Aruba is known for its world famous beaches, luxury hotels, glitzy casinos, fine dining restaurants, designer boutiques, fun island tours, amazing snorkeling, exciting places to see, adventurous activities, history and culture. Aruba has a lot to offer, but it comes with a price tag. This may sound like it s out of your price range that you would spend on vacation. However, by following our money saving tips you will find that a vacation to Aruba can fit into your budget after all. Let s look at all the easy ways you can save money during your vacation. Grocery Store Buying groceries at your hotel mini-market can be very expensive. To avoid over paying for your groceries you can go buy groceries where all the locals go. The closest supermarket to the hotel area is Superfood. Hint: Ask for a bonus card at the service desk to enjoy savings on your groceries. Superfood is located near Palm Beach and Eagle Beach. It s a big modern store where they have a liquor store, cafeteria, cosmetic department, Bank and ATM (Arubabank). They have everything you need at a reasonable price. They accept credit cards and cash (USD and Aruban Florins). If you don t find what you re looking for at Superfood you can go to an alternative supermarket like Ling & Sons. Hint: As you move inland to secondary supermarkets the prices get cheaper.
Cellphone Usage While on vacation in Aruba you would like to have cellphone coverage. However, you don t want to reach back home and find a huge phone bill. To avoid being charged with hidden fees you can follow these following steps. 1. Call your provider to ask about the charges for international travel plans. 2. If you don t have an international plan, turn your mobile data and data roaming OFF. Turn your Airplane mode and Wi-Fi ON. When you reach your hotel you can use their Wi-Fi or any other location on Aruba that offers free Wi-Fi. If you have an iphone you can text with imessage and video call with Face Time for free using Wi-Fi without being charged by your provider. However, the person you want to text or video call needs to have an iphone. If you or the person you re trying to contact doesn t have an iphone, download WhatsApp to text or call for free via Wi-Fi. 3. Download Skype and call and text for free via Wi-Fi. 4. Purchase or rent a MiFi (portable Wi-Fi) by Mio or Digicel. 5. If your phone is unlocked, buy a sim-card at airport from Setar or Digicel. Hint: Using the Wi-Fi at your hotel or other free Wi-Fi spots on Aruba is free and keeps you connected to your family back home without having an international travel plan from your local phone provider.
Cash, Credit & Fee s You might be worried whether to bring cash, credit or debit during your vacation in Aruba. When you use a credit card at the ATM in Aruba there is usually a 3% withdrawal fee after conversion to USD. Every time you swipe your credit card you will also be charged 3% of your purchase amount. To overcome being charged 3% every time you use your ATM or swipe you credit card, apply for a credit card that does not have international transaction fee. Before you travel to Aruba, research which company you can apply for a credit card does not charge fees. If you decide to bring a credit card make sure to call your bank to tell them that you are going to be out of the country and are going to use your credit card abroad. Ask them if your credit card will work, so you don t end up disappointed. This prevents that you re credit card won t work at the ATM. Hint: Do not rely on ATM s during your vacation in Aruba. However, if you do decide to withdraw money try the ATM s in the casino. It s better to bring cash on your vacation to Aruba. Don t worry about losing your money or being stolen, because most hotels have a safe in their rooms. Giveaway: Use credit cards for big purchases for example at the supermarket and cash for small purchases or places where they don t accept credit cards. Tip: Don t use your debit card on vacation, because if it is compromised in any way it will take very long to get your money back compared to a credit card.
Restaurants Aruba is one of the few islands in the Caribbean that offers top quality restaurants. If you re looking to dine out you have a lot of restaurants to choose from that offer a variety culinary cuisines. There are more than a hundred restaurants in Aruba, from elegant and fine dining to seafront shacks and trucks. Eating out during your vacation can be very expensive if you choose to eat out at luxury restaurants. However, you can save a lot of money by choosing inexpensive restaurants that have great quality food and excellent service. Hint: Before you head out a restaurants research their menu online so you can budget accordingly, so you don t end up spending more than you wanted. Some affordable restaurants are Bugaloe, Casa Tua, Matthews, Scala, Salt & Pepper, West Deck, Smokey Joe s, Dushi Bagels (breakfast & lunch), Barneys, Cafe 080 (local Aruba food), Zeerover (fish cuisine) just to name a few options. Following our tips on choosing inexpensive restaurants you can easily spend between 20$ 40$ per person, depending on how much you drink. Tip: Some restaurants include a 15% service charge to your bill. If you decide to tip adding between 5 % is very generous. However, if you feel that you waiter gave you an excellent service, give them a tip directly in their hand.
Renting palapas at the beach If you don t know what a palapa is, it s an umbrella like wood structure covered with dried, woven palm tree leaves. You may know them as grass hut or tiki huts. They re made to provide you with shade from the sun when on the beach. The issue with palapas is that your hotel may charge you for using them. They do this, because they pay for their assembly and maintenance. However, according to Aruba law any structure built on the beaches of Aruba are, public property. Because no one owns the beaches in Aruba, they re for public use. So what can you do to assure you have a palapa when you re at the beach? If you feel comfortable paying 10$ to 30$ per day for a palapa, go ahead. You can do so at the front desk of your hotel or the beach lounge vendors. Paying for a palapa is not necessary, if you make sure you are early on the beach you can claim your palapa for free. However, don t be inconsiderate and wake up 6:00 AM just to tie your towel to your palapa and return to your hotel room, if you re not going to use it right away. The key is to be considerate and polite. Think about your fellow beach goers. However, it is legal for the resort to charge you for their beach loungers.
Extra tips 1. Change your money in small bills of 10$, 5$, and 1$, because it's much more convenient for pay for taxis, tips, and smaller purchases. 2. Don t buy bottled water, because the water in Aruba is safe to drink. 3. Restaurants with early bird specials are a great way to save money. 4. Buy liquor at a supermarket to bring to the beach or pool side. 5. Book a hotel with a kitchen so you can make breakfast and lunch. This way you can save money that you can spend to dine out, if you want. 6. Look for free attractions and excursions, for example the aloe factory. 7. Enjoy a happy hour at your hotel or other resorts to save money on drinks. (you can enjoy happy hour from other resorts without being a guest) 8. Buy your alcohol duty free upon arrival at the airport at a shop near the baggage belt to save a boatload of money on liquor (save 40% or more). 9. If you plan to gamble, check out the local magazines in your hotel for coupons that you can cut out and bring to the casino for free money. Follow our money saving tips and you will be going back home with cash, that you can use to fund your next vacation. Visit our website - www.vacationsbyaruba.com Contact us: vacationsbyaruba@gmail.com