A Guide to a Southern Caribbean Paradise
We visited Aruba as the travel industry was just beginning to surface its weary head from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cruising was still almost completely shut down with the exception of a few desperate restart attempts and many countries still had their doors closed to visitors.
We identified Aruba as a potential go-to place after visiting the island during a Southern Caribbean cruise several years earlier. We fell in love with the safe feel, the unrivaled beaches, and friendly locals. It really was a paradise and one we vowed to visit and spend some time at in the future. The COVID-19 pandemic put us in a place to make good on that promise and "The Happy Island" delivered.
In this guide, we'll break down each aspect of our trip in hopes to give you a better idea of what it's like to spend a week in one of the best destinations in the Caribbean. As always, if you're here for the photos only, click here.
Why Aruba?
Along with consistent weather, some of the best beaches in the world, and unlimited access to lodging and other comfortable amenities, Aruba really is a perfect destination to travel abroad for the traveler that still wants to enjoy the comforts of home.
First of all, it's safe. One of the safest islands in the Caribbean. The small island took a bad reputational hit following the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. However, this was an extremely isolated incident for a destination with an otherwise extremely low crime rate. You should feel as safe walking the streets of Aruba (if not more) as you would any major destination in the US.
The locals are as friendly as any destination you'll find. They are helpful, speak a variety of languages, and are always up for a good conversation. Everyone we came into contact with was pleasant and helpful. The official languages of Aruba are Dutch and Papiamento (Native). Nearly everyone speaks English and the US dollar is accepted by most merchants.
Along with high marks in safety and friendliness, the sights of Aruba are second-to-none. The west side of the island features stunning white-sand beaches that on most days, feature very few waves. The water is almost lake-like which makes enjoying the water a pleasant experience. The east side of the island resembles something you might see in Baja California or the Pacific. Rocky cliffs, natural bridges and stunning waves make for great visuals. The landscape itself is almost completely natural with no development at all.
What time of year is best to travel to Aruba?
Let's be clear, the weather in Aruba is terrific anytime of year. The sun is always shining and the constant wind makes the hot temperatures seem cooler than it is in reality. The biggest factor to planning a visit should be crowds.
Aruba is popular and because of that popularity, it can be crowded during peak seasons. Interestingly enough, the busy season doesn't coincide with most peoples' traveling season. Aruba is busiest between November and March. It's sees a large holiday crowd and gets a ton of snowbird travelers that head south for the winter to escape cold temperatures and catch the island during its mildest temperatures.
If you want to avoid the largest of the crowds, anytime between April and August should be fine. Aruba typically doesn't deal with hurricanes and the only issue you might hit in the summer is extreme temperatures. It's a desert island, it gets hot but as I said earlier, the constant breeze helps alleviate some of the effects of the heat.
Travel to Aruba
A good starting point might be putting Aruba on a map for you (above). It's located in the far southern reaches of the Caribbean, around 18 miles north of Venezuela and just over 800 miles from the earth's equator. It's often categorized as a member of the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao).
Now that we've established where, let's talk about getting there. Aruba is going to be a somewhat lengthy flight from anywhere in the continental US. We flew from Nashville to Charlotte and then on to Aruba. The flight from Charlotte to Aruba was around four and half hours.
Entering Aruba requires a visa known as an ED Card. It can be obtained online and must be completed no less than 7 days prior to arrival. There are no current COVID-19 protocols to visit the island (as of 1/19/23). With proper documentation, clearing customs in Aruba is a breeze.
You'll fly into and out of the Queen Beatrix International Airport in Oranjestad.
Getting Around
Aruba is one of the easiest destinations to get around in. Taxi's are everywhere and you'll get a pre-negotiated rate before getting in by the attendant at the airport or your hotel. Because of how safe Aruba is, enjoy the easy access to public transportation and see some of the island. By law, your driver is required to come back and pick you up from where they dropped you off.
Where to Stay
Most hotels are located on the west coast of the island. You have more traditional resorts (high rises) on Palm Beach near the more northern shore. Smaller hotels and properties (low rises) are located in the Eagle Beach area. It's hard to miss on a resort in Aruba and most VRBO/Timeshare/AirBNB locations will pass the test. It really depends on your budget.
We stayed at the Holiday Inn Aruba Resort. This place was chosen due to the affordable price, great reviews, and easy access to transportation, restaurants, and nightlife. It had a beautiful beachfront, several on-site restaurants and bars, and was located in the epicenter of a ton of activity. You really can't miss in the Eagle Beach or Palm Beach areas.
