Amazing Aruba

As you know, I’m always ready to travel but there are certain trips that have a special place in my heart. One of those trips is the winter beach trip I try to take every year. Even though I love NYC, as the winter progresses, I look forward to escaping the city. Usually sometime during February or March when it feels like winter will never end I jet off to some place warm. It always boosts my spirits and is a good reminder of the weather we have to look forward to in just a few short months.

This year I was invited to Aruba, a country I’ve never been to, and I was thrilled that one of my closest girlfriends, Katie, would be joining me. Thanks to the generosity of the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino we boarded flights at JFK and were off to Aruba. Before going, I’d heard great things about the resort and once we arrived at the property we realized why! This property has it all, so many great restaurants, separate pools for adults and kids, a gorgeous beach, an ice cream stand (you know I love dessert) and a team that can arrange all kinds of fun activities and excursions.

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I have been to many tropical destinations but one thing that sets Aruba apart is the weather. Usually when I see a forecast for anything warmer than 85 degrees I get a bit worried that I will drown in my own sweat but that doesn’t happen in Aruba. The island has what feels like a constant breeze so although you are warm you aren’t ever hot. Katie and I kept discussing how rare this was and how amazing it was!!!

The Marriott hooked us up with a spacious room that had the most stunning ocean view. As we walked into the room we were greeted by a delicious snack platter and a local beer that were waiting for us. The snack platter was massive and we totally loved it.

Once we devoured the snack platter we quickly changed into swimwear and headed to the pool for some sun and a full lunch….and since it’s vacation cocktails!!

On our first full day at the resort we decided to venture out on a sunset catamaran. We went into it thinking it would be so relaxing and very serene. We learned this was more of a party catamaran and it was an absolute blast. The drinks were flowing, they played hit after hit on the speakers and everyone was dancing and laughing. Katie and I disembarked with tummy aches because our abs hurt from laughing so much which is always a good thing.

One of the great things about the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino is it’s perfect for every kind of traveler. We book the Crew in Aruba package and it was perfect for us. In addition to the room it included a private cabana at the pool, a San Nicolas Art Tour and a UTV tour. The San Nicolas Art Tour by @ArubaMural is really special since San Nicolas used to be a neglected part of Aruba but in the last few years with the help of some incredibly talented artisans it’s now a part of the island know for it’s art and culture.

Fun fact – did you know that Aruba is half desert? One thing we missed out on that I hope to try next time we visit is the dune bashing with De Palm Tours (@DePalmToursAruba) but since I had just had a baby I wasn’t allowed to go. I ran into several guests at the hotel that said this was one of the highlights of their trip.

The last day of our stay we spent in a cabana reserved for us at the adult pool. We didn’t bring kids with us on this trip but the hotel is super kid friendly. The adult pool is gorgeous if you want a bit less action and more of a glamorous setting.

As far as food is concerned we saved the best for last. On the last night we experienced Atardi’s toes-in-the-sand premium dining experience. The restaurant had a table set up in the sand close to where the tide was coming in. I already loved the food during our stay but this dinner exceeded all expectations. I’ll be honest during pregnancy and right after I usually lose my taste for fish. I was told I had to order the The macadamia crusted grouper – so I did. It was honestly the best fish I’ve ever tasted. I’m by no means a food photographer but I had to capture this meal.

The hotel made everything so seamless. We were able to discuss with the concierge before we arrived the activities that piqued our interest. They had a team member reach out to us before we left to make sure we had everything in order including the covid protocols. The hotel also offers complimentary covid testing to make departure and arrival in the States easier.

We were only away for three nights but we came home feeling so relaxed that it seemed like we were gone much longer. For Katie and I this was a great trip to celebrate our friendship. If you are looking for an easy getaway I couldn’t recommend Aruba enough. It’s a super short and direct flight from New York which is something we can all appreciate.

Amazing Aruba

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