15 Tips for Aruba: Things to Know Before You Go

15 Tips for Aruba

Some of the things on this list are geared toward travelers coming from the US, but most of these tips will be useful no matter where you’re coming from. These are our best tips for Aruba, and things everyone should know before visiting the island!

1. The U.S. Dollar is Widely Accepted in Aruba

Aruba’s currency is referred to as florin, but the U.S. dollar is accepted everywhere. Just be aware that you might receive change in florin. Many shops and restaurants also post their prices in U.S. dollars, so be sure to ask if it’s unclear. You should also download a conversion app on your phone before your trip.

When we first started visiting Aruba, we always received the local currency in change when spending U.S. dollars. In more recent years though, we’ve been receiving more and more change in U.S. dollars. On our last two visits, we didn’t see a single florin!

Credit cards are also widely accepted in Aruba. Visa and Mastercard are accepted nearly everywhere, but American Express and Discover can be hit-or-miss.

2. Most Arubans Speak English

Many first-time visitors wonder if English is commonly spoken in Aruba, and the answer is yes! English is widely spoken in Aruba and is one of the official languages of the island. In fact, most Arubans speak the native language of Papiamento, as well as Dutch, Spanish, French, and English!

No matter where you’re coming from, you’ll likely have no language barriers during your visit. On our very first trip to Aruba, we made friends with some of the locals, and we remain friends to this day. Communication was never an issue. We find it inspiring that they are fluent in so many languages, and it’s encouraged us to learn another language as well.

3. You Should Absolutely Rent a Car in Aruba

If you take away anything at all from our tips for Aruba, let it be the decision to rent a car! Renting a car in Aruba is a no-brainer. Aruba’s car rentals are super affordable compared to most other places. It actually costs less to rent a car for a week than it does to take a taxi twice a day for a week.

Aruba is a very drivable island. With the exception of a few roundabouts, the roads are straight, smooth, and well-marked. They also drive on the right side of the road, like in the U.S. The best part about driving in Aruba is that all the parking is free (almost)! There are some paid parking lots near the cruise terminal and high-rise shopping areas, but other than that, you can expect free parking everywhere you go.

4. Don’t Buy Bottled Water in Aruba

This is one of our favorite tips — drink Aruba’s tap water! Seriously, it will be the best water you’ve ever had in your life. And we’re not suggesting this to save money, or to use less plastic (although that’s a bonus). We’re suggesting it because the water is phenomenal and drinking it is part of the island experience.

Aruba doesn’t have fresh water, so they take the ocean water and purify it through a saltwater desalination plant located right on the island. Their water actually exceeds the highest quality standards possible set by the World Health Organization. They’ve also consistently ranked as having some of the best-tasting water on the planet by multiple sources.

So resist the urge to buy bottled water when you arrive in Aruba! Just fill a pitcher or some empty bottles with tap water and keep it in the fridge at your hotel. Trust us.

5. All Aruba Beaches Are Free to Visit

Aruba is a true paradise for beach lovers, and the best part is that all the beaches are free to visit! Even the parking is free! This makes Aruba the perfect destination for beach hopping. The only two exceptions are the private Renaissance Island Beach (Flamingo Beach) and De Palm Island (a waterpark).

Because all of Aruba’s beaches are public, so are the palapas (beach huts) located on each beach. Every palapa on the island is first-come-first-served. Some resorts have built their own style beach huts that look similar to the free palapas though, so if you’re near a big resort, be sure you’re not using one of their own huts. Many of the popular beaches also have lounge chairs, cabanas, and traditional beach umbrellas that can be rented for a fee.

8. Aruba is One of the Safest Islands in the Caribbean

Aruba is actually one of the safest islands in the Caribbean. They have a very low crime rate, strict laws, and a strong (but not scary) police presence. We’ve never felt unsafe for a moment on the island, even when we are out late at night. We’ve also never experienced any theft on the island.

That said, you still need to be smart, just like you would anywhere else in the world. We always keep an eye on our belongings when we’re in the water, and if we’re in a place where we can’t watch our stuff, we leave it in the trunk of our car.

9. Aruba Uses the Same Electrical Outlets as the U.S.

If you’re coming from the US, you won’t need a power adaptor when visiting Aruba. Aruba uses the same 120 V outlets as the United States. You can power your phone, laptop, and other electronics just like you would at home.

If you’re from a country other than the U.S. though, you may need a power adaptor and possibly a converter. We recommend this universal power adaptor. And if you’re bringing along high-end hair tools, we recommend this power convertor.

10. You Won’t Flush Toilet Paper in Aruba

Okay, this is not entirely true. You can flush toilet paper at many places throughout Aruba, especially in tourist areas and larger towns. But you should know that not flushing toilet paper is common in many of the off-the-beaten-path places on the island. If you’re staying in Aruba’s resort area, you won’t need to worry about this.

