Exciting Nightlife

Baccarat, roulette, blackjack and slot machines beckon from the casinos of these Aruban high-rise hotels: the Occidental Grand Aruba, Hyatt Regency, Westin Aruba Resort, Riu Palace, Holiday Inn Excelsior Casino, Renaissance Aruba Hotel & Crystal Casino, Radisson Aruba, Alhambra Casino and Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino.

Caribbean Stud Poker is an Aruban brainchild, invented here in 1988 and currently skyrocketing in popularity all over the world. In this game, as in blackjack, each player vies only with the dealer. Contrary to blackjack however, Caribbean Stud Poker offers players the thrill of a progressive jackpot that can reach into hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars!

All gaming in the Aruba casinos is done with US currency. The slots use either US coins or tokens of the same value. Most machines will accept your paper US currency directly. There are nickel slots at all the casinos and some also have penny machines. Sportsbook betting is also available at many of the casinos.

If you're looking for a little island spirit to liven up the season, head for the Bon Bini festival in Aruba. Bon Bini means "welcome" in Papiamento, a local language that's a mixture of English, French, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Arawak, and a few African dialects, and welcome is exactly how you'll feel at this exciting yet laid-back affair. The atmosphere is always warm and festive at Bon Bini, with steel drum musicians, costumed Antillean dancers (pictured), Aruban artwork, and plenty of delicious local food and drink. The best part? Bon Bini is a year-round affair, held every Tuesday night from 6:30 to 8:30 in the courtyard of Oranjestad's historic Fort Zoutman. The fort itself is a major historical attraction. It was originally built by the Dutch in 1796 to defend the island against pirate attack, and a tower was added in 1867. After years of battles and general wear and tear, the fort was completely restored in the 1970's and 1980's, and is now a popular destination for visitors who want to see the oldest example of Dutch architecture on the island. Nominal admission fee.

Sailing along Aruba's coastline, Tattoo offers views of the island's lights. This triple-decked catamaran features a full-service bar (with $1, $2, and $3 drinks) and a dinner buffet (barbecue or Italian). The lower deck is the island's largest floating dance floor, with a DJ, or a live band; the second deck is dedicated to imbibing, and the top deck is open to the sky and Aruba's romantic moon. Bring your bathing suit and swing on a rope into the Caribbean, participate in a show or join various contests. The crowd is young, but no one is under 18. Wednesday is Ladies' Night and Friday is for all from 8pm until midnight.

These pirates offer a very casual evening sea cruise. The buccaneer theme can only mean walking the plank and singing "Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum." The sunset sail features an open bar and rope swing. Create some Jolly Pirates memories of your own and discover why so many visitors return year after year.

Rated # 1 by "E" Entertainment TV as their favorite tour in Aruba. This original dinner and bar-hopping adventure is still the BEST as it takes you into the countryside and down city alleys for a true island experience. Come ride this wacky, wonderful one-of-a-kind parranda bus, hand painted and cooled by the Caribbean trade winds and absolute FUN on wheels.

The perfect way for the young and restless and the old and the reckless to spend an evening in Paradise. Dress is Kukoo Kasual. We will pick you up and bring you safely back to your hotel.

Aruba's hotels are noted for their festive theme parties. There is at least one theme-night party going on in Aruba virtually every night. Choices include Carnival Nights, Aruba Extravaganza Shows and Dance Shows.

Restaurants abound on Aruba, offering visitors a variety of options when dining on the island. Over 100 international restaurants are available with exotic cuisines ranging from Indonesian, French, Italian, Chinese, Mediterranean, Japanese, seafood and local fare.

When the shows let out, the next stop for the adventurous is one of Aruba's bars or clubs. Regardless of your nightlife tastes, Aruba will have a hotspot that caters to your desires. Older travelers often visit Aruba's classy cigar bars and jazz clubs, where top-shelf drinks can be enjoyed while soaking up Caribbean-tinged tunes. Younger travelers will want to check out some of Aruba's boisterous night clubs for late-night dancing and locally-inspired cocktails. While some of the clubs in Aruba cater to American and European tourists with popular music and well-known drink options, there are plenty of friendly bars and dance halls that revel in the Caribbean setting and allow visitors to enjoy an exotic night on the town.

For detailed information refer to the free tourist magazines and newspapers available everywhere on the island.

After dinner, many visitors to Aruba make their way to one of the exciting live shows that are produced throughout the year. Aruba's most popular show is the top-rated Let's Go Latin at Renaissance's Crystal Theater. The over-the-top musical takes the stage e very Monday through Saturday at 9 PM. In addition to Let's Go Latin, tourists can also visit numerous other stage shows throughout Oranjestad, including several influenced by the island's rich cultural history.

For detailed information refer to the free tourist magazines and newspapers available everywhere on the island.