Aruba: Getting there & around

ArkeFly and KLM fly from Amsterdam, while from the UK there's Continental, Delta, First Choice or British Airways (most stop in the US first). Most major cities on the US East Coast have direct flights. Daily connections include Delta from Atlanta, Jet Blue from New York City and US Airways from Philadelphia. A number of South American carriers offer connections to Venezuela and Colombia. The inter-island Dutch Antilles Express (DAE) hops between Aruba and Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. The airport departure tax is US$36.75 to the US, US$33.50 to other destinations.

There are no scheduled ferry services to Aruba. Around 600,000 passengers on 300 cruises dock in Oranjestad each year.

Aruba's Queen Beatrix Airport is located on the southern coast approximately 6km (4mi) southeast of Oranjestad. Plenty of taxis are available for trips to the city or the resort area.

You'll need a car to explore the interior or northern windward coast. There are international and local car rental agencies; the bigger chains have offices at the airport and luxury hotels. If you want to drop your car off at the airport, insure that the agency you rent from has this facility or you'll be stuck with meeting an agent in the carpark - big hassle. Your home driving license is valid, though you must be at least 21 years old. Drive on the right-hand side of the road, and note that speed limits are signposted in km/h.

There's a frequent bus service between Malmok in the island's northwest and San Nicolas in the southeast. It passes through Oranjestad and the hotel beach strip, and runs right by the airport. This service and other local buses depart from Oranjestad's funky pastel bus station next to Royal Plaza. Taxis hang around the larger hotels and popular tourist spots. They're unmetered, but rates are regulated by the government and are calculated using a zone system. Since drivers are required to carry a rate card, you should be able to establish the exact fare beforehand. Taxis can also be hired hourly for sightseeing tours.