Noord, Aruba- The Caribbean island of Aruba sits like a jewel in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea with powdery white beaches, fantastic water sports and an enviably sunny climate. “Aruba offers some of the best diving to be found anywhere and sits comfortably beyond the usual hurricane zone, making it a fabulous year-round destination,” says Matthew Smillie, whose company, Aruba Villa Vacation Homes, provides Aruba beach villas.

Aruba was first settled by Arawak Indians from South America. In 1499, Spanish explorers came to the island looking for gold, but eventually abandoned the isle when little was found. For a long period after that, Aruba became a clandestine port for pirates who tormented ships as they returned to Europe. In the 1600s, Aruba was captured by the Dutch and it became part of the Dutch colony of the Netherlands Antilles. Since then, Aruba has become a premier tourist destination, offering a wide variety of hotels and Aruba vacation rentals. Read the rest of this entry »