Getting Around
Getting Around Aruba By Land
Car:
Beware of aggressive local drivers. Driving is on the right and all traffic, except bicycles, coming from the right should be given right of way, except at T junctions. Good maps are available at petrol stations. You must have a valid foreign (held for at least 2 years) or international driver’s licence and be at least 21 to rent a car. Requirements vary between companies with a minimum age of 21-25 and a maximum of 65-70.
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Car Hire:
Most airport car-rental offices are open from 8 am to 8 pm, but a few oper- ate from 7 am to 11 pm. Others appear to open and close on a whim. When you make your reservation, verify that someone will be available at the times you wish to pick up and return your car. Some companies have a drop box for after-hour returns; others arrange for an adjacent office to handle the paperwork, if they plan to be closed during your arrival/depar- ture times.
Rental rates vary season to season, but they average about $35 per day for a small car with manual transmission, air-conditioning and unlimited mileage. You pay about $65 per day for a larger car or one with automatic transmission or four-wheel-drive. Weekly rates are available and may work out to be less per day. Insurance add-ons begin at $10 per day, but you may be responsible for $500 worth of damage, anyway. Check before you sign up.'
If you plan to decline insurance coverage of- fered by a rental agency, verify in advance that the credit card you will be using covers you if you have an accident or damage the car. American Express and Visa Gold Card customers are not covered when they rent a sports car or four-wheel-drive vehicle.
There are some 23 car hire companies. Airways (Sabana Blanco 35, T821845, airport T829112), Hertz (L G Smith Blvd 142, T824545, airport T824886), Avis (Kolibristraat 14, T828787, airport T825496), Budget (Kolibristraat 1, T828600, airport T825423), Dollar (Grenedaweg 15, T822783, airport T825651) and Toyota (L G Smith Blvd 114, T834832, airport T834902) have offices in Oranjestad and at the airport. Many companies also have desks in the hotels. Prices begin at US$35 daily, US$215 weekly, with unlimited mileage. Often when you rent a 4WD vehicle (recommended for getting to beaches like Dos Playa) you cannot take out all risks insurance.
Taxis:
Taxis do not have meters. Telephone the dispatcher at Pos Abao 41 behind the Eagle Bowling Palace on the Sasaki road, T822116. Drivers speak English, and individual tours can be arranged. Ask for flat rate tariffs. From the airport to Oranjestad is US$9, to the low rise hotels US$12 and to the high rise hotels US$14 per taxi, not per person, maximum 4 passengers.
Airport Taxi Service. . . . . . . . . . . 822-116
Island-wide Taxi Service . . . . . . . 875-900
Taxi Rules and Fares
Confirm fares before you get into the taxi. Drivers do not accept $50 and $100 bills. All prices are per taxi, not per person (maximum of five passen- gers), and subject to change at any time. Surcharges are government- approved on Sundays ($1), official holidays ($3), and after midnight ($2). Check fares before you accept taxi services, and tip generously if you have a pleasant ride.
Find Aruba Local, National and International Car and Taxis Rental Companies
Bus:
Bus Transportation
The local bus service is provided by Arubus. There are no brochures in which you can find the arrival/departure times of the buses, so you should call Arubus and find out the information you desire. Telephone 827089 or 880617.
Aruba Public Bus Services:
Arubus N.V. is the major Public Transportation of Aruba owned by the Government of Aruba. The main bus station is behind Parliament on Zoutmanstraat next to the Royal Plaza Mall in Oranjestad across from the waterfront shops and restaurants. From here, one can very affordable travel to anywhere along the hotel stretch. Originally only popular with the locals, tourists are discovering that this is an inexpensive and efficient way to get around between the hotel/beach area and downtown. Around 40 Mini Buses (12 seats) supply regular transport on the road from San Nicolas to Oranjestad. These buses are privately owned.
A ride costs US$ 1.15, but it is cheaper to buy a round-trip ticket for US$ 2.00 (in that case, remember you must use it the same day that you bought it). Route 1 starts in San Nicolas and runs through Oranjestad via the hospital to Malmok, Mon-Sat, 0455-2255 hourly, returning from Malmok on the hour, journey time 55 mins. Route 2 also runs from San Nicolas on a slightly different route to Oranjestad and Palm Beach, more or less hourly, 0525-2200. Route 3 runs between Oranjestad and San Nicolas, 0550-2030 and Route 4 runs from Oranjestad through Noord to Palm Beach almost hourly on the half hour. There are also extra buses running between Oranjestad and the Holiday Inn (schedules available at the hotels and the tourist office). One-way fare is US$1. Otherwise there are ‘jitney cars’ which operate like colectivos; the fare is US$1.25. A jitney or bus from Oranjestad to San Nicolas will drop you at the airport.
Small buses
Aruba has an abundance of small buses (called "autobussen"). They don't have a regular schedule as they are private buses, but since there are a lot of them you'll never have to wait a long time. You can stop them anywhere along the road and you can recognize them by their license plates, starting with a "B". They charge US$ 1.25 per trip.
