Aruba Scuba Diving, Travel, Services and Accommodations

ARUBA

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Currency:
Aruban Guilder/Florin

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General Info

Dive Services

Accommodations

Travel/Tips


Aruba Map


Perfect weather, gorgeous beaches, shimmering seas, duty-free shopping, and friendly Dutch West Indies hosts shouting "Bon Bini" (welcome) will greet you upon arrival in Aruba. The island will capture your heart as you experience friendly hospitality in the hotels, dive centers, restaurants, casinos, and shops throughout the island.

Diving in Aruba is famous for the spectacular shipwrecks and interesting coral formations that dominate Aruba’s underwater realm. This includes the 400 foot Antilla wreck, which is the largest wreck in the Caribbean.

Most of Aruba’s dive sites lie along the protected western and southern coasts, a short distance from the hotels along the famed Palm Beach. Aruba’s waters are rich in exotic marine life, including stingrays, moray eels, manta rays, barracudas and yellow tail. A large, shallow sand plateau surrounds Aruba making boat travel the most convenient method of reaching the off-shore reefs. Interesting coral formations are found from shallow water depths of 20 to 100 feet, with little or no current and flat surface conditions.

Climate 75 - 85F 24 -29C Water Temp 75 - 82F 24 - 28C Visibility 50 - 100+ ft 15 - 30+ m

Dive Services


 

No Current Listings


Accommodations


 

The Boardwalk Vacation Retreat Aruba
Bakval 20
Palm Beach
Aruba
Ph. 00 297 5866654
Fax. 00 297 5861836
theboardwalk@setarnet.aw
http://www.arubaboardwalk.com
The Boardwalk is a charming island-style small hotel with several beautifully designed 1-bedroom & 2-bedroom casitas (little villa's) located only 150 yards from Aruba's best swimming and beach area at world famous Palm Beach.

 

 

Travel & Tips

 
From U.S.A.


Atlanta
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Delta (daily, 2 X Saturday)

Boston
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American Airlines (twice per week - June-Oct.) - (4x per week - Nov.-Dec.)

Charlotte
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US Airways (Daily)

Chicago
-
United Airlines (Saturdays)
- American Transair (Saturday)

Miami
-
American Airlines (twice daily)

New York
-
American Airlines (JFK daily)
-
Delta (JFK Saturdays)

Newark
-
Continental (Daily)

Philadelphia
-
US Airways (daily)

San Juan
-
American Airlines (daily)

Washington (Dulles)
-
United Airlines (Saturdays)

Note: All cities above feed on scheduled airlines through their key hubs. A number of cities also have scheduled charter flights available - check with your travel specialist.

From UK

London
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British Airways (daily, overnight stop at JFK)
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Delta via Atlanta (daily with overnight stop)
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Continental (via Newark three times a week with overnight stop)

Manchester
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British Airways (via London.overnight stop at JFK)
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Continental (via London with overnight stop)
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Delta (via London with overnight stop)

From Canada

Toronto
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American Airlines via Miami
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US Airways via Phildelphia
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Delta via Atlanta
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Air Canada (Saturdays December-April)
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Continental via Newark (daily)

Montreal
-
American Airlines via Miami
-
US Airways via Philadelphia
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Delta via Atlanta

Quebec City
-
American Airlines via New York

From Within Caribbean

Bonaire
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Dutch Caribbean Airways
-
American Eagle (3 x per day)
-
Royal Aruban Airlines

Curacao
-
Dutch Caribbean Airways
-
Royal Aruban Airlines

Jamaica
-
Dutch Caribbean Airways

Dominican Republic
-
Dutch Caribbean Airways

Trinidad
-
Dutch Caribbean Airways

St. Maarten
-
Dutch Caribbean Airways

Suriname
-
Dutch Caribbean Airways
 
Entry Requirements

The Department of State and Homeland Security have announced a "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative" in which they are proposing to require all U.S. Citizens, Canadians, citizens of Bermuda and citizens of Mexico to have a passport or other accepted secure document to enter or re-enter the U.S. by January 1, 2008.

Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document.

As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.

- All visitors must hold sufficient funds for their stay in Aruba as well as return or onward ticket and other documents required for their next destination (visa etc.). Non compliance may result in refusal of passenger upon arrival.

- Tourists are not allowed to engage in any paid activity in Aruba.

