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St. Kitts Beach Club vs. Aruba Surf Club

Pamplemousse

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We are trying to decide between these 2 for a family trip this winter (parents and college age dd) and would welcome any advice in choosing from those who have been to both.

Temperatures are similar, flight times and costs are similar, we are able to book oceanside units at both.

We are not big adventurers, not into clubbing, enjoy the beach & snorkeling but like to have other things to do (sight seeing, exploring, low key hiking). We always rent a car but enjoy being able to walk to restaurants. We chose these 2 because they are warm when we want to go, fairly easy to get to for us, and we went to St. Thomas last year.

Any thoughts or advice is welcome. Thanks.
 
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hpy2go

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We are trying to decide between these 2 for a family trip this winter (parents and college age dd) and would welcome any advice in choosing from those who have been to both.

Temperatures are similar, flight times and costs are similar, we are able to book oceanside units at both.

We are not big adventurers, not into clubbing, enjoy the beach & snorkeling but like to have other things to do (sight seeing, exploring, low key hiking). We always rent a car but enjoy being able to walk to restaurants. We chose these 2 because they are warm when we want to go, fairly easy to get to for us, and we went to St. Thomas last year.

Any thoughts or advice is welcome. Thanks.
Well, as these are the two places we've been to multiple times, I feel I can start the responses.

From our perspective they are quite different experiences and vibes. But both are great vacations.

St. Kitts is much more laid back with much less "to do". Things close down early. Not sure that there is any "clubbing". If you want to stay out late, I'm not sure what options you really have. Some our latest nights were at the hotel lobby bar. Kittitian Paradises come to mind...

Aruba has a lot going on. The Palm Beach area is quite built up. You can easily walk to a number of places that are very active - including shopping malls and many chain restaurants. Not so at St. Kitts.

I should say the my wife's favorite by a good margin is St. Kitts. She finds it very much laid back, and she's right. I would prefer Aruba, but only by the slimmest of margins. I'm happy either place. :) Toes in the sand, drink in my hand.... ahhhh.

Depending on where you live, Aruba can be very easy to get to. Southwest flies there direct from a number of places (including BWI for us). St. Kitts flights cost a bit more (50% more?) and always require a stop over. Maybe if you're in Miami the differences are less.

Adventure can be different at each. I had a FANTASTIC time last Aruba trip renting ATVs with our youngest son for the day. Drove all around the island (and got all the dust on me to prove it!). Lifetime memory - or at least until I get to do that again. The south side of the island has mountains, pools, natural bridges, etc. ATVing around the Nat'l Park was a real gas. There is hiking around that part of Aruba as well.

St. Kitts has the Brimstone Fortress - a nice half-day trip with history, views and monkeys. There are hiking trails for nice day trips. A nice day at St. Kitts includes walking over to the Carribean side (yes, walking) and enjoying that beach, food and more local island vibe. There are other beaches with fun places to eat and drink for a half or full day.

We've found some nice restaurants at both locations - but it sure feels like there are many more in Aruba. (My favorite one on Aruba is Madame Jeanettes.) There is a classic beach bar right next to the Surf Club - Moomba.

We've rented cars when going to Aruba. Didn't use them every day. We haven't rented at St. Kitts, but rather used local taxis (and once you get a positive relationship with one they'll be available for you just about any time).

The people on both islands are quite nice.

The Aruba Surf Club has the lazy river which can be great if that's of interest to you. Depending on the time of year, you may find many more children at the Surf Club.

Both have their share of chair hogs at the pool, so that's what it is. Never had a problem getting a beach lounge at St. Kitts.

I've rambled enough. If you have specific questions I'll be glad to share my opinion. I'm sure others have much more to share.

Either way - great choices. We enjoy both more than our St. Thomas trip.
 

Pamplemousse

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Well, as these are the two places we've been to multiple times, I feel I can start the responses.

From our perspective they are quite different experiences and vibes. But both are great vacations.

St. Kitts is much more laid back with much less "to do". Things close down early. Not sure that there is any "clubbing". If you want to stay out late, I'm not sure what options you really have. Some our latest nights were at the hotel lobby bar. Kittitian Paradises come to mind...

