Flamingo Island · Luxury Stay · Safari Tour · Cliff Jumping · Party Bus & More

A gift to myself for hitting 50K — and the trip that changed how I see solo travel forever.

One Island. Three Days. Zero Regrets.

Why I Chose Aruba for My First Solo Trip

Let me be real with you. I had been wanting to take a solo trip out of the country for years. Years. But every time I got close to booking it, the fear crept in. What if something goes wrong? What if I'm lonely? What if it's not safe? Sound familiar?

I wanted to celebrate myself my growth, my hard work, my evolution and I wanted to do it somewhere beautiful, somewhere warm, somewhere that felt like a real arrival. I chose Aruba. And it was the best decision I ever made.

"I felt safer alone in Aruba than I have in my own neighborhood in Nashville. That says everything."

This was my seventh country. But it was my first solo. And I want to tell you the version of solo travel I experienced in Aruba was not scary, not lonely, and not limiting. It was freeing in a way I genuinely did not expect. If you've been on the fence about going alone, this blog is for you.

Where I Stayed: Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino

If you've seen those dreamy pictures on Instagram of flamingos walking across a white sand beach you've seen the Renaissance. That was my hotel. And the reason I chose it specifically was for access to Flamingo Island, the resort's private island that you can only reach via the hotel's own boat. It runs every 15 minutes and takes you to one of the most surreal beach experiences I've ever had.

The Renaissance Aruba Resort is located in Oranjestad, the capital, which means you are walking distance from everything restaurants, shopping, local markets, Pandora, Zara, you name it. It's the most central and walkable area on the island and for a solo traveller, that's everything.

The Room: King Suite Island View

I booked a King Suite with Island View and walked in completely speechless. Here's what you get: a king-size bed that genuinely feels like sleeping on a cloud, a full body mirror (non-negotiable for content creators and anyone who likes to see themselves), a balcony overlooking the water, a full kitchen setup with a coffee machine and cooler, a gorgeous overhead rain shower with a handheld attachment, a safe, an iron, and more plugs than I've ever seen in a hotel room. As someone whose whole life runs on charged devices I was in heaven.

They also gave me plush robes, extra towels, a shower mat (I had literally never seen a hotel provide that), and all the complimentary toiletries you'd want. The TV swivels so you can watch from the bed or from the kitchen area. Small detail — major impact.

There's also a Starbucks on the property, a rooftop area, a pool, and the see-through glass elevator that I could not stop filming. The hotel also has a sister property across the street (more family-oriented with beach access) and a golf cart that shuttles between the two. Everything about the property felt considered.

Day One: Jolly Pirates Sunset Cruise & Dinner at LG Smith's

True story: I almost missed my flight. I was supposed to be at the airport at 4:00am and woke up at 4:30. By the grace of God, I still made it through customs and got to my gate right as they were boarding. First lesson of solo travel: set multiple alarms. Anyway I made it, the island was beautiful, and I was not going to waste a single afternoon sitting in my room.

By 5:30pm on my very first day still jet-lagged, still without my wig redone, hair slicked back I was on the Jolly Pirates Sunset Cruise. I'm a traveller, not a vacationer. I like to be moving.

Jolly Pirates Sunset Cruise

The Jolly Pirates is a sailing ship tour that runs along the Aruba coastline at sunset. The boat has a swing on it yes, an actual swing that hangs over the water, and guests can ride it while the boat is sailing. You also get to swim in the ocean at a stop, there's a full open bar, and the energy on board was genuinely fun even though I was one of the few younger passengers.

Swimming was the highlight for me. I love the ocean like it's a spiritual thing. The water in Aruba is warm, incredibly clear, and so calm on that side of the island. I would give this excursion a solid 9/10 — the only thing I'd say is that it skews slightly older in crowd, so go in knowing that. But the experience itself, the sunset, the open water, the boat swing? Absolutely worth doing on day one.

