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Personal Itinerary · Julia & PJ

Aruba

3 nights · June 9 – 12, 2026

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Aruba

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Personal Itinerary · Julia & PJ · Aruba Marriott · Palm Beach

Trade winds, turquoise, & sunset on the sand

9 — 12 JUNE 2026

— until departure
— Aruba local time
Explore the Itinerary Essentials

At a Glance

Three nights in Palm Beach.

Sunset at Atardi, snorkel the Antilla wreck, 4x4 to the Natural Pool, dinner in Madame Jeanette's garden, then home via Aruba's US pre-clearance.

✈️ TUE 9 · ARRIVE · ATARDI SUNSET

8:50aUA 1040 · EWR → AUA · Economy Plus · 737-900
1:25pLand AUA · immigration + bags ~30–45 min
3:00pCheck in · Aruba Marriott · Ocean View
3:30pSettle in · pool / beach chairs / cocktail at the resort
6:30pAtardi · sunset · feet-in-sand

🐠 WED 10 · ANTILLA WRECK · WACKY WAHOO

9:00aAntilla snorkel · Red Sail · 3.5h boat tour · returns ~12:30 with fruit & drinks aboard
12:30pBack at Marriott · lunch at the resort (Ruth's Chris pool bar, Atardi day menu, or room service)
2:30pPool / beach / Mandara Spa
7:30pWacky Wahoo · Renaissance Marketplace

🏜️ THU 11 · NATURAL POOL · MADAME JEANETTE'S

9:30aArikok 4x4 · ABC Tours · Natural Pool · 4h
2:00pLate lunch · pool / siesta
7:00pMadame Jeanette's · garden · resort-elegant

🌅 FRI 12 · SLOW MORNING · DEPART

8:00aBreakfast at the resort · last morning on the beach loungers
9:30aCheckout (11:00 standard, request late)
10:00aTaxi to AUA · arrive 3h before flight
1:45pUA 1039 · AUA → EWR · arr 6:50 PM (domestic)

Day by Day

Full chronology.

Day 1 · Tuesday
Jun 9 · Arrive Aruba
Travel day · Atardi sunset on Palm Beach
88°F
Sun & trade-wind breeze
LOW 79° · SUNRISE 6:14a · SUNSET 7:04p · MOON 30% waning crescent

Travel day · <10% rain · arrival heat at AUA will hit hard — water + light layer in the carry-on.

A note on Palm Beach

Palm Beach is Aruba's high-energy resort corridor — a two-mile sweep of powder-fine sand backed by the island's high-rise hotels. The Marriott opened here in 1995 on what was then mostly empty dune; today it anchors a stretch that runs north past the Hyatt, Hilton, and Holiday Inn to the Ritz-Carlton. The water stays calm and warm year-round thanks to the leeward westward exposure and the relentless trade winds that push the Caribbean swell elsewhere.

  • 8:50 AM
    UA 1040 · EWR → AUA
    Economy Plus · Boeing 737-900 · 4h 35m nonstop
  • 1:25 PM
    Land AUA
    Immigration + baggage 30–45 min
  • 2:15 PM
    Taxi to Marriott
    15 min · 5 mi · fixed $25–30 to Palm Beach
  • 3:00 PM
    Check in · Aruba Marriott
    Ocean View · request high floor facing Palm Beach
  • 3:30 PM
    Settle in at the resort
    Pool chairs, beach loungers, cocktail at the Lobby Bar or Sunset Grille — ease into vacation pace
  • 6:30 PM
    Dinner · Atardi
    Sunset beachfront table · open-air seafood
Day 2 · Wednesday
Jun 10 · Antilla Snorkel
Wreck dive · Eagle Beach lunch · Wacky Wahoo
88°F
Sun · trade winds · slight PM shower chance
LOW 79° · SUNRISE 6:14a · SUNSET 7:04p · MOON 21% waning crescent

Boat day — reef-safe SPF 50 reapplied every 90 min. UV index 11+. Trade winds will spray you on the open water; pack a light windbreaker.

