Aruba holidays

Lots of people come to Aruba solely for the beaches. After all, textbook Caribbean white sands and azure waters are par for the course here. The best bit is, all the beaches are public, so you get an access-all-areas pass. One word you’ll learn by heart by the end of your holiday is ‘palapas’ – these thatched parasols are the trademarks of the island’s biggest beaches.

When it comes to popularity, Palm Beach comes out on top. This slice of white sand is hugged by luxury hotels, seafood restaurants and beach bars, so it’s got a great atmosphere. Locals often head here for the day, too, so there’s a good mix of visitors.

You won’t find sunbeds or parasols on Arashi Beach, let alone beach bars or restaurants. And, thanks to its complete lack of facilities, this ribbon of sand on the northern coast tends to be left well alone. It’s easy to get to, as well – less than a 10-minute drive from Palm Beach.

There’s plenty of shoestring shopping to be had in Aruba. Head to the Port of Call Market Place opposite Oranjestad’s main bus station to browse stalls full of wind chimes, souvenir t-shirts, beach bags and hand-made jewellery. You’ll find a similar selection of items in the stalls on Palm Beach Road, near the Hard Rock Café.

The shops on Caya G F Betico Croes in Oranjestad bridge the gap between budget-busting and cheap-as-chips. You’ll find high street fashion stores, like Mango, here. In Palm Beach there are some reasonably-priced gift shops around The Village Mall. On the shelves, you’ll find picture frames, statement wine bottle holders and candle sticks. The Divi district in Eagle Beach, meanwhile, boasts a couple of good beachwear stores.

If you’re splashing out, head for the Renaissance Mall in Oranjestad. This glossy complex is packed with big names like Ralph Lauren, Cartier and Louis Vuitton, as well as expensive jewellery shops where earrings and pearls ring through the tills at thousands of dollars. Paseo Harencia Mall in Palm Beach offers a similar calibre of jewellery shop, including a Pandora store.

Mother nature provides the entertainment on Palm Beach, in the form of a sunset. The beach bars on De Palm Pier and Pelican Pier offer front-row seats to dusk. Later, some of the hotels on Palm Beach set up restaurants on the sand, to offer barefoot dining experiences. You don’t have to be a hotel guest to book a table, either. If you’d rather watch a movie than the sun, there’s a decent-sized English-language cinema in the Renaissance Shopping Centre in Oranjestad, which shows all the latest Hollywood blockbusters.

Downtown Oranjestad is great for sundown dancing – you’ll find everything from salsa dens to merengue bars lining the streets. Then there’s the Renaissance Hotel, which boasts Aruba’s only 24-hour casino, the Crystal Casino, as well as a swanky show lounge where feather headdresses and sequins collide in Moulin Rouge-style performances. For a no-holds-barred night out, hop on Palm Beach’s party bus. It’ll pick you up from your hotel and take your bar hopping. Shots are usually included in the ticket price.

Seafood is served up left, right and centre in Aruba. Coconut shrimp is a regular on menus. It’s made by dipping king prawns in coconut batter before frying. Mahi mahi and red snapper are also familiar faces. Top billing, however, goes to the lobster dishes. Take your pick from broiled tails, thermidor or steamed live-lobster.

Thanks to Aruba’s proximity to South America, good steaks are easy to come by in Aruba. Argentine fillet mignon is served up with a sauce or alongside juicy shrimp as part of a surf and turf. Palm Beach is also the proud parent of some churrascaria-style restaurants, where fillet mignon plays second fiddle to other skewers of flame-grilled meat, like Brazilian sausages, lamb and the top sirloin dish, picanha.

Aruba’s version of French bouillabaisse consists of fish fillets, salted beef and juicy prawns, which are all seasoned with lashings of basil to make a warming stew. It’s ladled out at local celebrations, and is best served with thick slices of bread.

Because Aruba attracts a lot of American holidaymakers, you’ll find a lot of USA-style restaurants. These joints specialise in dishes like original-recipe baby back ribs, Buffallo chicken wings, and barbecue pulled pork. A lot of them have all-you-can eat theme nights, too.

You can’t leave the island without ordering an ice-cold glass of ponche crema. Made from egg yolk, nutmeg and rum, this smooth, creamy cocktail is a staple at local celebrations. It’s surprisingly refreshing, so it’s great on a hot day.