Traveling to the One Happy Island, here are 13 tips.

Traveling to the one Happy Island. Here are 10 tips.

If you are going to the one happy island, make sure you maximize your time there. Don’t be like me, learn from my mistakes and be happier longer in Aruba.

1.      Catch the earliest flight into Aruba and catch the latest flight out of Aruba. This is solely to maximize your stay. If you can, stay for 9 days, because travel days eat up your time.

2.      Spend your 1st day or 2nd by the beach or the hotel’s pool because you need to unwind more than you think, it takes a few days to allow your brain to be on vacation.

3.      Download a map of the island from google maps so you can use it offline, do it before you go, or over the hotel wifi so as not to eat up your data.

4.      Explore what is near and around your hotel before you opt for all excursions and tours. Ask the hotel concierge desk for nearby suggestions.

5.      Your hotel may have free activities, check with them first.

6.      Make a plan while you are sitting on the beach, where you would like to visit. Google Travel can be your friend. Or you can check out a list of places I visited here, so you have a starting point.

7.      If you do drive, rent a car for 3 days max, so you can explore on your own without the time constraints of a tour. The tours do give you the most ability to relax and let someone law do the driving. Aruba has a low crime index; you are relatively safe but still pay attention to your surroundings. (There are not too many streetlights, if you find one, please leave a comment, they do have roundabouts though. They took some time to get used to.)

8. There is no Uber, but you can get a cabs. Your hotel can call you one or most businesses if you ask can call a cab for you. Ask the price before you head to your destination, there are zones and specific prices. Most cabs would try to cheat you, but ask them to check their government provided rate sheet just to be on the safe side.

9.      This should have been first, but… Respect the locals, the island, the laws of the country and the wildlife. (The donkeys and the iguanas are protected.)

10.      Use your credit card to pay for everything, however, have cash. The ATM will charge you a whooper of a fee. If you use your debit card you will find tiny international charges. Most restrooms are pay to use. I only paid $1(US) so have dollar, dollar bills.

11. Aruba is a desert island, and it doesn’t get much rainfall or cloud coverage, so make sure you always have water to drink. You can drink the water from the tap, because Aruba has the best water filtration system. You can either get a reusable water bottle or keep using one water bottle. Drink up though because you can get dehydrated fast.

12. You will need sunscreen and lots of it, but if you happen to get burned you can always get some aloe to soothe your burns.

13.   Be happy, no one needs a grouch on the one happy island.