A note on the Antilla

The Antilla was a 400-foot German cargo ship scuttled by her own captain on May 10, 1940 — the morning Germany invaded the Netherlands — to keep her out of Allied hands. She rolled onto her port side in 60 feet of water off Malmok and has been there ever since, slowly becoming reef. The bow sits in just 15–20 feet, which is why she's the Caribbean's most-snorkeled wreck rather than just a divers'.

  • 9:00 AM
    Antilla snorkel
    Red Sail · departs Palm Beach pier · 3.5h · returns ~12:30 (fruit & drinks aboard)
  • 12:30 PM
    Back at the Marriott · resort lunch
    Ruth's Chris pool bar, Atardi day menu, or room service — no off-property lunch (everything walkable on Eagle Beach is >10 min from the Marriott)
  • 2:30 PM
    Pool / beach / Mandara Spa
    Post-snorkel recovery
  • 7:30 PM
    Dinner · Wacky Wahoo (Oranjestad)
    Renaissance Marketplace · casual
  • 9:00 PM
    Taxi back to Marriott
    10 min · ~$15–18
Day 3 · Thursday
Jun 11 · Natural Pool
Arikok 4x4 adventure · Madame Jeanette's garden
89°F
Sun with afternoon clouds
LOW 79° · SUNRISE 6:14a · SUNSET 7:05p · MOON 13% waning crescent

Hottest day · 20% PM shower chance. Arikok's backcountry has zero shade — wide-brim hat, 2L water minimum, water shoes for the volcanic shore.

A note on the Natural Pool

Locals call it Conchi — a volcanic rock basin on Aruba's wild northeast coast where the Atlantic crashes over the rim while you swim in calm turquoise inside. It sits inside Arikok National Park, which protects roughly 20% of the island. The Spanish-influenced name cunucu — the same word in tonight's restaurant address — means "country" or "rural land," the wind-bent landscape of cactus, divi-divi trees, and goat herders that defined Aruba before tourism.

  • 9:30 AM
    Arikok 4x4 + Natural Pool
    ABC Tours · Marriott lobby pickup · returns ~1:30 PM
  • 2:00 PM
    Late lunch · pool / siesta
    Ruth's Chris pool bar or room service
  • 7:00 PM
    Dinner · Madame Jeanette's
    Garden seating · Cunucu Abao · resort-elegant
  • 9:30 PM
    Taxi to Marriott
    Restaurant will call · ~$15–18
Day 4 · Friday
Jun 12 · Depart Aruba
Slow morning · pre-clearance at AUA
88°F
Sun & steady trade winds
LOW 79° · SUNRISE 6:14a · SUNSET 7:05p · MOON 7% waning crescent

Departure day — checkout is 11 AM standard. Save AC time at the Marriott vs. the pre-clearance queue at AUA; arrive at the airport exactly 3 hours before flight.

A note on US pre-clearance

AUA is one of only a handful of foreign airports — alongside Dublin, Shannon, Abu Dhabi, and several Canadian airports — where US Customs and Border Protection operates on foreign soil. You'll clear US immigration and customs before boarding in Aruba, then land at EWR as a domestic arrival. The catch: the US Check-In Terminal is flow-controlled by color-coded departure-time bands, and entry is not permitted earlier than three hours before your flight. Don't be early — be on time.

  • 8:00 AM
    Breakfast at the resort
    One last morning on the beach loungers · finish coffee with toes in the sand
  • 9:30 AM
    Check out · Marriott
    Standard 11 AM · request late if needed
  • 10:00 AM
    Taxi to AUA
    15 min · arrive 3h before flight · ~$25–30
  • 1:45 PM
    UA 1039 · AUA → EWR
    5h 5m · arrive domestic (pre-cleared)
  • 6:50 PM
    Land EWR
    Home

Essentials

Trip basics.

TravelersJulia & PJ
AirlineUnited
HotelMarriott PB
Nights3
OutboundUA 1040
ReturnUA 1039
CabinEcon Plus
Resort feeIncl. WiFi

Reservation Timeline

Booking lead times for every paid experience and dinner reservation, sorted by urgency. June is peak — tours and prime tables fill 5–7 days out.

Sea & Sun Brief

UV · Trade Winds · Reef-Safe Rules

Aruba sits 12°N — the sun is nearly overhead in June and UV is ~25% stronger than at sea level temperate latitudes. Most travelers underestimate it on day one and pay for it on day two.

