Rap up of Aruba:
- U.S. Customs is done in Aruba, not in the U.S. So you will want to get there a hour sooner than you would normally go.
- Aruba Supports Global Entry
- You will go through the Aruba entry Xrays where you will take out your laptops and take off your shoes. Then you will do it again when you go through the U.S. portion prior to Customs.
- About 95% of Aruba’s GDP comes from tourism.
- Aruba is all about Round-Abouts. There was only one light and it was not working.
- Flamingo Island is a privately owned island by the Renaissance Hotel.
- You will either need to get a room in the hotel or get a Day Pass. The Day Pass is an IF, not a will get. If the hotel is 80% booked, then they do not sell Day Passes.
- The cost of a room is about $150 more than a Day Pass.
- Get there early. First boat leaves at 7am.
- Early gets hungry flamingos and plenty of feed.
- Flamingo Beach is Adult Only except for 1 hour. Iguana Beach is for everyone.
- Bring water socks.
- Aruba’s beaches are mostly broken down coral. There are rocks just off the beaches. Water socks will make your walking a more pleasant process
- It is windy there all the time! Be prepared
- Due to the wind, Aruba is a great place for wind surfing
- Aruba is 20 miles tall and 6 miles wide
- Aruba is a desert island. There are catus, dunes, and Animal Park.
- Good Diving
- LionFish Snack
- This is a shop that sells fried lionfish
- Only open on Saturdays
- It is awesome!
- Check this out
- Driving is right handed driving like in the U.S.
- Check out Lindan Cigars!
- Eat at Salt & Pepper
- Take a Salt & Pepper shaker and you get a free glass of sangria!
- At a grocery store (we used SuperFood), American brands, especially with meat, will cost you more. Get the beef from Brazil. Cost less and was really, really good.
- Liquor tax is taxed on entry at $19 per liter after two liters.
- Cash only. No cards.
- It seems high, but it is worth it. The cost of good liquor on the island is really high.
- Temperature is pretty constant year round.
