Paradise made easy in the Caribbean

Dec 24 2010 By Adam Aspinall

The 'ABC islands’' of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao have all the sun-kissed perfection of the Caribbean but also offer fascinating history, as Adam Aspinall discovers.

Breaking up can be hard to do – or so they say.

It is not just the CDs and DVDs which have to be sorted through, it can be a messy and emotional wrench leaving both sides bitter and resentful.

How refreshing then the islands which used to be known simply as the Dutch Antilles have handled their maturing relationships with the motherland with such aplomb.

While Aruba struck out on its own in 1986 and has been very successful ever since, Bonaire and Curacao decided to take their own routes into the 21st century.

But as of October 2010 the Dutch Antilles ceased to exist with a change of the islands’ constitutional status.

And as ever with the ABC islands each one did it in their own way.

Curacao followed on from Aruba and became an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Bonaire became a snappily entitled “special municipality of the kingdom”.

But, rather comfortingly, the Netherlands still retains responsibility for defence and foreign policy, like a chivalrous ex ready to ride to the rescue of a former flame.

But why the early history lesson, I hear you cry? Well, the ABC islands are anything but simple, and to lazily clump them together as peas in a pod would be unfair to both the islands and the tourists thinking of visiting them.

A trio of islands just 20 minutes flight from the coast of Venezuela each have distinct and dynamic characters born from complex histories.

Suffice to say a surfeit of historical tides have washed over each island in different ways to produce three very different destinations offering very different experiences for visitors.

So if you want to experience the Caribbean idyll with a South American flavour and are going to spend your hard-earned money on a trip to there I would ask one simple question: which one suits me and my family best?

All have the sun-kissed beaches, azure seas and palm-fringed sunsets you would expect from the Caribbean. But each island has its own personality – whereas Aruba is the thrusting youth, Bonaire is the laid back thinker and Curacao is working hard to play hard.

Let’s begin with ‘A’ and consider what Aruba has to offer.

It is worth bearing in mind that Aruba has become an American playground and your first impression may well be that you have landed in Florida.

Dunkin’ Donuts, Wendy’s, and late night shopping malls vie for your attention as you make your way to one of the islands many resort hotels.

I was staying at the Westin Aruba Resort, which is a cosy 1970s-style property of 480 rooms set on the beach, complete with its own mini casino and friendly birds of paradise in cages.

In fact, there is nothing quite like being greeted with a friendly ‘aloha’ from a tropical bird as you make your way out for a morning swim.

After the swim the world is your oyster with much to see and do on Aruba, but this really is the island on which to do as little as possible.

Everything can or will be taken care of for you in your resort, although it would be a shame to miss out on hiking through the rugged Arikok national park or tucking into a feast of fresh fish from the Old Fisherman restaurant in the heart of the old town of Oranjestad.

In short, Aruba is a perfect family destination, or a romantic getaway for honeymooners in search of that Caribbean idyll, but perhaps is not a destination for the more independent traveller.