When you're on vacation you always want to take something to remember it by. Whether you're looking for souvenir's, jewelry, perfumes or something else, it's here.
Many of the high rise hotels have their own little shopping center but you can also go to downtown Oranjestad. There are two main shopping mall's with lots of different shops. And from there you're just two steps away from the main street and the market. When you get to Oranjestad the first thing you will see is the Royal Plaza shopping mall.
When you get to the end of the Royal Plaza and you cross the bridge you're in the small harbor. This is where the fisherman's boats leave every day to go sea fishing. If you get there at the end of the day you can see what the catch of the day was. At the end of the harbor is the second shopping mall, the Seaport Market place. Apart from the shops here you will also find the cinema. Most movie's are in english, except for the children's movie's, these are in papiamento. And just as the Royal Plaza shopping mall, the Seaport Market place has a casino. The Royal plaza shopping mall has a multitude of jeweler's, perfumery's and souvenir shops. The postoffice is also located here. There are several ATM machines at this mall and telephone's. The setar shop is here also and here you can buy telephone-cards or make a call. In case you want to take home pictures in stead of undeveloped films, the kodak shop is right inside this mall. From the Royal Plaza you're just two steps away from the main street. This street also has a lot of different shops so a day in Oranjestad is worth while.
And when you need a break from walking you can take a break and get a refreshment in one of the many bars where you can get anything from a coke to a pina collada and from a sandwich to a complete meal. Or if it's already time for dinner you can try one of the restaurants located here.
An other shopping mall you can go to is the Alhambra shopping mall. This is a nice small mall were you can go in the evening. This mall is opened every day from 5.00 pm till 12.00 am. The mall is located behind the Alhambra Casino.
Recently more new shopping area's are build opposite the highrise hotels, these can be considered 'mega malls' according to Aruba standards. These malls can be found by walking the highrise hotel strip in the direction of the Mariott hotel, you can't miss them!
Photo gallery - Renaissance Marketplace
