This island really must have come from a particularly beautiful dream. Icing sugar beaches, crystal clear turquoise water and beautiful resorts – let yourself be carried off to Caribbean paradise, Aruba calls!
How about a holiday on an island lovingly called “One Happy Island” by its own inhabitants? Yes, on the Caribbean island of Aruba everyone is really welcome and greeted with a smile. Is the positive mood possibly related to the Caribbean sun and the average temperature of 28 degrees? Be that as it may, you have probably heard of the Dutch island off the coast of Venezuela, which is known worldwide for its white beaches. During my visit to this wonderful island I definitely found a piece of paradise and was simply impressed by the beauty of this exotic place. Read on and let yourself be enchanted – here are some valuable tips for your holiday in Aruba.
Worth knowing about Aruba
Those who want to spend their holidays on the dreamlike island Aruba should get some important information and tips beforehand. I have listed everything important for you here, so that you know, what you should consider before or also during your dream vacation in the Caribbean:
- Currency: The main currency on Aruba is the Aruba Florin (short AWG). One Aruba Florin currently equals about 0.47€. Even if the ABC islands belong to the Netherlands, then one cannot pay unfortunately nevertheless everywhere with the euro. This is accepted only in few hotels, can be exchanged however in most regions problem-free into the official currency and/or into dollar.
- Entry regulations: For a tourist stay on Aruba you do not need a visa as a visitor from Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well as from most other European countries. A valid passport is sufficient for entry.
- Vaccinations: Special travel vaccinations are not required for your trip to Aruba. However, it is recommended that you have the generally recommended standard vaccinations for Germany (e.g. vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and measles).
- Cuisine: Aruba’s hearty cuisine is strongly influenced by Spanish, South American and Dutch cuisine. The national dish is “Keshi Yena”, a cheese stuffed with spices, vegetables and meat. But fish dishes are also on the menu here, such as “Criollo”, delicious fish in a spicy onion-tomato sauce with a slightly sweet character.Language skills: The official language in Aruba is, how could it be otherwise, Dutch. In order to be able to communicate with you, basic knowledge of English is usually sufficient, many hotel employees often speak good Spanish or even German. But you can make the locals happy by saying a few words of Papiamentu (a mixture of Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish) – this is the lingua franca of the locals.
- Crime: Even though the crime rate in the Caribbean is relatively high, Aruba is fortunately not one of the states struggling with a high crime rate. Violent crimes are very rare, yet, as in any foreign country, one should simply be careful and not too gullible.
- Important note: In the Caribbean, including Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao and St. Maarten, there is currently a significant increase in Zika virus infections transmitted by mosquitoes. These are similar to dengue fever and pose a particular danger to unborn children. There is currently no vaccination or similar. The Federal Foreign Office therefore advises pregnant women and women who want to become pregnant to refrain from avoidable travel to Zika virus outbreak areas. Further information on this topic can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.
- Time change: The time difference on Aruba is -5 hours in winter, -4 hours in summer.
- Best travel time: Aruba is suitable all year round for a varied beach vacation. The rainy season lasts from October to February, but it is said that it is more pleasant in these months, as it is not quite so hot. The average temperature is approximately 25 to 30 degrees all year round.
Oranjestad – Holland meets the Caribbean
Aruba, like its neighbours Bonaire and Curaçao, belongs to the Netherlands Antilles and is still an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Sounds a bit of a habit, doesn’t it? A Dutch island in the middle of the Caribbean? But you only have to walk through the streets of the capital with the cute name Oranjestad once to see that it’s really a great mixture.
The brightly coloured houses are decorated in the Dutch confectioner style and bring a very special flair to the port city. Here, in the biggest city of the island, there is always something going on. No matter if you want to stroll in the shops or relax at the harbour, the colourful Oranjestad is the perfect place. Here and there a bit of European flair comes up – but don’t worry, the palm trees will quickly remind you that you are actually in the Caribbean.