I'd highly recommend Holiday Inn Aruba for those looking for a convenient and affordable beachfront property on the island. Other popular hotel chains also have large beachfront destinations in the area as well, including Hilton, Marriott, and more.
All-Inclusive or Not?
The answer to this question depends on you. We booked the all-inclusive package at Holiday Inn Aruba, but going back, I wouldn't do it again.
This answer has nothing to do with the value of the package. It has more to do with the variety of food, bars, and restaurants on the island that aren't on your resort. I'll give you my favorites of these categories later. We ended up walking down the beach to open-air bars and restaurants and not using our free food and drinks back at the resort. Because Aruba is safe to venture outside of your resorts, there's a ton of local places that have amazing atmospheres, cheap prices and good offerings at your disposal.
My recommendation, buy your drinks from a local store and pack you a cooler on the beach, eat at local establishments (most of which can be reached by foot FROM THE BEACH), and enjoy the culture and nightlife of the island without feeling obligated to eat and drink at the resort.
If you are a big all-inclusive fan, go for it. Just don't miss out on all the great experiences by holing up at the resort during your vacation.
The Must-Do's of Aruba
Visit Eagle Beach: This is one of the top beaches in the world. With no high-rise development, bars/restaurants up and down the coastline, and plenty of access to public bathrooms and public transportation, it makes for a perfect day.
Watch a Sunset (From the Beach): Aruba's beaches face west. The sun sets in the west. Aruba has very little cloud cover. All of these are the perfect recipe for some of the best sunsets in the world. A little advice, the sunset cruise is pointless unless you just want to be on a boat. You've got the same view of the sunset from the beach as you do at sea, you're just a few hundreds yards closer on the boat.
Ride UTVs/Jeeps on the East Coast: The east coast of Aruba (Pictured Above) is nothing like the west coast. As I said previously, it's like Baja California meets Hawaii. It's a bumpy, dusty ride, but the views are unrivaled. Most tours will take you for a swim in the natural pool.
Eat Dinner in the Ocean (Yes, IN): The Flying Fishbone (pictured above) offers a one of a kind dining experience. You literally eat dinner in the ocean. The tables are on a concrete pad that is in the ocean. You leave your shoes at the door and wade down into the water to enjoy the meal. The food was excellent but honestly, it could have been a McDonalds and I would have loved it. Reservations are required and you'll need to take some transportation to get there as it is a little bit of a ride to it. It's worth the ride and the time, trust me.
Snorkel the Antilla Shipwreck: (Pictured Above) The SS Antilla was a ship that was sunk by its own crew to avoid capture in 1940. Today, it sits in around 50 feet of water with the highest point of the vessel sitting less than 15 feet under the surface. As I've said before, I'm a snorkel snob, but this is in my top three of snorkeling trips ever. Don't miss it!
Relax on the Beach: Don't forget to unwind. As I mentioned before, the relatively calm seas, nice breezes, and palapas on resort beaches are unmatched. Beer sure to take some time, get under the shade, and enjoy some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. We made plenty of time to do this on our last trip and it was one of the best decisions we made.
There's so much more to do in Aruba than I've listed here, but I wanted to give you some of my recommendations.
Departing Aruba
This is something that no one likes to talk about but it needs to be mentioned here. On the right day, at the right time, Queen Beatrix International Airport can be a nightmare. It is recommended to arrive at least three hours before your flight. DO IT.
Audrey and I were extremely close to arriving two hours before our flight when some seasoned veterans told us to get there three hours before. We followed their advice and got to our gate with 15 minutes to spare.
Departure is the worst part of any trip, but it's certainly the worst part of your entire trip to Aruba. Depending on the day, you should prepare for long lines and wait times while attempting to get to your gate. Saturday and Sunday will be the worst days so to avoid this, you might look at departing on a weekday. Allow three hours before your flight for arrival to the airport.
Conclusion
Aruba is one of my favorite destinations in the Caribbean. Everything about it is relaxing, fun, and beautiful. The experience can be what you make it. With tons of flights in and out each day, it's accessible, yet distant. It feels like you are abroad but you're comfortable like you're at home.
The beaches will blow your mind and the calm waters are perfect to unwind, chat with locals or other guests, and get that perfect photo op for next year's Christmas card.
If you're looking for a non-cruise (land) vacation that is outside the box of your normal all-inclusive destination, Aruba could be a place for you.
For more information or to book travel to Aruba, visit our CruiseNReview Booking Page. We'd love to help you plan your dream island getaway.
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