Radisson Aruba Resort And Casino: Review of a Trip

My husband and I loved this island and agreed that the Radisson Aruba was a terrific place to stay. The staff was very friendly and the grounds are beautiful! The room was a little smaller than I expected but it was very clean and comfortable and nicely decorated. The Island itself is very expensive, and although Aruba has its own currency, everything is charged in American dollars in and outside the hotel. Don't bother with hotel transfers, as cabs a readily available outside the airport for cheaper then the hotel shuttle service. If you want to lounge on the beach under a palapa you either have to get one before 7am or after 4 pm, but the beach staff will help you find a comfortable spot if you desire a shaded area and have missed out on the palapa. (Sunsets are gorgeous!)We walked the beach and found that the Radisson had the best thing going!

Everything was great, especially the service. The two pools were very nice and the beach was simply beautiful. The food was excellent at the Gilligan's however at the more expensive restaurant, "Sunset Grille"; the food was just above average, although the service was great. Food is generally very expensive, especially at the hotels. The hotel room was very nice, however the bathroom was a bit small and the shower and tub was too small. The ceiling in the bathroom shower/tub was too low. Generally, we had a very good experience at this hotel.

Although the hotel restaurants are great, they are pricey. If you desire to save money, especially on breakfast or lunch, there are a strip of restaurants across the street (walking distance). Try SALT and Peppers!!! Great inexpensive place with a very friendly staff and good food! We waited until our 3rd day and wished we had discovered this place right away!

Make sure you go downtown to the store and purchase drinks to put into a refrigerator that you can request from the front desk. Drinks can be expensive, 1 can of Coke is $1 and fountain drinks are $3. Also fountain drinks are not free refills in any restaurant. Another tip take the local bus into town it is only $2 round trip and comes every hour.

Rent a car to see the island. Worth the money if you make reservation over internet before trip. Amigo had best prices. Don't go all inclusive if you like variety of foods, but expect to pay average of $40/person per meal. Arubians speak 4 languages (expect friendly treatment); if they speak 2 they are foreigners working on the island (we found their treatment less than nice). Don't miss The Flying Fishbone restaurant if you value dining experience but don't mind prices (snapper was awesome!).