My wife and I just stayed at the Renaissance Aruba Beach Resort for our honeymoon and were very happy with our decision to stay there. Above all, the staff was all courteous and responsive to all of our questions/concerns. They never made us feel uncomfortable. The cleaning staff was friendly and always did a good job. Our bed was very comfortable.



The pool and bar were great places to hang out, but the greatest asset that the hotel has to offer is Renaissance Island. The beach was incredible. White sand and ample coral near the break wall that was great for snorkeling. We saw a lot of incredible wildlife, both in the water and on land. Of note are the pink flamingos, iguanas, and parrot fish.

Don't forget to be liberal with sunscreen. One forgetful day will set you back a few days in the sun and give you a horrible tan, especially if you snorkel floating on your stomach all day - no that this happened to me...

Also, the people of Aruba were all very courteous. I would recommend renting a car and exploring all that the island has to offer. The Alto Vista Church is one of the most beautiful places that we have ever visited.

We were in Aruba for a week and tried a number of restaurants, but our favourite was the Rumba Bar and Grille. Don't let the name fool you. This isn't your typical bar and grille menu. The food, drinks and service were excellent. The only restaurant we visited more than once. It's located directly behind the Renaissance Marina tower, very easy to walk to. They make a great Caipirinha, very tasty Brazilian drink.

We pre-purchased a dine-around plan that listed specific restaurants that were far away from the hotel. Basically we spent our "extra" savings on taxis. Next time we would opt not for the plan, but to choose some of the restaurants around the hotel. The Crabhouse was fantastic!

One of the cheapest places with the best food is Iguana Joes, located a block from the hotel. They do not assess a service charge like most restaurants in Aruba. The staff is friendly and the drinks are good and priced reasonably. They make good mixed drinks. In all, it was the best dining value on the island. Also, they have $2 soft drinks with free refills. Most other places downtown all charge you for another drink if you want a refill (which is really annoying). This is important after you have been swimming in salt water all day in 90 degree weather.