How to Visit Aruba On A Budget

When we first looked at going to Aruba in the Caribbean, we weren’t exactly sure how expensive the island was going to be and if we could visit Aruba on a budget. Getting there is one thing, but it’s the little things that start to add up. When a colleague of Imre’s told him they went to Aruba for a week on their honeymoon and spent nearly $10,000, we started to panic.

But then we realized we’re savvy travelers and they were most definitely splurging and calmed down a bit. Is Aruba expensive? Moderately. Can you still visit Aruba if you’re on a budget? Absolutely.

There are a few things you can do to help bring your trip costs down. We definitely made a few of these mistakes along the way and ended up spending more money than we needed to. So hopefully this will help you not make some of the mistakes that we did.

Rent a Car

Taxis in Aruba are regulated and yet that still didn’t prevent us from getting ripped off. Here’s the thing. The fees are government regulated according to what area you’re coming from and what area you’re going to.

The problem is, if you aren’t local…you have no idea what the area names are. And therefore, have no idea what the fee SHOULD be. You sort of rely on the taxi drivers to be truthful and well…good luck with that.

We got incredibly ripped off right off the bat and we were bitter about it for a whole day. And even then, taxis were about $15 or so every time you wanted to go somewhere. If you can rent a car for $30 a day (which is the price of one trip there and back), there is no reason to ever take a taxi there. Plus, you’ll 100% want the freedom of having a car here.

Car rentals are literally in front of your eyes when you step out of the airport. The convenience of renting is so much more logical, not to mention affordable!

Stay in a Place Off the Beach

Sure, it’s nice to be able to walk to the beach, but it’s also nice to save money. And since you’re renting a car already, it shouldn’t matter where you stay.

Most people tend to stay somewhere near Eagle/Palm Beach as that’s where ‘it’s happenin’. It’s also where the high rises are–so the prices go up like the floors do.

The beach is nice but there are other pretty beaches to see around the island. It’s still a nice area to stay around and the good news is that there are plenty of B&B hotels just a few minutes away. We stayed in a place that was a 4-minute drive from the beach.

Stay in a Place with a Kitchen

While you’re looking for a cute little B&B to stay at, try and find one with a kitchenette. This was not hard, as we found that most places had this. We were able to get some easy breakfast essentials and some snacks to keep at our apartment. Not only did this help save money, but it also saved us time and we were able to get exploring much sooner.

Stay Away From the Mini Marts

Nearly every mini mart we found had a Chinese name, so you’ll be able to easily identify them. We thought the mini marts would be a good place to pick up a few things but if you want to save money, don’t. Avoid them altogether. A couple beers and a few small snacks ran us $25-30 dollars each time. They were horrendously overpriced.

Do Go to the Super Marts

What you do want to go to is the super mart. The huge buildings with the large parking lots and shopping carts. This is where you can (and should) pick up your breakfast essentials, lunch, snacks and drinks. The prices are fair and you can find anything you want here. Plus, you’ll find some Dutch treats to try here!

Bring Your Lunch to the Beach

A good way to optimize your beach time and maintain control of your budget is to bring your lunch to the beach! Buy sandwich supplies and some chips for an easy lunch to bring with you. Then you don’t have to spend a fortune on the restaurants near the high rises.

This goes for drinks too. We stopped at a bar on Eagle Beach that looked like a no-frills place to get a cheap drink and a very small beer was $8–which isn’t terrible but they were very small. If you sit and have two (as a couple), you’ve already spend $32 + tip and tax. Save your money and buy your drinks at the store. If you can find one…look for a styrofoam cooler to throw some ice in and voila!

Eat Away From the Tourist Areas

Our first night was spent wandering around the capital of Oranjestad trying to find something easy for dinner. There were some restaurants that looked amazing, don’t get me wrong, but you’ll make a dent in your budget to go to them. Obviously, it’s great to have great food. But this is Aruba on a budget people. And restaurants in the tourist areas of Oranjestad and by Eagle Beach are about $25-30 a person for an entree.

If you go away from the more touristy areas, you’ll be able to find some more local places or smaller restaurants that are a bit more affordable.

No one will judge you if you want to splurge on a few meals either. So please don’t judge us for eating at Burger King our first night and not a local restaurant because we were too tired from walking around.

Bring a Reusable Water Bottle

I’m not sure if this is something most people already do or not, but I usually don’t travel with a reusable water bottle. If you’re going to a country where the water quality is not good, there’s not really a point. But that’s not the case in Aruba.

Aruba doesn’t have a fresh water source, so the water you get from the tap is distilled. It’s also held to the highest standards of quality of the World Health Organization, according to the Visit Aruba site. So bring a water bottle with you (this water bottle is collapsible!) and you don’t have to buy any. One of the places we stayed at had cold water dispensers we could fill up at!

Bring a Beach Towel

Bleh, I know. Packing a beach towel in your suitcase is super annoying and it takes up a ton of space. But you’re going to need one, so find a small one (like this towel–it’s lightweight and quick dry), roll it up and take it with you. It’s better than buying a new one while you’re there.

And if you need shade, look for a divi divi tree along the beach and park under there!

Bring Your Own Snorkel Gear

If you plan on doing any snorkeling and you have your own mask and snorkel at home, shove it in your bag and bring it. Otherwise you have to worry about renting one and returning it, and of course, spending more money to do so.

Bring Your Own Sunscreen

You’ll definitely want to bring sunscreen with you (this one is reef safe!). Sunscreen is notoriously expensive in other countries because they know you need it. If you’re checking a bag, throw a bottle in there. If you’re taking a carry-on, put some in a small travel size bottle to take.

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Free Things to Do in Aruba

There are several things to do in Aruba that won’t cost you a thing to do (besides gas or transportation). Check out some of these budget-friendly activities:

• Hit the beach – Eagle Beach is Aruba’s most famous beach and it’s easy to spend the day here. Or head to Baby Beach on the other side of the island for another beautiful spot.
• Visit the Natural Bridge – a small natural bridge along the rocky north coast
• Take the Hooiberg Hiking Trail – a steep staircase leading to a peak with a great view of the island.
• See the Bushiribana Ruins – ruins along the north coast of a 19th-century gold mill.
• Casibari Rock Formations – large monolithic boulders that you can walk around and climb on top of.
• Explore the Fontein or Quadirikiri Caves – two caves located just outside of the Arikok National Park.

And although it’s not free, a cheap thing to do in Aruba is:

• California Lighthouse – you can pay $5 to climb to the top for a beautiful view of the coastline.

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It can be a little worrisome when people tell you how expensive visiting Aruba is, but if you make a few smart moves, Aruba on a budget is definitely doable. So pack your bags and get ready to live that island life!

Not sure which ABC island to visit? Check out this guide on Aruba vs Curacao!

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