Aruba has a lot going on. The Palm Beach area is quite built up. You can easily walk to a number of places that are very active - including shopping malls and many chain restaurants. Not so at St. Kitts.

I should say the my wife's favorite by a good margin is St. Kitts. She finds it very much laid back, and she's right. I would prefer Aruba, but only by the slimmest of margins. I'm happy either place. :) Toes in the sand, drink in my hand.... ahhhh.

Depending on where you live, Aruba can be very easy to get to. Southwest flies there direct from a number of places (including BWI for us). St. Kitts flights cost a bit more (50% more?) and always require a stop over. Maybe if you're in Miami the differences are less.

Adventure can be different at each. I had a FANTASTIC time last Aruba trip renting ATVs with our youngest son for the day. Drove all around the island (and got all the dust on me to prove it!). Lifetime memory - or at least until I get to do that again. The south side of the island has mountains, pools, natural bridges, etc. ATVing around the Nat'l Park was a real gas. There is hiking around that part of Aruba as well.

St. Kitts has the Brimstone Fortress - a nice half-day trip with history, views and monkeys. There are hiking trails for nice day trips. A nice day at St. Kitts includes walking over to the Carribean side (yes, walking) and enjoying that beach, food and more local island vibe. There are other beaches with fun places to eat and drink for a half or full day.

We've found some nice restaurants at both locations - but it sure feels like there are many more in Aruba. (My favorite one on Aruba is Madame Jeanettes.) There is a classic beach bar right next to the Surf Club - Moomba.

We've rented cars when going to Aruba. Didn't use them every day. We haven't rented at St. Kitts, but rather used local taxis (and once you get a positive relationship with one they'll be available for you just about any time).

The people on both islands are quite nice.

The Aruba Surf Club has the lazy river which can be great if that's of interest to you. Depending on the time of year, you may find many more children at the Surf Club.

Both have their share of chair hogs at the pool, so that's what it is. Never had a problem getting a beach lounge at St. Kitts.

I've rambled enough. If you have specific questions I'll be glad to share my opinion. I'm sure others have much more to share.

Either way - great choices. We enjoy both more than our St. Thomas trip.


Thanks for the response.

As I said we are not into clubbing,not interested in staying out late- so that is not a factor.

Also travel is equal for both- stop over, flight times- Aruba is about $50 more so not a factor for us.

We are not really into adventure either.

So questions- compare and contrast please & thank you-

1- walkable restaurants?
2- snorkeling?
3- availability of groceries?
4- why didn’t you rent a car on st. Kitts? Cab expense vs. car rental?
5- how about the resorts themselves? Equally nice?
6- you mention walking to the carribean on St. Kitts- so Beach Club is atlantic? Aruba Surf is on the carribean and so swim right there?
7- do you feel safe on both islands?

Thanks again!
 

hpy2go

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Sure. Here are my thoughts.

1- walkable restaurants? Many more on Aruba. There are some restaurants on the St. Kitts resort grounds. The resort is a large hotel resort, with a portion off to one side that are the timeshare buildings. It has all the hotel amenities. There are several on the road leading to the resort, and a number on the Caribbean beach. Aruba Surf Club is in a much more developed area with many, many within walking distance. (I suppose it is a matter of how on defines walking distance, but within a mile there are a ton of options.)

2- snorkeling? Aruba. There are places to snorkel on St. Kitts, including right at the resort, but Aruba is the answer, hands down.

3- availability of groceries? There are good grocery stores available on the way to both locations. There are smaller grocery stores within walking distance.

4- why didn’t you rent a car on st. Kitts? Cab expense vs. car rental? Fair question. I think that we didn't rent on St. Kitts because we intended to stay close to the resort for most days. We only would need the car a few times. Now, as it turned out, we only used the car a handful of times on Aruba, so...

5- how about the resorts themselves? Equally nice? Aruba Surf Club has been much more crowded when we were there, and I don't think we were there during peak seasons. The buildings there are much taller, with elevators. St. Kitts buildings only have three floors. I would say the rooms at both locations were very fine.