Dinner at LG Smith's Steak & Chop House

LG Smith's is one of the most recommended restaurants in Aruba it's elegant, the food is exceptional, and it's right inside the Renaissance Resort so I literally just walked downstairs.

I may or may not have put 'birthday' on the reservation even though it wasn't my birthday. What I can tell you is that the staff came out with a beautiful dessert chocolate-covered ice cream with a candle, a handwritten card, and genuine warmth. I raised a glass (non-alcoholic, I was being intentional that night) and toasted, to myself.

The baby back ribs were incredible. The bread was a little saltyonly complaint. Everything else was a 10 out of 10. Dress up for this one. It's a special occasion restaurant and it deserves the effort.

Day Two: Flamingo Island, Breakfast at Linda's & Exploring Oranjestad

Breakfast: Linda's Dutch Pancake House

I had done my research on TikTok before the trip, and Linda's Dutch Pancake House came up again and again. So on my first full morning up at 5am because I couldn't sleep from excitement I made my way there for breakfast. The Dutch pancakes are small, fluffy, and unlike anything you'd get at a regular IHOP situation. I got mine with fruit on the side, kept it light because I had a full day ahead, and it was the perfect start.

The restaurant is about a 5-minute walk from the Renaissance if you're staying there. The area around it is charming colourful Caribbean architecture, cruise ships docked in the distance, solar panels shaped like palm trees along the road. Oranjestad is genuinely one of the prettiest capital cities I've walked through.

Flamingo Island: The Moment I Came For

You take the hotel's private boat it runs every 15 minutes and in about 10 minutes you're on a white sand beach with actual flamingos walking around you like you're on another planet. The island is owned by the Renaissance and only hotel guests can access it, which keeps the crowd manageable. There's a beach bar, a restaurant serving burgers and fresh food, hammocks strung between palm trees, and spa services available if you book in advance.

I'll be honest I had some weather drama on this visit. It kept raining in short bursts (I went in November, their rainy season), and when the rain came the flamingos would scatter. I also had a chair accident where my whole bag dumped into the sand. Camera, phone, everything covered in sand while it was raining. Very cinematic. Very annoying.

I still got my pictures. I still ate a burger on the beach. I still had one of the most surreal experiences of my life. When the sun was out and a flamingo walked up beside me on the sand, everything else fell away. Come early 7am when they open to beat the crowds and catch the best light. That was the original plan, and I'll be executing it perfectly on my return trip.

Shopping in Oranjestad

After the beach I explored the shopping strip and stumbled into Pandora, Zara, Gucci, Cabana, and a dozen colourful souvenir shops. I grabbed three magnets one for me, one for my mom and spent a good while being indecisive over a Pandora charm. I came back the next day and got it: a small turtle charm, because turtles are my absolute favourite animal and I'd been hoping to swim with them on this trip. It was the perfect Aruba keepsake.

I also picked up a few outfits from a local boutique — three pieces for $25, which was a find. Zara had some good pieces too if you need something more polished for dinner. The shopping in Oranjestad is genuinely impressive for an island this size.

Dinner at Elements Restaurant

For my second dinner I went to Elements, a restaurant in the heart of Oranjestad. I ordered dirt chicken tacos and when I say they were a 10 out of 10, I mean stop what you're doing and write this down. The drinks were equally incredible. I got a passionfruit cocktail-style drink that was genuinely the best thing I'd put in my body in recent memory. The atmosphere was warm and lively, service was attentive, and the whole experience was just right.

Day Three: The 8-Hour Safari Island Tour

This was the day I had been most excited about. An 8-hour guided island tour 9am to 5pm that hit multiple landmarks, included cliff jumping, a natural pool swim, a cave with ancient indigenous paintings, a historical lighthouse, horseback riding on the beach, and lunch. All in one day. All with a guide who was one of the most entertaining and knowledgeable people I've met anywhere.

I also met another solo traveller on this tour her first time travelling alone too and we clicked instantly. We spent the rest of the day together. That is the magic of solo travel. You open yourself up to connections you'd never make if you were locked into a group dynamic.

