Travel to Aruba information
Capital: Oranjestad
Location:
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela ( slightlylarger than Washington, DC ).
Customs Regulations:
Aruba customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Aruba. Travelers are allowed to purchase a maximum of $600 worth of duty free merchandise based on the retail value. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of the Netherlands in Washington, D.C. or one of the Dutch Consulates in the United States for specific information.
Registration Embassy and Consulate:
Americans living in or visiting Aruba are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Curacao, located at J.B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curacao, telephone 011-599-9-461-3066; fax 011-599-9-461-6489; after-hours emergency telephone 011-599-9-560-6870; e-mail address: cgcuracao@interneeds.net. The Consular Section hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, except U.S. and Dutch holidays.
Background:
Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three main industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990.
Ethnic Groups:
Mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%
Language:
Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Currency:
AWG
Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)
Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.7900 (fixed rate since 1986)
Climate:
tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Population:
70,007 (July 2001 est.)
Religion:
Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish
Medical:
Medical care is good in Aruba. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate payment in cash or by major credit card for health services. Aruba has one hospital, the Dr. H.E. Oduber Hospital, with medical standards that can be compared with an average small hospital in the United States. The hospital has three classes of services, and patients are accommodated according to the level of their insurance (i.e,. first class: one patient to a room, TV, and more meal variety; second class: two to three patients to a room, shared bathroom, etc; third class: 15 to 20 people in a ward).
The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and if it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. However, many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas, including emergency services such as medical evacuations.
When making a decision regarding health insurance, Americans should consider that many foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing service and that a medical evacuation to the United States may cost well in excess of $50,000. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas often face extreme difficulties, whereas travelers who have purchased overseas medical insurance have found it to be life-saving when a medical emergency has occurred. When consulting with your insurer prior to your trip, please ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas healthcare provider or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.
Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure, Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page or autofax: (202) 647-3000.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via CDC's Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov.
Americans living in or visiting Aruba are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Curacao, located at J.B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curacao, telephone 011-599-9-461-3066; fax 011-599-9-461-6489; after-hours emergency telephone 011-599-9-560-6870; e-mail address: cgcuracao@interneeds.net. The Consular Section hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, except U.S. and Dutch holidays.
Safety:
There are no extremist groups, areas of instability or organized crime within Aruba.
Traffic Safety:
While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Aruba is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation:
Excellent
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Good
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Fair
Availability of Roadside Assistance:
Good
Driving in Aruba is on the right-hand side of the road, as in the United States. Right turns on red are prohibited in Aruba. Local laws require drivers and passengers to wear seat belts and motorcyclists to wear helmets. Children under 5 years of age should be in a child safety seat; if older, they should ride in the back seat.
Aruba's main thoroughfare, L.G. Smith Boulevard, is well lit, and most hotels and tourist attractions can be easily located. Although there is a speed limit in Aruba, many times it is not properly enforced. Drivers should be alert at all times for speeding cars, which have caused fatal car accidents. Buses provide convenient and inexpensive service to and from many hotels and downtown shopping areas. Taxis, while expensive, are safe and well regulated. As there are no meters, passengers should verify the price before entering the taxi.
For additional general information about road safety, including links to foreign government sites, please see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/road_safety.html. For specific information concerning Aruba driver's permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, please contact the Netherlands National Tourist Organization offices in New York at 1-888-464-6552, Internet: http://www.goholland.com. Also, please see road safety information from other sources at http://www.aruba.com/.
