Located outside the Caribbean's hurricane belt, the flat desert island of Aruba remains a rain-free 82 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year -- barring a few drizzly days that keep the island's stunted trees and cacti alive. This former Dutch colony is only 21 miles from end to end, and pulls a large collection of international travelers. But with more than 75 percent of its 1.5 million yearly visitors hailing from the United States, it's pretty Americanized. English is spoken widely, U.S. dollars are generally accepted, and major American hotel chains abound.
Aruba's one of the wealthiest islands in the Caribbean, and its capital, Oranjestad, has gleaming shopping malls that house high-end retailers like Louis Vuitton and Armani. Restaurants like Matilde and Casa Tua rival the best cuisine in the Caribbean. But all food is imported, so the markup puts restaurants at New York City prices.
Aruba Maps
Aruba attracts some one million visitors and cruise passengers per year, most from North America and nearby Venezuela, and it ranks as one of the Caribbean's most popular vacation spots. So what's the attraction? Miles of beaches, to start with, some quiet and smooth and others with stiff winds and a choppy surf, as well as first-class hotels and resort, gambling casinos, shopping, and dozens of opportunities for fine dining.
Virtually every resort comes with its own casino -- usually larger and vastly more equipped than the few hotel casinos in the Dominican Republic. Still, they're a far cry from the truly extravagant casinos in Las Vegas or even Atlantic City. Casinos here are much smaller, humbler enterprises.
Traffic is sparse, but signs leading to sights are often small and hand-lettered (this is slowly changing as the government puts up official road signs), so watch closely. Route 1A travels southbound along the western coast, and 1B is simply northbound along the same road. If you lose your way, just follow the bend of the divi-divi trees. They always point toward the resorts.
Vacations
When to come for a vacation is one of the most frequently asked questions we get. Well, there is no bad time to visit Aruba: all year round good weather. Travelers can choose to visit in high or low tourist season: Mid-December through March are the most popular vacation months (high season) but prices drop significantly from mid-April through Mid-December (low season).
Also you can easily save money on your Aruba vacation with our free Discount Coupons and you can look at our Last Minute and Special Deals to find the best price for your vacation!
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Where To Stay
Aruba's an island of capable, functional, and solidly middle-of-the-road hotels. There are no sketchy dives but no designer boutiques either. What most affects your experience is the location.
In downtown Oranjestad, hotels like the Renaissance are close to shopping and restaurants but don't have a beach. (The Renaissance makes up for this with a complimentary ferry to a private island.)
Most resorts are clustered by Palm Beach and Eagle Beach, which is a 15- to 20-minute drive from Oranjestad. Both are public beaches, but Palm Beach is the widest. Reliable chains like the Westin, Marriott, and Radisson line the shore while guests stroll from one resort to the next, stopping by the multiple water-sports vendors posted every few yards. Resorts here are also within walking distance of the Paseo Herencia Mall -- also known as the "High-Rise" complex -- and the highway is lined with a support system of bars and restaurants from Hooters to classier joints like Gianni's.
A view from Hotels in Aruba
Relatively secluded time-share hotels and significantly cheaper all-inclusive resorts like the Costa Linda can be found at Eagle Beach, just south of Palm Beach. The beach here varies significantly, as broad stretches bottleneck down to narrow, rocky shores. But it's relatively empty, which makes it the perfect place for a quiet vacation. Again, these resorts are not more than 20 minutes from the capital, but they lack Palm Beach's nearby dining, so you'll have to settle for your hotel's grub. On the plus side, they're not far from the shallow, crystal-clear coves at Baby Beach, reputedly the best place to snorkel in Aruba.
You can arrange a number of excursions and activities on your own. Your choices are as varied as Aruba itself. You can do a lot of water sports of course like windsurfing, kite surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, water jets, deeps sea fishing and parasailing. See our 'Top Things To Do in Aruba' page for more detailed information.
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Aruba Nightlife
Aruba Nightlife
You'll never need to wait until the sun goes down on Aruba to get the party started. The revelry starts early at beach bars and resort happy hours where live music or DJ-driven sounds shake the sunbathers out of their tropical relaxation mode and into barefoot-bopping in the sand. And chances are good on any given week that there will be some kind of day party happening because of one of the many celebrations this island has going on all year long. There are about 50-some annual events-carnivals, regattas, sporting competitions, national holiday fêtes, seasonal celebrations, and music, food, wine, and art festivals each year—so whenever you visit, there's bound to be some daytime fun and dancing in the streets or on the beaches.
But once the moon rises and the tiki torches are lighted, you will notice a shift in mood from happy party time to high-octane energy. And if you follow the sounds of music along the high-rise strip or in downtown Oranjestad, you're bound to find a happening that suits your style, be it kicking back in a cozy lounge or dancing 'til dawn. You can easily hop from scene to scene on foot in both places, or take a barhopping bus to discover where the nights really move, along with a wild and crazy crowd. Taxis are easy to find, and the party scene is compact, so there is no need to wander far.