C: Nationals of the countries listed below need a visa to enter Aruba:
Afghanistan , Haiti, Palau Islands, Albania, India, Papua New Guinea, Algeria, Indonesia , Peru, Angola, Iraq, Philippines, Armenia, Iran, Qatar, Azerbaijan , Ivory Coast, Romania, Bahrain, Jamaica, Russian Federation, Bangladesh, Jordan, Rwanda, Belarus , Kazakhstan, Solomon Islands, Benin, Kenya, Samoa (west), Bhutan, Kyrgyz, Sandi Arabia, Burundi, Kiribati, Sao Tome and Principe, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kuwait, Senegal, Botswana, Laos, Seychelles, Bulgaria, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Lebanon, Sudan, Cambodia, Liberia, Somalia, Cameroon, Libya, Sri Lanka, Cape Verde, Macedonia , South Africa, Central Africa Republic, Madagascar, Swaziland, Chad, Malawi, Syria, China, Mali, Tajikistan, Colombia, Maldives, Taiwan (Republic of China), Comoro, Marshall Islands, Tanzania, Congo Democratic Republic , Mauritania, Thailand, Congo, Mauritius, Turkmenistan, Cuba, Micronesia, Togo, Djibouti, Morocco, Tonga, Dominican Republic, Moldavia, Tunisia, Egypt, Mongolia, Turkey, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Tuvalu, Eritrea, Myanmar (former Burma), United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia , Namibia, Uganda, Fiji Islands, Nauru, Ukraine, Gabon, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Gambia, Niger, Vanuatu, Georgia, Nigeria, Vietnam, Ghana, Northern Mariana Islands, Yemen, Guinea, North Korea, Yugoslavia (Serbia Montenegro), Guinea-Bissau, Oman, Zambia, Pakistan, Zimbabwe

All Visa applicants should submit the following supporting documents:

· A completed and signed application form
· 2 photographs
· A valid passport
· Proof of economic solvency: the last three monthly bank statements
(must be original), bank letter alone will not suffice.
· Employment letter showing salary, position, total time on job, guarantee
of employment upon return
· If self employed, excerpt of the company’s registration from the Chamber
of Commerce
· If you are visiting family or friends, a letter of invitation
· Flight and Hotel reservations

Applications for a visa can be done through the representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Embassy or Consulate) or directly through the Department of Foreign Affairs in Aruba. In both cases, applications for tourist-visas will be handled with priority in order to facilitate the tourist as much as possible.
In other cases, the entire procedure might take up to four weeks and the visa will be handed over to the interested party by the Dutch Embassy and/or Consular Officials in the country where the application has been done or by fax if the application has been done directly through the Department of Foreign Affairs of Aruba.
J.E. Irausquinplein 2-A, Oranjestad
Tel: (297) 583-4705, Fax: (297) 583-8108

D: Nationals from the following countries are allowed to stay in Aruba for maximum stay up to three months without visa. · (The actual maximum period that is granted depends on having sufficient means):

Andorra, Japan, Antigua and Barbuda, Latvia, Argentina, Liechtenstein, Australia , Lithuania, Austria, Luxembourg, Bahamas, Macao: holders of S.A.R. Passport, Barbados, Malaysia, Belgium, Malta, Belize, Mexico, Bolivia, Monaco, Brazil, The Netherlands, Brunei, Nicaragua, Bulgaria, New Zealand, Canada, Norway, Chile, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Poland, Croatia, San Marino, Cyprus, Portugal, Czech Republic, Panama, Denmark, Singapore, Dominica, St. Christopher and Nevis (St. Kits and Nevis), Ecuador, St. Lucia, El Salvador, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Estonia, Slovenia, Finland, Slovakia, France, Spain, Germany, South Korea, Greece, Sweden, Grenada, Surinam, Guatemala, Switzerland, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Honduras, United Kingdom , Hong Kong: holders of the B.N.O. Passport, Uruguay, Hong Kong: holders of the S.A.R. Passport, Vatican, Hungary, United States of America, Iceland, Venezuela, Ireland, Israel, Italy.

E. Holders of a Laissez-passer (also if not traveling on duty) issued by the United Nations.

Permission to work in Aruba. Visitors wishing to work and/or reside in Aruba for a number of months must have a formal working permit, or residence permit issued by the Ministry of Justice (Department of immigration and Naturalization (D.I.N.A.). The future employer of the person concerned is responsible for the application of the working permit. Further information and application forms for written permits can be obtained free of charge at the aforementioned Department. (Ministry of Justice, c/o Department of Immigration and Naturalization (DINA). Voldellaan 6-D Tel. (297) 582-8500 / (297) 585-8592, Fax (297) 585-8593

