Maybe you're reading this story because you heard about Aruba but you're not sure you can fit it into your travel budget. You're at the right place. Everything you need to have a great vacation is right here. Before you do anything else, get your passport. Click here to get started. It's also a good idea to have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. I carry a no annual fee card from Citi that also serves as a reward card and use my annual rewards certificate for additional vacation funds.
Don't worry about language barriers or foreign currency. English is spoken and the US dollar is accepted on the island. No need to worry about the water either, or the food. I spent ten dollars on four bottles of water the first day I arrived and that turned out to be unnecessary. The island is safe as long as you are cautious and keep your valuables locked up.
My wife and I stayed at Eagle Beach, the top-rated beach on the island and number three ranked beach in the world, according to Trip Advisor (2017). We found La Quinta Beach Resort to be everything we needed. The only challenge was the ongoing renovations and road construction. We chose not to get a rental car. It was easier to navigate on foot and everything we needed was in walking distance or accessible by bus. We were the only travelers to take the local bus from the airport when we arrived. A resident who was taking the bus home after her shift ended escorted us to the bus stop across the street from the airport and explained we would need to change buses at the terminal in order to get to Eagle Beach. We paid 5.20 American for the two of us for the first bus and another 5.20 for two for the second bus. Warning. If you travel with multiple bags, the driver may not let you board. Keep in mind you don't need more than some shorts, shirts and a swimsuit. Also, I highly recommend you travel with carry-on bags only to avoid delays getting through customs on your return trip home. It also makes the bus rides possible.
There are two sets of hotels on the island, low rise, and high rise. La Quinta is low rise with lower prices. Call them direct, +297-527-5000, and ask about the rates. Many people own timeshares there and are willing to rent them for what they pay in homeowner fees. You can get a nice 1 bedroom place with an ocean view for the week for $843 plus tax. The low rise is where you want to stay unless you prefer bigger crowds. There are a couple of markets close by if you want to buy your own groceries and take advantage of all the major appliances that are equipped in your room. Washers and dryers are also on the property. We chose to eat most of our meals on the property. Danny, our bartender/food server, also provided great entertainment at La Quinta including karaoke on Friday night.
A fun way to get around downtown is a free trolley. It makes short stops along the way to give you time to pop in for snacks or quick purchases.
Okay, I saved the best for last. When you're in Aruba, you must try beach tennis. It's a combination of volleyball, badminton, and tennis all in one. You play barefoot. Paddles are provided for a five-dollar fee. That's me in the photo above with my new friends, Yari from Venezuela, Guenter from Austria, and the local pro from Holland who let me try out the paddle for free to see if I would like playing beach tennis. I'm hooked. I returned on my last evening in Aruba, paid the rental fee for the paddle, and played a set of singles and doubles with some locals. Danny, the pro who also teaches tennis at one of the high rise resorts, gave me some free pointers when I was done. I'm definitely coming back for more.
The one negative part about Aruba is leaving. Allow yourself four hours at the airport to get through the maze of lines. It's necessary to go through everything twice. This is a safety precaution as the US port of entry is actually on the island and you clear customs before you arrive back in the United States.
Here are a few words to know when you're in Aruba...
Bon Dia: Good Morning
Bon Tardi: Good Afternoon
Bon Nochi: Good Night
Danki: Thank you
Bon Bini: Welcome
Dushi: Dear One
Last but not least, "Te Oro." See you soon. Have a great day.
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