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Current group: rec.windsurfing
aruba - anyone go anymore?
| Claudius Lipbergen | | Mike H | | ING. MICHAEL W. JOHNSON | | AaronK | | Mike H |
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| | From: | Claudius Lipbergen | | Subject: | aruba - anyone go anymore? | | Date: | Sun, 23 Jan 2005 15:13:16 GMT |
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 | I've noticed noone seems to post about Aruba here anymore. Seems pretty
expensive compared to the alternatives. Is this the reason?
I have a chance to go with cheap/free flights on points and I love the
convenience of Aruba (intermediate w/s'er), but it's not cheap to stay
there.
Thoughts?
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| | From: | Mike H | | Subject: | Re: aruba - anyone go anymore? | | Date: | Sun, 23 Jan 2005 18:50:31 -0500 |
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| Just happens wife and I were there last week... for 8 nights.
We had free (frequent flyer) air and almost free hotel (only
paid taxes/fees) but since hotel was downtown, we had to have a car
to get around.
WS was fine, although the wind died and was no good the last 3 days.
We sailed out of Vela and they were very hospitable (if a little
expensive). It (Aruba) is a bit expensive this time of year if you
have to pay normal prices. Figure $60-80 a day for food for 2 people,
unless you really go cheap. We sailed Bonaire last year and I'd say that
Bonaire is a little less expensive, but more trouble to get to....
But, the WS area at Aruba is nice.. and there are other things to do when the
wind drops.
Mike
Claudius Lipbergen wrote:
> I've noticed noone seems to post about Aruba here anymore. Seems pretty
> expensive compared to the alternatives. Is this the reason?
> I have a chance to go with cheap/free flights on points and I love the
> convenience of Aruba (intermediate w/s'er), but it's not cheap to stay
> there.
> Thoughts?
>
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| | From: | ING. MICHAEL W. JOHNSON | | Subject: | Re: Aruba - anyone go anymore? expensive, got to San Andres cheap!! off Nicaragua, and Colombia is excellent, always wind [tropicooltours.com has pix] | | Date: | Mon, 24 Jan 2005 01:51:45 GMT |
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MICHAEL W. JOHNSON
CAPE FEAR,N C 28402 USA
www.myrtlebeachseafoods.com
www.senorpescado.com
www.tropicooltours.com
(site feedback welcome)
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and as Bubba Johnson say'z "eat mo' fish"
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| | From: | AaronK | | Subject: | Re: aruba - anyone go anymore? | | Date: | Sun, 23 Jan 2005 19:15:32 -0500 |
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| I've been to Aruba few times over the last 5 years or so. Also stopping for
one day on a cruise in a few weeks.
I really like the Boardwalk for accommodations. It's sort of in a field of
dirt/sand, but it's a nice little oasis and only a minute walk to Vela.
The last time I was in Aruba, I wasn't nuts about the up and down wind off
Vela/fisherman huts. Bonaire has much smoother wind being unobstructed
on-shore, and it's much, much easier for a beginner or intermediate working
on waterstarting with smoother onshore winds, mostly shallow water, and no
wind shadow to fight through. You don't get blown away from shore if things
go wrong.
That said, Aruba is still an exciting fun place to go with excellent
instruction and top notch rental gear. You can go to Aruba, then hop over
to Bonaire for a day or two. I think there are lots of flights. Only 15
minutes or so by air.
.... Aaron
"Claudius Lipbergen" wrote in message
news:gaPId.150479$8l.41281@pd7tw1no...
> I've noticed noone seems to post about Aruba here anymore. Seems pretty
> expensive compared to the alternatives. Is this the reason?
> I have a chance to go with cheap/free flights on points and I love the
> convenience of Aruba (intermediate w/s'er), but it's not cheap to stay
> there.
> Thoughts?
>
> --
>
>
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| | From: | Mike H | | Subject: | Re: aruba - anyone go anymore? | | Date: | Sun, 23 Jan 2005 20:57:46 -0500 |
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| As mentioned in my post, we were at Bonaire last year, and both Bonaire
and Aruba have advantages. Bonaire is shallower (beach start in most
of the main area) and the wind is onshore. Aruba has a significantly larger
area that is suitable for WS and did not feel as crowded as Bonaire.
If you want to take lessons, Vela has a more 'structured' approach to
instruction and we got more out of it, but Jibe City and ?? (Rogers??)
may be fine for some. (The week were at Bonaire there was a ABK
Freestyle Clinic in progress and the Jibe City people just didn't seem
interested in giving beginner/intermediate lessons.)
The flight from Aruba-Bonaire is about 40 minutes. I recommend Bonaire-Excel
(they may be about the only choice now.) There are probably 3 round trips a
day and cost about $100 RT, if I remember correctly. Lodging and meals
will probably be a little less in Bonaire, but you will have to stay a while
to make up the time and airfare cost of getting there.
My suggestion.... If you have been to Aruba before, try Bonaire some. If
you haven't been to either, I'd suggest Aruba first, then Bonaire...
If you have more questions.... just ask...
Mike
PS... I kind of like Aruba now because I was able to do deep water
waterstarts for the first time!
AaronK wrote:
> I've been to Aruba few times over the last 5 years or so. Also stopping for
> one day on a cruise in a few weeks.
>
> I really like the Boardwalk for accommodations. It's sort of in a field of
> dirt/sand, but it's a nice little oasis and only a minute walk to Vela.
>
> The last time I was in Aruba, I wasn't nuts about the up and down wind off
> Vela/fisherman huts. Bonaire has much smoother wind being unobstructed
> on-shore, and it's much, much easier for a beginner or intermediate working
> on waterstarting with smoother onshore winds, mostly shallow water, and no
> wind shadow to fight through. You don't get blown away from shore if things
> go wrong.
>
> That said, Aruba is still an exciting fun place to go with excellent
> instruction and top notch rental gear. You can go to Aruba, then hop over
> to Bonaire for a day or two. I think there are lots of flights. Only 15
> minutes or so by air.
> ... Aaron
>
> "Claudius Lipbergen" wrote in message
> news:gaPId.150479$8l.41281@pd7tw1no...
>
>>I've noticed noone seems to post about Aruba here anymore. Seems pretty
>>expensive compared to the alternatives. Is this the reason?
>>I have a chance to go with cheap/free flights on points and I love the
>>convenience of Aruba (intermediate w/s'er), but it's not cheap to stay
>>there.
>>Thoughts?
>>
>>--
>>
>>
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