One Happy Podcast

On today’s episode of One Happy Podcast I am being joined by long time Aruba visitor Charlene Richardson who has been traveling to the island of Aruba since 1997.  Since then Charlene has developed a relationship with the island that has made it feel like a second home.  In fact, eventually Charlene plans on retiring in Aruba, but until then she settles for visiting 3 times per year.

In this episode Charlene shares with us how she has come to fall in love with the island as well as how her tastes in accommodations have changed over the years.  Since Charlene stays on Aruba for multiple weeks she is in the unique position to enjoy her stay at the Aruba Marriott as a timeshare owner while also staying at various other resorts around the island.

Of course as someone who has been visiting the island for 18 years she has developed a love for certain Aruba restaurants.  That isn’t to say she always dines at the same places each trip as Charlene prides herself on visiting different establishments each visit.  Now as a result of having developed a friendship with fellow New Englander turned permanent Aruba resident Cheryl Talcof (Episode 19) her exposure to the entire island has to offer has increased exponentially.

Throughout this interview you will get to know Charlene and the island of Aruba through Charlene’s experiences on the island.  If you are looking to get an idea of what activities and restaurants Aruba has to offer you really should carve out a half hour of your time to give this episode a listen.

On This Episode You Will Hear About:

Aruba Attractions Mentioned This Episode:

Aruba Restaurants Mentioned This Episode:

Links and Resources Mentioned This Episode:

Joining me today on One Happy Podcast is Diana Brown.  Diana is an Aruba-phile that was first introduced to the island many years ago as a result of her Grandmother being a long time timeshare owner.  Although her relationship with the island started off rocky, over the years it has progressed to the point where Aruba has become like a second home to her.  These days she makes the trip from California to the Caribbean more often than she does to her native New York.

Some of you may know Diana from a few of the Aruba Facebook groups where she can be seen dispensing information on a variety of topics.  Anyone who makes 3 trips each year to Aruba is bound to have picked up a load of information along the way and she is always very generous in sharing.  This interview is just one more instance of her giving back to the Aruba vacationer’s community.

Over the course of this interview Diana and I talk about everything from best practices to use when renting a villa to who has the best Sangria on the island.  Of course the highlight of the episode is the eye of the hurricane where I hit Diana with a series of questions and we find out a ton of information.  Will she be able to weather the storm?

Restaurants mentioned in this episode of the show:

Links and Resources mentioned this episode:

Joining me for this week’s episode of One Happy Podcast are Marcia and Ray Frost.  Marcia and Ray have been married for 35 years and have been in love with Aruba since they got married back in 1980… but they have only been visiting Aruba for 5 years.  You may be asking, how can that be, but it really is a demonstration of the power of Aruba. 

Since celebrating their 30th anniversary in Aruba in 2010, Marcia and Ray have been back 3 more times, most recently just about 2 weeks ago.  During their 4 trips they have stayed at many different properties ranging from all-inclusive to off the beaten part bed and breakfast.  They have been all over the island and seen many places most tourists never visit.  In short Marcia and Ray have quite a story.  Luckily they were kind enough to spend an hour with me discussing their various adventures in Aruba.

If you are the sort of traveler that enjoys discovering new experiences while on vacation you will really enjoy this episode.  If you aren’t that sort of traveler the good news is Ray and Marcia have such fun loving attitudes that you will have a ball just listening to them tell their Aruba stories.

On this episode you will hear about:

A first timer’s reaction seeing a place they have been dreaming of for 30 years

Aruba’s Red Light district through tourists’ eyes

What a local taxi driver thinks about the cleanliness of food trucks

What happens when a tourist gets to drive an ABC tours Land Rover

What’s behind the secret door labeled 402C that only locals seem to know about?

Where the governor of Aruba eats when he wants to mingle with his people

Restaurants mentioned this episode:

Pinchos

Reflexions Beach Aruba

Sidebar

Sushi-Ya Sushi Bar

Waka Waka

West Deck

Zeerover

Links and Resources mentioned this episode:

ABC Tours

All Things Aruba! – Facebook Group

Casa Del Mar

Caribbean Palm Village Resort

Divi Dutch Village

Aruba Marina Surfside

Renaissance Island

Waunter Brooke – Taxi Driver 306

This episode of One Happy Podcast, Aruba's Officially Unofficial Podcast features Sue Basler.  An avid scuba diver and golfer, Sue first discovered Aruba in 2004 and immediately fell in love.  On that trip to Aruba, Sue and her husband purchased a timeshare from a fellow diver at the Renaissance Ocean Suites.  Since 2006 they have been returning to paradise annually, staying 3 weeks at a time.

