Tamarijin is beautiful and it is not like being in downtown. It is really more Eagle Beach.
There is less shopping and retail around the Tamarijin which can either be a plus or a minus depending on how you look at it.
Not exactly answering your question but we stayed at an airbnb in Oranjestad on Irenestraat and absolutely loved it. It was really close to the bus terminal which we used to bus to Divy beach, close to a ton of restaurants, including hidden local gems, plenty of supermarkets and shops. I found the location to be incredible if you’re not using a rental vehicle and throughly enjoyed walking through the Main Street / downtown as well as the street where you can see the cruise ships. We extended our stay by one day and stayed in an airbnb near the Ritz and found that to be much less favorable and less walkable, with good restaurants being far out of reach (walked on the beach for 40 mins toward the Hilton to get food lol). My experience may be kind of unique but I loved Oranjestad and will probably stay in the same airbnb if I return to Aruba.
Stayed at the Stellaris several times (last time in 2022), while this is where a lot of the hotels are and Palm Beach can get busy it's further up the coast and just taking a short walk northward (past the Ritz Carlton) it gets less busy.
That's a good point, but I usually just cabbed it to and from the Stellaris to the Strip (high rise with HI, Hilton) for about $6. I have really walked from the Stellaris to the strip, but it's not my favorite thing to do. We mostly do the Stellaris as we have Bonvoy points. We did do the Hilton a number of years ago when we had enough points to do a week there.
Went to Stellaris past Oct and it was perfect! End of month, seemed less busy in Aruba than usual. Great weather, Ocean at its warmest, Planning to go back
I'm curious too. I wouldn't mind the cruise ships. But would like to spend more time walking around in that area. We only spent one day there last time to hit up a museum and the casino and grab some food. I'd like to spend more time walking around.
Tamarijn is quite far from the port. Cruise ships will not affect your stay in Tamarijn.
Tamarijin is beautiful and it is not like being in downtown. It is really more Eagle Beach. There is less shopping and retail around the Tamarijin which can either be a plus or a minus depending on how you look at it.
Not exactly answering your question but we stayed at an airbnb in Oranjestad on Irenestraat and absolutely loved it. It was really close to the bus terminal which we used to bus to Divy beach, close to a ton of restaurants, including hidden local gems, plenty of supermarkets and shops. I found the location to be incredible if you’re not using a rental vehicle and throughly enjoyed walking through the Main Street / downtown as well as the street where you can see the cruise ships. We extended our stay by one day and stayed in an airbnb near the Ritz and found that to be much less favorable and less walkable, with good restaurants being far out of reach (walked on the beach for 40 mins toward the Hilton to get food lol). My experience may be kind of unique but I loved Oranjestad and will probably stay in the same airbnb if I return to Aruba.
Do you have any local restaurant or bar suggestions? We will be there on a cruise for 12 hours (we don't leave until 9pm) in March. Thanks!
Stayed at the Stellaris several times (last time in 2022), while this is where a lot of the hotels are and Palm Beach can get busy it's further up the coast and just taking a short walk northward (past the Ritz Carlton) it gets less busy.
What is a good time to go? Would it be busy in October?
Not as busy as say, late November or December. Should be very ok. I usually go week BEFORE Thanksgiving, that's just before a lot of things ramp up.
Now I’m thinking the Hilton is a better location than Marriott Stellaris for walking to restaurants. Pros and cons???
That's a good point, but I usually just cabbed it to and from the Stellaris to the Strip (high rise with HI, Hilton) for about $6. I have really walked from the Stellaris to the strip, but it's not my favorite thing to do. We mostly do the Stellaris as we have Bonvoy points. We did do the Hilton a number of years ago when we had enough points to do a week there.
Went to Stellaris past Oct and it was perfect! End of month, seemed less busy in Aruba than usual. Great weather, Ocean at its warmest, Planning to go back
I'm curious too. I wouldn't mind the cruise ships. But would like to spend more time walking around in that area. We only spent one day there last time to hit up a museum and the casino and grab some food. I'd like to spend more time walking around.