Dive and snorkel reefs with giant elkhorn coral, brilliantly-colored parrotfish, fierce barracuda, and World War II shipwrecks. Let your cares melt away as you swim, sunbathe, and kayak at secluded coves with mangroves and white sand beaches. Explore rugged, wind-swept stretches of rocky coastline with surfers, sailboats, and wave-jumping windsurfers. Go horseback riding or bicycling. Hike parklands with boulders, limestone caves, natural bridges, lava rocks, Aruban parakeets, and other unique flora and fauna. Do it all from the comfort and luxury of your private Palm Beach or Eagle Beach vacation rental villa, home, condo, or apartment. Plus enjoy a full kitchen, and save money compared to the big resort hotels.

Explore Aruba’s Dutch-flavored capital city, Oranjestad, just minutes south of your money-saving Palm or Eagle Beach vacation rental. Buy your Aloe vera sunscreens and lotions after a tour of the Aruba Aloe Museum & Factory. Take the whole family to the Historical Museum of Aruba and Fort Zoutman, built by the Dutch in 1798 to defend against pirates. Go back in time 4,500 years to the beginnings of human habitation of Aruba at the National Archaeological Museum, located across from Oranjestad Bus Station.

Tee off at Aruba’s only 18-hole championship golf course, Tierra Del Sol, a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed Bermuda grass course near Arashi Beach and the California Lighthouse at the north end of the island. For a quick 9 holes, tee off at the Links at Divi Aruba at the Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort. For an unusual 9 holes tee off among the goats wandering the Aruba Golf Club, whose oiled sand greens, 20 sand traps, and 5 water traps are near San Nicolas and Valero Energy’s Lago oil refinery for Venezuelan crude at the south end of the island.

With so many beaches and secluded coves, the big question upon awakening in your relaxing Palm Beach or Eagle Beach money-saving vacation rental may be where to start first. Either avoid, get an eyeful, or join in the topless sunbathing at Manchebo Beach. Explore rocky Malmok Beach. Dive or snorkel around the German Freighter Wreck from World War II, not far from the California Lighthouse and Arashi Beach’s calming white sands and clear snorkeling waters. Spanish Lagoon, a pirate-hideaway with mangroves near Oranjestad and Reina Beatrix International Airport, is good for family fun and kayaking tours. In the south, near the Valero refinery, Baby Beach is nice for snorkeling. With the whole island drivable in an hour, you can easily get to all the beaches from your money-saving Palm Beach or Eagle Beach vacation rental.