Stop 1: The Natural Bridge

Our guide explained that the last time Aruba experienced something close to a hurricane, the storm carved a rock formation along the northeastern coast that created a natural bridge. The waves crash against it in a way that is genuinely breathtaking raw, powerful, beautiful. This is not Instagram-filtered beauty. This is the earth doing what it does and reminding you how small you are.

Stop 2: Cliff Jumping

I jumped off a cliff into the ocean. Into the actual ocean. The guide described Aruba's indigenous people as having 'native flat-foot genetics' giving them perfect balance on the rocks, and walked us down without even holding on. I held on. Both hands. Multiple times. But I jumped, and the second I hit the water I wanted to go again immediately.

Pro tip: close your eyes when you hit the water. I did not do this and the salt water went straight into my eyes and lashes. The lace still held though so we praise God for that.

Stop 3: The Historic Chapel

Built in the 1700s, this tiny white chapel was the island's first church. You can go inside and light a candle for someone who has passed. There's something deeply quiet and sacred about standing in a building that has held that kind of prayer for over 300 years. Even if you're not religious, it's worth a few minutes of your time.

Stop 4: The Lighthouse

The California Lighthouse sits at the northwestern tip of the island and the views from the base alone are worth the stop. It costs $5 to climb to the top and on a clear day you can see across the entire island. The contrast between the white lighthouse tower, the coral-and-rock terrain around it, and the deep blue ocean beyond is one of those views that genuinely stays with you.

Stop 5: The Caves & Indigenous Rock Paintings

Our guide walked us through caves that were once used as ritual spaces by the Caquetío people an Arawak tribe that came from Venezuela and settled on Aruba thousands of years ago. The cave walls still carry faint ochre drawings: a fish, a turtle shell, figures of the tribe's leader and their chosen few. These were the visions drawn by a shaman after ritual ceremonies, our guide explained. Real history, painted into stone, still standing.

The guide also broke down Papiamento the local language of Aruba and the ABC islands — explaining how it's a beautiful mix of Portuguese, Spanish, English, Dutch, French, and Indigenous Arawak. A language literally blended from the whole world. That's Aruba in a sentence.

Stop 6: The Natural Pool & Baby Beach

The natural pool is a sheltered rocky cove on the rugged northeast side of the island completely protected from waves, hidden from the main road, accessible only by off-road vehicle. The water is clear, calm, and glows an almost unreal shade of turquoise. We swam through it and it felt like being inside a postcard.

Baby Beach, on the southeast tip of the island, is the polar opposite vibe a wide, shallow, perfectly calm bay where the water is barely waist-deep for a hundred metres out. I walked to the middle of the ocean and just stood there, looking back at the island, thinking about how far I'd come. Not geographically personally. This is my fifth time out of the country in one year. My first time alone. Standing in the middle of the sea by myself felt like proof.

Nightlife: The Chogo Party Bus

I told myself I wasn't going on my last night because I was tired from the all-day tour. Then I got in the shower, thought about it, and immediately got ready. Some decisions make themselves.

The Chogo Party Bus is exactly what it sounds like — a party bus that makes its way to multiple bars and clubs around Aruba over several hours, with welcome shots at every stop. The atmosphere is high energy, you meet people from all over the world, and it's one of the best ways to experience Aruba's nightlife without having to plan anything yourself. You just show up and let the night take you.

Halfway through the night, someone came up to me and said 'Are you Jada? I watch your YouTube.' That was the moment this trip became something else entirely. A viewer. In Aruba. On a party bus. Finding me. We hung out for the rest of the night and it was perfect.

The Complete Aruba Travel Guide

Everything I learned, so you don't have to figure it out the hard way.

Getting Around

🚗 No Uber: Aruba does not have Uber. You're using taxis or renting a car. Taxis run $15–$25 per ride and accept cash only bring cash specifically for this. Renting a car is more cost-effective and easy since Aruba drives on the same side as the US. The main quirk: very few traffic lights. They use roundabouts almost exclusively.

