Any advice on Aruba?

Travel Info
I have a choice of Riviera Maya or Aruba for vacation. I've been to Riviera Maya a few times and love it. I've never been to Aruba. My questions are:
1. Has anyone been to both and how do they compare?
2. What is a good place to stay? (I prefer tropical ambiance but not a stuffy "tea party" lol)
3. Are there any all-inclusives in Aruba?
4. How is the snorkeling (and where is it?)
5. How is the water off the beaches (aqua? is there snorkeling off beaches?)
6. What is there to do besides the beach?

Thanks for any help you can give!

Travel Tips

been there several times... going there again in april 0f 07 for 2 weeks......(aruba that is) .. also been to playa del carmen.....like aruba much more.....contact lisaaruba here.... she has alot of good advice and even has a very helpful website she has created.......contact me if you want and i'll tell you all about doing it the right way.....if possible, look towards staying in the eagle beach area, not as much of a cluster f*** as the palm beach area... has more of a european feel and much better beach with more elbow room.....if you like glass elevators and mcdonald thenm go to palm beach area and all the high rises........i stayed at manchebo for a week and then came back 2 months later and stayed next door at the bucuti........bucuti is 2x nicer with truely the best staff on the island

Others
Say hi to Natalie Holloway !
This is second hand, but my son as gone to both the Maya Riviera and Aruba ( as a scuba driver), and absolutely rates the former as number one in variety of things to do and chilling out. Highly recommended.
P.S, is that he also went this spring to the Bay Islands (Roatan) off of Honduras, and he intends to return this sumber to buy an acre of land for +- $30,000. This guy has been through the Carribean on a methodical basis, and I'd listen to what he says, Good luck.
my wife and i have been to Aruba twice and loved it. I have stayed at both the Raddison and the Whyndam and both were all inclusive. We liked the resddison better less corporate.Snokerling was great water is very clear and you can do that off the pier of a day trip right near the hotels i listed. as for what to do Relax you can go shopping or sightseeing gold mine and light house. A great place to go. take this from someone who has been to the bahamas a few times we loved aruba much more
I have been to Riviera Maya 1 time and to Aruba 5 times. Personally I do not like Cancun or other Mexican area, so I may be biased to give any advise in favor of Aruba. In any case, we usually stay in Low Rise Hotels in Aruba : personal preference Manchebo Beach Hotel. Some say it looks like Days Inn, but we like it. Snorkeling is most excellent in Aruba ( go to Malmok Beach), with clear blue water and plenty of fish. If you like good wave surfing - my suggestion Dos Playas Beach (Atlantic Side). Very hard to get in - unpaved bad road ( but great fun)- you will need 4W SUV or good Jeep.
Personal Exprience
I have never been to Riviera Maya but I have been to Aruba.
Aruba is a very nice place to visit. It has great beaches and hotels and plenty of nice restaurants. It also has a few casinos in several of the hotels. There is not much to do in Aruba other than beach stuff. You can tour the island in half a day; you鈥檒l see the lighthouse, a national park that鈥檚 kinda like wilderness, a cave with some petroglyphics, and a natural bridge where the water comes under it and washes onto a small beach. There is a tour that takes you in a jeep across some of the desert areas but I would skip this.

You really don't need a car in Aruba, there's not that much to drive to see. Baby Beach is kinda nice but don't feel disappointed if you don't get there. Its not that special. You can easily take a public bus to town from the beach areas. There are lots of water sports in Aruba including jet skis, snorkel and scuba, parasailing and wind surfing and just lounging on the beaches. The casinos are nice, but small. Restaurants are rather expensive. I do recommend the Marriott in Aruba; it鈥檚 a great hotel.