Hank and Debbi were wonderful! We stayed at the Paradera apartments and at the Hyatt with an oceanfront view, but would go back to Paradera Park in a flash. The Hyatt was wonderful, but everything was pretty expensive. Paradera Park was much quieter with friendly people enjoying a wonderful vacation. made us feel right at home on our honeymoon. The rooms were big, very clean and inviting. We enjoyed all of their advice in renting a car, where to go snorkling, and where to go for some romantic dinners. All of their advice was terriffic. After paying for a wedding, it was wonderful to enjoy the beautiful island without breaking the bank.

Searching for the perfect hotel in a warm, Carribbean location when you are far away in Alaska is no easy thing to do. However, we knew that Paradara Park was the place for us from the moment we saw the website. It lived up to and in many respects exceeded our expectations.
My husband and I visited Aruba in january of 2008 and stayed solely at Paradara Park. After a 24 hour flight we arrived in Aruba, exhausted! Fortunately customs was a breeze: "to the beach!" was all the Aruban agent said to us, with a smile. We'd arranged for a rental car with the car rental service recommended (and booked) by the hotel. Our flight arrived early so the rental representative was at the airport to greet us. But no problem! A friendly local saw our confused faces and used his cell to ring up the company and they were there in a flash. The rep. showed us where the hotel was en route to get the car and also pointed out various landmarks to make driving easier --which it was, actually, and this was our first international driving experience.
We were greeted at the hotel by Debbie and two cold Balashi beers. The rooms were the cleanest, most spacious rooms we've ever had from a private hotel (we always chose the smaller, private hotels from the larger resorts whenever we travel). The water pressure in the shower was amazing! There are huge closets to keep your clothes and shelves in the bathroom to store your toiletries so you don't have to have everytihng spread all over the counter. The grounds around the hotel are extremely lush and well kept, quiet and relaxing. I enjoyed using the book/magazine exchange --always had plenty of reading material for the beach. I have to say that if you are concerned about staying in a hotel that isn't directly on the beach,dont be! We walked thru some of the larger hotels that are on Palm Beach and I didn't feel like we were missing anything at all --quite the opposite really. It is only a 10 drive to the beach, and there are so many great beaches to chose from that it would be a shame to be "stuck" at one.
Despite the business of the season, Henke and Debbie were able to get us on both Anthony's Day Sail (snorkel and sail around south side of the island) and a horseback ride to the natural pool with just a day's notice. Both were very lovely. A word of advice re: the horseback ride: i was very glad to have worn both sneakers and longer capri style pants. My husband did not and had quite a bit of chafing from various parts of the saddle. We even met someone the next day who had by chance ridden the same horse that he did and they had chafing on the same places!!
The beach set was perfect for heading to the beach --light to carry, it will save you big bucks on the beach where chairs go for over 10 bucks easily. We preferred Eagle Beach -- we always parked on the north end of Eagle Beach and enjoyed yummy gouda burgers at the beachside bar. We also loved Baby Beach, a short drive down the coast and the most beautifully still water I have ever seen. It would be ideal for young children.
Debbie and Henke advised us well when it came to food. Although the hotel is well stocked with cooking supplies,we just love to eat out! Our favorite place is BINGO -- wonderful food and atmosphere and friendly service. The Bingo Salad is so flavorful you barely need dressing. For our "fancy meal" we ate at Gasparitos, a lovely restaurant filled with local art and antiques. There is a nice outdoor dining area.
Our favorite coffee house --with high accolades from Henke -- is Smit and Dorla's Coffee House. The coffee is the best on the island (believe me, we are serious coffee people, and we looked) and the baristas are helpful and friendly. One even led us in her car during her lunch break to a local restaurant --Nos Cunucu (yummy). We took a lot of their coffee home.
This hotel is a lovely little bit of paradise,everytihng you could want. While we did not travel with our young children this time, I think Paradara Park would be an ideal hotel for children. We didn't want for anything --the owners even provided their own alarm clock as a back up for our very early morning trip to the airport when we left.