🏝️ Oranjestad Location: Staying in Oranjestad (the capital) gives you walking access to restaurants, shopping, and excursion booking offices. It's the best base for a solo traveller.

When to Go

☀️ Best Season: Aruba sits outside the hurricane belt and has no volcanoes or earthquakes. It only gets about 20 inches of rain per year — what most rainy destinations get in three days. Even in 'rainy season' (November–December), rain comes in short 5-minute bursts and then the sun is back out. Any time of year is genuinely fine.

🎭 Carnival: Aruba's Carnival is one of the biggest in the Caribbean. The parade starts building in January with a torch-lighting ceremony and culminates in massive feathered costume parades the weekend before Ash Wednesday both daytime and nighttime versions with micro-light LED costumes. If you can time your trip around it, it is reportedly unmissable.

Must-Do Excursions

🦩 Flamingo Island: Stay at the Renaissance for access. Go at 7am when it opens to beat the crowds and get the best light for photos. Bring a waterproof phone case.

🗺️ 8-Hour Safari Island Tour: Do this. Non-negotiable. It covers the Natural Bridge, cliff jumping, the historic chapel, the lighthouse, indigenous caves, the natural pool, and Baby Beach — all with an excellent local guide who makes the history come alive.

⛵ Jolly Pirates Sunset Cruise: Great first-day activity. Open bar, ocean swimming, a swing over the water, and a gorgeous sunset. Book in advance.

🐢 Swim with Turtles: I didn't get to do this on this trip and it is my biggest regret. It's available through multiple excursion companies. Book early it fills up.

🎉 Chogo Party Bus: Best nightlife option especially for solo travellers. Multiple stops, welcome shots, great energy, and you'll meet people from everywhere.

Where to Eat

🥩 LG Smith's Steak & Chop House: Inside the Renaissance. Upscale, exceptional food, perfect for a celebration dinner. Get the baby back ribs. Make a reservation.

🥞 Linda's Dutch Pancake House: Must-do breakfast. Walking distance from the Renaissance. Small Dutch-style pancakes with fresh fruit. Light, delicious, and a true local staple.

🌮 Elements Restaurant: In Oranjestad. Dirt chicken tacos, incredible cocktails, great vibe. 10 out of 10 across the board.

Solo Travel Safety Tips

✅ Don't announce you're alone: General solo travel rule. In Aruba specifically, you're likely fine — but it's good habit everywhere.

✅ Trust your gut: Aruba gave nothing but good vibes. If something feels off anywhere in the world, leave.

✅ Stay central: Being in Oranjestad means you're never far from people, restaurants, and transport options.

✅ Carry cash: Taxis don't take card. Small shops may not either. Always have local currency on you.

✅ Book excursions early: Popular tours fill up fast. Turtle swimming, the safari tour, sunset cruises — lock these in as soon as you know your dates.

The Real Takeaway: On Solo Travel & Self-Love

I came back from Aruba a different person. Not dramatically, not in a way that's hard to explain — just quieter, more certain, more settled in myself. There is something that happens when you choose yourself so completely that you get on a plane alone, check into a hotel alone, eat dinner alone, explore an island alone, and find that it is not just okay — it is actually better.

Every trip I've taken solo since, I fall more in love with my own company. Not because I don't value other people — but because I've learned that I am enough. That I don't need someone else to have fun, to feel safe, to feel loved. I am the company I keep.

"You will never know where life will take you if you live in fear. The only thing stopping you is fear itself."

Nobody taught me how to drive. Nobody taught me how to swim. I figured both out because I refused to let fear make the decision for me. Solo travel is the same thing. You jump. You figure it out. And on the other side of the jump is the best version of yourself you've ever met.

Aruba is a 10 out of 10. It will not be my last visit. And if you've been waiting for a sign to book your first solo trip — this is it. Go. You won't look back.