  • Reef-safe sunscreen only — Aruba enforces a mineral-only SPF law (Thinksport, Raw Elements, Stream2Sea). Oxybenzone & octinoxate fined at customs.
  • SPF 50 every 90 minutes — including ears, tops of feet, and the part in your hair
  • Hat with chin strap — trade winds will lift anything not strapped down
  • Hydrate hard — 3 L water/day; one drink hits like two in this heat
  • Reapply after swimming even if the bottle says "water-resistant"
  • Trade winds 15–20 mph — comfortable in the shade, brutal on exposed boats; pack a windbreaker
  • Water temp 81°F · no wetsuit needed for snorkeling

Packing

Interactive packing checklist with progress saved to your device — tap Packing for the full list.

Resort-elegant outfit required for Madame Jeanette's; everything else is casual.

Important Notes

Money & Connectivity

USD is widely accepted across the island — bring small bills ($20s for taxis, tips, beach bars). The local florin (AWG) pegs to USD ~1.79. Cell service is strong (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon all roam without action). Download offline Google Maps for Aruba — Arikok's backcountry has thin coverage.

Hotel Logistics

Aruba Marriott · check-in 3 PM · check-out 11 AM. Resort fee covers beach chairs, Wi-Fi, gym. On-site: Atardi (booked night 1), Ruth's Chris, Mandara Spa, Stellaris Casino. Request a high-floor ocean-view room facing Palm Beach. Concierge: +297-586-9000.

! AUA Pre-Clearance Friday: Arrive 3 hours before departure (1:45 PM flight → 10:45 AM airport). US Check-In Terminal entry is flow-controlled by color-coded departure time — no earlier than 3h prior. You clear US Customs & Immigration in Aruba; EWR arrival is domestic.

Logistics

Flights & Transport.

Flights — United

UA 1040 · EWR → AUA
Tue Jun 9, 2026 · Outbound
DepartEWR · 8:50 AM
ArriveAUA · 1:25 PM
Duration4h 35m · nonstop
AircraftBoeing 737-900
CabinEconomy Plus
Manage on United ↗ FlightAware ↗
UA 1039 · AUA → EWR
Fri Jun 12, 2026 · Return (US pre-cleared)
DepartAUA · 1:45 PM
ArriveEWR · 6:50 PM (domestic)
Duration5h 5m · nonstop
AircraftBoeing 737-900
CabinEconomy Plus
FlightAware ↗
Airport arrival 10:45 AM — exactly 3 hours before departure. Color-coded terminal entry; no earlier admittance.

Airport ↔ Hotel

AUA is ~15 min / 5 mi from the Aruba Marriott on Palm Beach. No Uber or Lyft on the island. Use a taxi or arrange a private transfer through the hotel.

Recommended Airport Taxi ~$25–30

Fixed-rate from the taxi queue right outside arrivals — no metering, no negotiation. 15 min direct to the Marriott. The drivers are licensed government dispatchers; rates are posted at the queue.

Call AUA dispatch · +297-582-2116
Marriott Concierge Transfer ~$45–60

Pre-arrange a private car through hotel concierge — driver meets you with a name sign at arrivals. Worth it on the way down if the taxi queue looks long after the UA 1040 inbound rush.

Marriott concierge · +297-586-9000
To Oranjestad (Wacky Wahoo) ~$15–18

Taxis line up at the Marriott valet and at the Renaissance Marketplace queue. 10 min each way. Have the restaurant call a taxi for the return; flat rates posted in the lobby.

To Cunucu Abao (Madame Jeanette's) ~$18–22

10 min inland. Marriott valet can call; the restaurant will arrange the return at the end of the meal.

Key Phone Numbers

All numbers are E.164 formatted (with the + prefix) so they dial correctly whether you're in New Jersey today or on Digicel/Setar in Aruba next week. Tap to call.

