Aruba 2025 Recap and Outfits – 4/17

Where We Stayed:

Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino

• Not All Inclusive
• There are a few restaurants at the Hyatt; including a fine dining one, a casual breakfast/lunch option, a juice bar, and pool bar/restaurant
• Previously we were able to pre-book pool/beach chairs via their app. They did away with this. You can pre-book pool chairs/cabanas at the pool towel hut. You can not pre-book beach chairs.
• The pool has a water slide….a big selling point for Sienna 🙂
• The gym was nothing fancy, but has a good bit of equipment and machines.
• The hotel is not too large, so easy to navigate (always a plus for me too)
• It is in a great location, with several restaurants and shops that are easy to walk to
• There is a Spa and Casino on-site (we used neither)

What We Did:

• Hung out at the Hotel Pool and Beach
• Sunset Cruise  – This is the same cruise we did 3 years ago, and we enjoyed it once again! Lite snacks and an open bar are provided.

• De Palm Island – An All Inclusive Island with open bar, activities, flamingos and more! I highly recommend.
  • You can prebook a Palapa or Cabana ahead of time, but it is not required. There are open chairs that you can snag once you arrive (but make sure to arrive early in case it gets busy)
    • We Booked a VIP Palapa on the new Mingo Beach. This area is closed off, and you get to hang out with flamingos all day! But watch out, they like ice and water and are not shy about stealing yours 🙂
  • The food is average, but I was excited to see they added some vegetarian options to their menu at the Grill. Besides the Grill (burgers, chili, fries and such) there is also a buffet.
  • Drinks are free unless you want to get a fancy drink in a coconut or something
  • There are 3 water slides. Sienna was tall enough to ride all 3 this go around (when she was 6 she was too short for the tallest drop slide)
  • There are flamingos in 3 areas of the island. You don’t have to book a VIP Palapa to see them.
  • They offer transportation from your hotel to the island, but I would do your own transportation. Our first visit, the De Palm Island transport left an hour before the Island closed (thinning the place out for us to enjoy)

• Aruba Ostrich Farm – If you are looking for something different to do. The tour is pretty short. If you are brave…you can feed an Ostrich (Jonathan and Sienna both did)

• Drove Around Island and Baby Beach – We only spent an hour at Baby Beach, but we said next trip we would make a day of it. There are 2 restaurants on the beach where you an grab lunch.

Other Fun Things to do (from our Previous Trip)

• Donkey Sanctuary – We bought apples ahead of time to feed the donkeys
• Seaworld Explorer Semi-Submarine – This is a 90 minute semi-submarine excursion, which is kind of like scuba diving without getting wet. Super Kid friendly
•  Butterfly Farm – Lots of drunk butterflies here 🙂

Where We Ate:

• Lola Taqueria – Cute Mexican/Taco place walking distance from our hotel. They take reservations (which we failed to do, so waited 30 minutes to be seated). I had the Thai Vegan Tacos and a Margarita
• Gianni’s – Italian restaurant popular for the Cheese bowl pasta (which we obviously had to order). This cheese pasta bowl is a minimum of 2 servings per table….just FYI
• Gelatissimo – This is a Gelato truck we stopped at for dessert after dinner at Lola Taqueria. It is right outside Gianni’s
• Faro Blanco Restaurant – Go here for the views! It sits hilltop by the Aruba lighthouse, and has amazing views of Aruba Palm beach below. It was quite windy being hilltop, so I suggest wearing your hair up. I had the Penna Alla Vodka and shared the Bruschetta with Jonathan. Sienna got the cheese pizza (which I preferred over my pasta) and Jonathan got the Chicken Parm.
• Eduardo’s Beach Shack – I could eat here every day! Yummy Acai Bowls, Smoothies and other more. I got the Mermaid bowl. Our previous trip, I ate here 3 times

• Bohemian Restaurant – We booked this spur of the moment or last night there. It is walking distance from our hotel. We shared a cheese board and I got the mushroom risotto. It was pretty good and such a cute restaurant!

What I Wore:

Everything I wore in Aruba is also saved here in my storefront!