[COLOR=DarkRed][FONT=Century Gothic][SIZE=2]Visited for a week, April 21-28. I knew what to expect, having stopped there on a cruise last December; my friend did not. What a surprise for him, heh.
We didn't make the San Nicolas hotel arrangements, so didn't know what to expect. We were very, very lucky to have found the best place on our first try. The Astoria Hotel and Restaurant was simply perfect. The rooms are clean and inexpensive (USD $65-$70/night), the food was a goddamned miracle, and the bars (yep, two of them, one inside and one out) were easily the best stocked on the island. Jaegermeister? Johnny Walker Blue? Just [B]try[/B] to find it anywhere else. We looked.
The best part was the company; say hello to Rene, Harold and Michael for me. Rene and Harold own the establishment, and while Rene serves generous drinks, Harold slaves in the kitchen. I can't say enough about them, really. A bunch of great Dutchmen in a fine place. [URL]http://www.astoriaruba.com/[/URL]
Now, on to the good stuff.
If you've never been, here's the situation: There are several bars in a small area, all within short walking distance of each other. If you get lost, head towards the refinery (you can see it for miles with it's smokestacks and gas flame) and you'll be there. "Main Street." We rented a vehicle (surprisingly reasonable price with Thrifty) so were able to scoot around at will. I recommend it.
What these bars do is import women from South America, primarily Colombians, a few Venezuelans and a very few Peruvians. They get a special work visa for three months, then they cannot return to Aruba for an entire year. Most of the girls only do it once to raise American money, then they're gone for good. A lot of them are college bound.
While the bars on Main Street may look wildly different, it doesn't dictate the quality of the girls. The girls don't get to choose. The point is, go to all of the bars up and down the street and check out all the girls before making choices. You won't have to make an effort; simply walk in and sit down, order a drink, and you'll have new friends. A simple "No, gracias" will send them away...but...why would you wanna do that?
Some of the bars have A/C, some don't, but all of them have an incredibly loud jukebox with mostly latin tunes. Just call one of the girls over to help you figure out what to play. They'll be happy to help.
The bars vary on their closing times. Some close at 1AM, some at 5AM. However, this doesn't matter at all, because every single bar has a BACK DOOR, which is where to make the good deals after closing time. The girls hang around in these hallways fronted by a locked gate, and you can walk right up and say howdy. It's kinda like visiting your sister in jail. Your very cute, willing sister. The prices tend to be more reasonable after closing, because the girls don't have to pay the bar for the room when the boss is gone.
I won't bother mentioning names of girls; if you want a few, PM me.
Suggestions: If you are polite to these girls, they will respond in kind, both inside and outside the bedroom. Believe it or not, I made more instant girlfriends with a pack of Orbit gum than by flashing money. They also enjoy dancing. A lot. When they pick a tune on the juke, take them for a twirl. Buy them some "vino" (they'll ask, since it's the only drink they make any money on) and sit down with them.
It may sound silly, but any experienced monger will tell you it pays off in spades. Be polite, be generous....word will travel fast that you are one of the "good ones."
I will post more on this thread as I think of it. Feel free to ask questions.[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR]