Any Suggestions? Want to go somewhere warm for a week with my non-diving fiance

[bridgediver]

mwilding - There is alot of non-diving stuff in Aruba. We didn't do much more than the beach though (thats just the kind of people we are) but we did do a day long jeep tour of the island and a snorkle/sail excursion. My wife really enjoyed the shopping a few times when I was diving.
Alot of people will rent their own vehicles and tour around themselves. Its really easy and safe to get around Aruba. I've heard that some of the night clubs can get pretty wild and there is a ton of restaurants that come highly recommended. Add in the casinos that miked mentioned and I gaurantee you won't be bored. Check the links below for other stuff

scubafrog - we stayed at the divi beach resort and thought it was great. It's an all-inclusive because thats what we like. There are only a few all inclusives in aruba and I would say that its probably the best of that type.
There are 2 main areas where the resorts are and are commonly refered to as the high rise and low rise areas. The high rise's are at the north end of the beach and have alot more action and people on the beach. The low rise's (where we stayed) has a wider beach, is not as busy and closer to the city.

I'm happy to answer any other questions or check these links for more

http://www.visitaruba.com/
http://www.aruba.com/home.htm
http://www.divearuba.com/

 

[mwilding]

Thanks Bridgediver - I have got a good starting point for my research now...

 

[Nessy]

Thanks Bridgediver - I have got a good starting point for my research now...

I have just come back from a trip to Sharm-El-Sheikh in Egypt, it was fantastic, plenty of nightlife, cool bars by the beach etc and the Hotels are great and really cheap!! Might be a bit of a hike from you there but its a five hour flight from London, hot all year round, cheap eats, great diving in the Red Sea, what more can you ask for......

 

[ScubaFrog]

mwilding - There is alot of non-diving stuff in Aruba. We didn't do much more than the beach though (thats just the kind of people we are) but we did do a day long jeep tour of the island and a snorkle/sail excursion. My wife really enjoyed the shopping a few times when I was diving.
Alot of people will rent their own vehicles and tour around themselves. Its really easy and safe to get around Aruba. I've heard that some of the night clubs can get pretty wild and there is a ton of restaurants that come highly recommended. Add in the casinos that miked mentioned and I gaurantee you won't be bored. Check the links below for other stuff

scubafrog - we stayed at the divi beach resort and thought it was great. It's an all-inclusive because thats what we like. There are only a few all inclusives in aruba and I would say that its probably the best of that type.
There are 2 main areas where the resorts are and are commonly refered to as the high rise and low rise areas. The high rise's are at the north end of the beach and have alot more action and people on the beach. The low rise's (where we stayed) has a wider beach, is not as busy and closer to the city.

I'm happy to answer any other questions or check these links for more

http://www.visitaruba.com/
http://www.aruba.com/home.htm
http://www.divearuba.com/

Thank you for the info!!

 

[IslandHopper]

Any consideration given to Guam ? ...

LOTS of diving available (deep/shallow/shore/wrecks/drifts).
Also plenty of night life... it's a HUGE tourist destination for Asians.

As for non-diving activities ... hiking in the jungle, ANY water realated activities you can think of, lots of WW2 era history.

It's a bit farther to travel than the Carribean, but nicer diving !

 

[mwilding]

Bridgediver, did you plan your tip with a travel agent or online?

mwilding - There is alot of non-diving stuff in Aruba. We didn't do much more than the beach though (thats just the kind of people we are) but we did do a day long jeep tour of the island and a snorkle/sail excursion. My wife really enjoyed the shopping a few times when I was diving.
Alot of people will rent their own vehicles and tour around themselves. Its really easy and safe to get around Aruba. I've heard that some of the night clubs can get pretty wild and there is a ton of restaurants that come highly recommended. Add in the casinos that miked mentioned and I gaurantee you won't be bored. Check the links below for other stuff

scubafrog - we stayed at the divi beach resort and thought it was great. It's an all-inclusive because thats what we like. There are only a few all inclusives in aruba and I would say that its probably the best of that type.
There are 2 main areas where the resorts are and are commonly refered to as the high rise and low rise areas. The high rise's are at the north end of the beach and have alot more action and people on the beach. The low rise's (where we stayed) has a wider beach, is not as busy and closer to the city.

I'm happy to answer any other questions or check these links for more

http://www.visitaruba.com/
http://www.aruba.com/home.htm
http://www.divearuba.com/

 

[Former FLL Now MSP Diver]

Want to go somewhere warm for a week with my non-diving fiance

I'll go!

Oh, that wasn't the question? Sorry.

Marc

 

[bridgediver]

Bridgediver, did you plan your tip with a travel agent or online?

I did a bit of both. After figuring out where and when and what place we wanted to stay I booked with a local agent. I arranged all the diving by myself with dive aruba easily on line

 

[Scotty]

I've been to Cozumel, Cancun, Jamaica, Aruba and am going to Grand Cayman this summer. Why do people like Coz? You go so fast because of the current you can't see anything anyway. I loved Aruba. Great ship wrecks and just pretty nice diving. If you do go look up Clive on the internet. The night life is fine. Nice casinos (came out $87 ahead), and nice places to eat. We will go back sometime but for now we are trying all new places. We will NEVER go back to MEXICO. WE HATE it. Everyone is trying to sell you something all the time. Aruba is free and easy.

 

[Tim Ingersoll]

I've been to Cozumel, Cancun, Jamaica, Aruba and am going to Grand Cayman this summer. Why do people like Coz? You go so fast because of the current you can't see anything anyway. I loved Aruba. Great ship wrecks and just pretty nice diving. If you do go look up Clive on the internet. The night life is fine. Nice casinos (came out $87 ahead), and nice places to eat. We will go back sometime but for now we are trying all new places. We will NEVER go back to MEXICO. WE HATE it. Everyone is trying to sell you something all the time. Aruba is free and easy.

You are definitely in the minority. I have dove Antigua, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Little Cayman, Cyaman Brac, Grand Cayman, Roatan, Belize, Jamaica, Cozumel, St. Lucia, St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John, Florida Keys and I would put Cozumel in the top three (the other two being Little Cayman and Providenciales [West Caicos, French Cay]). Cozumel is by far the best value. I frankly did not have anyone try and sell me anything except on the strip in San Miguel. Thats easy enough to avoid. As to the speed of drift diving you really just need to learn how to get out of the current.

Then again if Aruba rocks your boat then thats where you should go. Just don't expect the majority of divers to agree with your opinion of Cozumel.