| OK, you’ve made you decision on a vacation | | | | for your first trip to Aruba. Great! You’ll have a |
| destination and you’re beginning to make your plans | | | | wonderful time - Aruba is a fantastic country that will |
| for your first trip to Aruba. Great! You’ll have a | | | | welcome you with open arms. But - like any vacation |
| wonderful time - Aruba is a fantastic country that will | | | | you might want a few tips to make your vacation as |
| welcome you with open arms. But - like any vacation | | | | pleasant as possible. Here are some learned from |
| you might want a few tips to make your vacation as | | | | years of travel to Aruba. |
| pleasant as possible. Here are some learned from | | | | One -If you can, fly to Aruba mid-week and leave |
| years of travel to Aruba. One -If you can, fly to Aruba | | | | mid-week. Weekends are peak travel times so flights |
| mid-week and leave mid-week. Weekends are peak | | | | are more difficult to get, and they are more expensive. |
| travel times so flights are more difficult to get, and they | | | | Also, the airport in Aruba - while very modern - is not |
| are more expensive. Also, the airport in Aruba - while | | | | large and gets crowded pretty quickly. If you fly there |
| very modern - is not large and gets crowded pretty | | | | for example on a Wednesday and leave on a |
| quickly. If you fly there for example on a Wednesday | | | | Wednesday the crowds will be far fewer and |
| and leave on a Wednesday the crowds will be far | | | | you’ll definitely have a more relaxed time coming to |
| fewer and you’ll definitely have a more relaxed | | | | and leaving Aruba. You also might save some money |
| time coming to and leaving Aruba. You also might | | | | on your airline tickets. |
| save some money on your airline tickets. Two - Pack | | | | Two - Pack only a carry-on bag. When you’re |
| only a carry-on bag. When you’re going to a new | | | | going to a new location it’s tempting to over-pack. |
| location it’s tempting to over-pack. But think about | | | | But think about what you’ll be doing while you’re |
| what you’ll be doing while you’re in Aruba - if | | | | in Aruba - if it’s hitting the beach and spending time |
| it’s hitting the beach and spending time in the water | | | | in the water then you really don’t need too many |
| then you really don’t need too many clothes. Shorts | | | | clothes. Shorts and comfortable shirts are the rule of |
| and comfortable shirts are the rule of the day (or | | | | the day (or should we say evening) when the sun |
| should we say evening) when the sun goes down. | | | | goes down. Again - this limits your wardrobe. And as |
| Again - this limits your wardrobe. And as far as | | | | far as makeup and toiletries, the TSA security |
| makeup and toiletries, the TSA security requirements | | | | requirements limit how much you can bring anyway so |
| limit how much you can bring anyway so you’ll | | | | you’ll need to purchase your sun tan lotion in Aruba |
| need to purchase your sun tan lotion in Aruba - you | | | | - you can get other necessities there as well. Packing |
| can get other necessities there as well. Packing only a | | | | only a carryon will make you travel much less stressful |
| carryon will make you travel much less stressful - and | | | | - and you’ll get out of the airport much faster when |
| you’ll get out of the airport much faster when you | | | | you arrive in Aruba and when you get home. |
| arrive in Aruba and when you get home. Three - Bring | | | | Three - Bring your cell phone - but limit the use - and |
| your cell phone - but limit the use - and turn-off your | | | | turn-off your data access. There is nothing worse |
| data access. There is nothing worse after a wonderful | | | | after a wonderful vacation than to get your next cell |
| vacation than to get your next cell phone bill and have | | | | phone bill and have hundreds of dollars in charges for |
| hundreds of dollars in charges for data access in | | | | data access in Aruba. Your phone will work - and so |
| Aruba. Your phone will work - and so will your data | | | | will your data access and e-mail - but it will be costly |
| access and e-mail - but it will be costly so limit your | | | | so limit your use. A good tip is to bring a laptop or |
| use. A good tip is to bring a laptop or netbook and | | | | netbook and check your e-mail using your hotel’s |
| check your e-mail using your hotel’s Internet | | | | Internet access every two days. That way you can |
| access every two days. That way you can handle | | | | handle necessary messages. The money you’ll pay |
| necessary messages. The money you’ll pay for | | | | for Internet access at your hotel (about $15.00 / day) |
| Internet access at your hotel (about $15.00 / day) will | | | | will be MUCH less than the data charges on your cell |
| be MUCH less than the data charges on your cell | | | | phone. |
| phone. Four - If you don’t use suntan lotion you will | | | | Four - If you don’t use suntan lotion you will get |
| get burned - period. Aruba is near the equator so the | | | | burned - period. Aruba is near the equator so the |
| sun’s rays are very direct. Spending time on the | | | | sun’s rays are very direct. Spending time on the |
| beach - even in the shade - can be a recipe for | | | | beach - even in the shade - can be a recipe for |
| disaster if you don’t use sunblock. Really. We’re | | | | disaster if you don’t use sunblock. Really. We’re |
| not kidding. We have seen people get severe | | | | not kidding. We have seen people get severe |
| sunburns that have ruined their vacations. Don’t | | | | sunburns that have ruined their vacations. Don’t |
| take a chance - even if you “don’t burn.” | | | | take a chance - even if you “don’t burn.” |
| Five - Plan your arrival time to Aruba - Most hotels | | | | Five - Plan your arrival time to Aruba - Most hotels |
| won’t check you in until 3pm or 4pm so you might | | | | won’t check you in until 3pm or 4pm so you might |
| have some idle time. Some things to consider - first, | | | | have some idle time. Some things to consider - first, |
| don’t pack your bathing suit where it is | | | | don’t pack your bathing suit where it is |
| out-of-reach, you may want to spend some time at | | | | out-of-reach, you may want to spend some time at |
| the pool while waiting for your room. Second, see if | | | | the pool while waiting for your room. Second, see if |
| you can check-in early then come back to get your | | | | you can check-in early then come back to get your |
| key. With any luck you might end-up getting a better | | | | key. With any luck you might end-up getting a better |
| room since in many hotels it’s first come, first | | | | room since in many hotels it’s first come, first |
| serve. Better yet - let the person at the front desk | | | | serve. Better yet - let the person at the front desk |
| know your preference. They may be able to honor it | | | | know your preference. They may be able to honor it |
| because you’re there early. The tips above should | | | | because you’re there early. |
| help you have a more enjoyable vacation in Aruba. | | | | The tips above should help you have a more |
| Once you’re there look to see what you can do to | | | | enjoyable vacation in Aruba. Once you’re there |
| make you NEXT trip there even better. Aruba is the | | | | look to see what you can do to make you NEXT trip |
| island that the most people return to a second time for | | | | there even better. Aruba is the island that the most |
| vacation - over 60% - so don’t be surprised if | | | | people return to a second time for vacation - over |
| you’re planning your return trip before you’ve | | | | 60% - so don’t be surprised if you’re planning |
| left the country. Have a great trip! | | | | your return trip before you’ve left the country. |
| OK, you’ve made you decision on a vacation | | | | Have a great trip! |
| destination and you’re beginning to make your plans | | | | |