As for buying cigars, the best (& only place I would buy cigars from) is in the main shopping mall. I believe it is the crystal something mall (with the casino upstairs). In the mall there is a movie theater. Across from the theater is the store (I think about 3 to 5 stores away form Scuba Aruba-a little store I love).
Enjoy! & Let me know if you did anything not on my list!!!
Bus:
KuKoo Kunucu (see picture)
I don't know how to spell it, but trust me, you will love it. Includes about 20 drinks (2 at each bar you visit) & Diner as well as a sunset drink at the lighthouse.http://www.arubaadventures.com/kukookunuku/
you should be able to book it at your hotel. Be advised, you will get toasted and probable end up buying a goofey hat or something (I did).
Also, there are about 3 or 4 jeep tours on the island. One is great & the others are ok. The great one goes by the name of "American Eagle Jeep Tours"... Well, they did, but I think they changed their name to Eagle Jeep or something. Be advised, this is a dirty day. In an open jeep, you will go OFF THE ROAD, where no man has gone before, completely around the entire island and see EVERYTHING. Including caves that were explored hundreds of years ago, beaches on the other side of the island, to the tops of mountains and see wild goats, I dove off of a cliff into the "natural pool". Includes lunch at the natural bridge.... This is one of the greatest tours. It takes all day (from about 9 am until 6 pm).
check out this web page for more info:http://hometown.aol.com/DRZEUS99/aruba.html
Try a dinner at the Pago Pago in the Wyndham resort. Combo of Asian & Caribbean food.
Also, Across from the Hyatt (just to the south) is a trio of restaurants that are pretty good and fairly inexpensive. & there is a cigar shack on the property too.
One of my favorite restaurants if the "French Steak House". It is an Argentinean restaurant and they are famous for their steaks. The house special is their most elaborate steak dinner (Churrasco steak), includes a bottle of wine, appetizer and desert for about $29.95 per person.
http://manchebo.com/steakhouse/
Believe it or not, this restaurant is located in a Best Western hotel (about 100 yards south of the Costa Linda "low-rise" hotel/resort)
Try a boat-ride/snorkel trip to the shipwrecks around the island. One thing this island has is tons of fish.
Shopping in town is fun. And, there is a harbor where you can go out on a head boat or charter. The water is always rough, but not too bad. The boats are built for it there.
I went on the Rainbow Runner:http://www.arubatourism.com/rainbowseekers/index.html
You can probably do better, but the captain is... "colorful" and real nice.
I think I was impressed with "FIRST LIGHT"
I may have tried "Lucky Star" before, too (with the kids).
If you charter, they will fill the boat with other people. It keeps the price down and you make new friends.
Also, they have this great Booze Cruise that goes out at night, serves dinner/drinks and lots of music. At the end of the night, they invite everyone to jump off the boat (using this rope thing to swing out). There are always a few adventurous people who try it, either adventurous or drunk. Either way, watching or doing is a trip. Hey, a few of the women do it too...
If you rent a car, be prepared, gas is about $25/gal. They will charge you about $6/quart. Also, this Island produces nothing. Everything is imported. So, a pint of orange juice will cost you around $2.00. But, the weather is always great. It never rains there. It is a desert.
And it is less than 300 miles from the equator. Bring and use sun block. (it cost too much to buy there)
Oh, there is gambeling too...
And, between the Costa Linda & the French Steakhouse, on the beach, I MEAN ON THE BEACH! there is a pirate ship converted into a restaurant. Great atmostphere. You eat outdoors, on deck, on the beach. & good food too. A bit pricey but not too bad.
Pago Pago-
no more deal meal.
The food is still delicious albeit pricey. There is a coupon in one of the visitor books for a free Scorpion drink (worth about $14) that is big enough for two to swim in, and feel the sting. Dress is casual dressy. Men usually wear dress pants or shorts with collared shirts / women wear casual/dressy dresses. This is due to the location which is in the Wyndam.
Salt and Pepper
Ate there upon arrival on Friday. Decent finger food fare. Not good for a full meal (would become pricey) but excellent for snacking an late night munchies.
fish and chips is an excellent little snack. The olive tampenade is wonderful but made for two or more.
Texas De Brazil
Still a great deal. Do not fill up on the awesome salad bar no matter how tempting, because you will be eating all night and no sense taking up valuable stomach real estate with filler food. Stay away from the sausage, it taste like a backyard hotdog and there are so many other choices this is an unnecessary space waster. Meal comes with garlic mashed potatoes worth slapping your mother for and sweet plantains. cost for two $120
Crabshack
Monday night is crab fest night! snow crab/soft-shell crab/king crab/stuffed crab and Maryland crab cakes. complete with salad and dessert. $29
Also features a pretty decent breakfast if you happen to be in town in the morning.
Marriott (food)
Excellent buffet breakfast everyday. $15 a head for all the breakfast you can eat. Including an omelets bar. On Sunday it goes till around 1pm and includes smoked salmon and is a little more money. They add a few bucks for the preserved fish.
They also have a buffet dinner (which we did not try) However there is no buffet dinner on Tuesday night in the restaurant, that is their "Caribbean night" which they hold outdoors. It is buffet style but more like a barbecue .
French Steakhouse
Still the best meal for the money...$29 each for a four course meal complete with coffee and a bottle of wine. Seafood crepe and the Argentine steak is the best. Located in the lobby area of the (??)
Driftwood.
Always a good seafood meal. Fresh catch of the day changes daily sometimes hourly if the captain comes in with a good catch. Try the Aruban style fish...very refreshing and different. Comes with vegetables and Pan bati, the islands version of cornbread...absolutely delicious.
Kuu Kuu Bus
Different owners now, but still a good ride for the money ($55 a head). A champagne sunset toast and dinner at some dignitaries house is included. Not the best meal I ever had, but considering you are headed for a night of debauchery it is a good idea to put something on your stomach and this fits that bill if nothing else. If you want to bring the party home the CD they sell is pretty good for the price. Very Island'y' though so if you don't like Caribbean music don't buy the CD.
Garafu (Cigar bar)
Wednesday night is Paul's night. The most charming 70 something year old piano player you ever wanted to meet. Has a very good ear and plays a lot of crowd inspired favorites. Go with an oldies song list to feed him throughout the night. Be prepared to maybe hum a few bars to get him started. Chances are he will only know a few, but he will play those well enough to make you cheer and will bluff his way through the ones he doesn't know well enough to make you laugh. A wonderfully relaxing and fun evening. bring your own cigars as theirs are a bit pricey to buy there.
Monday features a great saxophone player. Not as interactive as the piano man, but good solid music skill.
Friday night is martini night...complete with snacks and $5 martini's (which is the bars signature drink-they boast 30 kinds)
Excelsior casino
Has 5x the odds in craps. Also claims to have the highest pay out slot machines. Located in the Holiday Inn...
New Baby beach Rival.
Located on the way to the lighthouse. It is a turn around spot for the Kukukanuku bus. not much in the way of chairs and sunbathing opportunities as it is not well maintained. However like baby beach you can walk out about 100 yards and still be in waist deep water with little to no wave action. Nice place to just get wet and enjoy the water.
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