Solo Travel in Aruba
Hello love! Are you a solo traveler considering a trip to Aruba? Continue reading to learn about my two solo international trips to Aruba. My Aruba travel review will have SO much information for you to hopefully book a trip of your own with confidence.
We’ll begin with how I got to Aruba. I took a non-stop Delta flight from Atlanta and landed at Queen Beatrix International Airport. My flight was 3.5 hours and about $400 each time. I traveled to Aruba as a solo traveler in December 2021 and March 2022. When traveling I prefer non-stop flights so that I can maximize my time. I parked at Fast Park which is just 5 minutes from the International terminal. The shuttle picked me up soon after I parked and I arrived at the airport a short time later. There are many options for parking at the international terminal but I chose Fast Park for the convenience of being very close and their shuttle service runs very frequently. I have TSA Precheck so I arrived at 7 am for a 10 am departure time. I was able to breeze through the TSA line with no problems.
The Atlanta airport has many different food options but I knew that lines would be drastically long so I opted to wake up very early (like 5 am!) that morning and prepare myself breakfast. Once I got to my gate and passed those long lines I quickly realized that it was worth it.
Preparing for Aruba in December 2021 was quite a process due to COVID but for my solo trip to Aruba in March it was much easier. As of today there aren’t any travel restrictions or test requirements to enter Aruba.
The airport is small and if there are many planes landing at once you can only imagine that there were so many people! I did not check a bag and only brought a carry-on and a personal item. Trust me on this, you do not need to check a bag. The airport is extremely hectic and the last thing you want to do is spend time trying to retrieve your luggage.
The rental car places are directly across from the terminal. They are very small and due to COVID only 4 customers were allowed in at a time. I rented a car from Hertz. Unfortunately, they did not have any economy sized cars left and I ended up with a small SUV. I honestly felt uneasy that the Hertz rep was actually telling me the truth and I was oversold. I cannot recommend Hertz in Aruba based on my experience but there are a lot of other rental car companies in Aruba you can use. For my March 2022 solo trip to Aruba I rented from a locally owned company, Tropic Car Rental. They were responsive and provided pickup and drop off at the airport. I knew that I wanted to explore the island on my own time and taxi costs could add up really quickly. You will absolutely need a credit card to rent a car in Aruba. Most, if not all of the car rental companies do not accept cash or debit cards. I suggest having $200+ above the cost of your rental available on your card for the deposit. I used Google Maps to navigate around Aruba. The island is small so it’s fairly easy to get around.
After renting the car I headed straight to my AirBnB which was about 10 minutes away. I stayed in a ground-floor studio apartment in a brand new building. I spent days scouring the Airbnb website looking for the perfect rental. I was well pleased with the accommodations. It was in a very quiet neighborhood and I felt very safe and comfortable throughout my stay. Here’s the link to the Airbnb I rented. I mapped the area prior to arriving so I had some idea of what the area looked like. Check-in was easy. My studio was very clean and looked exactly as it did in the pictures. Parking was available at no extra charge and I was able to park directly in front of my studio. They provided the basic necessities as well as washcloths, towels, a coffee pot, extra tissue and hand towels, and even a beach towel, cooler, and two chairs. This meant I did not have to use valuable space in my carry-on for a cooler.
After checking in and decompressing for a few minutes I headed to Superfoods. This is the largest grocery store in Aruba and they had EVERYTHING! It’s in a shopping center with a vision care center, a Doctor’s office, and other businesses. I bought groceries for the week and a bottle of Crown Royal to keep in my room. I spent about $150 on groceries and a bottle. The prices were higher than in the US on most items and American brands in particular were very expensive. In some items I was able to purchase the Dutch brand. I bought things like eggs, butter, coffee creamer, honey, waffles, honey, bacon, peach tea, soda, ½ loaf of bread, and pepper cheese. On my March trip I actually bought way less groceries because I knew that I wouldn’t want to cook as much as I did back in December. I did not need to purchase bottled water as Aruba has some of the world’s best drinking water. Bring reusable bags for grocery shopping. The ones in Superfoods were expensive but I bought two anyway for souvenirs!
