Hi, friends! We’re back from our anniversary trip to Aruba, and it was incredible. We got to do a few of the things that we missed out on last year, and really feel like we know the island a lot better.

I posted a full trip report here, but I’ll throw some more pictures up and give you a rundown of our lodging and dining choices.

Where to Stay: we really enjoyed Club Arias, but the location wasn’t our favorite. If you don’t mind spending a little more, please book a stay at Bucuti. It might be my favorite place on the planet. We stayed at Club Arias for two nights, Bucuti for another seven.

Where to Eat: we never had a bad meal, so I’ll just list them in the order we dined. G&G Pizza Co., Flying Fishbone, House of Cakes, MooMba Beach Bar, Pizza Bob’s, Salt and Pepper, Madame Jeanette, Iguana Joe’s, Scott’s Brats, Screaming Eagle, Carte Blanche, and Barney’s

What to Do: we did a great sunset sail on a catamaran, set up through Bucuti exclusively for hotel guests (highly recommended, we’ve done this twice now and have not been disappointed). My favorite part of the trip, however, was just renting a car and exploring the island’s many beaches and sights. And wildlife.

While there are lots of places we’d like to travel over the course of our lifetimes, Aruba is definitely one we will continue to return to. If you’re considering a trip to the island, I can’t recommend it enough — truly my favorite place on earth.