Beginner's Guide to Aruba

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Aruba is an easy island for Americans to visit. While the official languages are Dutch and Papiamento, most locals also speak English and Spanish. Since Aruba is a popular spot for vacationing Americans, you can expect the hotel or resort staff to speak English fluently.

Whether you decide to rent a car or rely on public transportation depends on what you're planning to do during your vacation. If your plans include beach time at your resort and occasional forays into Oranjestad for dining and shopping, you probably don't need to rent a car. Aruba's

bus system

is cheap and easy to use (although you'll be dependent on the bus schedule), and taxis are plentiful and relatively inexpensive, with trips costing about $8 to $10 each way from most hotels.

Driving in Aruba is easy, however, so if you want the freedom to explore the island on your own, you should definitely

rent a car

or a jeep for a few days. All you'll need is a valid U.S. driver's license. Arubans drive on the right side of the road (the same side as in the U.S.), and you can study up on road signs using this

traffic tips guide

. Don't worry, the traffic signs aren't much different than the signs back at home, but right turns on red lights are always prohibited. Most resorts don't charge for parking, but you should check with your particular hotel. Finding parking spots around the island usually isn't terribly difficult.

The

Atlantis Submarine Expedition

gets mixed reviews. Some visitors are wowed by the trip, while others are left feeling lukewarm (and nauseous from claustrophobia). Since $89 is a steep price, I suggest

reading comments online

on our sister site TripAdvisor before you book the tour. Atlantis also offers a $37

semi-submarine tour

that may interest you.

Snorkeling trips in Aruba are less expensive, and several reviewers of the submarine tour mentioned seeing more fish while snorkeling than during the submarine tour. For example, a

Jolly Pirates

three-hour snorkel tour costs $28—including a 15-percent online booking discount—while a

Red Sail

snorkel trip starts at $44.

The

Aruba Tourism Authority's website

is a helpful resource that can likely answer any further questions you might have about Aruba.