First trip to the island!

[Valhalla]

My wife and I are going to be going to Aruba for the first time here in a few weeks... we're so excited... and have so many questions! I've been reading almost every post looking and getting info.

Maybe I've overlooked it, but I haven't seen anything about internet service. Is it available? Wireless?

We're staying at the Riu Palace.

Thanks in advance!

SP

[phillyboater]

Following is a link to WIFI hotspots on Aruba. A few are free, but most are at $35 per week. Not sure what the cost is at the RIU.

Welcome to the board and enjoy your trip. I can almost bet that it will not be your last trip to Aruba.
Wi-Fi Hotspot

[Valhalla]

Thanks for the info!

Cell phone service? We have a son going on a high school band trip to Fl and we would like to stay in touch with him off and on. I'm thinking that we could Skype him from a laptop to a cell phone using Skype International rates. Anyone try or do this?

SP

[ArubaMary]

Originally Posted by Valhalla

Thanks for the info!

Cell phone service? We have a son going on a high school band trip to Fl and we would like to stay in touch with him off and on. I'm thinking that we could Skype him from a laptop to a cell phone using Skype International rates. Anyone try or do this?

SP

I buy a Setar WiFi card $70 for the month, and I also use SKYPE with my laptop. I call cell phones often. The connection isn't always perfect but it works for me.

[Valhalla]

Okay, maybe stupid question.... what about drinking water?

SP

[charlieh]

Originally Posted by Valhalla

Okay, maybe stupid question.... what about drinking water?

SP

Hey I know this one and I've never been. Read the thread about what you like about Aruba and drinking water is mentioned a lot. Apparently it is quite good. I read there is a very big desalination plant that turns out very good drinking water.

[Elaine S]

The water's wonderful -clean, pure, tasty and safe as can be!

Skype's the best.. I use it the entire month I'm on the island, and my last week in Aruba my daughter was hospitalized here at home. I used Skype to call her cell phone many times a day for many days, and it was pefect and cheap.

I also use Skype here at home to call an Aruban cell number... again, perfect and cheap.

[coconut]

We came down in January. Sadly, we are flying out tomorrow. I highly recommend you contact, Mr. Charles Croes from www.fastphonearuba.com. He delivered a cell phone and internet modem the first week we arrived. I did not have to worry about wi-fi spots. The equipment he provided worked anywhere on the Island. The cell charges to call the US, were alot cheaper than, had I used my own cell. 1.99 for Verizon and .23 for the Aruba Cell. Everyone running to find wi-fi hotspots. I sat comfortably on the patio. Search this site, and any other you may know of. Charles is a frequent contributor here. He is a true gentleman, and also, knows alot of hidden gems about the island. Don't do anything until you call him, or contact him online. You cannot go wrong. A pleasure doing business with him.

The desal plant uses an RO system. (Reverse Osmosis). RO systems are used to purify water, for Dialysis Patients. The water is excellent. Fear Not. Don't buy bottled water (Awa) on the Island. You will find that it was bottled in Aruba.

[phillyboater]

We buy several bottles of water and refill frequently. It is necessary to carry some water with you especially when exploring.

[Valhalla]

Thanks for all the input everyone; we're really looking forward to it.

Won't really matter since reservations are already made, but has anyone stayed at the Riu Palace?

SP

[gumbo al]

We were at the RIU last night donating to their Casino.A lot of people sitting around the lobby using laptops so I assume there's a wireless connection available. water's great, both for drinking and swimming. Al

[rdharles]

Yup, you can get free wifi in the lobby and just outside the lobby facing the ocean (but you don't get quite as good a connection and will lose it at times). You have to pay anywhere else on the property, including the rooms.

[Valhalla]

So what's the traffic like? Is it a hassle?

SP

[gumbo al]

Conjested at times in the hotel areas but you get used to it.Bumper to bumper through downtown during the day all day. For the most,I find the Arubans are good at letting people feed in from side streets or making turns in conjested areas. Most streets are on the narrow side. drive and get lost.It's great way to see the island.Sooner or later you'll hit the ocean and orient yourself. Last year We put 1500 mm on the car in the 5 weeks we were here. Al

[Valhalla]

Unfortunately our week came to an end and we had to come home, but we had a blast!

We rented a phone from Charles at Fast Phone Aruba and had no issues at all. Charles delivered the phone to the hotel after we arrived and all we had to do was leave it at the desk when we checked out. He made it as easy as could be.

We also decided to rent a car so we could see some of the sights away from the hotel. We used Value Car Rental and had very good service picking us up and delivering us to the airport.

We had friends coming down with us, but on a flight that was supposed to arrive a half hour later. We arranged with Value to pick us up outside the terminal at a certain time based on their arrival, but our friends' flight was delayed by over an hour. We finally hooked up and walked outside fully expecting no one to be waiting that long for us to come out, but he was there still!

We stayed at the Riu Palace. The service and accommodations were top notch. The hut situation down at the beach was interesting to say the least. The closer you wanted to be to the ocean and have a hut... the earlier you had to get up! It gave me the idea for a reality tv show... "Hut Wars". I can hear it now... "You know, if they think they're going to get that same hut tomorrow, they are going to have to step it up a bit."

Their Coke tastes alot better than what we have here in the States I thought.

The input from people and different threads here on the forum made the trip great. Neither my wife or I could think of anything that we wished we would have brought or should have left behind.

Thanks everyone! Our trip was fantastic; can't wait to go back!

SP

[Elaine S]

valhalla.... welcome home, and I'm so glad you had a fun time.

The hut wars would make a great movie!!

They were doing some inhouse filming at ABC for an inhouse channel, and every time I saw the movers and shakers, I would continually tell them to have their cameras on the beach at 3AM for realtiy TV... bodies on lounges snoring away, patiently praying for 6 AM to claim ownership of that hut for the day... I guess that wasn't a good advertisement for the Club 'cause it never happened!! lol

Funny... I don't think the Coke in Aruba tastes as good as ours back home, and often, I have a hard time finding the Diet Coke.

Thanks for reporting in!!

[rdharles]

I find it hard to tell whether the diet coke is better or worse than back home because mine is always swimming in a glass full of Rum!

Aren't the "Hut Wars" fun. Every day (1st week of March) I played that game. As long as you get out there be 6:50am, you're guaranteed to get one. By 7:10, probably not.

[iamromo]

EVERYTHING TASTES BETTER IN ARUBA!!!!

I am happy to see other resorts have "Hut Wars". My wife and I have been staying at the Marriott and the Surf Club for years. I wanted to be #1 so bad, but there was always someone sleeping near the rental hut. Lucky me, one night I was the first one there....2 A.M.

[Valhalla]

Another interesting deal with the huts was that people would be on the beach at 6:00 a.m. to claim their hut... and then you wouldn't see them again until noon or later.

Saw an event unfold with a situation like that one day. Someone had claimed their hut with a couple towels and beach bag, but hadn't been there all morning. Well, a family came down to the beach and started making themselves at home. About 15 minutes later, the original hut claimer came up and with alot of arm motions kicked them out. The funny thing about it also was that I could tell none of them spoke English and they didn't speak each other's language... other than arm waving.

So... the "invading family" moved up the beach just a few feet to an umbrella... that had towels hanging in it. Reminded me of the species of bird that takes over of the nests of other birds.

SP

[iamromo]

The same thing happens at the Surf Club around the lazy river and pools. It is fun to watch them from the villa's balcony. Marriott has tried chair tags, but some people just come around and take them off. Too many people feel that rules are made to be broken. I play by the rules and that is why sometimes I am up at 3 AM to get a hut...but no matter what, Aruba is heaven on earth.