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Basics about Aruba, an island in the Caribbean. Aruba is one of the top destinations for holiday makers looking for sand and sun. It’s also a popular stop for cruise ships.
Brief History of Aruba
Aruba was originally inhabited by the Caquetío people, who are natives of northwest Venezuela. The Spanish arrived in 1500 and deemed the island “useless”, eventually capturing several natives and forcing them into slavery. The island was depopulated between 1515 and 1513, affecting about 2,000 indigenous inhabitants and leaving Aruba virtually abandoned. By 1630, there were only a few natives and Spaniards living there.
The Dutch claimed Aruba in 1636, with a brief spell under British rule from 1806 to 1816. Industrial development followed in the 19th century, including phosphates, gold mining, and aloe vera. The opening of the first oil refinery of 1924 ushered in a huge period of growth and prosperity, and tourism followed in the 1950s.
In March 1983, Aruba reached an agreement of autonomy with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, officially seceding from the Netherlands Antilles on January 1, 1986, and achieving country status within the Kingdom. Full independence was planned for 1996 but it was suspended indefinitely. Today, Aruba remains a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
When to Visit Aruba
Aruba has a fairly consistent temperature, so if the most important factor is great weather, you can visit any time of year. If you want to avoid crowds, low season is typically mid April through mid-December, especially September through mid-December. This is when you’ll also find lower prices. High season runs from mid-December through mid-April, when prices tend to jump.
Aruba Entry Requirements
Citizens of most countries in the Americas and Europe as well as Australia and New Zealand can enter Aruba visa-free. Visitors must complete an online entry form, the ED card, to be granted permission to board their flight to Aruba. The ED card does not guarantee entry, which is at the discretion of officers at passport control.
Furthermore, any traveler coming from a list of countries in Central and South America or Africa must also be vaccinated against yellow fever. The only acceptable proof is the yellow card, or International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP).
Queen Beatrix International Airport
Queen Beatrix International Airport is located in the capital, Oranjestad. Flights are available from several destinations in the US, Canada, Caribbean, northern South America, and a few cities in Europe. The United States maintains border preclearance facilities at the airport.
Queen Beatrix International Airport is relatively small, with a few places to grab food or drinks both inside and outside the gate areas. You can also get a local SIM card in the arrivals hall after landing.
Language in Aruba
Most locals speak English, Spanish, Dutch, and Papiamento, so there shouldn’t be an issue with language. When we entered a restaurant or store, we were usually greeted in Papiamento and then switched to English or Spanish.
Money in Aruba
As far as money, two currencies are accepted – the US dollar and Aruban florin. Many restaurants and some stores will list prices in both dollars and florin. The exchange rate is fixed at US$1 to AWG$1.78. For us, there was no need to change money. We used credit cards and paid cash in dollars without any problems.
Renting a Car in Aruba
Hands down, the best way to get around Aruba is to have your own transportation. You can rent a car for a reasonable price and driving is fairly easy all around the island. If you want to save cash, you can take local buses, but we didn’t find them to be reliable or convenient. We covered a lot more ground and saved time by having our own car.
Also, if you’re adventurous and want to explore some of the island’s more inaccessible natural places, you can rent a 4×4. This is necessary for places like Conchi (Natural Pool) and the rugged east coast. We rented a normal car and had no issues on most unpaved roads, but missed out on a few places we would have liked to visit.
Renting with Wheels2Go
We rented a car with Wheels2Go. In addition to the best prices on the island, this is probably the most convenient car rental experience I’ve ever had. A driver greeted us at the airport arrivals hall and took us to the office a few minutes away. I paid the deposit, signed the papers, did a walk-through, and was on my way in less than 10 minutes.
Returning the car was just as easy. We drove to the office, did the walk-through, and paid the final charge. They even drove us to the airport in the same car without having to move our luggage and a sleeping toddler to another vehicle. I highly recommend Wheels2Go and will definitely use them again on my next trip to Aruba.
Driving in Aruba
As I mentioned, driving is fairly easy. There’s not much traffic anywhere on the island, roads are usually decent, and parking is easy to find. If you’re not used to roundabouts, however, you might have a short adjustment period. All of the major intersections in Aruba are roundabouts, which are clearly marked for which lane you need to be in.
Speed limits are in kilometers per hour and are sometimes not posted. Typically, it’s 30 in towns and residential areas, 60 outside towns, and 80 on highways. Although the police keep a low profile, speed limits are enforced.
Free and paid parking lots are available in Oranjestad and the beach areas of Palm Beach and Eagle Beach. There’s also metered parking in Oranjestad. Otherwise, parking is free. Just don’t park along a road where there’s a yellow line.
Finally, the only negatives I encountered while driving were sometimes local drivers wouldn’t signal or would suddenly pull out in front of me. Other than that, driving is much better than in most other countries I’ve driven in.
Gas Stations in Aruba
To fill up your tank, gas stations in Aruba may be a little different than what you’re used to. It’ll feel “old school” for anyone who remembers what life was like without pay-at-the-pump. Some gas stations will have both self and full service pumps while others are self service only.
For full service, just pull up and the attendant will fill up for you. They’re usually friendly and talkative. You can pay cash to the attendant or go inside to use your credit card. Give a little tip and be on your way. Easy.
For self service, you have to follow the arrows to enter on the correct side of the pumps (you can’t pull up to the pump wherever you want as I found out the hard way). Next, go inside and tell the cashier how much gas you want and which pump you’re at. If paying by cash, pay the cashier, go pump, and be on your way. If paying by credit card, you’ll probably have to leave your card with the cashier, then go back inside to run the charge and get the card back.
Where to Stay in Aruba
There are lots of places to stay in Aruba. If you’re looking to unwind, relax, and be pampered, you can stay at one of the high-rise resorts right on Palm Beach or low-rise resorts at Eagle Beach. Further inland and in other areas, you’ll probably find more budget-friendly choices. In either case, to see the rest of the island you’ll need to book a tour or rent a car.
Coconut Inn
We stayed at the Coconut Inn in the Noord district for nine nights. It’s conveniently located just a few minutes from Palm Beach and Eagle Beach as well as several great restaurants. This is the perfect place to stay if you’re on a budget and want to maximize your time in Aruba.
The Coconut Inn features spacious rooms with kitchenettes, powerful A/C, and TVs with English, Spanish, Dutch, and German channels. Rooms are very quiet at night and the housekeeping staff does a great job keeping them clean. Breakfast is included in the rates. There’s free WiFi but it’s terrible.
In addition to a big swimming pool, there’s self service laundry and BBQ facilities. We loved cooling off in the pool after a long day out in the sun.
Tipping in Aruba
Tipping at restaurants in Aruba is not mandatory, but it’s nice to leave 15-20% if you’re happy with the service. In our experience, some places took our payment with the credit card and asked if we’d like to leave a tip while others didn’t bother to ask. A few places automatically added a 15% service charge to the bill.