Also see:
Aruba Bus Schedule
Aruba Traffic Signs
Getting Around Aruba By Sea
By Cruise Ship
It’s not unusual to see two or three large cruise ships docked at Aruba’s modern cruise ship terminal in Oranjestad. About half a million visitors arrive by ship each year, and many return. A tourist information booth and ATM are at the terminal, and Oranjestad’s restaurants, shops, museums, and casinos are within walk- ing distance. Most stores open on Sunday and stay open late on week nights when a ship is in port. If you don’t sign up with your cruise line for a shore excursion, you can take a taxi or bus to the beach or hire a driver for a private island tour. Taxis meet arriving passengers at the pier, and the public bus terminal is just across the boulevard.
Aruba is such a popular destination for cruise ships, it is exceeding all expectations with a record breaking increase of over 50% in cruise passengers than ever before. With the dynamic and exciting beautification and renovation plans of the Aruba Ports Authority, The Cruise Tourism Authority is very optimistic that Aruba will be the preferred destination of all respected cruise lines. Cruise Tourism Authority is located at Royal Plaza Mall, Suite 227, L.G. Smith Blvd 94, Oranjestad, Aruba
The growth of cruise tourism has been remarkable with the visits of cruise lines such as MSC Italian Cruise Lines, Cunard, Holland America Line, Costa Line, Sitmar Cruises (now P&O Cruises), Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises (former Chandris Line), Majestic Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise Line, Voyages of discovery, Oceania Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Yachts of Seabourn, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, Cunard Cruise Line, Windstar Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises, etc.
Boats:
The harbour is 5 mins walk from the town, there are a tourist information centre and some souvenir shops which open if a cruise ship is in. A fruit boat leaves once a week for Punto Fijo, Venezuela; check with Agencia Marítima La Confianza, Braziliëstraat 6 (T823814), Oranjestad. There used to be a ferry to Venezuela, check with Rufo U Winterdaal, Eman Trading Co, L G Smith Blvd 108, Oranjestad (PO Box 384), T821533/821156, F822135, Tx5027.
By Bicycle, Scooter and Motorcycle
The best way to get around the island is by car, but Aruba is flat and many roads are in excellent condition, so biking or motorbiking are also possible. Traffic in Oranjestad is heavy, especially when a cruise ship is in port, and the main highways are busy during rush hours. Unless you’re a skilled, experienced biker, stick to side-roads. An all-terrain or four-wheel-drive vehicle is best for the poorly paved or dirt roads in the countryside. You’ll pay about $5 per hour or $25 per day for a basic bicycle, $35 per day for a scooter, and $45 to $100 per day for a motorcycle. To roar around the island on a Harley will cost $150 per day during tourist season. A rental 50cc moped or scooter costs around US$30 a day, a 250cc motorcycle US$40, a Harley Davidson SP1100 US$90 and insurance is US$8-15 a day, depending on the size of engine. Big Twin rents Harley Davidson, T839322, F828660.
Bicycle, Scooter and Motorcycle Rental Companies
Bicycles:
Pablito’s Bike Rental, I. G. Smith Blvd 234, Oranjestad, Tel: 878-655. Prices start as low as $15 per half-day, at La Quinta Beach Resort, Eagle Beach, men’s, ladies, children’s bicycles, US$3 per hour, US$8 half day, US$12 per 24 hrs. Other companies include Donata, T878300, F870707, Dream Cycles, T824329, F838199, George, T825975, Nelson, T866801, New York, T863885, Semver, T866851 and Ron’s T862090. Also check below:
Aruba Harley-Davidson dealer: Big Twin who sells authentic Harley-Davidson t-shirts, motorclothes and genuine motor parts for the Harley enthusiast. They run a quality Harley-Rental program with the 1X Heritage Classic, 1X Softail Delux, 4X Road King models. All bikes are all-risk insured. Big Twin Aruba/Harley-Dividson, L.G. Smith Blvd 124A, Oranjestad, Tel: 828-660. More details: Big Twin - Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Tour, Aruba
George’s Scooters & Motorcycles and All Terrain ATV Rentals: For 2 or 3 days the best two options are a scooter rental which runs about $40-50 per day. And you can get a lot out of those three days if you plan to hit some island sites and go out to those nice restraints which are more then a short walk from your resort. Also check special offer. Location: L.G. Smith 124, Oranjestad, Tel: 932-202.
Semver Cycle Rental: Semver provide all bikes with full tank. Home of all types of Mopeds, Scooters, Scramble & Deluxe Cycle rental. Semver Cycle Rental, Noord 22, Noord, Tel: 866-851.
Red Sail Sports for Bike Rental: Red Sail Sports is located at the Hyatt, Allegro, and Marriot Hotels, as well as Sonesta Island. Bikes may not be at all locations. They are mainly for scuba diving, catamaran sailing, and other water activities. Call to arrange pick up, Tel: 011 297 5861603.
Melchor Cycle Rental, Bubalbi 106B, Noord, email: melc...@hotmail.com, Tel: (297) 587-1787, Fax: (297) 587-2453
Ron’s Motorcycle Rental, Bakval 17A, Noord, Tel: 862-090.
Donata Car & Cycle, L.G. Smith Boulevard 136D, Tel: 297-587-8300. Open 8am - 5pm.
Nelson Motorcycle Rental, Gasparito 10A, Tel: 297-586-6801
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