Travel
Up Next
For those who have been following my blog over the years, my grandmother has always taken our entire family away for Christmas and sometimes even New Years. Over the past nine years we have cruised the entire Caribbean and Central America. We visited Aruba for a land vacation twice. Following my mother and grandmothers passing late last year, my father has continued the tradition. This past Christmas and New Years we cruised the Eastern and Western Caribbean aboard Celebrity Cruise Line's Sihouette.
For Christmas 2013 and the ringing in of the New Year 2014, my dad wanted to once again stay at an all-inclusive resort. Everyone says Aruba is the worst place to go for an all-inclusive vacation, but he pays so we do what he wants. In the past due to my grandmother's difficulty walking, we had chosen the Tamarijn All Inclusive and it was the perfect vacation. Last July our experience was not as good as it had been in the past. You can read my review about the trip at Our Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive Trip Report July 2012. It was time to look for a new resort for our family, keeping in mind that my dad wanted to stay at an all inclusive resort.
For Christmas we would never stay on Palm beach because it IS too crowded at that time. We saw it twice with our own eyes and that was enough. So off the list were- Occidental, Riu, Westin (which was ridiculously expensive anyway), and Holiday Inn.
That left the Renaissance, Manchebo, Divi, Tamarijn or Amsterdam Manor. Too many negatives with the Renaissance- Dad’s difficulty walking and not sure Dad or dh would have liked to have to take a boat to the beach- so that was out of the running.
Dad refuses to go back to the Tamarijn and when we booked our trip, they did not yet have pricing yet anyway. Given the choice between the Manchebo and Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort, we felt the Amsterdam Manor would be the best fit for our family.
Now that the Tamarijn has released their room rates for Christmas, two rooms there were only about $18 per person per day less expensive than staying all inclusive in a 2 bedroom penthouse suite and standard studio which we have reserved for our vacation at the Amsterdam Manor. No one can sleep with my brother because he snores so badly. This would have required at 3rd room at the Tamarijn. Given this factor, the Amsterdam Manor is much less expensive than 3 rooms at the Tamarijn, and we will have much more living space to spread out.
Speaking from experience and our many memorable dinners at Passions on the Beach, we already know the food will be MUCH better.
- Thinking About An All Inclusive Package In Aruba?
For high season, the Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa has just come out with a new 2014 Bed+Breakfast+Lunch Winter Escape starting at $645 a night, double occupancy for a guest room accommodation. I compared prices of the above for dates in April...
- A Multi-generational Vacation For The Whole Family
Thinking of the perfect place for a Christmas gathering? Why not Aruba? Ten years ago, 3 generations of our family living in 3 separate parts of the country, began spending Christmas and New Year's together on either cruises or in Aruba on a land...
- Radisson Aruba Vs. The Tamarijn All Inclusive
The Radisson is non-all inclusive & the Tamarijn is all inclusive If you are big drinkers Radisson drinks are $$$Tamarijn drinks are "free" (top shelf liquor is at least included in what you already paid) If you are big eaters Radisson make sure...
- Aruba All Inclusive With Kids?
Q. I am planning a visit to Aruba. My hotel choice is going to be based largely on what activities are available for teenages (ages 14-18). I am very interested in an all inclusive facililty. Your response would be greatly appreciated. A. Their swimming...
- Christmas & New Years At The Tamarijn
Our family of 10 had a wonderful Christmas and New Years at the Tamarijn Aruba topped off by a beautiful fireworks display accompanied by champagne at midnight on New Year's Eve on the beach between the Divi and Tamarijn. Christmas decorations at...
Travel
Christmas in Aruba 2013
For those who have been following my blog over the years, my grandmother has always taken our entire family away for Christmas and sometimes even New Years. Over the past nine years we have cruised the entire Caribbean and Central America. We visited Aruba for a land vacation twice. Following my mother and grandmothers passing late last year, my father has continued the tradition. This past Christmas and New Years we cruised the Eastern and Western Caribbean aboard Celebrity Cruise Line's Sihouette.
For Christmas 2013 and the ringing in of the New Year 2014, my dad wanted to once again stay at an all-inclusive resort. Everyone says Aruba is the worst place to go for an all-inclusive vacation, but he pays so we do what he wants. In the past due to my grandmother's difficulty walking, we had chosen the Tamarijn All Inclusive and it was the perfect vacation. Last July our experience was not as good as it had been in the past. You can read my review about the trip at Our Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive Trip Report July 2012. It was time to look for a new resort for our family, keeping in mind that my dad wanted to stay at an all inclusive resort.
For Christmas we would never stay on Palm beach because it IS too crowded at that time. We saw it twice with our own eyes and that was enough. So off the list were- Occidental, Riu, Westin (which was ridiculously expensive anyway), and Holiday Inn.
That left the Renaissance, Manchebo, Divi, Tamarijn or Amsterdam Manor. Too many negatives with the Renaissance- Dad’s difficulty walking and not sure Dad or dh would have liked to have to take a boat to the beach- so that was out of the running.
Now that the Tamarijn has released their room rates for Christmas, two rooms there were only about $18 per person per day less expensive than staying all inclusive in a 2 bedroom penthouse suite and standard studio which we have reserved for our vacation at the Amsterdam Manor. No one can sleep with my brother because he snores so badly. This would have required at 3rd room at the Tamarijn. Given this factor, the Amsterdam Manor is much less expensive than 3 rooms at the Tamarijn, and we will have much more living space to spread out.
Speaking from experience and our many memorable dinners at Passions on the Beach, we already know the food will be MUCH better.
- Thinking About An All Inclusive Package In Aruba?
For high season, the Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa has just come out with a new 2014 Bed+Breakfast+Lunch Winter Escape starting at $645 a night, double occupancy for a guest room accommodation. I compared prices of the above for dates in April...
- A Multi-generational Vacation For The Whole Family
Thinking of the perfect place for a Christmas gathering? Why not Aruba? Ten years ago, 3 generations of our family living in 3 separate parts of the country, began spending Christmas and New Year's together on either cruises or in Aruba on a land...
- Radisson Aruba Vs. The Tamarijn All Inclusive
The Radisson is non-all inclusive & the Tamarijn is all inclusive If you are big drinkers Radisson drinks are $$$Tamarijn drinks are "free" (top shelf liquor is at least included in what you already paid) If you are big eaters Radisson make sure...
- Aruba All Inclusive With Kids?
Q. I am planning a visit to Aruba. My hotel choice is going to be based largely on what activities are available for teenages (ages 14-18). I am very interested in an all inclusive facililty. Your response would be greatly appreciated. A. Their swimming...
- Christmas & New Years At The Tamarijn
Our family of 10 had a wonderful Christmas and New Years at the Tamarijn Aruba topped off by a beautiful fireworks display accompanied by champagne at midnight on New Year's Eve on the beach between the Divi and Tamarijn. Christmas decorations at...