Aruba

Barcelo Aruba: One Happy Island.

Day 1: Arrival – A Masterclass in Efficient Welcomes

Swift and Smooth: Aruba's Airport Experience

Your Aruba story begins the moment you disembark from the plane. Customs is a breeze; the island has streamlined international arrivals to an art form. Before you know it, you're out in the embrace of Aruba, waiting for your luggage and breathing in the island air.

Tip-Top Transfers: The Drive to the Resort

Taxis are plentiful, but your pre-booked private transfer is already there, waiting to whisk you away. You're glad for this little luxury as the vehicle becomes your first sanctuary on the island.

Check-In at Barcelo: A Study in Contrast

View from our room.

Despite its shortcomings in facilities, Barcelo offers the quintessential beachfront that has you dismissing any misgivings. Your room is your haven but with Aruba itself beckoning, you're hardly going to stay indoors. But maybe on a return trip, you’ll upgrade your stay to a more luxe alternative like the Ritz or Riu.

Day 2: A Palette of Pleasures

Floating on Tranquility: The Morning Ocean Experience

You grab a raft, one of many the resort offers, and drift into the calm, see-through waters of the ocean. Floating there, the outside world fades away, leaving just you, the sun, and the whispering waves.

Local Haunts: The Over-Water Bar

By noon, you're sauntering half a mile down the beach to De Palm Pier, an over-water bar-restaurant, the kind of place where the locals hang out. You dig into ceviche, conch fritters, and calamari, washing it down with the chill of Balashi beers, all while soaking up the sun in your swimwear.

After-Dark Aruba: A Piano Bar Experience

As darkness falls, you're drawn to The Sopranos Piano Bar across the street from your resort. It’s a different side of Aruba—a symphony in every key stroke, encapsulating the island’s versatile character. Tourists from all over the world sway in tipsy unison to the sounds of popular tunes. It’s familiar and foreign all at once.

Day 3: Excursion Excitement

The Unbeaten Path: The UTV Tour and An Impromptu Swim

If you do only one thing in Aruba, this must be it. A half-day UTV tour makes stops at a petting zoo, historic church, the Bushiribana Goldmill Ruins, a standalone food truck where we snagged chips and beers, and a natural bridge. But the real magic happened when we took a detour, led by Michael's heat-inspired spontaneity—his impulsive but utterly delightful decision to stop at a cove reserved only for the locals. Overheating and keen for a dip, he broke ranks and led the group to one of Aruba's best-kept secrets—a secluded beach that wasn't even part of the day's plan. And just like that, what was unscheduled became unforgettable, turning the cove into a group oasis of laughter and refreshment. It becomes the tour's cherished memory scribbled in the margins of the day's planned activities.

Culinary Adventures: Madame Janette

Your evening closes with a visit to Madame Janette's, about a 5 minute taxi ride off-resort. The menu, self-titled "The Book of Culinary Pleasure," promises a seafood gastronomic journey that does not disappoint. It feels like a fitting end to a day of unexpected treasures.

Day 4: Sailing Into the Sunset

Catamaran Magic: More Than Just a Sunset Tour

You opt for a second excursion—a catamaran sunset tour. It isn't overcrowded, setting the perfect stage for a romantic sunset. Full bar service and appetizers feel like cherries atop this already perfect day, adding flavor to the natural beauty unfolding before you.

Day 5: Farewell, For Now

Last Dip and Final Sips

Before you know it, it’s time to say farewell. But not before one last dip in the ocean, one last float, and one last Balashi beer at Barcelo’s 4-seat beach-front bar.

Leaving a Piece of Your Heart in Aruba

The airport that once welcomed you now bids you goodbye. But as you take off, you know you’re leaving a piece of your heart in Aruba, and you’re carrying a piece of Aruba in your heart.