Should I bring cash or card to Aruba?

Arm Yourself with Small Bills -- Bring a bundle of small bills (if your currency is American dollars) to make for easy tipping and small purchases. There's no need to bring large sums of cash, unless you're planning to make big purchases and prefer not to use a credit card.



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In Aruba it's not mandatory to tip, but it's your choice if you do so. However, some restaurants and bars add service charge to your bill. Usually, this adds up to about 10 to 15 percent on food and beverages. If you really like the service, you can still tip, of course!

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In restaurants which do not automatically add the service charge, a tip of 15% - 20% is appropriate depending on the quality of the service you received. Upon receiving your bill, carefully review it to determine if a service charge has already been added.

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How much money will you need for your trip to Aruba? You should plan to spend around À586 ($325) per day on your vacation in Aruba, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, À122 ($68) on meals for one day and À58 ($32) on local transportation.

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Laptops should be taken out of their bag and should be placed in a tray for screening. It is illegal to take out any conch shells, sea stars, turtle eggs and/or any form of coral. No liquids, gels, and/or aerosols are permitted except when packed in a clear transparent resealable 1 quart (1 liter) size plastic bag.

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A sand-free beach towel is one of the best items you can buy for the beach in Aruba. We all know how annoying it can be to come home from the beach and find sand in random places for days! So, why not invest in a sand-free towel? They're incredibly affordable, so it's worth packing 2-3 for a week on the island.

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A quick-drying microfiber towel. While many resorts provide beach towels, a lightweight, packable towel will come in handy at the beach as well as on excursions like snorkeling trips or adventures into Arikok National Park.

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Cash is the best — and sometimes only — way to pay for bus fare, taxis, and local guides. If you'll be shopping a lot or settling bills at pricey business-class hotels, you might use your credit card more than I do — but you'll still be better off using cash for smaller purchases.

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Advantages of using cash
If your spending discipline breaks down when you use credit cards, cash may be a better choice while you let loose on vacation. No foreign transaction fees: Many credit cards charge an extra fee of up to 3% on purchases made outside the country, although you can find cards that don't.

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However, if you're taking another currency along with you, the US dollar is a safe bet, as it's highly exchangeable at banks and currency exchange offices in Aruba, even if it's neither official nor used ubiquitously across the country. US dollars are widely accepted in Aruba alongside the guilder.

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Tip $1-5 per night. The tip should be left daily (preferably in an envelope or with a note so that it's clear it's for housekeeping). For special requests (like an extra blanket), tip $2 for one item, $1 for more. Tipping is not required for someone fixing something broken or bringing something missing.

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There is violent crime in association with drugs, but this rarely affects tourists. The main tourist areas are generally safe, but you should take sensible precautions: avoid remote areas at night. don't take valuables to the beach or leave any valuables in your vehicle.

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Is it rude to not leave a tip at the hotel? In many ways, there is no wrong way to tip. However, in countries like the U.S. where workers depend on tips to supplement salaries, it can be considered rude not to do so.

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