Tour Vs Taxi to beach

[familycruzinnewbie]

Hi, we are a family of 4, kids will be 11 and 14 on our cruise. We are on the Carnival Breeze April 2014 to Grand Turk, La Romana, Curacao and Aruba. Our stay in Aruba is from 8am-4pm. I'm trying to figure out our options and costs for the ports. For Aruba, I was thinking of either taking a taxi to a nearby beach or taking a tour with Sonny Binns. Though I am open to other suggestions. When we booked the cruise, it was supposed to go to 4 different ports, so I hadn't really done much homework on what to do. Though I know a lot of people really want to go to Aruba. Is there something special that we are supposed to be doing there or is it just that is a port not on many cruises. Thanks

[cb at sea]

You do NOT need a tour to go to the beach! Just grab a cab...and there are public buses, too!

Beaches seldom require a guide or excursion! Get a guidebook at your library, and see what each of your ports has to offer!

 

Aruba is a true desert island....very flat....little rain, so don't expect tropical lushness! Only in cultivated areas will you find the "tropical" plants that you might expect!

 

There are shops, restaurants, and casinos within easy walking distance of the ship!!

[alfreckly]

We just returned last week (on Carnival Freedom) for the same cruise you are taking. The ports were amazing! The beaches are unbelievable in Aruba so you can't go wrong with spending the day at one. However, the sights around the natural bridge are amazing and worth a see. The island is mainly a desert with more rocks and cactus I have ever seen, being from the southeast. We tried to book Sonny Binn but he was full, so our group tried a tour with a taxi we found. It was fantastic. I posted our driver's info on a different thread if interested. Grand Turk is definitely a beach day. There is not much to the island and the beach is the best bet. The bar along the beach right next to Margaritaville is much cheaper and the wifi reception is much better! La Romana we also took a cab tour with a driver named, Andres. He took us around to see the highlights and then to a beach next the Beaches resort. There is nothing within walking distance of that port. In Curacao, we did the dolphin academy which was very expensive but worth it! Mambo beach was highly recommended in Curacao. The town is beautiful and you can walk there from the port. Have a wonderful vacation!!

[familycruzinnewbie]

Thanks. I know I don't need an excursion for just the beach, I was just trying to decide if seeing the rest of the island was something I should do. We have Curacao the day before and if I do the East island tour with them then I don't know if the kiddos will be up for another tour or not. I know of the natural bridges in Aruba but also that the main one people went to look at collapsed 8 years ago. With the 4 ports, 4 days in a row I am trying to figure out a good balance of activities. Grand Turk is in the morning so probably just Margaritaville. If we get of the boat in the DR it will be for a Saona Island excursion , which would be a long day. If we stay put, then I don't mind a longer activity in Curaco or Aruba. Curaco is 2pm-11pm, so it's either the 3 hr east island tour or take an expensive taxi to a west side beach.

[Arubalisa]

Culture, geography, climate, topography etc. are identical between Curacao and Aruba.

 

Aruba has much better beaches than Curacao. Aruba beaches are powder white sand whereas Curacao beaches are coarse coral where watershoes are required.

 

If you are considering snorkeling, then Curacao is a better option over Aruba.

 

Aruba is a small island and if need be, you can tour for two hours and spend the rest of the time on the beach.

 

Curacao is much bigger so more to see.

[Brier Rabbit]

How do we find someone to do a two hour Island tour and them drop us at the beach? Most drivers/tour guides want to do more than the two hour tour.

[bup1224]

I would not say that the beaches in Aruba are better - more commercialized that Curacao. The West End beaches in Curacao were the best I have been to in the Caribbean - the water was so clear in Curacao that we did not need snorkling equip. to see fish, etc.

[Arubalisa]

Beach sand in Aruba is better than Curacao, but Curacao water is clearer. :)

[Arubalisa]

How do we find someone to do a two hour Island tour and them drop us at the beach? Most drivers/tour guides want to do more than the two hour tour.

Have you contacted Bully for a tour? bullytaxi79@hotmail.com

Bullys Taxi Tour

Questions on Bully Tours in Aruba??

[cheer407]

Just got home today from the Breeze with same itinerary. We booked the tour with Sonny & he was GREAT. So informative and fun! My kids weren't thrilled with a tour at first but it ended up being one of their favorite ports.

[Brier Rabbit]

Thank you very much Arubalisa. Bully was available and was happy to do a 9 AM two hour island tour for us with the beach drop off so we could have the afternoon to relax in the sand.

I have toured with Bully before and am confident that he will do an excellent job! When we were in Aruba before, we didn't get to spend any time on the beach. Do you think that Eagle Beach might be best for two seniors that really don't require too much activity?

