Hilton Aruba
Hey there fellow travelers, David is here with Walter’s World, and today we’re discuss on the beautiful beaches of Aruba. What we have for you are the “don’t” of visiting this gorgeous island.
Don’t Take the Dutch Part Too Far
The first “don’t” I have deals with the name of Aruba. Now, Aruba, they’ll say it’s part of the Netherlands Antilles or the Dutch Antilles or the Dutch Caribbean—you’ll see that a lot here. But my “don’t” for you is don’t take the Dutch part too far. Aruba is actually a sovereign country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Also, they are polyglots like the Dutch in the Netherlands. They speak the local language, Papiamento, but also speak Dutch, English, Spanish, and maybe some Portuguese, among others. So, there are some Dutch influences here. Probably the best one is the pastechi, a pastry stuffed with cheese and fried. The love of cheese came over as well. But in general, don’t think you’re going to be in the Netherlands. You might smell the “wacky tobacky” every so often, but that doesn’t mean it’s legal here. They do have a Bulldog Cafe like in the Netherlands, right here on Palm Beach. You can go, but don’t think the “wacky tobacky” is legal like in the Netherlands.
Don’t Get in a Hurry
Another big “don’t” I think is the big difference between the Dutch in the Netherlands versus here, and that has to do with time. We are on an island, so don’t get in a hurry to get your order taken, drinks to you, food to you, checked into your hotel, or through the breakfast line at your all-inclusive or general hotel. You gotta have patience when you’re here. Yes, it is the Dutch Caribbean, but it’s not super Dutch all the time, so have a heads-up for that.
Don’t Worry About the Rain or Hurricanes
Moving away from the Dutch part of it, another “don’t” I have for you is don’t worry about the rain or hurricanes too much. This is a desert island, not a deserted island—you’ll see with all the tourists here—but it is a desert island, which means there’s very little rainfall. We’re just south of the hurricane lane, so this place doesn’t get hit by hurricanes very often. That means it’s popular all year round. When you’re enjoying those beaches all year round, one thing that’s nice here is that you don’t have to worry about overly aggressive touts. The touts on the beach here are pretty laid-back. If they want you to take a boat ride or do something else, they’ll just ask you, and if you’re like, “Nah, I’m good,” they’ll say, “Alright, have a good day,” and they might chat you up just for conversation, not to get you to buy. That’s really nice.
Don’t Forget Sunblock and Hydration
When you’re on these gorgeous beaches, don’t forget the sunblock and sun protection. Yes, my face is red, but I’ve been putting on SPF 50 with my hat. The sun is super strong here; we’re only a few degrees away from the equator. With very little rain and not a lot of clouds, the sun hits you all the time, reflecting off the water. If you’re doing things like parasailing, kite surfing, or hiking in the national park, the sun is still hitting you. So, make sure you’re lathering up early and often. Also, don’t forget to stay hydrated. And no, I’m not just saying stay hydrated on Balashi beer and Palmera rum, which are both pretty good. You want to stay hydrated with water, and yes, you can drink the water here in Aruba. At restaurants, they’ll keep filling up your water, so keep knocking it back. We have water bottles filled up with water from the hotel, no big deal. Stay hydrated because you dry out very quickly here with the heat, remember it’s a desert island.
Don’t Take a Palapa Without Asking
Another beach “don’t” is don’t think you can just roll up and take a palapa. A palapa is one of those beach umbrellas made out of reeds and leaves. You might see an open one and think, “I’ll just hop there.” No, no, no—someone’s either paying for that or they’ll make you pay for it. If you want one, make sure you reserve it or ask if one’s available. Many hotels have their own, so you might want to reserve one the night before. With the intense sun, you’ll want some kind of sun protection. Also, if you’re at your hotel, don’t forget to take back your towels, or they might charge you. Just FYI.
Don’t Worry About Exchanging Dollars
Don’t worry about exchanging your dollar. Aruba is part of the Netherlands Antilles, within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but they don’t use the euro. They have the florin as their local currency, and you might get change back in that, but you can pay with US dollars anywhere, no problem. You’ll need some US dollars from the ATMs that are everywhere. But my next “don’t” is don’t have a heart attack when you see the prices at restaurants. Aruba is an island, which makes things expensive, and it’s a popular tourist island. Prices are high, high, and higher. Prepare your budget accordingly. There are supermarkets and mini-markets all over the island, so when you’re driving around, pick up some snacks for the room. Instead of three meals, maybe have two meals. We have a big breakfast at our hotel because it’s included, then a big lunch or an early dinner.
