{"id":349,"date":"2019-08-06T20:35:11","date_gmt":"2019-08-06T20:35:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/?p=349"},"modified":"2022-12-08T15:50:16","modified_gmt":"2022-12-08T15:50:16","slug":"aruba-or-barbados","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/aruba-or-barbados\/","title":{"rendered":"Aruba Or Barbados: Which To Choose For An Island Vacation?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you plan to travel to a Caribbean island, <strong>Aruba <\/strong>or <strong>Barbados<\/strong> may be both on your list.  In this post, I\u2019ll compare them to try to help you choose the right one for your island vacation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both Aruba and Barbados are very popular island destinations and cruise-ship ports. Aruba, located just 30 km off the coasts of South America, is still <strong>Dutch<\/strong>, while Barbados, the easternmost Caribbean island, is independent but part of the <strong>British <\/strong>Commonwealth, and English-speaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m28!1m12!1m3!1d15716651.33819212!2d-77.05640876204299!3d15.905241816949008!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m13!3e4!4m5!1s0x8c43f1fbae321aa3%3A0xeec51b38cf4362b!2sBarbados!3m2!1d13.193887!2d-59.543198!4m5!1s0x8e8538cfe25a77db%3A0xf16a8a3e89818c2f!2sAruba!3m2!1d12.52111!2d-69.968338!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1568364101299!5m2!1sen!2sus\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_62 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-65e15ee0a6f9e\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-65e15ee0a6f9e\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/aruba-or-barbados\/#What_travelers_say\" title=\"What travelers say\">What travelers say<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/aruba-or-barbados\/#Access_and_transportation\" title=\"Access and transportation\">Access and transportation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/aruba-or-barbados\/#Vibe_and_people\" title=\"Vibe and people\">Vibe and people<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/aruba-or-barbados\/#Nature_and_outdoors\" title=\"Nature and outdoors\">Nature and outdoors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/aruba-or-barbados\/#Food_and_nightlife\" title=\"Food and nightlife\">Food and nightlife<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/aruba-or-barbados\/#Lodging\" title=\"Lodging\">Lodging<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/aruba-or-barbados\/#Activities\" title=\"Activities\">Activities<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_travelers_say\"><\/span>What travelers say<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"639\" height=\"425\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/45456803192_3257ab2b4d_z.jpg\" alt=\"aruba\" class=\"wp-image-652\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/45456803192_3257ab2b4d_z.jpg 639w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/45456803192_3257ab2b4d_z-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 639px) 100vw, 639px\" \/><figcaption>Aruba (2)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Aruba and Barbados are in a<strong> similar budget category<\/strong>, not so much for the all-inclusive Cancun crowd, both are a little <strong>pricey <\/strong>if all you want to do is lounge on the beach<\/li><li>Both islands have good gastronomy and are valid choices if lying on the beach isn\u2019t your sole interest. Barbados is very Caribbean-like and has cultural and natural attractions beyond the beach, while Aruba has a very strong American feel even though Dutch is spoken. <\/li><li>Aruba has a tourist strip with many <strong>shops and casinos<\/strong>, resembling places like Miami. For many, this is Aruba\u2019s strong point, while for others, it doesn\u2019t have the charm and <strong>Caribbean flavor <\/strong>of Barbados.<\/li><li>Barbados is bigger and much more <strong>tropical-like<\/strong>, with a greater beach variety and quality. It\u2019s a good place to explore different ecosystems (jungle, savannas, cane fields, rugged and flat coasts), learn about the history of the colony, go surfing, or simply relax the island\u2019s natural beauty.<\/li><li>On the other hand, if you want shopping, <strong>vibrant nightlife<\/strong>, and casinos, then Aruba may be your choice. Aruba is a much arider and <strong>desert-like<\/strong> island as it\u2019s less prone to rain or hurricanes, being much further South than Barbados &#8211; the latter is in the hurricane belt and more likely to get rain.  Aruba is also quite smaller, so beach options are more limited and the beaches can get <strong>crowded<\/strong> since early in the morning.<\/li><li>Barbados has much <strong>more traffic<\/strong> than Aruba but is <strong>more scenic<\/strong>. Aruba, on the other hand, has a much <strong>safer feel<\/strong>. Barbados, while beautiful, does not always feel totally safe to walk alone. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Access_and_transportation\"><\/span>Access and transportation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p> There are direct flights from Miami, New York or London to either one of. If you want to visit both islands, you have to take a cruise, since there are no direct flights between them. The fastest way to connect by plane is through Miami with American Airlines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> While Barbados is more than twice as big, both islands are relatively small and easy to get around. In Barbados you have buses and cabs, you can rent bicycles or a car or just walk around it. Aruba has a great bus system to move around the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Vibe_and_people\"><\/span>Vibe and people<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/4179462611_068eb2f6b7_z.jpg\" alt=\"barbados\" class=\"wp-image-653\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/4179462611_068eb2f6b7_z.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/4179462611_068eb2f6b7_z-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/4179462611_068eb2f6b7_z-310x232.jpg 310w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/4179462611_068eb2f6b7_z-140x105.jpg 140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Barbados (3)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Both islands can offer an enjoyable island experience, \u00a0but they are quite different in terms of landscape and vibe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Barbados is very Caribbean, <strong>lush, tropical, natural<\/strong>, with friendly and communicative people and many things to see and do. It\u2019s a good choice if you plan to spend each day on a different <strong>uncrowded beach<\/strong> while still doing some sightseeing and day trips.\u00a0 You\u2019ll also find pretty good entertainment and food places in the evenings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although infrastructure is good on both islands, Barbados has building height limitations and, unlike Aruba, is a <strong>much less commercial<\/strong> place, with only a few American restaurant chains. Restaurants in Barbados tend to be Caribbean-style and range from casual diners to fancy places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Barbados\u2019 capital city is <strong>Bridgetown<\/strong>, located in the southwest. It\u2019s quite a busy town, but very beautiful and easy to get around, with medium-sized buildings, a walkable shopping street (Swan St.) and the attractive <strong>Independence Square<\/strong>. From Bridgetown you can easily access the luxurious and relaxed <strong>west coast<\/strong>.\u00a0 The south part of the island is a good place for water sports, lounging, and <strong>partying<\/strong>. The East coast offers <strong>seclusion <\/strong>and wilderness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aruba is more refined and <strong>tourist-driven<\/strong>, with lots of shops, very <strong>tall buildings<\/strong>, large <strong>casinos<\/strong>, and a distinctive American feel to it, very much like places such as Cancun or Punta Cana. Its beaches are few and very crowded, but beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aruba is not only small but mostly desert, <strong>full of cacti<\/strong> and a little windy. You can visit the whole island and its different cultural influences in just one day. It\u2019s a very <strong>clean and safe <\/strong>place overall, where you can drink water from the tap and, unlike Barbados, you don\u2019t have to worry about panhandlers or vendors hounding you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"348\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/aruba-desert.jpg\" alt=\"Aruba is arid\" class=\"wp-image-659\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/aruba-desert.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/aruba-desert-300x163.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Arid Aruba (4)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Being a renowned <strong>timeshare destination<\/strong>, Aruba tends to get filled with families and children, and travelers often report having to wake up very early in the morning in order to get beach chairs close to the ocean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Nature_and_outdoors\"><\/span>Nature and outdoors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/3977610188_9797865621_z.jpg\" alt=\"Eagle Beach, Aruba\" class=\"wp-image-654\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/3977610188_9797865621_z.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/3977610188_9797865621_z-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Eagle Beach, Aruba (5)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Both islands have\ngreat turquoise-water beaches and some places to explore and discover. Since\nBarbados is a larger island, it offers more options in both departments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Barbados is a very <strong>natural place<\/strong>, full of lush vegetation where you can come across green monkeys running around. In Barbados, you can catch some rains (mostly in September\/October) but it\u2019s much less windy than Aruba, especially if you stay in the South or West Coast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the <strong>south coast<\/strong>, you\u2019ll find Enterprise\/Miami Beach which is great for swimming or, right in Bridgetown, Brownes Beach or Carlisle Bay. In the <strong>Southeast<\/strong>, Foul Bay, Crane Beach, and Bottom Bay are stunning secluded beaches with strong currents, ideal for surfing and views. On the <strong>West Coast<\/strong>, you\u2019ll find beaches with waves or calm waters like Mullins Beach, Sandy Lane Beach, Batts Rock beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2498872706_c81cff113e_z.jpg\" alt=\"Enterprise Beach, Barbados South Coast\" class=\"wp-image-655\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2498872706_c81cff113e_z.