Those of you interested in getting off the Palm Beach strip and enjoying other parts of Aruba will love hearing about Oranjestad, the capital city of Aruba.  Being that the Renaissance is located in the downtown area Sue points out some of the highlights that so many visitors of Aruba fail to experience. 

If you are a diver or aspire to be a diver you will gain additional value from this episode.   In addition being an Aruba diver for more than a decade, Sue also dives all over the world.  Here she discusses what makes diving in Aruba so different and special compared to other dive sites.

On this episode of you will hear about:

·         What makes the Renaissance Ocean Suites so special

·         An awesome dive excursion provider located just steps from the Renaissance

·         A seldom played Aruban golf course that’s a bit off the beaten path

·         Some of the great restaurants located in the Oranjestad Area

·         A couple of incredible resources for planning your next trip to Aruba

Links and Resources Mentioned in this episode

·         Aruba.com – The Official website of the Aruba Tourism Authority

·         Mermaid Divers Aruba – A fantastic Diving Operation

·         Renaissance Ocean Suites Facebook Group – The #1 resource for those looking for information about the Renaissance Ocean Suites.

·         Divi Links Golf Course – The premiere golf course on the island of Aruba

·         One Happy Podcast  Share your Story  - Be a guest on a future episode of the show

·         iTunes Review – Leave a review for One Happy Podcast

On this episode Ray is back to discuss his comedy show which is taking place June 9th through July 9th in the Amsterdam Ballroom at the Marriott Stellaris Casino.  During this half hour episode we talk about the comedians coming down this time around as well Ray’s take on a couple of about excursions and restaurants.

Links and Resources:

Joining me on this 20th episode of One Happy Podcast the Officially Unofficial Podcast of the Island of Aruba is a guest many of you are already familiar with, Andrea James.  Andrea was a guest on episode number 2 of the show and there she shared the story of how she fell in love with Aruba.  Well, Andrea is just back from a trip she took in May and is here to share that little adventure with the rest of us.

Normally Andrea stays at one of the resorts on the island but this time she switched things up by staying someplace off the beaten path, Banana Apartments.  Over the course of this episode Andrea tells us all about Bananas, a couple of different restaurants and a few activities she and her husband Paul enjoyed during their two week stay.

Andrea has 35 years of experience visiting Aruba and being able to tap into a bit of the knowledge she has accumulated over the years is definitely a treat.  The first episode with Andrea got great feedback and I am positive you all will enjoy this one just as much, if not more.

On this episode you will hear about:

Another option for you to stay if you want to try something a bit different

One of the best places on the island to snorkel

A bit of advice if you are going to be going into the water at Arashi

Some tried and true restaurants that still deliver an excellent dining experience

Advice from a 35 year Aruba veteran about what newbies should not do

Links and Resources Mentioned this episode:

Aruba.com forums - the Official website of the Aruba Tourism Authority

Banana Apartments

Barney's

Bully -  Aruba's most popular taxi Drivers

Madame Jeanette's

Sole Mare Ristorante Italiano

Joining me for this 19th episode of One Happy Podcast is Cheryl Talcof.  Having first visited Aruba in 1972 Cheryl had visited the island for 40 years right up until the time she decided to make a permanent move.  Now she lives there year round and is here to tell us about about what it's like for a North American living on Aruba.

Throughout this episode Cheryl takes us on a journey that begins with her visiting a little known piece of rock in the Caribbean all the way through her permanent move to the island.  Over the course of this interview you gain an insight into Aruba that not many tourists will ever know.  

Sure we have all dreamt of making the move from our normal lives to a dream life in paradise but Cheryl actually did it.  If this is a dream that you have had you will definitely want to listen to this episode to see if moving is something you truly want to pursue further.  If you have already decided that relocating is something you WILL be doing in the future then you definitely will want to hear everything Cheryl has to say about life in Aruba.