Don’t Expect to Eat All the Time
Don’t think you can eat all the time. Yes, there are tons of tourist places like Taco Bells and KFCs. It might sound sacrilegious, but with the prices you’re paying, sometimes ordering from Domino’s or going to a pizzeria on the beach can save your budget. It’s pricey here. Another “don’t” is don’t expect to eat all the time. Some lunch restaurants close at 3 or 3:30, and dinner places might not open until 6. If you’re like my dad, who likes to eat at 5 o’clock sharp, you might have some issues. You might have to go to those touristy places that are a bit more expensive.
Don’t Skip the Sunset
Don’t skip the sunset. The sunset here in Aruba is spectacular. The colors that appear when the sun meets the sea are gorgeous. Even my kids were impressed. Make sure you get a chance to see it. Don’t just sit inside and wait for dinner—go enjoy the sunset.
Don’t Think Aruba is Just High-Rise and Low-Rise Hotels
Don’t think Aruba is just the high-rise and low-rise hotel areas. Most likely, this is where you’ll stay—the high-rise area on Palm Beach with the Holiday Inn, Marriott, and Hyatt, or the low-rise area on Eagle Beach. But you can go around the island; there’s a lot to see and do. You can rent a car just for a day to explore or get one of those gators to drive around. We spent a day driving around, going up to the California Lighthouse. Don’t go up if you’re claustrophobic, scared of heights, or the dark—it can be tough. But it’s gorgeous up there. You can go to the Donkey Sanctuary, the ostrich farm, the east side of the island with rougher beaches, the Natural Bridge, a fort, or the National Park. There’s a lot of cool stuff to do on the island, not just the beaches of the high-rise and low-rise resort areas. Get out and explore more.
Don’t Think You Have to Do a Tour
Don’t think you have to do a tour. You can rent a car and do it on your own. It’s very easy to drive around here; the roads are good, the people are nice, and it’s very simple to get around, even with all the tours. We went from the California Lighthouse in the north to Baby Beach in the south—it was really easy. Get out there and explore the island. You can go to the capital, Oranjestad, for shopping, but there’s a lot more to do.
Don’t Forget the Difference Between Beaches
Don’t forget that there’s a big difference between the beaches on the west coast, where it’s calm and nice, and the east coast, where you have rougher waves. I wouldn’t recommend taking the kids to the east coast beaches because of the rough seas. Stay on the west coast side where it’s calmer, or go to Baby Beach, which is very nice with easy snorkeling. Though it is weird to see the refinery near the beautiful beach, have a heads-up. There’s a lot of coral here, and it will wash up on shore. Be careful not to step on it, and don’t take it home—leave it here. You’ll see signs saying not to take the plant or animal life, including coral.
Don’t Go to Oranjestad When Cruise Ships Are In
If you see big cruise ships in, like two of them, don’t go to Oranjestad that day. Ask your hotel if there’s a cruise ship coming in—they’ll probably know. When two big cruise ships come in, about 10,000 tourists invade for four hours, so it can get a little crazy. Other times, it’s pretty laid-back and relaxed. In the evening, most of the cruise ships have their passengers back on board, so it calms down.
Quick Don’ts
- Don’t Forget to Tip: You’ll be tipping about 15% on your bill. Yes, it’s expensive to eat out here, but the service and quality of food are good, so it’s worth it.
- Don’t Worry: Aruba is super safe. You can go out at night and enjoy yourself in the high-rise district, low-rise district, or capital. Just be cautious of the sun and some distracted drivers. Walk around and have a good time—it’s a safe place.
- Don’t Forget to Book Early: If you’re coming here during the holidays or a weekend, make sure you book a rental car early, especially if you’re getting in later on Friday. They do run out.
Final Don’ts
- Don’t Miss Carnival: If you can be here during Carnival, don’t miss it. It’s one of the biggest in the world, with lots of music and dancing. But even during non-Carnival times, you’ll hear drums and music all day long—it’s like there’s a mini Carnival happening. Enjoy it, and don’t forget to have fun!
- Don’t Miss Your Flight: On your way out, don’t wait until the last minute to get to the airport. You’ll go through customs here before you leave, which can take some time, so plan ahead to avoid missing your flight.
