in Palm Beach to boutique low-rise properties along the Eagle Beach coast, which was voted the number-one Caribbean beach by USA Today. (Aside from being gorgeous, it’s also a nesting site for leatherback sea turtles.)
We stayed at the stately Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, an eight-story resort with nine restaurants, an enormous adults-only pool, and enough Blackjack tables to make my groom giddy. Tradewinds Club is their boutique resort within a resort, which offers deluxe amenities, a private beach section and more. No matter which area you stay in, each of the 400 rooms comes with a private balcony—the largest on the island—offering exquisite views.
Travel tip: All of Aruba’s resorts charge a 22% bed tax, so factor that into your total honeymoon budget. If pampering is on the agenda, try the Gel & Aloe Bath Wrap at Mandara, their spa. Aloe is one of the island’s chief exports, and it's a must for sun-parched skin. (Visit marriott.com for more info.)
Another great high-rise option is the Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa, which is considered to be one of Aruba’s most luxe hotels (the Queen of the Netherlands visits twice a year; she even has her own suite). For a more intimate environment, consider the adults-only Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort.
Next: Activities & sightseeing ►
Activities & Sightseeing
Adventure-seekers and beach bums alike—my fiancé and myself, respectively—have endless options for exploring the natural beauty of the island. Arikok National Park is a rugged landscape of cactuses, Divi-Divi trees and abandoned gold mines. Go on a Jeep Safari tour, hiking, biking, or horseback riding.
Most couples don’t rent a car, because taxis and tour pick-up services are readily available. (Book a ride on Kukoo Kunuku, a 1957 Chevy bus with quirky illustrations, to really get the party started).
Since the island is only about 20 miles long, newlyweds can visit all of the major sightseeing spots in just one day. Your first stop: The Alto Vista Chapel, Aruba’s first Roman Catholic Church. Rebuilt in 1952, it now stands in the same location as the original, which was constructed by Domingo Silvestre in 1750.
On the Northern coast, the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins is a relic from the gold rush of the nineteenth century. Today, legend has it that if you find three rocks and place them one on top of the other, three of your wishes will come true.
Another noteworthy site is the Ayo Rock Formations, unusually shaped boulders that weigh several tons (look closely and you may spot a monkey.)
If you only had time to visit one site, I’d recommend the California Lighthouse. It’s the perfect perch to gaze at the island’s Western coastlines, rolling sand dunes and spectacular sunsets. It’s named after a U.S. ship that sunk nearby about two years prior to its construction in 1910.
Once you’ve explored the land, under-the-sea adventures await: Aruba offers 27 snorkeling sites based on different skill levels. Our favorite was the Antilla, a shipwreck submerged 60 feet under the ocean, just offshore of Malmok Beach. Jason and I spotted squirrelfish, parrotfish, and a moray eel beneath its murky depths. Aruba is also one of the few places in the world where you can try blokarting (land sailing) in addition to crowd-pleasing water sports like jet skiing, paddleboarding, surfing, and more (visit aruba-redsail.com for more info).
If you need a break from sun and fun, stroll through downtown Oranjestad, which has shopping centers, historic museums and vibrant art galleries. Although Aruba isn’t a duty-free port, tax is only 1.5 percent, so my fiancé got a great deal on Cuban cigars. You can also score Dutch cheese, Delftware pottery, jewelry and high-end bags from brands like Louis Vuitton for much, much less.
Culture
With over 90 nationalities, Aruba is more diverse than some of the other Caribbean islands. A former Dutch colony, Holland’s influence is pervasive throughout the island, from pastel-hued homes to the language to fried snacks like pestechi. Arubans speak four different languages: Dutch, English, Spanish, and Papiamento, which is the native language. The latter is a hybrid between African and European-based vocabulary. Two phrases to learn: “Mi ta stima bo” (I love you) and “Masha danki” (thank you very much).
Next: What to eat and when to visit Aruba ►
Cuisine
Aruba’s cuisine is just as multifaceted as its culture and history. Newlyweds can choose from Caribbean and vegetarian dishes to exotic creations and Italian, Mexican, and Creole fare. A must-visit is Papiamento Restaurant, a 175-year-old manor owned by the Ellis family. Diners are invited to tour the home before or after dinner, which contains precious Dutch antiques and an impressive wine cellar. Feast on authentic Aruban dishes in an intimate setting that feels as if it's a world away from the resorts.
Seafood lovers can get their fill of barracuda, grouper, snapper, mahi-mahi, and more. However, Jason and I are still dreaming about the Keshi Yena, which translates to “stuffed cheese.” It’s made by filling the leftover rind of an Edam or Gouda cheese with spiced meat, onion, green pepper, olives, capers, raisins and piccalilli—the flavor is unlike anything else we’ve ever tasted.
Wash it down with a potent Aruba Ariba cocktail, which was invented in the early ‘60s. It features coecoei (local liquor), vodka, rum, crème de banana, grenadine, and fruit juice, topped with Grand Marnier. Or, try the local Balashi beer, the only beer in the world made from desalinized saltwater.
Events
Aruba hosts more than 50 island celebrations annually, including the Hi-Winds Windsurfing and Kitesurfing Tournament, an International Film Festival (first hosted by Richard Gere in 2010) and of course, Carnival, a two-month long affair kicking off at the start of the new year, with “jump ups” (street parties) and dazzling parades.
In November, I attended Aruba In Style, where designers, local celebrities and models come together to celebrate the best in island fashion. It’s truly an international event, featuring up-and-coming designers from Holland, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and more. This year, Ronchi de Cuba’s show was a standout for cocktail dresses that were just as spectacular as the runway setting—an Aruban mansion modeled after Versace’s. Gigliola Designs made me want to stock up on flowing, sexy caftans for my upcoming honeymoon. (Visit arubainstyle.com for more info.)
"Arubianas" resort wear and Caffe swimwear collection:
Cyrnansck's wedding design presentation at Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort:
The incredible fashions featured and the jet-set crowd in attendance not only secure Aruba's status as a hot honeymoon destination, but also show that it's about to become an even hotter place to visit in 2013. Initially, Jason and I were compelled to visit because of its romantic beaches—and trust us, they're worth all of the hype—but we found that the island has much more to offer couples than just that. Looking back on our experience, some of our favorite memories were the ones we didn't expect: zipping around the island in a kukoo kunuku bus, singing Latin songs and shaking maracas; receiving wedding advice from friendly Arubans, who told us about their own big day; and the feeling of calm that came over us when we snorkeled for the first time together, holding hands as we were surrounded by schools of fish. Will we ever return? Let's just say that we wouldn't be surprised if the return rate for visitors goes up just a tiny bit.