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2498872706_c81cff113e_z-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2498872706_c81cff113e_z-310x232.jpg 310w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2498872706_c81cff113e_z-140x105.jpg 140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Enterprise Beach, South Coast Barbados (6)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In Aruba, North from capital city Oranjestad, are the island\u2019s two most renowned and beautiful beaches: <strong>Palm Beach<\/strong>, a gorgeous, very calm beach, and <strong>Eagle Beach<\/strong>, a wide beach with lots of bars and stronger currents but very clear waters.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Travelers recommend renting a Jeep to explore Aruba and visit the <strong>Arikok National Park<\/strong> or take off-road paths in the desertic eastern part of the island. Aruba also has oyster and butterfly farms, and donkey sanctuaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Food_and_nightlife\"><\/span>Food and nightlife<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"379\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/3288710565_d3d41cf2e7_z.jpg\" alt=\"Aruba Oranjestad\" class=\"wp-image-660\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/3288710565_d3d41cf2e7_z.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/3288710565_d3d41cf2e7_z-300x178.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption> <em>Aruba Oranjestad<\/em>  (7)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Both islands have great <strong>cuisine<\/strong>, among the best in the Caribbean. Travelers find fancy restaurants to be slightly cheaper in Aruba than in Barbados. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Examples of well-rated places in Aruba include <strong>Fred Restaurant <\/strong>in Oranjestad, or nearby <strong>Opus Ocean &amp; Grill<\/strong> for more affordable seafood and Caribbean dishes. For lunch at the beach, Scott\u2019s Bratt is a budget-friendly American food spot in Palm Beach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The nightlife in Aruba is <strong>non-stop<\/strong>, with bars, clubs and partying places open all-night. Many big hotels have casinos &#8211; travelers often recommend the Alhambra, the Ritz-Carlton, and the Stellaris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Barbados also has many options for every budget and type of food. Near Brown Beach, <strong>Brown Sugar<\/strong> is a well-priced and beautifully decorated all-you-can-eat place serving local dishes. Further south, near Dover Beach, <strong>Champers<\/strong> is a 5-star restaurant with sea views. Also in the South, in the fishing village of Oistins, locals and tourists alike enjoy the island\u2019s national dish, the cou-cou with flying fish, at the Friday evening fish market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Barbados has a <strong>mile-long entertainment district<\/strong> full of bars, clubs, pool halls, and live music. Drinks tend to be quite cheap, with several places offering unlimited drinks for a reasonable entrance fee. There are also quieter options on the northwest side of the island. Partygoers commonly go for grilled fish as a late-night snack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lodging\"><\/span><strong>Lodging<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"430\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/4175025651_9c61dced4b_z.jpg\" alt=\"Barbados resort\" class=\"wp-image-657\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/4175025651_9c61dced4b_z.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/4175025651_9c61dced4b_z-300x202.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Barbados resort (8)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Although there are <strong>all-inclusive resorts <\/strong>on both islands, travelers often suggest avoiding\u00a0them since both islands have a large variety of food options to choose from on your own. For travelers seeking all-inclusive accommodations, however, the Tamarijn or the Divi in Aruba and the Sandals, Crystal Cove or Mango Bay in Barbados are well-rated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Aruba, many good hotels are located on the main beaches. In <strong>Palm Beach<\/strong>, the Ritz is huge and luxurious, and the Hilton has decent deals and lets you reserve a palapa in advance. In <strong>Eagle Beach<\/strong>, the Bucuti is a