I posted this on Amy's website and just wanted to inform first timers. When going to Aruba sit on the left side of the airplane. You get the best view of the island. The plane passed the California lighthouse, then passes the low rise hotels and then touches down at the other end.

Thank you for the advice!! With only 22 days to go 'til our first trip to Aruba, I am poring over these bb messages, and appreciate everyone's help!

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Don't you know it, Nick! I have known this little secret for my entire life and I was wondering why I don't see this piece of advice more widely spread. The view on approach is beyond compare (and this from someone that hasn't seen that view in 34 years).

You better believe I knew to reserve a window seat on the left side of the aircraft for my next flight down!

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Once in a while you can get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.

There was a mix up with my seat this year and I was on the right side, aisle seat... needless to say, I was straining my neck and almost on the lap of the guy across the aisle! No matter how many times I've seen the view, I want to see it again.. It's the first introduction to the fun that lies ahead, and the panoramic view is awesome!

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But a couple of times they've fooled me......the wind was different and on a couple of trips we have flown around the island from the rough side instead and the best side to be on would have been the right side. But that's happened only a couple of times....the left side is still your best bet!

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~Amy~®
19th trip to Aruba: April 11-19, 2009
20th trip to Aruba: Sept. 17-Oct. 4, 2009

Just checked my tickets - and I'm on the right side of the 757. Oh well - if the plane is not full we can probably switch at some point!

The same thing happend to us as Amy. In April and Sept 04 we came in from the opposite way.............making the approach over natural bridge and landing on runyway having the terminal to our right and depalm island to our left!

Another time that we landed, or almost landed, the plane actually touched down and then swooped right back up, made huge circle and came in again and landed. The pilot explained that there was debris on the runway....maybe a goat? It was a bit unnerving.

Maybe in yada yada we should start a thread "flights from hell".

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I know this is off topic, but speaking of goats ~ I was getting out of the car a couple weeks ago and to my surprise, there were two goats (looked like papa and baby) that came from behind Casa Del Mar and were walking down the sidewalk in front of me. At each window, they'd stop and look at themselves... I was sure the next stop for them would be the lobby of CDM. Everyone came out and started taking pictures... then the concierge came out and shooed them away!

Shortly thereafter, I went back to the beach and heard a commotion. Sure enough, there were baby and pop who now decided to have an afternoon on the beach! Unfortunately, a dog who we all adopted and who spent the days with us, decided the beach wasn't big enough for the goats and her, and began barking, running and chasing pop and son into the bushes around ABC. Some people were laughing, some were screaming, and cameras were going off left and right.

Finally, after much hard work, the pool staff and security locked the two infiltrators in the pool house until nightfall. I stood on my balcony as one by one they put the goats in laundry carts... baaing away, and transported them (I hope) to a nearby farm. It was a real happening!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Goats in laundry carts. That must have been a sight

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It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere

hahahaha now that is funny elaine!
do goat go baaabaaabaaa or bleet bleet?

in 1980 i was hitchhiking in bonaire and got caught in a stampede of goats.
there were millions of them..................well maybe 5.

looking back it was funny, but at the time i was scared. i was bitten and poked by them. also head butted. but i held onto my nice piece of lladro that i picked up in town.


thank goodness a kind driver picked me up.

Andrea.....never let go of the Lladro I love it

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It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere

Trust me Andrea, it was baaaaaaaaaaaa, and loud!! As soon as I heard it, I ran out and kept screaming..."don't hurt them, don't hurt them!" The guys putting them in the carts looked at me like I was some kind of moron, especially after I was trying to explain to them that this was a team and couldn't be separated!!! lol

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Did you ever see them again? I hope they didn't separate them

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It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere

No Jackie ~ I didn't!

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Sitting on the left side of the plane is the best unless you are a fearful flyer, like myself. I'll never forget 7 years ago on our first trip to Aruba. While sitting on the left side of the plane, it banked left and the wing looked like it was going into the water as we were just about to land. I was terrified. I'll never forget the two young kids seated behind us and one said "dude! look! were gonna go into the water". I started reaching under seat for life jacket as my huband laughed. I think of that everytime while landing in Aruba. I'm a tiny bit better now at flying.....hey, it's worth it to go to Aruba ...29 more sleeps!

It figures - my seats are on the right. But I will be straining all the way in - I love the view. St Martin is another great flight approach - you think you're gonna land right on the beach!

YEs - St. Martin has the lowest approach in the world.