Picture this: powdery white sand between your toes, crystal-clear turquoise waves lapping the shore, and that laid-back island rhythm washing all your worries away. Welcome to Aruba—where every day feels like a tropical dream.
But before you pack your bags, there are a few key things to know. From money and transportation to must-see spots, these 15 tips will help you travel smart and make the most of your time on this happy little island.
Let’s kick things off with the first essential: money matters!
Check out our full Aruba Travel Tips video below!
1. Currency and Payments
The official currency in Aruba is the Florin (AWG), but US dollars are widely accepted as well. In fact, it is possible that some prices will be listed in US dollars and others in Florins. So, you want to always double-check whether the price is in florins or dollars. Usually, you can check the bottom of any menu or see in which currency prices are listed. However, in smaller retail shops, you might need to ask to be sure of the currency.
While the exchange rate is officially about 1 USD to 1.80 Florins, most businesses use a rate of 1 USD to 1.75 Florins.
Most ATMs dispense both Florins and US dollars so it’s up to you which currency you decide to use. Credit cards are also widely accepted around the island. There are only a few small shops and food venues that accept cash only.
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2. Where to Stay in Aruba
The west coast of Aruba is the best place to stay as it is home to the most popular beaches, resorts, and restaurants. Top beaches to stay near include Palm Beach, Eagle Beach, and Divi Beach. Manchebo Beach, however, is not the best choice due to its choppier waters.
We stayed in a condo near Eagle Beach and really liked the area. Eagle Beach is stunning and the area surrounding it is quiet and peaceful. However, if you prefer lots of activities, restaurants, shoppings, and big resorts, you might perfer staying at Palm Beach. Palm Beach is at the center of entertainment for tourists in the tourist zone, so try to stay as close to Palm Beach as possible if you want a more lively stay with lots of amenities. Stay a bit further away from Palm Beach for less people and a bit quieter stay.
Shop for available hotels and condos below!
3. What to Bring
When you are going to a beautiful Caribbean island, naturally you want to bring all of your beach attire with you. Definitely pack your swimsuit, cover-up, sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat. However, one thing that I saw people with that we never thought about bringing was an inflatable lounge chair for ultimate relaxation in the calm ocean waters of Aruba. Naturally, a floating lounger is not a necessity, it just looked like such a divine way to enjoy your vitamin sea time.
In addition, if you enjoy snorkeling, pack a snorkel and fins. The best snorkeling spots are Baby Beach and Tres Trapi Beach, where you can spot sea turtles if you go snorkeling in the morning. We didn’t see any places to rent snorkels and fins on these beaches, so it’s probably best to bring your own.
4. How to Get Around Aruba
You have four main options for transportation in Aruba:
4×4 Rental: To visit the rugged northern coast, including the Natural Pool and Cave Pool, a 4×4 is necessary. While jeep rentals can cost up to $200 per day, we found an Isuzu 4×4 pickup at Amigo Car Rental for $90 per day. You should only need a 4×4 vehicle for one day to see the few 4×4 only road. After that switch to a small economy car to see the rest of the island.
Car Rental: If you want to explore beyond the main hotel zone, renting a car is recommended. We used Drive 4 Cheap for an economy rental at $230 per week (~$32 per day), and can highly recommend them as a reliable and affordable local car rental company. They delivered and picked up the car directly to our accommodation.
Bus: The local bus system is also affordable and reliable, with fares at $2.60 USD per ride. Buses run from the hotel zone to Oranjestad and Arashi Beach. However, if you want to go further than Oranjestad like to the San Nicolas murals and Baby Beach, we recommend renting a car or taking a tour for that.
Tours: Tours are definitely the easiest way to see the island. So if you want to sit back, relax, and let some else take care of everything check out the Viator tours below!
5. Weather in Aruba
We found the weather in Aruba to be very pleasant. It’s consistently warm around 70°F-85°F (21°C-29°C), but because it’s dry and windy, you won’t get as sweaty as some of the more wet and humid Caribbean islands. Most days are clear, sunny, and windy. When it does rain, it usually rains for 10-20 minutes, then it’s done. Aruba only gets 15 inches of rain a year and most of that rain falls during the rainy season between September-December.
Even during rainy season, Aruba never gets big storms such as hurricanes like the other Caribbean islands do. So the chances of the weather ruining your trip to Aruba are very low. That’s why so many people enjoy going to Aruba. Although Aruba is great to visit all year round, the best time to visit Aruba is January-August because this is when you will have the least chance of rain.
The one thing that you have to be cautious about in Aruba is the sun. I have fairly dark skin and my shoulders still got a little burned in Aruba because I did not reapply sunscreen. So, if you have fair skin, you will need to be extra vigilant to avoid painful burns that could ruin your trip.