6- you mention walking to the carribean on St. Kitts- so Beach Club is atlantic? Aruba Surf is on the carribean and so swim right there? Yes, as it is on the eastern portion of the Caribbean, the St. Kitts resort faces the Atlantic, but is at a very narrow part of the island. It is a short walk to get to the Caribbean side. The water is much gentler there. There are a number of "shack restaurant/bars" along the beach there. Aruba is completely in the Caribbean. just off the coast of Venezuela. The resort is right on Palm Beach - gentle warm water.

7- do you feel safe on both islands? Short answer: Yes.
 

bazzap

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As hpy2go says, we found a good choice of restaurants within walking distance in St Kitts if you are OK walking up to a mile.
http://caribya.com/frigate.bay/restaurants/
Our favourite, and we did walk there albeit up hill, was Marshalls
http://marshallsdining.com/
If you drive or take a taxi 5-10 minutes, there are other top choices either in Basseterre town or over Timothy Hill down the Southern Peninsula e.g. Carambola Beach Club which is on the Caribbean Sea so also a good place to spend the day on the beach and swimming during the day.
http://www.carambolabeachclub.com/
 

hpy2go

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As hpy2go says, we found a good choice of restaurants within walking distance in St Kitts if you are OK walking up to a mile.
http://caribya.com/frigate.bay/restaurants/
Our favourite, and we did walk there albeit up hill, was Marshalls
http://marshallsdining.com/
If you drive or take a taxi 5-10 minutes, there are other top choices either in Basseterre town or over Timothy Hill down the Southern Peninsula e.g. Carambola Beach Club which is on the Caribbean Sea so also a good place to spend the day on the beach and swimming during the day.
http://www.carambolabeachclub.com/


Fully agree on Marshalls. Also a different experience is Sprat Net. Grilled fish and lobster.
 

MOXJO7282

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I'm curious, are there casinos on St. Kitts? I thought that was a fun element of Aruba.
 

Pamplemousse

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I'm curious, are there casinos on St. Kitts? I thought that was a fun element of Aruba.

I can answer that one- there is a casino at the Marriott resort St. Kitts- Royal Beach Casino.
 

Pamplemousse

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Sure. Here are my thoughts.

1- walkable restaurants? Many more on Aruba. There are some restaurants on the St. Kitts resort grounds. The resort is a large hotel resort, with a portion off to one side that are the timeshare buildings. It has all the hotel amenities. There are several on the road leading to the resort, and a number on the Caribbean beach. Aruba Surf Club is in a much more developed area with many, many within walking distance. (I suppose it is a matter of how on defines walking distance, but within a mile there are a ton of options.)

2- snorkeling? Aruba. There are places to snorkel on St. Kitts, including right at the resort, but Aruba is the answer, hands down.

3- availability of groceries? There are good grocery stores available on the way to both locations. There are smaller grocery stores within walking distance.

4- why didn’t you rent a car on st. Kitts? Cab expense vs. car rental? Fair question. I think that we didn't rent on St. Kitts because we intended to stay close to the resort for most days. We only would need the car a few times. Now, as it turned out, we only used the car a handful of times on Aruba, so...

5- how about the resorts themselves? Equally nice? Aruba Surf Club has been much more crowded when we were there, and I don't think we were there during peak seasons. The buildings there are much taller, with elevators. St. Kitts buildings only have three floors. I would say the rooms at both locations were very fine.

6- you mention walking to the carribean on St. Kitts- so Beach Club is atlantic? Aruba Surf is on the carribean and so swim right there? Yes, as it is on the eastern portion of the Caribbean, the St. Kitts resort faces the Atlantic, but is at a very narrow part of the island. It is a short walk to get to the Caribbean side. The water is much gentler there. There are a number of "shack restaurant/bars" along the beach there. Aruba is completely in the Caribbean. just off the coast of Venezuela. The resort is right on Palm Beach - gentle warm water.