[familycruzinnewbie]

I'm actually leaning towards getting a bus or taxi to Eagle Beach or Palm Beach. It seems the availability of chairs/washrooms can be hit and miss. Is there some where near the port or the beach that would be good to pick up some drinks/snacks for the beach.

 

Cheer407 what did your kids like/dislike about Sonny's tour?

Edited July 16, 2013 by familycruzinnewbie

[Arubalisa]

Thank you very much Arubalisa. Bully was available and was happy to do a 9 AM two hour island tour for us with the beach drop off so we could have the afternoon to relax in the sand.

I have toured with Bully before and am confident that he will do an excellent job! When we were in Aruba before, we didn't get to spend any time on the beach. Do you think that Eagle Beach might be best for two seniors that really don't require too much activity?

You are very welcome. :) Yes, Eagle Beach is quiet and tranquil. Bully will know where to drop you off. I am happy to hear that he was available for your 2 hour tour.

 

I'm actually leaning towards getting a bus or taxi to Eagle Beach or Palm Beach. It seems the availability of chairs/washrooms can be hit and miss.

There are plenty of vendors renting chaises and umbrellas along Palm Beach. You can use the restroom at any number of resorts along Palm Beach. There are only 1 or 2 vendors on Eagle Beach.

 

Is there some where near the port or the beach that would be good to pick up some drinks/snacks for the beach.

1. You can take a bus to the Eagle Beach and walk the quarter mile inland from the Amsterdam Manor to the supermarket.

 

2. You could take a taxi to the supermarket and

 

a. have the driver wait and take you to Eagle Beach or Palm Beach

 

b. have the supermarket call you a taxi when you are finished and then take you on to Palm or Eagle Beaches.

 

3. You could take the bus or taxi to Palm Beach and do your shopping at one of the mini-markets within the resorts. All resorts have sundry type shops where you can buy soda and snacks.

 

Overall, your kids will be happier with the "activity" along Palm Beach.

 

On Palm Beach if you take the taxi to the entrance to De Palm Pier you can just take that walkway out to the beach. Turn right and there are two vendors there. There is also a restroom close by, though I last time I was there you had to pay about 50 cents to use it.

 

If you wanted to go directly to Palm Beach and save yourself the hassle and work of going food/snack shopping, there is an affordable Grill at the end of De Palm Pier. It will be steps from where you will be situated with the chaises from the vendors.

 

If your kids are anything like mine, dd was thrilled with their gouda grilled cheese on French bread for $4. Hot dogs are $5. They also have other goodies like mozzarella sticks, onion rings, French fries etc. for $5 or less.

[Arubalisa]

2. You could take a taxi to the supermarket and

a. have the driver wait and take you to Eagle Beach or Palm Beach

:o I forgot to add, that there is a charge of $3 per 5 minutes of waiting.

[familycruzinnewbie]

Thanks for the suggestions, we might just bring water/soda with us and pick up a snack at the beach vendors. I'm leaning towards Palm Beach too, there are so many varying reports where one person paid $5 for their chair and another $15. I'm guessing you can leave your chairs to go for a walk/swimming without someone trying to take it over.

[debshomespun]

Thanks for the suggestions, we might just bring water/soda with us and pick up a snack at the beach vendors. I'm leaning towards Palm Beach too, there are so many varying reports where one person paid $5 for their chair and another $15. I'm guessing you can leave your chairs to go for a walk/swimming without someone trying to take it over.

 

Aruba beaches are fantastic! You should check with several of the vendors for their chair rental price. They will charge different amounts. We have never had a problem with leaving our chairs, w/towels, shoes and a bag with our sunscreen in. We always take along our camera and money (we use a water wallet to keep some cash, our seapass cards, drivers license) when we take a walk along the beach. As for when we go in the water, I will put our camera in the bottom of the bag, and DH keeps the water wallet in his pocket. We also tend to keep an eye on our chairs, just in case. The kids should love Palm beach. Bring some extra cash for some of the activities they may want to do. They will have bananna boat rides, and other activities like that, plus you may want to indulge in an adult beverage or 2 while at the beach!

[CruiseHappy14]

I have a question about the buses to the beach. Do they have a special route or can just ask them to stop somewhere? What about getting back? Sorry if this sounds a little stupid but I have never taken a bus anywhere in my life! Thank you

[Hatteras51]

The buses follow specific routes, but you can tell the bus driver that you want to get off at one of the beaches, like Eagle Beach or Palm Beach, and he will drop you off there. Just make sure you get on the bus to the far left (I believe it is the #10). When you are ready to return, you just walk to bus stop (easy to see in Palm Beach) and in Eagle Beach, they are grassy areas with places for the bus to pull off, and they will pick you up. Very easy to do, and safe.

[familycruzinnewbie]

Bumping for me. Leaving in 3 weeks.