Best time to visit: Any time but January, February and March are the most popular. During Carnival, just before Lent, the island is hopping with parades, festivals and parties. Temperatures are consistently mild and there is no major rainy season. Both air and ocean temperatures average 82 degrees (27 Celsius) all year round.

Transport to your Hotel: Hotels do not operate shuttle service to and from the airport. Taxis are always on-hand at the terminal and most car rental companies have offices at the airport directly across from the terminal. If you are traveling on a charter flight, transfers to and from your hotel may have been included. Check with the airline or flight agent.

Currency & Banking: Aruba uses the florin, which is divided into 100 cents. The florin fluctuates with the dollar on the world market. US and Canadian dollars are widely accepted and banks may exchange other foreign currency. Banking hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am to noon and 1:30 pm to 4 pm. Most bank branches remain open during lunch. The Aruba Bank branch at the Airport is open daily from 8 am to 4 pm, except on official holidays. Travelers with ATM cards bearing the CIRRUS or Plus System network logos can withdraw cash in Aruban florins, or some machines will now dispense US dollars. Home bank accounts will be debited in dollars at a favorable exchange rate, and a service charge will apply. Before departing for Aruba, it's important to verify whether your PIN number will work in Aruba by calling 1-800-4-CIRRUS. There are American Express & Visa/Master Card offices offering services that can include cash advances, personal check cashing, replacement service, reporting of lost & stolen cards.

Communications: If you are calling Aruba from abroad, the area code and country code is (297). If you are calling abroad from Aruba, there are a number of options for making international telephone calls if not calling from your hotel. To rent a cellular phone in Aruba, you'll need valid identification and a credit card for the required $500 deposit. You'll also be requested to give your US address. Pagers are also available. Telex & Telegrams can be sent via your hotel, or by the Government Telegraph and Radio Office at the Post Office Building in Oranjestad.

Languages: Dutch is the official language due Aruba being a Dutch colony. Locals can speak, write and read English, Spanish, Dutch and Papiamento (from neighboring island of Curacao) fluently. Many also speak French and Portuguese.

Bringing Children: Aruba's resorts offer a variety of programs and facilities for children and their parents, including qualified babysitting services, kids' and teens' day camp programs, and water and land activities for the entire family.

Drinking Water: Aruba has pure, refreshing water, distilled in the world's second largest saltwater purification plant.

Electricity: The electrical voltage is 110 A.C. (60 cycles), and the outlets are the same as in the US & Canada. No adaptors are required for visitors from these countries.

Medical Services: All hotels have medical doctors on call. There are also excellent dental facilities. Appointments can be made through your hotel. The Hospital is modern and well equipped and located in Oranjestad, near to the hotel area.

Time Zone: Aruba is on Atlantic Standard Time, which is the same as Eastern Daylight Savings Time but is effective year-round.

Legal Age: The legal age for both drinking and gambling is 18 years.

Watersports: The options seem to be endless but include snorkeling & diving, sailing, windsurfing, deep-sea fishing, kayaking, water-skiing and parasailing, to name a few.

Shopping: The stores of Aruba are stocked with well-priced imported merchandise. Aruba is considered by some to be a "Shopper's Paradise", with perfume, liquor, linens, jewelry, watches, cameras, designer fashions, crystal and china among the luxury items available at excellent prices.

Weddings: Aruba's Parliament changed the laws regarding weddings on the island, effective January, 2002. You may now get married on Aruba after meeting specific requirements.

Please note: This information was believed correct at the time of publication, but is not official. All information is subject to change without notice.