7- do you feel safe on both islands? Short answer: Yes.

Thank you- I really appreciate you taking the time to give such thoughtful answers.
 

bazzap

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caribbeanqueen

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Pamplemouse we have been to Aruba Surf Club twice and now going to St. Kitts so am happy you asked this question. We are taking daughter, her husband and two kids ages 11 and 7. Hoping there will be enough to do on the island. I believe you can take a ferry over to Nevis and check that out. We loved Aruba although I will tell you, in order to get pool chairs under an umbrella you have to go down around 6am every morning with your pool chair tags and stay an hour to keep those chairs. I didnt mind because I brought my Kindle, read and watched the sun come up. I found it peaceful. Also, there are huts in front of the palapas on the beach that sell tours, water sports and such and found that annoying. At the Hilton, on Palm Beach, there are not huts set up and you have a nice clear path and view of the ocean. Having said this, I love Aruba. There are tons of restaurants, shops, a movie theater, bowling alley and many casinos in the hotels all within walking distance.
 

jdg0928

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We are not big adventurers, not into clubbing, enjoy the beach & snorkeling but like to have other things to do (sight seeing, exploring, low key hiking). We always rent a car but enjoy being able to walk to restaurants. We chose these 2 because they are warm when we want to go, fairly easy to get to for us, and we went to St. Thomas last year.

I've not been to St. Kitts, but it sounds like you're describing Aruba in the paragraph above.

Quality information in this thread. I'll add my $.02 about the pool chairs and renting a car:

1) Depends greatly on when you're in Aruba. I'm writing this from our villa overlooking the pool. We've been here a couple days, and it's the lightest crowd in our six trips. Plenty of chairs even after 10 a.m., and palapas available all day. We've also been here "Jersey Week" (early Nov. when school is out for election day and teacher training). That was a zoo. Every pool chair, even in the shade, taken by 7 a.m. We went to the palapas each day, and it was fine.

2) You definitely do not need to rent a car in Aruba, but it helps if you're interested in venturing around on your own. We've done both. There have been multiple weeks where we didn't even use a cab from the Surf Club to get to dinner, all were within walking distance (15-20 minutes max). I rented a car this year, and we've used it to try a few new places in the low-rise area. However, taxis are plentiful and inexpensive.
 

amycurl

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Aruba also has the Arubus, which is very inexpensive and is a fun and easy way to get around most of the island.

I will echo the sentiments that on St. Kitts, find a cabbie you like and he will be at your (reasonable) beck and call for the entire week. It's like having a personal driver, but waaaay cheaper. :)
 

griffer1278

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We have been to both. St Kitts was in May and we found the water temp in the Atlantic to be a little chilly VS Aruba.

The St Kitts rooms were great. Probably the biggest we have stayed in.

You can't go wrong with either place though.
 

bucs0721

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St. Kitts is our favorite place to stay because it is much less developed than Aruba. Some of the things to do (as others have mentioned) include: Sprat Net, Shipwreck, trips to Nevis (Sunshines bar for Killer Bees), Salt Plage, and the 'Strip' (walkable from the Marriott). In addition, there is a new Indian restaurant across the street from the Marriott as well as a grocery store (smaller than the one further away). We prefer to use a taxi as we don't travel out everyday, the island is very mountainous, and driving is on the lefthand side of the road.
The Atlantic side of the resort (where the beach is) has suffered badly from the seaweed issue that is hitting most (all?) of the Atlantic ocean islands. There was so much seaweed on the beach last year that it made it almost impossible to get into the water. They try to gather it off of the beach every morning but it has been a losing battle the past couple of years. The seaweed was not on the Caribbean side of the island nor was it a problem in Nevis (on the Caribbean side).
The resort has 3 pools. The pool with the swim up bar is usually crowded the others, not so much. There is a variety of restaurants on site to pick from as well as the remodeled lobby bar.
For now, the Marriott is the main place to stay on the island. Hyatt just opened a very nice ($$$) hotel with the Ritz and I believe an Asian chain scheduled to build over the coming years.
Hope this helps.
 
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