Bucuti Beach Resort

May - June, 2003 by Dale

Bucuti Paradise

This was our third visit to Aruba – our first was on our honeymoon 25 years ago. We stayed at the Divi Divi and it was wonderful.( That was before the Divi Divi was all inclusive) We returned for our 20th anniversary and stayed at the Amsterdam. This time for our 25th anniversary, we stayed at the Bucuti, and I think we found Paradise. The staff was available if we needed them, but otherwise, it was like having our own private resort. Check in included a glass of champagne, which was a priority on our list. The beach was almost deserted, and while it was topless, it was very tasteful and so restful. We spent most of our days on the beach, and the staff brought us flags that we could stick in the sand when we wanted refreshment. I can’t say enough about the Mango frozen daiquiris. I am a voracious reader, and was so pleasantly surprised to find that the hotel had an exchange library so you could turn your book in and pick up another. Each room has a balcony that was very nice to have for breakfast, and also a restful evening before turning in. The room had a coffee pot, refrigerator and microwave. We had packed ice packs to take to the beach to keep our water cold, and it was nice to have a freezer to refreeze them each night.

While the pirate’s nest (at the Bucuti) had wonderful food, and a beautiful location right on the beach, the service was kind of slow at lunch (even compared to the rest of the island). The Iguana’s were very entertaining and fun to feed. The beach bar had a happy hour with half price drinks and the "tin man" who played the tin drums every evening. It was a great way to meet people, try new drinks and gather suggestions about where to eat.

Our favorite restaurants were the Buccaneer and the Old Cunuccu House – well worth the walk down the street to find it. Madame Jeanettes was incredible – in fact we ate there twice and found it well worth our money. They have a great wine list, and the surf and turf was almost too much to eat. Definitely get the Ceaser salad to share The service was very attentive and the atmosphere was very romantic.

We found the High rise hotels, too much like home, including the high price restaurants – and the beach seemed crowded, although the Hyatt beach side bar had the very best pina coladas on the island. We took one tour with Gemini tours, it was a very small tour bus, very personal, and lunch was included. We saw all the major sights without having to drive.

The local bus was very easy to get, easy to communicate, and easy to pick up on the town or at the high rise hotels. Taxis weren’t very expensive. We found the casinos an easy place to exhange $50 and $100. bills since they are very worried about counterfeit bills and won’t exchange them most places. The Casinos has penny and 5cent slot machines. American money is taken everywhere, so you don’t’ need to exchange your money.

We will definately go back to Aruba and stay at the Bucuti!