Aruba

There is no best time to visit Aruba as the weather is consistently warm year-round with a fairly constant temperature of 82°F (28°C). The best time to visit all depends on the type of vacation you are looking for.

Aruba tends to be more crowded during high season, as many visitors are trying to escape from the cold and come to Aruba for some warmth and sunshine. During this period hotel prices are higher than in low season and reservations need to be made well in advance. If you are looking for a less crowded period it is recommended to visit Aruba during low season.

High Season: mid-December until mid-April

Low Season: mid-April until mid-December

In September though the trade winds die and the temperature increases slightly. This makes the perceived temperature higher. If you don't mind the heat it is a perfect time to visit the island as the island is less crowded and special travel deals are being offered for this period.

It is important to mention that Aruba lies far outside the hurricane belt, far away from the storms. On occasions Aruba might experience some small effects of nearby tropical weather. Rain showers may occur.

Most rain is falling between October and January. However even when it rains it tends to be very short, leaving plenty of sun moments for the rest of your day.

To call the US you will need to dial 001, followed by the area code and phone number. For all other countries you dial 00, followed by the country code and phone number.

There are several options for making long-distance calls such as usage of public phone boots, you could rent a cell phone or purchase a SIM card. Wifi is available in most resort and public areas.

Some resorts, restaurants and bars offer free Wi-Fi access to their guests; however in some resorts the free access is limited to public areas.

With Wi-Fi Aruba you can get high-speed wireless internet access on your laptop, tablet or smartphone at several hotspots on the island, including restaurants, resorts, bars and even on the beach. You can access the Wi-Fi Aruba service using a Wi-Fi prepaid card or your Credit Card. Prepaid cards are sold at Hotspots locations and Setar teleshops. Please note to save your prepaid card as the access code on the card need to be used to login again.

Aruba decided to adopt the North American voltage standard of 110 A.C. (60 cycles), the same as in the United States and Canada. Electricity is a by-product of the water desalination process.

On island there are also several options to move around. You could either rent your own vehicle at one of the many car rentals, there are plenty taxis to transfer you to your preferred location, your could rent a bicycle or motor or you could use the public bus

Please contact the front desk of your hotel or apartment complex in case you require medical assistance. The front desk of your resort will be able to direct you to or arrange appointments with the right physician. In case of an emergency you could call 911 for an ambulance or the fire department. The police can be reached at 100. Aruba has a well-equipped hospital, called the Dr. Horacio Oduber Hospital, located close to Eagle Beach.

There is no need to buy bottled water in Aruba. Aruba's tap water is pure and refreshing, meeting the highest standards of quality of the World Health Organization. Since Aruba does not have any significant natural sources of fresh water, the water is distilled in a saltwater desalination plant

The official languages on Aruba are Dutch and Papiamento, but most Arubans are multi-lingual and are able to communicate in English and Spanish as well.

Aruba has its own currency called the Aruban florin, but dollars are also widely accepted on the island. The exchange rate for the US dollar range from Awg 1.75 to Awg 1.80 for one US dollar.

Aruba's currency is the florin denoted by the letters 'Awg.' but also widely known as 'Afl.'

The Aruban florin is divided into 100 cents and there are coins of 5, 10, 25, 50 cents, 1 florin (100 cents) as well as the 5 florin coin. The square shaped 50 cent "yotin" coin is probably Aruba's best-known coin from which many souvenirs are made while the coin itself makes a unique gift for coin collectors. Banknotes are issued in denominations of 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 florins.

Aruba is considered one of the safest destinations in the Caribbean and in general is very safe at any time of the day or night. However incidents may happen and it is recommended to use common sense and not provide any temptation by leaving valuables unattended or clearly visible on the beach or in your rental car

Aruba is in the Atlantic Time Zone and is four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT/UTC -4). Aruba does not utilize Daylight Saving Time.

Tipping is not obligatory, but is at the discretion of the visitor. However, some restaurant and bars add a service charge to your bill. When included, the service charge on food and beverage is normally around 10 to 15 percent. At one's own discretion an extra amount can be added for good service.