Thank you, Henke and Debbe, for being such wonderful hosts at such a quality establishment. We would stay here over and over.

Traditionally, I am a big hotel girl..I like alot of pillows, a fancy lobby, a spa and a big pool...Having never been to Aruba, we decided to go with PP solely based on TA reviews (and I was admittedly quite nervous, but figured if it was awful, we would just go check in to the Radisson or the Hyatt)...I have completely changed my mind!! PP was absolutely perfect! It was clean, centrally located, quiet, and beautiful.. I can't stand a big $30 breakfast (when all I want is yogurt and coffee) and having the efficiency, with my Dunkin Donuts coffee as soon as I wanted it was perfect...We joined a health club in town for the week ($37 for the whole week...whereas the big hotels want at least $20 per person per day, and most will not even let you in)
We did enjoy spa treatments at th Larimar at the Radisson, with that, they will give you a "day pass" and a locker, so you can use their gym, pools, palapas and lounge chairs...and shower, steam, and sauna in the locker room.
Gilligans has a great spa grilled chicken salad.
Best Meal: Screaming Eagle
Sexiest Restaurant: Flying Fishbone
Good Steak: El Gaucho
Entertainment: Soprano's Piano Bar
Good Sunset Drink: Tamarjin resort (it isall inclusive, but they will sell you drink passes for the sunset)
Second Best meal: Madame Jeanettes
Great Breakfast: Linda's in Noord (get a pancake)...
We will absolutely be back!! Thanks to Debby and Henk!!

We are just ending a wonderful vacation at the Paradera Park Apartments in Aruba. Everything we read was absolutely correct and we have enjoyed every minute of our stay here. It is located a few miles from the beaches but we found that to be a plus in that we were away from all the noise and casinos around the hotel district. We found ourselves a few miles north of the hotels every morning where the snorkeling was the best we had ever seen. It was much better than Maui last year.
The apartment was a large room with a built in closet about half way down the middle of the room, separating the bedroom area from the kitchen area. The kitchen was furnished with all the basics you need for up to 4 people. It included a range, small refrigerator/ freezer, microwave, toaster oven, coffee pot and a sink. It was more than adequate for some basic cooking.
The rest of the apartment consisted of a bed room area with a queen size bed and two end tables, a kitchen table with 2 chairs, a sitting area with 2 stuffed cushion rattan chairs, a coffee table, and 2 chests of drawers with a TV on it. An easy care tile floor and a bathroom and you have a nice base of operations for your time on the island. During our time here, our youngest son, who had just graduated from college, got two job offers from top engineering firms and bought a new car. The wireless internet access was, needless to say, priceless.
The pool area was an oasis to behold. There were chaises, hammocks and tables scattered under the palm trees with numerous flowering plants everywhere. It was hard to believe you were on a desert island. There was always a place to get some sun or to read a book or to catch up on your email from home. The kitchen saved us a small fortune. I hate big breakfasts so a bowl of cereal or maybe some sausage and eggs was more than adequate. I don’t need more than a sandwich for lunch. We did eat out a few of nights but had simple meals here the rest of the time. So for the cost of one fancy meal with drinks and wine, we took care of all the rest of our meals on the island.
Debbie and Henk were ideal hosts. Debbie greeted us with cold drinks and maps (though you soon find out that even if you have ten maps none are right and half of the signs are wrong too :) . She answered all our original questions and furnished us with the beach pack that everyone has been extolling. It made our trips to the beach much more enjoyable. After the first day though we just brought the chairs and the towels and brought frozen water bottles which thawed in the sun at the beach or in the car? Henk seemed to have a knack of showing up when we had a question he could answer and disappearing the rest of the time. Both always had a friendly smile on their faces and a nice word to share. Even their little beagle dog just showered my wife with kisses as she laid in the hammock.
We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and if we come back again, we will absolutely stay here!
Beth & George