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As you plan your next vacation, you may be debating the differences between an all-inclusive resort and a European plan. While a few properties on Aruba choose to be all-inclusive, here at Bucuti & Tara Beach Resorts we’ve decided not to go that direction and wanted to take this opportunity to share some of the reasons why.
To begin, it’s simply that we love our guests and we love Aruba, and bringing the two of you together is one of our specialties. The island boasts an incredible number of wonderful restaurants that are sure to please everyone from the picky eater to the "foodie." Whether searching for a fast food favorite, a gourmet experience or something in between, Aruba’s restaurants and celebrated chefs create memorable meals and add to the overall experience for visitors. An example is located right here at Bucuti, the celebrated Carte Blanche. Praised by locals and visitors alike, Carte Blanche offers diners a unique culinary experience based around a chef’s table concept that features Chef Dennis van Daatselaar skillfully preparing a five-course "chef surprise" meal, right in front of them. Bucuti also offers the oceanfront Elements Restaurant to Aruba’s list of unique restaurants with a menu that includes vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free selections, with "a view to dine for".
We believe that all-inclusive plans can stifle the imagination and creativity for both local businesses and visitors alike. When staying at an all-inclusive resort, guests have a tendency to never leave the resort to explore their surroundings. Meanwhile, the local businesses suffer and disappear because people are only dining on property. Perhaps what’s worse is that guests miss out on one of the most interesting parts of traveling, the interaction with locals. Interacting with the friendly people of Aruba provides visitors with a vacation experience that is enriched by a greater understanding of our culture, our heritage and our general nature. Many visitors made friends for life on the island and about 65% of our guests return.
The same way we don’t believe guest service on property can be approached by thinking one size fits all, your dining experience should be no different. By experiencing local flavors, guests find a style that works best for them as opposed to fitting into a cookie-cutter resort with a one style, one price model. We also pay careful attention to our rates to ensure you are receiving the value you expect from us without any surprises, as opposed to an all-inclusive model where guests sometimes end up paying for amenities they never even used.
Many of the unique restaurants on the island do participate in our Dine Around Plan, which is available to our guests for $42 a person. You can enjoy a 3-course dining experience at one of 15 restaurants that are members of the Aruba Gastronomic Association (AGA). For your convenience, you can start your morning off by enjoying the complimentary full American breakfast buffet in our newly renovated Tara Lounge or at our beachfront restaurant.
A variety of wonderful restaurants and bars are located within walking distance or a brief taxi ride away we encourage guests to sample and enjoy the dining delights the island has to offer.
When visiting a destination that is remote or lacks a good selection of restaurants, bars and sites, it may work for a property to choose to be all-inclusive. This is not the case on Aruba, where everything is accessible. Other reasons could be if the destination faces security issues, language barriers or expensive transportation, but fortunately for us, we do not face any of these issues here in Aruba. So we look forward to welcoming you and sharing a true Aruba experience, proving why we are known as “One Happy Island”.