Aruba is a small island in the South Carribean. Formerly a part of the Netherlands Antilles and still part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, it is a very popular beach vacation destination for American tourists.

Tanya and I chose it as the first stop on our two-island trip in July 2011. We stayed at the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resorts, located on one of Aruba's most famous beaches — Eagle Beach. The resort does not allow children under 18 years old, and the sheer brilliance of this simple idea didn't quite hit me until we got there. This is a quiet place that never felt crowded or overwhelming. I highly recommend it to any couple that is looking for a quiet beach vacation.

Aruba doesn't seem to offer much beyond its wonderful beaches to a tourist. Yet, we hiked the 561 steps to the top of Hooiberg (the third highest point on a remarkably flat island), only to encounter trash, poles, and wiring at the top. Restaurant-wise, the highlights of our trip were Marina Pirata and Driftwood, although anywhere we ate at Aruba, the food was superb and the service top-notch.

At the end of our stay at Aruba, we flew to Curaçao for a few more days of Carribean sun