Taxi Rates, Aruba

When you arrive at the Queen Beatrix Airport in sunny Aruba, you’ll probably be in a hurry to get to your hotel, timeshare, or other accommodation. Of course, there are plenty of taxis waiting. You’ll find a stand with a booth just outside the terminal where you’ll be handed a slip of paper specifying the rate for your trip in the cab. Here are the rates as of February 2012:

Taxi rate slip showing rates from Queen Beatrix Airport.

Taxi rate slip showing rates from Queen Beatrix Airport.

There you can see the most common destinations and amount you will pay in US dollars. Most cabs are very clean, operated by independent people, and a fun way to arrive in style. Enjoy your visit to One Happy Island.

Published in: on February 1, 2013 at 12:12 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Marriott Ocean Club, Aruba, (walk through)

You may have seen my review of the Marriott Ocean Club in Aruba in other places on the Net. Well, the video is finally up, showing you a walk through of a one bedroom unit with the lock out studio. No boring commentary, just a pass through the rooms, showing you the facilities as they are. And, you know, these rooms are very, very nice. Check out the video:

This arrangement would be perfect for a small family or a pair of couples. Considering all the amenities these places offer, I’m of the opinion that a place like this is a step above a hotel room, offering the flexibility of cooking some meals, relaxing privately, and just having a bit more space to yourself. Whatever you choose, enjoy your stay.

The Kitchen, Aruba

The Kitchen is an easy-going, friendly place for a reasonably priced meal. Located just on the edge of Oranjestaad, close to the large grocery stores, it offers up a wide menu of choices. We dined there a few nights ago, starting with a couple of salads, including this chef’s salad:

Chef Salad at The Kitchen, Aruba

Chef Salad at The Kitchen, Aruba

Note the glass of wine on the side, which was reasonably priced and tasty. Then there was a mixed green salad as seen next.

Mixed Green Salad, The Kitchen, Aruba.

Mixed Green Salad, The Kitchen, Aruba.

This time, to the right you see some fresh toasted bread with tapenade of olives and tomatoes, both of which were quite flavorful. The salads were very fresh and loaded with ingredients. Finally, we tried the tenderloin. It is served on a hot skillet with veggies and a potato. Here it is:

Tenderloin Platter, the Kitchen, Aruba.

Tenderloin Platter, the Kitchen, Aruba.

The steak was good, a little tough, but for the price was a fair value. Most of all, we had great service. I also mention the drink prices as seen here on the table card.

Drink Card, The Kitchen, Aruba.

Drink Card, The Kitchen, Aruba.

For anywhere near the tourist area in Aruba, these prices are excellent. Plenty of seats front the well-stocked bar, so you can stop in for a drink and a snack and stay on budget. Bon dia.

Airport Rotonde, Aruba

Aruba has upgraded the road infrastructure. Recently the traffic circle, or rotonde as they are called here, was installed at the major intersection of the Route 1 and the entrance to Queen Beatrix Airport. The traffic lights are gone. As you approach from Oranjestaad this is what it looks like:

Approaching the traffic circle at Queen Beatrix Airport.

Approaching the traffic circle at Queen Beatrix Airport.

Sorry for the lousy photos through the car windshield. As you can see on those signs, all directions are accommodated. Here’s another look a little closer to the circle.

Airport Circle with Christmas Tree, Aruba.

Airport Circle with Christmas Tree, Aruba.

They have the Christmas Tree up and ready to go for the holiday. The circle itself is quite large, making for easy navigation. Just remember to keep an eye out for merging traffic. If you’re in doubt about your exit, simply continue around the circle again until you get your bearings. Bon dia.