|
Activities
Shopping
(great duty-free), casino gambling, beach activities, horseback
riding, kayaking, parasailing, tennis, golf, fishing, swimming,
sailing, windsurfing, scuba, snorkeling, hiking, exploring Oranjestad
(the capital), museums, rock formations and a natural bridge,
caves, the Bon Bini Festival (Tuesday evenings), dance and music
clubs. There's also an Atlantis submarine, a semi-submersible,
and horse-drawn carriage rides.
Car
Rentals
Major
rental agencies are available, including Avis, Budget, Hertz,
Dollar, National, Thrifty and Hedwina Car Rental.
Entry
(Immigration) Requirements
Valid
passport or birth certificate (raised seal, certified copy)
(for US and Canadian citizens) and official photo ID.
Passports for all other nationalities. Travelers from countries
belonging to the European Union also need their European Union
Travel Card.
Electricity
110
volts, same as the US. You may need adapters if you have
3-prong plugs.
Official
Language
Dutch,
but just about everyone speaks English. There is also
a local language called Papiamento, which is a mix of Dutch,
Spanish, English, French and Portuguese, which is spoken for
local conversation.
Money
US
Dollars are widely accepted and there is little need for exchange
to the local currency. Local currency is the Aruban florin.
There are ATMs that will take your international cards and dispense
cash in many locations near shopping and hotels.
Aruba
is fairly safe, but let good sense guide you. Keep an
eye on your bags, your beach belongings, use the hotel safe,
and lock your car. The wind can be strong, so don't leave
things lying about where they can blow away and get lost.
Tip
taxi drivers 10% - 15%.
Many
restaurants (10-15%) and hotels (11%) include a service charge
on the bill. Hotels will also add a government tax to the bill,
at last check this was at 6%. 10% tip is standard at restaurants
if tip is not included. Generally, one might add a bit
extra above the included tip.
Airport
departure tax is significant; about $34 US. It's usually
included in the ticket price you paid, however.
Weather
Low
humidity, average temperature 82° F, sunny and in the trade
winds, so it's quite breezy much of the time. Aruba is
not normally in the path of major hurricanes. Aruba,
Bonaire and Curacao are out of the "hurricane belt"
but it always pays to watch the weather for any out of the ordinary
occurrences.
|
|
|
|
