Aruba (pronounced uh-roo-bah) claims the highest return-visitor rate and the highest hotel occupancy rate in the Caribbean. The island is 20 miles long and 6 miles wide, about the size of Washington D.C. Cooling tradewinds attribute to a consistently mild temperature around 82 degrees Fahrenheit year round. Top that off with the fact that Aruba, actually a desert island, has no rainy season.
Aruba is one of the Dutch ABC islands: Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. It's just 20 miles from Venezuela and, importantly, outside the area frequented by hurricanes. Almost everyone speaks English; the majority of island visitors come from the United States. Even though the official currency is the Aruban Florin, U. S. dollars are accepted. The busiest months are January through March, not too unlike most Caribbean destinations as Americans quickly tire of winter and seek warmer climes.
Electricity is 110 volts, the same as the United States. No adaptors are needed. Bathing suits are not allowed in stores or on the streets. Casual clothing is the rule of thumb, but you might wish to include "dress up" clothes for a night of fine dining.
Most island activities are concentrated in a small area around Oranjestad (pronounced oh-rahn-juh-stahd), the capital city. A couple miles to the west of Oranjestad are back-to-back beaches: Eagle Beach and Palm Beach. From sunrise to sunrise you can entertain yourself with anything, everything or nothing at all.
The low-rise hotel area of Eagle Beach will make you feel like you're in a beach town. Other areas of the pleasure triangle have casinos and nightclubs, including the ever-popular Carlos and Charlies.
Beth and I visited Aruba as a port of call on a cruise. It was our first stop after the two-day ride from San Juan, two days in which we had spent a lot of time lying in the sun. At Aruba we opted for a walking tour. The market area of Oranjestad is filled with fruits and vegetables, and you can simply cross the street to visit a great restaurant or a casino.
Aruba is not a retirement haven. Immigration requirements are strict. Not only must you have a job that a resident cannot fulfill, you cannot take any family members with you unless they, too, have a job. Then you can only stay for three years and must leave the island for a minimum of three years before returning. The first requirement for citizenship is five years residency.
But it's a geat place for a Caribbean vacation.
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