Aruba Travel Guide

Enjoying everything warm, wet, and wonderful is the draw to the magical Caribbean. Many dream of a vacation in Aruba, but few realize how affordable, and in reach, it really is! Spend a morning horseback riding or indulging in a luxurious pedicure, the better to show off your beach feet. In the afternoon, be - or find – a mermaid, snorkeling or swimming in Aruba’s clear green-blue waters. The evening offers nightclubs for partiers of all ages and stages of life, or quiet, romantic dinners, beachside.  

Airports and Ground Transportation

Despite its location near South America, Aruba is a part of the Netherlands and its airport is named after Dutch Queen Beatrice. Reina Beatrix Airport (AUA), with its glass walls and blue-tiled roofs, extends hospitality to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come each year. Visitors arriving from Chicago (ORD) can get a discount airfare to Aruba once a week on United Airlines, as low as $600 if you fly on Saturdays. Prices can double – or triple – on other days of the week. Amazingly low air fare to Aruba from New York (JFK) can be found via Jet Blue, with one way fares are low as $225 per person. Travelers from the west coast will have to make connecting flights. Discount air fare to Aruba is still available, though, when flying from Los Angeles (LAX) if you use Continental Airlines. The fare, about $450, is just slightly lower than the cheap flights to Aruba that Continental also offers from San Francisco (SFO).

The Dutch are known for their smooth-running efficiency, and your trip to and through the airport will reflect that. Once through customs, your ground transportation options are plentiful and inexpensive. Many resorts and hotels offer complimentary shuttles for their guests. Be sure to check and see if yours does. Would you like more freedom while on your Aruba vacation? There are nearly three dozen car rental companies located at the airport so one is certain to meet your needs. Private tour operators will take you to your hotel for about $20 per person. There are also taxis and public buses waiting just outside the terminal to escort you wherever you need to go.

Best Times to Go, Best Things to Do

Aruba is blessed with beautiful weather nearly every month of the year. Need an easy job? How about an Aruban weather forecaster? Nearly every day is sunny, with highs in the mid to upper 80s and evening temperatures dipping only five to ten degrees. Aruba is well outside of the Atlantic hurricane belt, has more of a desert climate, instead. Light rain does occasionally fall, but it’s not often and doesn’t last long.

An Aruban vacation is likely to be built around water activities – swimming, snorkeling, and diving. Divers in particular will find Aruba a delight. Some of the best, most interesting dives in the world are found off its shores. First on the list is likely an underwater visit to the Antilla, a German freighter sunk during WW II. Also at North Point is the quiet and secluded Arashi Beach, famous to those wanting to keep a bit closer to the surface, snorkeling instead. Want to stay dry? Try a captivating glass bottomed boat tour or a well-seasoned charter cruise, instead. Casinos, nightclubs and restaurants with stunning views compete for your evening hours.

Hotels and Lodging

Aruba is a world-class vacation destination and as such has many resorts and hotels. Choices range from the decidedly high end – with breakfast in bed and pool boy service, to the help-yourself hostels located a bit further away from the action. About a dozen properties also offer rental apartments, perfect for families, groups travelling together, or longer stays. No matter where you choose to lay your head, your tanned, rested, and relaxed body is certain to enjoy every day and night of your Aruba vacation.