Once I got my groceries, I headed back to the AirBnB, and put everything away. For dinner on my first night, I ended up at the Grand Fish where I enjoyed a lovely seafood pasta meal. I later learned that it is a favorite spot of many locals and they always have fresh seafood. After dinner I headed in for the night.
My first full day in Aruba began at 8:45 am the next morning with an ATV tour. If you know me, you know that I am a country girl at heart. I’ve been riding ATV’s since the age of 12 and this was also an excursion I did in the Turks and Caicos too. Although I had a rental car I preferred to be picked up for my excursions. This allowed me to get a better tour of the island and I got to see the main hotel zone. Through my conversation with my tour guide Naheem, I learned more about the culture of the island, the best beaches, the scoop on local restaurants, and the tourist traps to avoid. There are many ATV and UTV tour options in Aruba but after careful consideration, I settled upon Kini Kini Tours. They had great reviews on Viator, which is the site I used to book my excursions. If you book using Viator you can also use Klarna. This allows you to pay for excursions in smaller payments. My ATV tour was four hours and cost $140. It was well worth the price, the ATVs were well maintained and our guide, Naheem, was so cool!
Our tour had 3 stops: The Alto Vista Chapel, the Natural Pool, the Gold Mill Ruins, and the Natural Bridge. To access the Natural Pool you have to climb down the rocks on a very shaky-looking ladder. I did not do this part of the tour.
I did another excursion which was a walking tour of the murals in San Nicolas. This area used to be the Red light district but is in the process of being revitalized. The art is absolutely beautiful and the tour was very informative. It was hot though so please keep this in mind when booking. Tito, my tour guide did provide water but I also recommend carrying your own iced water too. There were so many murals to see and I enjoyed learning about the artist and history behind each one. Aruba has a thriving art scene. On my March trip I did not book a tour and took my own photos at the murals with my camera and tripod.
I ate so good in Aruba! I’m a foodie so when I travel I love to find locally-owned restaurants. I will admit I ate fast food twice because I needed something quick and did not want to cancel my dinner reservations for that evening. McNuggets do taste better in Aruba for some reason! I cooked breakfast every single morning because this is something that I am already used to doing at home anyway. From a budgeting perspective I would rather spend my money on a nice dinner and prepare myself a big breakfast. Moving along, here’s a list of restaurants that I visited during my trip to Aruba.
Where to Eat in Aruba
O’Neil’s Caribbean Kitchen: I ordered the oxtails. This was one of my favorite meals. The portion sizes were huge! The mosquitos did a number on my skin for the 4 minutes I attempted to eat outside so when you do visit, I suggest getting a table inside. I enjoyed a beer from Aruba’s own Balashi Brewery–Magic Mango. This restaurant is located in San Nicolas which is about 30 minutes away from the main hub of Oranjestad. They are closed on Mondays.
Flying Fishbone: I watched the sunset from here with my feet in the water and a frozen drink in my hand. I ordered the catch of the day which was the red snapper. This restaurant is very unique in that you can eat on the deck which sits right off the ocean. Occasionally eels and crabs will make their way onto the deck too. I highly recommend making reservations ahead of time.
Lucy’s Surf Bar: Taco Tuesdays! I visited Lucy’s on a Tuesday for lunch. Their taco specials start at $2 for chicken tacos. I am ashamed to say I ordered around 8 tacos but they were so delicious! They have a great location near the major shopping area and cruise terminal.
Madam Janettes: I walked in around 8:30/9 with no reservation and was lucky by the skin on my teeth to get a table. They had a full house too. I loved the ambiance here and there was live music. I ordered the “Old Butcher Lamb Rack” and it was SO GOOD. It was tender and flavored so well. My only complaint is that some of the chairs are rather narrow and I have wide hips. They were also very attentive which I liked.
Kamini’s is another Caribbean restaurant that was recommended to me but I did not have time to visit them on my first trip. When I went to Aruba on my second solo trip I went there. I did not have the best experience and have no desire to return. They are closed on Tuesdays.
LG Smith’s is where I went for my birthday dinner. I received amazing service and because it was my birthday they even brought out a dessert with a candle. The steak was cooked to perfection and I the way the drinks are prepared is quite a performance.
Iguana Joe’s is where I ate on my March trip. The ribs were flavorful but the food temperature left a lot to be desired. I don’t know how’s grandma made that mac and cheese but it was so delicious! They have amazing views of the port and it’s a great place to relax and enjoy a frozen drink.
