Travel Tips Aruba – Want to visit Aruba on your next vacation? Aruba is an amazing island full of amazing things to do, but there are a few things you’ll want to know before you go!
Unlike many tropical destinations, the water in Aruba is pure. There is no reason to buy bottled water. Thanks to their desalination plant, all water is clean straight from the tap!
Travel Tips Aruba
Trusted Travel Girl Aruba Travel Tip: Bring a refillable water bottle so you don’t have to buy bottled water. Plastic bottles won’t stay cold, so an insulated bottle is perfect for your Aruba vacation!
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Don’t miss Eagle Beach! According to TripAdvisor’s 2017 Traveler Awards, Eagle Beach is the third best beach in the world. It’s easy to see why, with white sand beaches lined with divi-divi trees and turquoise waters – what’s not to love?
You may be wondering “Where is that flamingo?” While Eagle Beach may be one of the best beaches in the world, you won’t be snapping those infamous flamingo photos there.
But fear not – Flamingo Beach is in Aruba, and all you need to do is head to Renaissance Aruba Private Island.
The easiest way to get to Flamingo Beach is to book a stay at Renaissance Aruba Private Island. If you are staying at the hotel, you will be able to visit the private island where Flamingo Beach is located at no extra cost.
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However, if this is not an option, you will need to get a day pass to the island directly from Renaissance for about $125 USD per person. Unfortunately, these passes cannot be booked in advance, so your best bet is to check early in the morning on the day you plan to visit.
Finally, when it comes to visiting Aruba’s best beaches, the general rule of thumb would be to stay away from the harbors. This will ensure you have a quiet and peaceful time away from the crowds as much as possible.
If you want, I recommend going beach hopping. Starting from Eagle Beach, take a quick hop over to Palm Beach (which is more crowded than Eagle Beach) before taking a 30-40 minute drive to Baby Beach.
The best Aruba travel tip I can offer is to rent a car. Renting a car is the cheapest and easiest option, especially if you want to explore the island on your own. There is a ton of cheap or free parking, and you won’t spend much gas (petrol) because the island is so small.
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Renting a car can give you more freedom and flexibility with your travel schedule. It will also allow you to do beach hopping at your own pace. And if you’re traveling from the United States, you’re in good hands because Arubans drive on the right (same side) of the road.
You won’t need an international driver’s license to rent a car, so just bring your state-issued driver’s license if you plan to do so. You can easily get a rental at the airport and these rentals are usually affordable.
Taxi prices in Aruba are quite expensive and are set by the government, making it impossible to haggle with drivers for a good deal. Unfortunately, it’s not common to flag taxis on the street like in cities like New York, so be sure to call a taxi ahead of time and know where you want to go.
Renting a bike is another option, however, it is very dangerous. Since there are no designated bike lanes, you will be sharing the road with cars. Unless you are confident in your ability to cycle in such conditions, I wouldn’t recommend it.
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Another way to get around without a car and taxi would be by bus, as many locals do, but it’s not the most convenient or fun way to spend time on your vacation.
Although the main language is a local language called Papiamento, everyone speaks English as well as Spanish and Dutch. It makes it very easy for travelers to move around and communicate!
While I always believe in picking up a few key phrases in the local language before any trip, Aruba is a multilingual society so you’ll be very well in hand.
This Aruba travel tip is going to make any traveler jump for joy. You can leave your umbrella at home, just take sunscreen. It almost never rains in Aruba.
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The average temperature is about 82 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Thanks to the trade winds, you will never feel too hot. Just be sure to pack your sunblock!
Since Aruba is so close to the equator, it’s more important than ever to protect your skin by slapping on that sunblock. Not only will you get more direct sunlight, the white sand will reflect the sun just like fresh snow on a mountain.
Of note, Aruba banned the use of sunscreens that contain oxybenzone in July of 2020. I strongly believe that using the right sunscreen, especially when you plan to swim in lakes, oceans, or ponds, is important.
The chemicals you choose to apply can harm marine life and damage coral. So please do the responsible thing and buy a coral reef-friendly sunscreen.
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Trusted Travel Girl Aruba Travel Tip: The trade winds keep the island cool, but they can also burn you easily because you don’t feel the heat, so bring sunscreen!
I hope you like fresh fish if you’re going to Aruba, because it’s the best. In Aruba, my suggestion is to always choose fresh fish. Fish is caught daily and is always a delicious choice!
My favorite place on the island was Zerovar. They offer two options of their fresh catch of the day, along with fries and plantains. It’s a local spot, but now full of travelers too!
Aruba is located outside the hurricane belt, which means that hurricanes almost never hit the island. This is important to know when booking Caribbean travel, as it is often best to avoid destinations during hurricane season. Not in Aruba, they almost never see hurricanes and almost every day is sunny!
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And if you need facts to prove it, the last hurricane Aruba faced was Hurricane Felix in 2007. Aruba suffered very minor damage from Felix. And before that, Hurricane Ivan in 2004 caused only flooding, no structural damage, and no casualties.
It’s safe to say that of all the Caribbean destinations, Aruba promises the perfect weather-wise.
Aruba receives more repeat visitors than any other Caribbean island – everyone seems to love Aruba. In fact, 60% of their travel business is repeat travelers! Why is this a great travel tip?
If you are deciding between several Caribbean destinations, you may want to let the statistics influence your decision to book Aruba!
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Although you can take local currency, it is probably easier to use USD during your visit to Aruba. I’m a big fan of using the local currency even if the destination accepts USD, but I didn’t even find it useful in Aruba!
There’s also no need to exchange local currency (called florins) ahead of time, as most ATMs in Aruba give you the option of withdrawing in florins or dollars.
If you’re ready to use the local currency, or maybe you just want to get a few florins, it’s important to know that florins are available in denominations of 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200. As for coins, they are. Available in 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents as well as 1 and 5 florin coins.
While you won’t find many scammers in Aruba, as you will in many other countries, I do understand the standard 15% service charge in restaurants.
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On almost all restaurant bills, you will have a 15% service charge added to your bill. If you ask your server if this is their gratuity, they will say it is not. This will encourage you to leave another 15-20%. 15% is actually their tip. This tip will be included in their paycheck.
If the service is exceptional, go ahead and leave a little extra if you like, but don’t feel you need to tip on top of this service charge.
Packing for Aruba is quite simple. Think resort wear, bathing suits and beach-friendly attire. I recommend sandals, several bathing suits especially if you plan on beach hopping, and light breathable fabrics to help keep you cool.
If you plan to explore the island beyond your resort and accommodation, I highly recommend packing insect repellent, especially if you are prone to mosquito bites. And of course, you’ll want to pack your coral reef-friendly sunscreen, sun hats, a beach bag you don’t mind getting sandy, and sunglasses.
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No matter where you go in the world, there will always be risks involved and safety is never 100% guaranteed. However, Aruba is a small island with low rates of petty and violent crime.
It is always wise to be cautious whenever you are traveling. So protect yourself