Aruba’s plumbing system is antiquated and much of the island just can’t break down toilet paper quickly enough to pass through the plumbing pipes. If you do find yourself in a place where you shouldn’t flush toilet paper, you may see a sign posted asking you to use the bin, and you’ll find a small bin next to the toilet. These bins are cleaned daily.

11. Your Showers May be Cold in Aruba

Aruba has a few unique features, and one is its plumbing. Aruba’s water pipes are all above ground, and the water is heated by the sun. This means that the water is really hot during the day and really cold at night.

Since most of us shower first thing in the morning, the water may be cold, since it’s had all night to cool down. But for those who try and shower during the middle of the day, you may find your shower to be scolding hot! Consider this when brushing your teeth or getting a drink of water from the faucet, as well. It’s not a bad idea to keep a pitcher of water in the fridge at all times.

This is not the case everywhere on the island though. Many homes in Noord, and most of the popular hotels in the tourist areas, have traditional hot and cold water controls. But if you’re staying off-the-beaten-path as we do, you might want to consider showering before bed, rather than the morning.

12. UTVs and ATVs are Banned at Arikok National Park

During our first few visits to Aruba, we rented UTVs and spent days exploring the Arikok National Park. It was amazing! Then on our fourth trip to the island, we got turned away at the park entrance for being on UTVs without a local guide. We couldn’t believe it. And now, as of 2024, UTVs and ATVs are completely banned from the park.

The ban was put in place to protect the delicate park, because of some unfortunate and disrespectful actions from previous tourists. Maybe it’s things like this that led to Aruba’s new sustainability fee. Regular vehicles are still welcome in the park, along with jeeps and land rovers. If you want to visit the Natural Pool, which is accessible to 4x4s only, consider renting a jeep for the day or joining a guided jeep tour.

💣_{Antisocial Tourist Tip — If you still want UTV or ATV Experience, there are plenty of other places to visit besides the park! You can go anywhere else on the island, including the Cave Pool, Bushiribana Ruins, the California Lighthouse, and Baby Beach to name a few!}

13. Aruba’s Flamingos Are on a Private Island

You’ve probably heard that Aruba is home to some beautiful pink flamingos that hang out along the shore. This is true — but what many first-time visitors don’t realize is that they’re found on a small private island owned by the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort. The resort is one of the most popular places to stay in Aruba because of these feathery pink birds.

To get to the island, you’ll need to be a guest of the hotel or purchase a Day Pass for $125. Day passes go on sale every Saturday at 9 AM for the upcoming week. They sell out within seconds, so you’ll need quite a bit of luck to score one. You could also book a massage with Okeanos Spa, which includes a day pass to the island. This option can be expensive though, so be sure to compare the spa price with the price of a room, because they may be similar.

^{💣Antisocial Tourist Tip — We love switching hotels half way through a trip when we visit a new place! There’s no rule that says you have to stay in one spot. There are so many awesome hotels in Aruba that it’s hard to decide where to stay — if you’re torn, think outside the box and split your stay!}

14. You Shouldn’t Do an All-Inclusive Hotel in Aruba

Of all our tips for Aruba, we’re probably the most passionaboute about this one: Do not stay at an all-inclusive hotel! If you’re dead set on doing an all-inclusive resort, just skip this tip, because we’re going to try to talk you out of it.

There are so many incredible restaurants in Aruba that we just can’t agree with eating all our meals at one resort. In fact, we have so many favorite restaurants in Aruba that we have a hard time fitting them all in when we visit! There are tons of amazing places to stay in Aruba that don’t require all-inclusive, so please trust us on this one and stay somewhere else!

Some of our favorite low key restaurants are Red Fish, West Deck, and The Local Store. We also love Linda’s Dutch Pancakes for dutch pancakes and the Poffertjes Food Cart (👈don’t miss this!) for poffertjes. And if we’re feeling fancy, we head to Flying Fishbone and Old Man and the Sea.

15. Americans Will Pass Through U.S. Customs in Aruba

If you’re an American tourist traveling back to the States, you’ll pass through U.S. Customs right at Aruba’s airport. This means it will take a bit longer to get to your departure gate but you won’t have to go through customs during a connection on your journey home.

Personally, we love this. It’s always nerve-wracking when trying to make a tight connection after an international trip since you never know how long the Customs lines will be. Getting it done before you even get on the plane is a much easier option because you’re in control of when you arrive.

Aruba’s airport can be really busy though, especially on the weekends. We highly recommend getting there 3 hours early (yes, we’re serious), and even 4 hours early if you’re flying on a Saturday. You should expect to wait in several lines for long periods of time. The airport does offer VIP Departure Assistance to expedite the process, which we think is worth every penny.

Once you are checked in and get past security, you will find yourself in a big hall with shops and restaurants, with signs directing you to different gates. Do not be fooled if you’re an American — you will need to follow the signs for Customs and go through another bag search. Your gate will be on the other side of Customs.

^{💣Antisocial Tourist Tip — Aruba requires all visitors to complete the Aruba ED Card within seven days of arrival to the island! You can read more about it here.}