On this episode you will hear about:

When will you know its time to move to Aruba

Tips for shipping your belongings to Aruba

Arubans and American Football

The Number 1 mindset change you must make to adjust to aurba

Cheryl explains why you should NOT take the all inclusive option

Cheryl's first hand account of just how safe Aruba is

The Aruba Spay and Neuter Fundraising Campaign

The Aruba Spay and Neuter Fundraising Campaign - During the episode Cheryl mentioned the campaign to help raise funds to jumpstart a spay/neuter program for Aruba.  By visiting the link here you can learn more about this amazing opportunity to help improve Aruba.  

As perfect as we may see the island there is always something that can be improved.  On Aruba there is a glaring need for a way to not only help the dogs and cats being born but for a way to get the ever growing problem under control.  Give what you can to this program and you can make a difference.  

Links and Resources Mentioned this episode:

Barneys

KuKoo Kunuku

Ritz Carlton

Marriot Ocean Club

VisitAruba.com

Joining me on this 18th episode of One Happy Podcast are two phenomenal guests, Lori Donlan and her very talented 8 year old daughter Chloe.  Lori first visited Aruba in 2004 and since then has been back 7 times, 2 of them with Chloe.  

Even though Chloe is only 8 she has traveled pretty extensively but absolutely loves Aruba, so much that she actually wrote a song about Aruba.  Chloe and Lori are animal lovers and have visited many of the different animal centered attractions of Aruba and we'll hear all about that.  In addition we hear about the Aruba Marriot Surf Club and their kids club program that gets extremely high marks from 8 year old Chloe.  

If you travel or are planning to travel to Aruba with small children, this is an episode of One Happy Podcast that simply don't want to miss.

On this episode you will hear about:

The Aruba Marriot Surf Club's kids program

Why the Kukoo Kunuku isn't just for adults anymore

8 Year old Chloe's favorite Aruban delicacy

An option for those who want to keep their gear in Aruba

Why you should or should not wear colorful clothing to the Butterfly Farm

Many different kindnesses Aruban residents have shown the Donlans

Restaurants mentioned in this episode:

Aruba Hyatt - Pampered in Paradise

Diana's Pancakes Place

Driftwood

Dutch Pancake House

Flying Fishbone

Linda's Pancakes

Texas De Brazil

Links and Resources Mentioned this episode:

Aruba Donkey Sanctuary

Aruba Butterfly Farm

Phillips Animal Garden

Kukoo Kunuku  Animal Lovers Tour

Marriott Aruba Surf Club

Renaissance Aruba

Timeshare Storage Aruba

Today on One Happy Podcast it is my pleasure to present to you an episode I did with a wonderful guy, James Haroutunian.  James is a Massachusetts native who first visited Aruba 14 years ago as a newlywed for his honeymoon with his beautiful wife Amy.  Well now they are returning to the island for the first time since then with their two incredible children Isabelle and Jack.

This interview is very special as it actually takes place in two parts.  During the first half you will hear about how they spent that first trip.  James takes us back in time and we explore the island through his eyes.  Then we talk about the expectations he has for this upcoming trip. Then in the second half of the interview James returns to fill us in on where Aruba is as special as he remembers.  

Throughout the interview we also are joined by a couple of very special guests who offer their opinions on our favorite vacation destination.  

 In this episode you will hear about:

Restaurants mentioned in this episode:

Links and Resources from the episode:

Joining me today on One Happy Podcast is another fantastic guest.  On this episode of the officially unofficial podcast of Aruba I am being joined by the incredibly talented Connecticut photographer Heather Hudson.  

Heather is a newcomer to Aruba who just returned from a trip where she and her husband Adam were in Aruba to celebrate a very special occasion, Adam's birthday.  While they were there to relax, have a great time and celebrate somewhere along the way they ended up becoming full blown members of our tribe of Arubaphiles.  

Although the Marriot was their home base they didn't stay glued to the resort grounds.  In the middle of their stay Heather and Adam rented a jeep so they could explore the other side of the island.  They even managed to make that treacherous drive to the Natural Pool.  In this 16th episode of One Happy Podcast you will hear all about their exploration, restaurants visited and of course why you should visit Aruba.

In this episode you will hear about:

The moment Heather fell in love with Aruba

Heather's experiences renting a vehicle

What the drive to the natural pool is like

Heather's recommendation for a restaurant that you should not miss

Restaurants mentioned in this episode:

Flying Fishbone

Linda's Dutch Pancakes

Moomba

Passions on the Beach

Links and Resources from this episode:

Heather Hudson Photography

Marriot Aruba Surf Club

Papasan Collapsible Water Float

We Love Aruba! - Facebook Group