boutique, adults-only, quiet hotel with a huge beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Barbados, many of the high-end hotels are located either on the <strong>South Coast <\/strong>(closer to entertainment) or <strong>West Coast <\/strong>(more relaxed). If you plan to fully enjoy nature in a secluded spot, <strong>East Coast <\/strong>hotels may be a good choice e.g. the Atlantis Hotel or the Edgewater Inn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re on a budget, travelers frequently recommend checking out the website Shoestring Barbados (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.shoestringbarbados.com\">www.shoestringbarbados.com<\/a>) where you\u2019ll find decent accommodation deals for renting rooms or apartments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Activities\"><\/span><strong>Activities<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned earlier, Aruba can be fully explored in one day so you can spend the rest of your stay enjoying the beach, casinos, and restaurants. In Barbados, on the other hand, travelers generally feel there is much more to do and discover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from all types of water sports, Barbados offers <strong>adventure activities <\/strong>such as Island Safari, ATV tours and caves and submarine tours. During weekends, the Barbados National Trust organizes a minimum 8-mile hike through diverse spots on the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Barbados also has a\nfew historical places including Washington House &amp; Garrison, St. Nicholas\nAbbey, Gunhill Signal station, and several rum distilleries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">***<br><em>Photo credits:<br><\/em>(1) Featured:  &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/diamondace\/33226143812\/\" target=\"_blank\">IMG_1939-Edit<\/a>&#8221;\u00a0(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.0<\/a>)\u00a0by\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/diamondace\/\" target=\"_blank\">brianfagan<\/a> <br>(2) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/froderik\/45456803192\/\" target=\"_blank\">aruba<\/a>&#8221;\u00a0(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>)\u00a0by\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/froderik\/\" target=\"_blank\">freddie boy<\/a> <br>(3) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/joeross\/4179462611\/\" target=\"_blank\">Barbados Store that looks like a Chattel<\/a>&#8221;\u00a0(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>)\u00a0by\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/joeross\/\" target=\"_blank\">Corvair Owner<\/a> <br>(4) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/northern_man\/7035467103\/\" target=\"_blank\">Aruba 2012<\/a>&#8221;\u00a0(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.0<\/a>)\u00a0by\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/northern_man\/\" target=\"_blank\">northern man<\/a> <br>(5) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/bortabra\/3977610188\/\" target=\"_blank\">Eagle Beach #3<\/a>&#8221;\u00a0(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>)\u00a0by\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/bortabra\/\" target=\"_blank\">G\u00f6ran Ingman<\/a> <br>(6) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/jacbt\/2498872706\/\" target=\"_blank\">Lazy Sunday&#8230;<\/a>&#8221;\u00a0(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY 2.0<\/a>)\u00a0by\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/jacbt\/\" target=\"_blank\">gemteck1<\/a> <br>(7) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/24736216@N07\/3288710565\/\" target=\"_blank\">Aruba &#8211; Oranjestad and Hooiberg<\/a>&#8221;\u00a0(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>)\u00a0by\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/24736216@N07\/\" target=\"_blank\">roger4336<\/a> <br>(8) &#8220;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/joeross\/4175025651\/\" target=\"_blank\">Barbados resort<\/a>&#8221;\u00a0(<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>)\u00a0by\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/joeross\/\" target=\"_blank\">Corvair Owner<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you plan to travel to a Caribbean island, Aruba or Barbados may be both on your list. In this post, I\u2019ll compare them to try to help you choose the right one for your island vacation. Both Aruba and Barbados are very popular island destinations and cruise-ship ports. Aruba, located just 30 km off [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":651,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16],"tags":[42],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/349"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=349"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/349\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":662,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/349\/revisions\/662"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/651"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityorcity.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}