Over the holidays, my family spent five beautiful days in Aruba. We had never been and wondered why it took us so long to go there! We all agreed it was one of our favorite vacations – and we will definitely be back! I hope these tips and links help you when you’re choosing your next destination or planning your own 2024 trip to Aruba.
Getting to Aruba
Getting to Aruba from the Washington D.C. area was much easier than we expected. We had a direct flight to the Queen Beatrix International Airport in Aruba; flight time was about 4 hours. Once off the plane, you go through Aruba customs, which is all automated; just scan your passport, get your picture taken and off you go. (Prior to your trip, you’ll need to get “travel ready” – here’s everything you need to know, including the link to complete the proper paperwork for your mandatory Aruba E/D Card.) Second stop was baggage claim, and then we were on our way to the hotel. We used Super Limo and scheduled it through our hotel. There were a lot of airport employees directing you along the way and offering assistance.
When you leave Aruba, the process is a little different because U.S. Customs is in the Aruba airport (you won’t need to go through customs when you land in the U.S. which is a huge timesaver). You’ll check your bags with the airline, and exit outside to another building where you’ll go through security. Then, you’ll pick up your luggage, and immediately enter U.S. Customs for processing. (Once you grab your luggage, remember you’ll technically be entering the U.S., so don’t bring any fresh fruits, food, etc.) Once through customs, you’ll drop off your bags off again and go through airport security one more time. You should plan to arrive about three hours before your flight. In the Aruba airport, there are plenty of restaurants, fast food and shops to get food and snacks while you wait to depart.
Where to Stay
There are MANY, MANY options for places to stay in Aruba. We stayed at the Ritz-Carlton, located in the Palm Beach area, and about 20 minutes from the airport. (The Palm Beach area is where many of the high rise resorts are located.) For our family of four adults, we had two adjoining rooms with a beautiful ocean view. The Ritz never disappoints with its high level of service, excellent restaurants, and amenities for everyone (spa, pool, water sports, beach, casino).
We booked rooms on the Club level at the Ritz, and were so glad we did. The lounge featured food and drinks throughout the entire day. It was a great place to meet in the mornings for breakfast, grab a light lunch or snack in the afternoon, find unlimited bottled water and drinks all day, and sneak a sweet treat before bedtime.
Pro tip: The Ritz-Carlton site has some great planning tips and itineraries to get you started.
What to Do in Aruba
We like plenty of downtime by the pool to relax and unwind on our vacations. With temps in the mid to high 80’s year round in Aruba, the weather did not disappoint. We’re definitely “pool people,” and I can honestly say the beaches themselves did not really impress us. They were crowded and many of the beach setups were far back from the water (and so close together). So we took walks along the beach, and did our relaxing poolside where service was AMAZING, food was delicious, and servers were very friendly. We rented a pool cabana one day – it’s pricey, but worth it to get the extra shade.
ARUBA TOURS
We ventured out on some tours to see other parts of the island. I booked two tours through Viator. It was convenient to schedule, they picked us up at the hotel, I didn’t have to pay until a few days before the tour, and there was easy rescheduling up to 24 hours before the tour. My daughter liked the half-day animal sanctuary tour to the donkey sanctuary, ostrich farm and animal rescue zoo. My son enjoyed the half-day private jeep tour that took us to some of the more remote parts of the island. The island is beautiful, so if you don’t rent a car, definitely find a tour that can take you around to see the different areas. It’s also fun to talk to your tour guide who lives there to learn more about the island and their customs.
We also had A LOT of fun in the casinos. It was an easy $10 cab ride to go from our hotel to most of the other resorts – and they all have their own casino! The Marriott Hotel is walkable from the Ritz, and they have a lot to offer for activities and restaurants.
GETTING AROUND IN ARUBA
We did not rent a car in Aruba. It was very easy to get a cab anywhere we went, and no cab ride was more than $10-$15. Pro tip: Bring cash because the cabs prefer it – and getting cash at an ATM while you are there will cost you a lot in fees! If you do plan to rent a car, check out these driving tips. One thing we noticed – Aruba doesn’t have any traffic lights. They have lots of roundabouts which helps with the traffic flow. And, according to our tour guide, locals are very patient with tourist drivers (they know you’re a tourist from the rental car license plate!).
Where to Eat
We enjoyed two of the Ritz-Carlton restaurants — Casa Nonna New York (Italian cuisine) and BLT Steak (steakhouse). Both had excellent service, BLT Steak had the best desserts, and it’s easy to make reservations ahead of time through OpenTable.
We also dined at these local restaurants:
- Faro Blanco – hilltop restaurant near the lighthouse (plan to take a tour before dinner); authentic Italian cuisine and breathtaking views. This was my #1 pick for restaurants!
- Bagels and Burgers – perfect when you’re looking for something casual; located in a more touristy area of Palm Beach with lots to do; we all LOVED our burgers!
- Hadicurari – just a short walk from our hotel along the beach; GREAT pizzas, plus fresh seafood; dine on the beach with your toes in the sand!
I recommend you make reservations for everything ahead of time. It’s very hard to eat someplace without one. You can always cancel if plans change.
What to Pack for Aruba
Aruba attire is described as “casual elegant.” Days are spent in shorts and swimsuits. For your daytime tours, remember to pack athletic shorts and dri-fit shirts (it’s hot!), and sneakers. In the evenings, my daughter and I usually just wore our summer dresses, and the guys wore shorts/polo shirts/button down shirts everywhere. You could dress fancier, but the norm (even at the Ritz) was definitely more casual.
Packing for beach trips is the easiest trip to pack for! For this five night trip, I packed:
- Five casual dresses (plus my preferred shapewear under a dress)
- SCHUTZ sandals, flat sandals, pool flip flops and sneakers
- Two shorts, two t-shirts – for touring
- Four swimsuits plus coverups – I hate to rewear them because you get so sweaty all day!
- Crossbody bag (for nights out), lululemon belt bag (for touring) and pool tote
- You can shop all our SaF travel must haves here.
You’ll also want to remember to bring:
- Don’t forget your sunscreen! Aruba is right near the equator and the sun is blazing! It’ll be your most important accessory of the trip!
- Hair ties – we were there in the windy season!
- A list of all your reservations – it’s a lot to remember dinner, tours, etc.
- Cash – for taxis, tips and casinos – ATM fees are high!
WHAT I WORE
It’s not a Style Among Friends post without some outfits ideas. I packed dresses for every evening – one for each night – so easy! Many of my dresses are no longer available since it is off season, so I have linked a few that I love that are similar styles/recommended brands. Don’t forget to pack your SCHUTZ sandals – they work with all of these dresses!
SHOP DRESSES
SHOP FOR THE POOL/BEACH
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I hope you enjoyed our holiday vacay recap, and that it inspires your 2024 travels. If you have any questions, I’m happy to answer them! Just drop me a note. xo, Christa
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