Capital: Oranjestad
Time zone: GMT – 4
Telephone services: Country Code: 297
Outgoing Code: 00
Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 11000, Ambulance – 74300, Fire – 115
Tourist information: Caribbean Tourism Organisation, 42 Westminster Gardens, Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RR Tel: (020) 7222 4335 Fax: (020) 7222 4325.
Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of the USA or Canada holding a naturalisation card and photo ID, alien registration card, birth certificate or affidavit of birth. Return ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact embassy before departure.
Visa information: Visas are required by nationals of Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Libya, Mauritania, Mongolia, Myanmar, Syria and Vietnam. All other nationals may enter for a period of 14 days for tourist purposes providing they have onward or return tickets and proof of sufficient funds for the length of stay. Nationals of Belgium, Bolivia; Burkina Faso, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Germany, Israel, Jamaica, South Korea, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mauritius, Niger, Philippines, San Marino, Suriname and Swaziland can enter without a visa for up to 3 months
Health information: Yellow Fever: R. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 6 months of age arriving from infected areas.
Food & drink: Water is distilled and treated in a saltwater purification plant, and should be refreshing and safe, normal precautions should be observed with food.
Currency: Aruba Florin (AFL) = 100 cents. Exchange: The US$ is widely accepted. Local currency can not be exchanged outside Aruba. Travellers cheques in US dollars and Dutch Guilders are widely accepted. MasterCard is widely accepted.
ATM availability: 10 locations.
Cost of living: Hotels on the Palm Beach and Eagle Beach resorts are very expensive. Rates for other accommodations are much lower in the summer season.
Languages: Dutch, English, Spanish and Papiamento are also spoken.
Weather: Warm and dry climate. Average temperature 28ºC. The months of October, November and December experience short showers.
Electricity: 110 volts Ac 60 Hz. – Normal American supply.
Post: Up to 1 week.
Transport: FLIGHTS: Air Aruba offers domestic services between other Caribbean islands. ROAD very good system of roads throughout the island. BUS: Bus services operate between the towns and hotels. TAXI: Fares are fixed and should be checked before journey. CAR HIRE: The most pleasant way of getting around the island. Many cars are available. DOCUMENTATION: A valid national or IDP is required. Minimum age – 23 for driving.
Special information: Beachwear should only be worn around the beach / pool.