Destinations / Caribbean / Aruba
Aruba Travel Guide
The safe bet for sun: Aruba sits south of the hurricane belt, rarely gets seaweed and stays dry year-round. Stay on Eagle Beach for quiet or Palm Beach for energy, and fill out the ED card before you fly.
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Where I'm sending people now
Eagle Beach for quiet, low-rise hotels, Palm Beach for big resorts and restaurants, Oranjestad for the Renaissance and its private flamingo island, Savaneta for a local feel.
Year-round. Winter (mid-December to early April) is the most expensive; summer and fall are cheaper and still sunny.
Bucuti & Tara runs about $560 to $812 a night with breakfast and taxes; big Palm Beach resorts run about $350 to $1,300.
Fill out the free ED card at edcardaruba.aw within 7 days of arrival and pay the $20 sustainability fee there. You clear US customs in Aruba on the way home, so get to the airport 3 hours early.
Where I'm sending people now
Hawaii
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Italy
Rome and the Amalfi Coast, with the hotels and tours worth booking ahead.
Caribbean
Punta Cana, Turks and Caicos and Puerto Rico, all-inclusive and not.
Where I'm sending people now
Hawaii
Maui, Kauai, Oahu and the Big Island, and how to pick between them.
Italy
Rome and the Amalfi Coast, with the hotels and tours worth booking ahead.
Caribbean
Punta Cana, Turks and Caicos and Puerto Rico, all-inclusive and not.
Know before you go
Getting there
Fly into Queen Beatrix International (AUA), with nonstops from many US cities, plus connections through Miami, Amsterdam and Toronto. The hotel strip at Palm and Eagle Beach is 15-25 minutes away. Fill out the online ED card before you fly and pay the $20 sustainability fee, and allow time on the way home because US-bound flights clear US customs at the Aruba airport.
Getting around
Aruba is easy to drive, with right-side driving and good roads. Taxis have fixed rates and no meters, and there's no Uber, so I'd rent a car or a jeep for at least a day to see Arikok National Park and the north coast.
Money and tipping
US dollars are accepted everywhere alongside the Aruban florin, and cards work nearly everywhere. Many restaurants add a 10-15% service charge, so check before tipping.
How I'd spend 5 days
Day 1 Arrive, settle on Eagle Beach, sunset dinner
Day 2 Snorkel boat to Antilla wreck and Boca Catalina
Day 3 Jeep or UTV day: Arikok National Park and the Natural Pool
Day 4 Baby Beach and Mangel Halto
Day 5 Beach day and a farewell dinner in Oranjestad
Hotels I'd book in Aruba
Things to do in Aruba
Where to eat in Aruba
Flying Fishbone
Zeerovers
Passions on the Beach
Gasparito
Wilhelmina
Eduardo's Beach Shack
Where I'm sending people now
Hawaii
Maui, Kauai, Oahu and the Big Island, and how to pick between them.
Italy
Rome and the Amalfi Coast, with the hotels and tours worth booking ahead.
Caribbean
Punta Cana, Turks and Caicos and Puerto Rico, all-inclusive and not.
Aruba FAQ
What do I need to do before flying to Aruba?
Fill out the free ED card at edcardaruba.aw within 7 days of arrival and pay the $20 sustainability fee there before check-in. Use only the official site.
Is there a new tourist tax?
Only the $20 fee for now. An extra $25 fee is in a draft tourism plan for 2027 but hasn't been approved.
Does Aruba get hurricanes?
Rarely. It sits south of the main hurricane belt, which makes it a good pick from August to October.
Does Aruba get sargassum?
Rarely and lightly. Eagle Beach and Palm Beach are on the calm, sheltered side.
Do I need florins?
No. US dollars work almost everywhere.
Should I rent a car?
It's easy: drive on the right with your US license. Use a 4x4 or a tour for the Natural Pool in Arikok National Park.
Can I see the flamingos without staying at the Renaissance?
Only with a limited day pass, about $150, released about a week ahead. Flamingo Beach is adults-only except from 9 to 10 a.m.
How early should I get to the airport going home?
You clear US customs in Aruba before your flight, and the US terminal opens 3 hours before departure, so arrive then.