Zeerovers is another place that came highly recommended. Seafood is caught by local fishermen and cooked fresh daily. If you decide to visit remember that Zeerovers is cash only. I will have to check out Zeerovers on my next trip!
I went to two beaches during my trip, Palm Beach and Eagle Beach. Both beaches were located next to major hotels or resorts and I felt safe. I packed a cooler with snacks and drinks for my beach days. One of my favorite things about Aruba was how easy it was to access the beaches. There is ample parking and the palapas are easily accessible as well. In many of the Facebook groups there is so much talk about reserving palapas ahead of time. I did not reserve or pay anyone. My Airbnb provided a beach cooler and beach chairs. The water in Aruba was a little rough and cold which was surprising. Baby Beach, which is on the Northern side of the island is man made so the water is warmer and more calm.
Let’s talk about packing. Do not check a bag on your trip to Aruba unless you absolutely have to. I do not recommend checking a bag. The airport in Aruba is small and always crowded. Condense your things and pack as less as you possibly can. And if you have layovers and delays on your flight you risk losing your checked bag. I packed swimsuits, one coverup, flip flops for the beach, a pair of sandals, maxi dresses, and jean shorts. When you’re heading to a tropical climate like Aruba, you want clothing that’s easy to wear. Think easy, breezy, and flowy. Trust me, on a 90 degree day you don’t want to have to worry about a girdle or Spanx! I packed my entire skin care routine because I knew the sun would tap dance on my skin. Y’all know I love my lashes and makeup but let me tell you–I hardly wore them when I was there. In fact, I wore makeup once and that was for my photoshoot. Sunscreen is a must! Some days I did not put sunscreen on and my skin was sunburnt. I recommend budgeting about $50-75 cash per person, per day.
Speaking of photoshoot…while I was in Aruba on my first solo international trip I wanted to commemorate it with a photoshoot. During my trip planning process I found a photographer who was reasonable, within my budget, and who’s photography style aligned with my brand. I booked Island Shots by Pauline and she was amazing! I had a one hour shoot on Moomba Beach and she made it look like there was literally no one else on the beach. She has an eye for those great shots and I love her editing style. You can contact Pauline on WhatsApp at +297-741-8896. I received my edited pictures within a week.
I did very little shopping in Aruba until literally an hour before I headed to the airport. Near the cruise terminal is a local market of vendors who sell souvenirs and handcrafted goods. I bought shirts, artwork, shot glasses, and of course a coffee mug. I enjoy shopping locally when visiting a new country. The shop owners were not pushy at all and allowed me to browse in peace. I was able to negotiate for a few dollars off my purchase. Unfortunately, many shop owners do not accept cards so I advise you to carry cash to the local market. If they do accept cards there is a fee attached to your purchase that the bank charges them. I shopped with Cerette. She was very nice.
Why should you arrive to the airport 3-4 hours early?
Returning from Aruba was a very tedious process. Once you arrive at the airport you will actually go through security twice and customs before arriving in the US. This is another reason I recommend only using a carry on bag. Once you arrive back in the US you will not have to go through customs. If you are a frequent international traveler I highly recommend Global Entry and/or TSA Precheck. The process of getting to my gate to return to the US took about 2.5 hours, however I recommend getting to the airport 3-4 hours in advance. I have heard many stories of people who miss their flight because of the customs line moving very slowly.
While planning my trip I read so many stories of people who have been going for over 40 years. Aruba has lots of repeat visitors and I can honestly say that I look forward to returning every year. It was peaceful, easy to get around, and the beaches were beautiful. I chose Aruba because the logistics were easy to figure out. Everything was within a 10-15 minute drive from my Airbnb except for San Nicolas.
As a reminder–I am not a travel agent. I am a travel blogger. I perform a lot of research before settling upon a destination including creating Pinterest boards. Pinterest boards and Facebook groups are a great resource when planning a trip. For the latest and most up to date travel requirements always check with the Aruba Tourism Authority.
Solo travel in Aruba is fun, exciting, and most importantly I felt safe. While some strangers did approach me, it’s always wise to be aware of your surroundings and remember not to engage in uncomfortable conversations with others.
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