February - Aruba

My husband and I decided to go to Aruba for 2 nights on a whim in February.  There were several holidays (Family Day, Reading Week, Valentine’s Day and President’s Day), so all of the hotels were sold out, but there was an amazing last-minute deal on flights.  We booked a little villa online and decided to go for it! 

We could not have picked a better time to visit this beautiful island.  Not only were we walking distance to the main beach and hotel area in Palm Beach, but the villa had a beautiful pool and full facilities.  It was also the island’s Carnival celebration, which is such an amazing way to experience the local culture and effervescence.  We shared a cab with a lovely couple also on vacation down to the annual parade in Oranjestad and we danced in the streets as floats and the most elaborate costumes led the giant celebration.  

When we returned to our villa, we met a lovely couple (one was from Aruba, the other, Curacao) and asked them where we could go for some local cuisine.  They brought us to the popular Palm Beach Plaza which has shopping, restaurants and night clubs and we went to a restaurant called “the Queen’s”.  They had local favourites such as “pan bati”, sweet fried bread and delicious stews with plantains and rice.  After dinner, we walked around the shops and watched a fountain show in the middle of the square.  

We spent the remainder of our stay on the beach, it was such perfect, arid weather (it only rains a few times per year) and we had to apply the sunscreen liberally!  On our return, my husband bought me the most gorgeous ring at the airport jewelers – rose gold filled with diamonds and small hearts carved into the sides.  All in all, it was an amazing experience and definitely worth visiting, if only for 2 nights!