The white sandy beaches of Aruba have something to offer everyone. With activities like surfing, scuba, snorkeling, wind surfing, sailing and fishing, theres never a dull moment during Aruba vacations.
The Caribbean island also offers shopping, an active nightlife, museums and a national park, and is a great place to simply lounge on the beach.
The islands small size around 70 square miles, roughly the size of Washington, D.C. makes it easy to take in all the Aruba has to offer. Most places of interest fall around the capital, Oranjestad, and the main beaches of the island. The small size of the island also makes it much easier for people to find their way around, and the low crime rate allows tourists to wander the island worry-free.
Tourism is the islands main industry (with most tourists traveling from the United States), but oil refinery, gold and aloe are also profitable for Arubas people.
Arubas weather is basically the same year-round. The average temperature is 82 degrees this varies only about 3 degrees at any given time and there are generally cooling winds coming off the ocean. The islands steady temperature makes it a great place to visit any time of the year. Unlike many islands in the Caribbean, Aruba is outside the general hurricane region and has no rainy season.
Because planning around the weather is unnecessary, many people planning an Aruba vacation will want to choose a time that is convenient for them, or some may want to plan around Arubas holidays and festivals.
Many of Arubas holidays are the same as those in the United States, such as Christmas, New Years Eve and New Year ''s Day, Good Friday and Easter.
One festival that many travelers enjoy is Carnival, which takes place just before Lent (usually in February). During Carnival, Aruba visitors can enjoy childrens parades, parties, dancing, musical competitions and festivals. January, February and March are usually the most popular months to visit Aruba, and the crowds do grow around Carnival and its surrounding months.
New Years Day, much like in the United States, has a celebration that begins at midnight, with a fireworks show.
Toward the end of April, Aruba has a Summer Jam, which offers a carnival and assorted jazz bands.
A more relaxed atmosphere is present during the months of May to December, so travelers that like the quiet and calm serenity may desire to visit during these months. In June, there is a windsurfing competition held at Eagle Beach that many travelers enjoy watching while relaxing on the beach.
The only other factor that may influence the time of year travelers visit Aruba is the prices and rates, which vary a bit more than the weather.
Meal prices and shopping dont change seasonally; inflation may be a factor, but this would be similar to prices in the United States. Restaurants offer meals that average $5 to $10 all the way up to $25 to $40, depending on the caliber of the eatery. Shopping of course depends on the item in question, but prices are generally comparable to any tourist spot a little more than youd pay at home. The bonus of shopping in Aruba? No sales tax.
Hotel accommodations are another story. From mid-April to mid-December, prices are far lower than mid-December to mid-April. All levels of accommodation are available, but during the busier months reservations must be made far in advance.
High-rise Aruba resorts generally run about $130 to over $300, low-rise resorts and small hotels range from $60 to about $200, and timeshare resorts are available for $100 to $300. Bargains can be found, but some searching and comparing might be necessary.
Another thing to factor in is transportation. Getting to the island isnt difficult; Arubas airport facility was recently expanded and now serves a number of airlines. Connections can be made anywhere in the world. Charter flights are also available in many large U.S. cities.
Getting around the island is fairly easy. Many places of interest are within walking distance of resorts, and rental cars are also available.
Before visiting Aruba, would-be travelers should know that, from 2007 onward, passports are a requirement. Passport applications take six to eight weeks to process, so travelers should look into acquiring passports well in advance of their trip.
Currency in Aruba is the Aruban florin, but the vast majority of places on the island will accept American dollars, travelers checks or credit cards. Travelers can exchange currency if desired, but it is not necessary for the most part. Large bills ($50 or $100) are difficult to change, so carrying smaller bills is recommended.
Cell phones and pagers should work normally under roaming conditions. There are a number of Internet cafes throughout the island that offer Internet access for an hourly fee. Wi-Fi is also available at many locations.
Once all of the logistics are figured out, the only thing left to do is relax and sight-see. Aside from beaches, shopping and water sports, Aruba offers sand dunes, parks, caves, historical museums, wildlife, a lighthouse, gold mills and volcanic formations.
Those wishing to be pampered while on vacation may be interested in the islands many spas, which offer full body treatments and assorted skin care regimes.
In 2004, nearly 800 thousand people visited Aruba, and for good reason the island offers a beautiful vacation escape that will surely please anyone.