 Going to Aruba
"dar1965" <dar1965@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:1122563804.271313.58020@g47g2000cwa. ...
> I plan to go to Aruba this Fall, and I am looking for a quiet low rise
> resort right on the beach. I want a place that has a "swimable" beach
> in terms of waterfront, ocean bottom and wave activity, and offers
> great snorkling right at the resort.
>
> Based on the results of my search so far, the Amsterdam Manor Beach
> Resort looks appealing. Can anyone offer opinions of this resort or
> recommend an alternative that will meet my needs?
>
> Thanks.
>
I was in Aruba 2 years ago in July and stayed at the high-rise Renaissance
downtown. It has no beach out front - just a marina - so they take you by
boat to a private island 5 minutes away. I took a bus to the north end
where all of the other beachfront hotels were to go in a glass bottom boat.
The Amstrerdam Manor was my second choice if the Renaissance had not woprked
out, so I looked out for it on the ride north. It looks like a fairly nice
place, but the beach is across the main road. There are chairs and tiki
huts there, and it looked very nice. The only downside to it is that there
is not much else around it - just one reataurant. At the northern hotel
cluster, there are a variety of American fast food chains as well as better
restaurants and downtown at the Renaissance was an unlimited supply of bars
and reataurants (including the Carlos & Charlies that has been featured in
the news). The Amsterdam Manor is sort of in the middle with not much but
private homes and some open land around it. If I remember correctly, they
offered meals as well, but that only gives you 2 dining options to walk to.
Maybe more has been developed there since July, 2003. The bus was very
cheap and fairly regular (although un-airconditioned) and stopped right in
front so you can get to other places. If you are looking for a little
seclusion, it looked perfect. Some people probably would not like the noisy
streets around the Renaissance because the bars don't close until around 4
am.
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