Aruba - as exotic and wonderful as it sounds!
Apr 23 '01 (Updated Aug 31 '01)
The Bottom Line You'll find Aruba a very charming and friendly place to visit. Remembering a few simple guidelines will help your stay be even more enjoyable.
What to Wear
Women can wear shorts and slacks on the streets of Oranjestad. However, please save your bikinis for beaches and swimming pools.
You won't need fancy evening wear. Comfortable linen or casual silk dresses will be perfect for an evening on the town.
Men no longer need to wear ties at business appointments, although a sports jacket might be a good idea.
Again, beach and pool wear should be reserved for the beach and pool. Shorts and t-shirts are fine for exploring the island.
In the casual restaurants, shorts are perfectly acceptable for both men and women.
Remember to pack your sunglasses and your sunscreen, as well. The sun is very bright and warm!
Yes, You Can Drink The Water
Aruba has good drinking water with one of the largest desalination plants in the world. Beware, you won't ever get cold water out of the "cold" tap. It is always very warm. It was a shock the first time I felt a heat wave come up from the toilet bowl after flushing!
Currency - florin 'Afl.' (100 cents)
It is a law that all change be given in Aruban Florins, so please don't insist on U.S. coins when you pay for something in U.S. currency. The only exception is in the casinos, where they'll gladly give you all the U.S. coins you want to gamble.
Travel's Check and major credit cards are widely accepted. Please don't try to write a personal check.
Banking hours: Weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Some banks close during lunchtime (12:00 - 1:30 p.m.).
Driving
You'll probably want to rent a car to explore Aruba. Car rental agencies are directly across the street from the airport. Look for discount coupons in the myriad of coupons books and flyers you'll see in the airport. We rented a 4-wheel drive to explore the rugged areas, then traded it in for a more comfortable air-conditioned car. (It does get hot.)
Taxi fare are fixed by the government. Tell the driver where you're going and ask for the price (in dollars).
There are no right turns on red in Aruba. There are some turnarounds that help eliminate the need for stop signs or traffic lights. It can be interesting zipping around one of these.
International road signs are used and car speedometers and road signs are in Kilometers. Study the road symbols that are listed on the map the rental car company gives you. Some of them can be pretty confusing because they are so different.
The speed limit in urban areas is 40 km/h, outside of town it's 60, unless otherwise posted.
If you have an accident, notify the police immediately. Do not move your car!
Safety
Aruba is generally a very safe island. Crime is not a great concern. Just practice good common sense and don't leave valuables lying around to tempt someone.
Taxes and Tips
There's a 6% government tax, plus an 11% hotel service charge on rooms.
Service charge - if a service charge is added, it is normally 10-15%.
Closed on Sunday
Don't plan on shopping on Sundays. Most stores open from 9am to noon and from 2pm to 6:30pm, although some remain open between noon and 2pm. Monday through Saturday. Plan your week accordingly.
Time
Aruba is on Atlantic Standard Time. (The same as Eastern Daylight Savings year round.)
Television
You'll find some local Aruban television and an NBC affiliate from Nashville on television. I know most people don't go to Aruba to watch tv, but if you have a show you would just hate to miss, I suggest you set your VCR.
We were attempting to watch the season premiere "Friends" and it was pre-empted to show a drag race on the island. There are also some very "interesting" local shows that will often pre-empt normal programming.
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