In Aruba (+297)

Aruba Marriott+297-586-9000
Red Sail (snorkel)+297-586-1603
ABC Tours (4x4)+297-586-1530
Atardi (via Marriott)+297-586-9000
Wacky Wahoo+297-588-5888
Madame Jeanette's+297-587-0184
AUA airport dispatch+297-582-2116

US carriers (pre-trip from NJ)

United Reservations+1-800-864-8331
United Premier Desk+1-800-421-2710
Marriott Bonvoy (US)+1-888-236-2427
Marriott Direct (PB)+1-800-228-5330
State Dept (from US)+1-888-407-4747
State Dept (from abroad)+1-202-501-4444
US Consulate Curaçao+599-9-461-3066
Consulate 24/7 Emergency+599-9-433-2200
Once on the ground, you can also call any +297 number short-form if your carrier supports it (just dial the last 7 digits). The + prefix in these links handles either case automatically.

Dining

Three dinners on Palm Beach & beyond.

Atardi · Tue Jun 9
6:30 PM · Caribbean-Mediterranean seafood · $$$$
StyleOpen-air sunset, feet-in-sand · Palm Beach (Marriott)
Reserve+297-586-9000 · ask for Atardi
BackupSunset Grille (on-site)

Reserve 3–5 days ahead. Request beachfront table for sunset (6–7 PM). Closed Mondays — Tuesday arrival is perfect.

Marriott Dining ↗
Wacky Wahoo · Wed Jun 10
7:30 PM · Caribbean seafood · $$
WhereRenaissance Marketplace, Oranjestad
Reserve+297-588-5888
Price$22–32 / entrée
BackupThe West Deck · +297-587-2667

Casual dress. Reserve 2–3 days ahead. Taxi back to Palm Beach ~$15–18 from the Marketplace queue.

If Wacky Wahoo is full or closed: The West Deck is a 5-minute drive south on the Oranjestad waterfront (L.G. Smith Blvd 54, Linear Park / Governor's Bay). Open daily 11 AM–10:30 PM — walk-in friendly, island grill + fresh seafood, ocean breeze under string lights.

Madame Jeanette's · Thu Jun 11
7:00 PM · Caribbean-French fusion · $$$$
WhereCunucu Abao 37 · 10 min inland
Reserve+297-587-0184
Price$40–55 / entrée
BackupPapiamento · +297-586-4544

Reserve 5–7 days ahead for garden seating. Dress resort-elegant. Closed Sundays — Thursday confirmed open. Mention if celebrating.

If Madame Jeanette's is full: Papiamento Restaurant is the closest match — family-owned since 1983, also in a historic cunucu garden in Oranjestad (Washington 61, ~10 min taxi from Marriott). Same outdoor-fine-dining feel, also closed Sundays, also takes 5–7 days lead time. Book by phone +297-586-4544 or email bookings@papiamentoaruba.com. Elegantly casual dress.

madamejeanette.com ↗

Activities

Two excursions, both signature.

Antilla Shipwreck Snorkel · Wed Jun 10
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM · Half-day boat · $65/person
OperatorRed Sail Sports · +297-586-1603
DepartsPalm Beach pier near Marriott · 9 AM daily
IncludesGear, guide, fruit & drinks

The Caribbean's largest diveable wreck — a 400-ft WWII German freighter scuttled in 1940. Coral-encrusted hull, angelfish, parrotfish, sergeant majors in 15–20 ft of crystal water. Aruba's signature underwater experience.

redsailaruba.com ↗
Arikok & Natural Pool 4x4 · Thu Jun 11
9:30 AM – 1:30 PM · 4-hour jeep tour · $95/person
OperatorABC Tours · +297-586-1530
PickupAruba Marriott lobby
IncludesPark entry, guide, drinks, snorkel gear

20% of Aruba — desert hills, sea caves, and the Natural Pool (Conchi), a volcanic rock basin where waves crash over the rim while you swim in calm turquoise. Wear swimsuit under clothes, bring towel & reef-safe SPF, water shoes for rocky shore entry.

abc-tours.com ↗
Mandara Spa & Pool · Wed/Thu afternoons
Aruba Marriott · open-ended

On-site spa for post-excursion recovery. Book same-day or walk-in. +297-586-9000

Packing

For Caribbean heat & trade winds.

Two travelers, three nights, one fine-dining anchor. Pack light — laundry in-room at the Marriott if needed.

Must Pack

Booking To-Do

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