6. The Language in Aruba
Aruba is a multilingual island. The main local language is Papiamento, however, most Arubans also speak Dutch, English, and Spanish. We only met one person on the entire island who didn’t speak English, so we are happy to report that English speakers will have no problem communicating in Aruba.
7. Tap Water
Aruba’s tap water is safe to drink, so another useful Aruba tip is to bring a reusable water bottle. Refilling your water bottle both saves money and reduces plastic waste. It’s a win-win for your pocketbook and the environment.
8. The Best Foods to Try in Aruba
In terms of food to try in Aruba, because it’s an island, it’s good to try the seafood. The most flavorful seafood that we had on the island was at Red Fish Restaurant. The blackened fish fillet and shrimp was so delicious ,we ordered it twice while we were in Aruba. Another good option is Zeerover which has some of the most affordable seafood on the island. The only problem is that the lines are so long that you have to allow at least 2-3 hours if you want to eat here. They do have a nice sea view though!
The best thing that I ate on the island was the keshi yena which is a very savory, chicken stew with melted gouda cheese on top. This dish was so delicious that I still dream about it. I tried this one in Oranjestad at Iguana Joe’s which is also a nice place to eat as they have a nice view of Main Street while you eat.
9. How Safe is Aruba?
Another thing that people often wonder is ‘How Safe is Aruba?’ The short answer is very safe. So safe if fact that David and I even felt safe leaving our bags unattended on the beach which is something we rarely do.
We usually always take turns swimming so someone can watch our stuff, but in Aruba, we felt safe enough to leave our stuff on the shore to go snorkeling. Naturally, even in the safest countries doing this is risky, crimes of opportunity could still happen. But I’m just saying that Aruba made us let our guard down enough to do that.
And according to gitnux.org, Aruba’s overall crime is lower than the US which let’s be honest isn’t that hard to do. But what’s really impressive is that Aruba only had 12 robberies in all of 2007 and 0 rapes in 2008. Those are impressively low stats in my opinion and just further my feeling that Aruba is a very safe country.
10. Beware of the Dogs
The only thing that made me feel uneasy in Aruba were the dogs. It’s very common for people to have guard dogs in Aruba. However, the problem is that these dogs are not always properly locked up or confined to the yard. So while we are walking through neighborhoods to go to the grocery store or to the pharmacy, someone’s dog would follow us down the street, growling and barking at us while we walked. It was really scary and happened with 3 different dogs in 3 different neighborhoods. Luckily, none of the dogs bit us, but that’s always a big worry.
But this problem will only concern you if you rent a Airbnb in a residential area like we did. If you are a hotel and resort traveler you won’t have to worry about this. There are some dogs on the beaches in the resort area but they are very friendly as dogs aren’t territorial on a public beach. They only get mean and territorial when they are by their house. If you walk by anyone’s house, there is a chance that their dog will scare you half to death.
11. Friendly Drivers
Other than the dogs, the vibe on Aruba is so chill and relaxing. Even the drivers were chill. They didn’t seem rushed or in a hurry. For example, drivers regularly stopped and let David and I walk across the street even when we were not in a crosswalk. They were just that nice and easygoing. This makes it easy to relax in Aruba.
12. Bring Reusable Bags
If you plan on doing any grocery shopping while in Aruba, then you should plan to bring reusable grocery bags. Aruba is trying to do away with single-use plastics on the islands so you will not get any free plastic bags to put your groceries in there. Naturally, you can always buy reusable bags there, but if you have them at home already, save the money and bring them with you.
13. Electrical Outlets in Aruba
It’s also useful to know that Aruba has North American-style outlets at 120 volts, so if you are coming from the US or Canada then you will not need to bring any outlet adapters. If you are coming from Europe then you will need the two flat parallel pin adapters.
14. The Best Activities to Try in Aruba
Beyond the beaches, Aruba offers fantastic sightseeing opportunities including:
- Casibari Rock Formations
- Alto Vista Winery
- San Nicolas Murals
- Baby Beach (one of the best beaches in Aruba)
- The Natural Bridge and the Cave Pool
- The California Lighthouse
- Arikok National Park
- The Donkey Sanctuary
15. Allow Extra Time When Returning to the Airport
Travelers returning to the U.S. after their Aruban vacation will need to arrive a full 3 hours before their flight because you will go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Aruba. This does take quite of bit of time, however, the good news is that you won’t have to go through passport control when you land in the U.S. Your passport control screening in Aruba covers that.
Is Aruba Worth Visiting?
Definitely! We enjoyed exploring every inch of this island. We found it to be very beautiful, very clean, and very safe. It was such a lovely stay that we can highly recommend it to any beach lover ready to relax and explore one happy island.
Now that you know these Aruba tips, learn even more about these destinations below!
- The Best of Willemstad, Curacao (all walkable from the cruise port)
- Curacao’s Best Beaches
- The Best of Porto Portugal
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