When is the best time to visit Aruba?+
Any time of year. Aruba sits below the hurricane belt, the temperature moves by only 3 degrees across the year, and it rains on roughly 50 days a year. The driest spell is from February to June. High season runs from mid-December to April, when hotel prices peak; from May to November the same hotels are markedly cheaper with almost identical weather, making Aruba's off-season the best value in the Caribbean.
Can you drink the tap water in Aruba?+
Yes, and it's one of the few Caribbean destinations where that holds without caveats. The island makes its own water by desalinating seawater at one of the world's largest desalination plants, and the quality matches a European mains supply. You don't need bottled water here and it's needlessly expensive — bring your own bottle and refill it at the hotel. Ice is safe everywhere.
What's the difference between Eagle Beach and Palm Beach?+
Eagle Beach is wider, with a strip of sand up to 100 metres in places, and its hotels stand on the far side of the road, so nothing blocks the sea view; it's quieter and sun loungers are often free. Palm Beach to its north is lined with tall hotels, casinos and restaurants, is livelier, and everything is within walking distance. The sea is equally calm and shallow on both. If you want a beach, choose Eagle; if you want nightlife, choose Palm.
Do I need a car in Aruba?+
Not for getting between resorts, Oranjestad and San Nicolas — the Arubus bus runs the main route every half hour and costs under $3. You need a car only if you want to visit Arikok National Park and the wild north coast, and it has to be a 4x4: the tracks are rocky and rental agreements explicitly ban standard cars from entering the park.
Do hurricanes affect Aruba?+
No. Aruba sits roughly 15 degrees above the equator, below the main hurricane belt, and tropical storms pass it by. That's the main reason you can fly here without worry in September and October, when the rest of the Caribbean is at the peak of hurricane season. The last genuinely serious hit is a matter of decades, not years.
Is Aruba expensive?+
Yes, it's one of the priciest destinations in the Caribbean — dinner on Palm Beach costs as much as in Amsterdam, and hotels in high season run well over $200 a night. You can save money by travelling from May to November, when prices drop sharply with almost the same weather, taking the bus instead of taxis, and eating at bakeries and local spots in Oranjestad and San Nicolas rather than on the boardwalk.
How do I get to Aruba?+
There's no direct flight from most of Europe. The most common and comfortable route is via Amsterdam, from where KLM flies non-stop to Aruba; total journey time runs 15–17 hours. Connecting through a hub in the United States is also possible but requires ESTA registration. Before travelling you fill in the free, mandatory online ED Card, and you'll need proof of accommodation and a return ticket.
How much should you tip?+
Restaurants often add a 15 percent service charge to the bill, which is effectively a mandatory tip — check the bill before adding more. Where it's not included, 15–20 percent is customary in the American style, since Aruba lives off American tourists. $1 per drink for bartenders, $2–3 a day for housekeeping, 10 percent for taxi drivers. The dollar is accepted everywhere.
