One of the ways we save money when we travel is to book a private rental vs. a hotel. The rental properties are usually much cheaper than hotel stays and they are usually equipped with a full kitchen, which saves us even more money by not eating out every meal of the day.  Rental properties are also great options for families in need of more than one bedroom. We have had great success renting properties from vrbo.com (Vacation Rentals By Owner) and we have saved a lot of money in the process. Our temporary home in Aruba was on the northwest coast of the island, right across the street from Boca Catalina. This small beach cove is said to be the best spot for snorkeling on the island. Additionally, this property was just a short 5 minute walk to my precious, Arashi Beach, mentioned in yesterday’s post. Aruba’s hotels are all crammed on one small strip of the island and we were able to avoid the crowds by renting a property that was located away from the high rises. This also meant there were fewer people I had to share Arashi Beach with!  

In addition to being right across the street from the best snorkeling spot on the island and near the best beach on the island, we were also in a great location to enjoy the beautiful Aruban sunsets.