F: Visitors entering Aruba from the United States of America must have in their possession ONE of the following documents.
1. A valid USA passport
2. For USA citizens born in the USA a genuine (original-official state issued) birth certificate with a raised seal and a photo ID.
3. For USA citizens born outside the USA a genuine (original) Certificate of Naturalization with a raised seal and photo ID.
4. A resident of the USA (Non USA citizens) , for whom NO visa requirements are applicable for Aruba, must have a re-entry permit or an Alien Registration Card (Green Card).
5. A resident of the USA (Non USA citizen) for whom visa requirements ARE applicable for Aruba must travel EITHER with a valid national passport (provided with a visa for Aruba) OR a US government issued refugee passport OR a re-entry permit (provided with a visa for Aruba).
6. A return ticket to travel elsewhere outside Aruba

G. For those not mentioned under B or F: A valid passport.

Getting Around

Taxis
Rates, set by the Government, are based on destination rather than mileage traveled and are for the total number of passengers in the car or van.

Rental Cars
There are a number of international and local rental agencies. It's nice to be able to explore the entire island at your leisure. But many of the roads are rugged and not suitable for a car. Make sure that your spare tire is full of air before heading out into the rough rugged terrain. Many 4-wheel drive rentals often have no roof, so make sure you put on sun block because the sun shines brightly in Aruba! 4-wheel drive vehicles are numerous but they are often hard to get because they are used for "Jeep Safari" tours that are popular sightseeing day trips.
- Arubans drive on the right-hand side of the road.
- The minimum age of 21-25 and the maximum of 65-70 vary slighty by company.
- International driving license or any valid license held for at least two full years is required.
- Unlimited mileage; rates subject to change without notice.
- Deposit of US $500 or open signed credit card.
- Towing service available.
- Windsurf roof racks upon availability and upon request.
- Pick up service available, with some exceptions, at the cruise terminal.
- Insurance recommended, but does not cover if the driver is intoxicated in a car accident.

Scooters and motorcycles are also available and lots of fun. A regular driver's licence is all you need! Helmets are supplied.


Gasoline
Gas pumps for your rental car register in liters: 1.06 quarts to 1 liter. One gallon is 3.78 liters. Prices at gas stations are in Aruba florins. It is not usually the custom to pump gas for oneself, please check if the attendants are to pump gas or if it is a self-service gas station.

Buses
There is inexpensive and reliable daily bus service between all the districts and the hotel areas. Check at your hotel for schedules and hours. The main bus station is located in downtown Oranjestad across from the waterfront shops and restaurants.


Helpful Information

Telephone Services: For dialing direct calls from Aruba, the code into the international circuit is 00 followed by the country code, area code and the number. For assistance, call 121.
Aruba's International telephone country code is 297. To direct dial Aruba from the U.S., the code is 011-297-plus the number.
You can use the public phones (with Aruban calling cards) that are placed all over the island. Unfortunately, it is not possible yet to use your foreign cell phone in Aruba, due to the specifics of the telephone net in Aruba. If you want to rent a cellphone, there are several places where you go.

Mail Services
The Central Post Office is located diagonally across from San Francisco Church in Oranjestad. Open from Mondays to Fridays from 7.30 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. The Post office at the Royal Plaza Mall in Oranjestad is open from Mondays to Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 6.45 p.m.

Dress
Aruba is tropical and very warm. You should bring light, casual clothing. It is generally not allowed to enter shops or casino’s in your bathing suit. Evening's lower temperatures and breezes may warrant a light jacket if you chill easily.

Water
There is no need to buy bottled water, Aruba’s water from the tap is praised for its excellent quality and taste. Aruba’s drinking water flows from the world’s second largest desalinization plant. It is not only perfectly pure and safe to drink, it’s also very delicious.

Electricity
Aruba has the same voltage standard as in North America (110 volts AC). Therefore, European appliances (that use 220 volts) generally cannot be used in Aruba (unless you have a converter).

Safety
Aruba has always been considered one of the safest destinations in the Caribbean, however incidents may occur. Please do not provide temptation by leaving your valuables unattended on the beach or in your rental car.

Room Taxes
Generally, there is an 11% service charge on room rates. Most hotels also apply a 6% government tax.

Tipping/Service Charge
Most Aruban restaurants maintain a service charge of between 10 and 20%.

Shopping
Shops are open Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 12 noon (many closing for lunch) and from 2 PM to 6 PM. Some stores close Tuesday afternoons. The Alhambra Bazaar is open until midnight. Bargaining on prices in Aruba is not considered polite - even in the many bazaars. What to look for - china and crystal, clothing and accessories, leather goods, jewelry, local crafts, food (Edam and Gouda cheese and Dutch chocolates).




 
 

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