Ah, Aruba. The name itself seems to possess a magical quality - images of beautiful beaches, palm trees swaying in the warm breeze, all underneath an effulgent sun. Unlike most other Caribbean islands, Aruba really does live up to its moniker as one happy little island.

Now, a warning: if you want a lush, green subtropical island, Aruba is not the place for you. The island is located about 20 miles off the coast of Venezuela, and is nowhere near most other Caribbean islands (with the exceptions of its sister islands Bonaire and Curacao). Aruba is more aptly described as a semi-family friendly version of Las Vegas surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. It's hot - 82 degrees is the usual daily temperature almost every day of the year - and rarely cloudy. Due to its location, Aruba is rarely affected by the hurricanes and tropical storms that bedevil other islands, and the constant breeze off the ocean helps to negate some of the roiling desert heat (Aruba is actually quite brown due to the lack of precipitation).

Thankfully, though, the second largest desalinization plant in the world is located on Aruba, so fresh potable water is not an issue. Most of the island's resorts are located on the northwestern part of the island, mostly due to the fact that the ocean is generally calmest there. The resorts and hotels vary in quality, but generally speaking the newer ones will have more and better amenities that the older ones (as is usually the case anywhere). Most resorts are fairly large, though smaller ones can still be found here and there. The larger resorts sometimes also function as mini-cities: pharmacies, markets, souvenir shops are easily mixed in with guest rooms and swimming pools.

The rather large (and ever increasing) number of resorts on the island can be attributed to two factors: excellent, non-stop air service to the United States, and the fact that the U.S. Dollar is the de facto currency on the island. Queen Beatrix International Airport, located near Oranjestad (the capital of Aruba), is a small but modern airport with many daily connections to cities in the Americas and in Europe (Aruba is still technically a Dutch protectorate, and so service is available to Amsterdam as well as other continental Europe destinations). This author is old enough to remember when the airport was little more than a glorified grass hut...thankfully, things have changed for the better. U.S. citizens may also be happy to learn that Aruba has partnered with the Department of Homeland Security in order to provide immigration control at the Aruba airport, thus saving travelers from the long lines at immigration control stations in U.S. airports. This technicality also means that flights heading back from Aruba can be classified as domestic, which may make a significant difference for people who are bringing back duty-free goods.

Taxi service is plentiful at the airport (and on the main strips near Oranjestad and the hotels), but cheap bus service is also available. A fair warning about the buses - while they are frequent and clean, they are not air-conditioned, and so the only relief comes when the bus is moving and air can circulate through the windows. As mentioned before, U.S. dollars are happily taken, but don't be surprised if you get change in Aruban florins (the local currency). The florin fluctuates within a vary narrow band against the U.S. dollar - it can go as low as 1 USD = 1.75 Aruba Fl or as high as 1 USD = 1.80 Fl. The usual rate is about 1 USD = 1.77 Fl. Currency exchange is NOT necessary, and even the natives seem to prefer U.S. dollars over their own currency.

Now, while you may be tempted to spend your entire vacation at your resort, Aruba does offer some nightlife activities. Oranjestad (the main town) features a few casinos (though nothing on the scale of Las Vegas), shopping (mostly American mall style, but some jewelry bargains can be had occasionally), as well as nightclubs. The nightclubs are nothing particularly special, but they do offer decent drink specials and amusement for the right crowd. Oranjestad itself is a pretty but small town, with some evidence of non-tourist industry and life evident. A lot of restaurants in Aruba are located either near the hotels, in Oranjestad, or dispersed throughout the island; check with the concierge. Generally speaking, Arubans are friendly and the island is very safe, though good common sense (as in any locale) goes a long way. The case of Natalie Holloway in 2005 was the rare exception to this rule...and hopefully will never be repeated.

If nightclubs aren't your thing, then the island still offers plenty in the way of other activities. Golf courses abound, as do outdoor activities (think horseback riding or roaring around in the Aruban desert in a jeep or motorcycle) as well as ocean activities (fishing, water skiing, wave runners, banana boats, and the like). The ocean temperature in Aruba is always warm and is crystal clear - no seaweed or silt to cloud the view. It's also generally free of predators, though there are curious barracuda here and there.

Speaking of barracuda (and fish in general), a word about food on the island. As befits a small desert island, most goods are imported and thus a bit more expensive than they are in the United States. If you want to save money, try to bring some non-perishable goods with you. Generally speaking, Aruban food is a mishmash of Dutch, Caribbean, South American, and U.S. cuisines, with a pronounced (and appropriate) emphasis on seafood. No one restaurant stands out on the island, but none are impossibly bad either.

In sum, Aruba is a beautiful, safe island that is perfect for people who want a relaxing vacation with a few amusements on the side. The island isn't cheap, but excellent non-stop connections to North America and Europe make it a fine place to spend a week or two just tanning in the sun and consuming drinks enhanced with cheap Caribbean rum.

Posted about 1 year ago