Top 10 Things to Consider When Planning a Vacation in Aruba

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1 Top 10 Things to Consider When Planning a Vacation in Aruba Aruba is the most revisited island in the Caribbean - by far one of the most loved island destinations. It is clean, safe, exciting, fun, and traveling there is affordable and easy. In our many years serving the Aruba vacation rental market we have learned that being informed is the best first step in making for a better vacation experience. It all starts with planning, so we ve designed this Top 10 list to give you a few important things to consider and to help you avoid some of the common pitfalls of planning a vacation in Aruba. Aruba is an amazing place and this guide will simply help you to plan that long-deserved Aruba getaway easily and wisely. When you re done reading it, if you have any questions don t be afraid to ask. 10) Be sure to rent a car. There is a lot to do and see all over the island, so having a car is just very practical and will help you get the most out of your vacation. Taxis are very expensive and make renting a car a no-brainer. We can connect you with a very affordable car rental service. You can rent a car for as little as $40/day in Aruba based upon availability and time of year, of course. Aruba is only about 4 miles wide by 19 miles long so it's relatively easy to navigate and fun to drive around. Our Top Ten lists (see below) will give you plenty to do and see, so we encourage you to make the most of this amazing island and take full advantage of every experience you can. Having a car allows you to see many more beaches and find the one(s) you like best, which may not be the one you can easily walk to. The truth is that if you plan to walk to the beach you will likely be hauling beach chairs and a cooler, which we provide, plus beach towels, a bag of personal affects, electronics perhaps, a purse, and maybe even kids, floats and water toys. So walking is fun once. We have five properties in Aruba, all within what would be considered "walking distance." After nearly a decade, we can count on one hand how many times we have actually walked to the beach. Walking sounds good, but as a practical matter it's much better to drive. You get there easily and get home easily. You can make bathroom runs if necessary, as some beaches don t have facilities, and if you forget something or someone (or want to get rid of someone), it's easy to return to the property. 9) Save BIG by booking through an owner directly if you can. This is one of the big tips in our tip guide, Top 10 Amazing Money-Saving Tips When Traveling to Aruba that we provide guests because there s lots of value in it. If you find a vacation rental on any of the well known vacation rental websites, such as HomeAway.com, VRBO.com, TripAdvisor.com, FlipKey.com or AirBnb, and book directly through the owner or their own website you can save a ton of money. We have been award-winning members of most online vacation rental websites for more than a

2 decade and continue to be, although we are relatively new to AirBnB and Booking.com. But as they battle for a larger share of the vacation rental market their focus has shifted from properly matching travelers and owners to PROFITS! They value your immediate payment over proper vacation planning (so you don t shop other sites). Most of these sites charge guests and owners very high booking fees, credit card use fees and taxes... and they lure you in with free trip protection. They are very good at capturing the interest of the cautious traveler and their credit card information. In all cases you are paying higher rental rates, larger deposits and booking fees. And they take it all upfront. Most owners don't charge any booking fees, don t require payment upfront and usually have lower rates. This not only saves you money, but allows you time to plan properly without laying out a large amount of money or providing credit numbers before you even get to communicate with someone. And you can trip protection most anywhere. Travelers insurance is no secret and easy to secure. At GreatArubaVacationHomes.com and depending upon how far in advance you book we only take a small, FULLY REFUNDABLE deposit. This gives you plenty of time to plan with others, make travel arrangements, compare and schedule other activities. And we have NEVER kept a deposit. Also, if you book directly with an owner you are likely to get much more flexibility in terms of cancellations beyond their posted cancellation policies - especially for family emergencies. That is rare with vacation rental websites because they don t want to give back their commission and fees. We offer FULL REFUNDS and/or credit for future travel, which vacation rental websites don t offer after a certain date. While most of our guests book through us directly, you are free to reserve any way you'd like. We appreciate your business any way we can earn it. We encourage you to do what works for you, but we just want you to know that booking with an owner who is listed online is just as safe, and in some cases is more secure than booking through a vacation rental website. It s certainly less costly. And in addition to savings we offer more flexibility and more payment options than any of the vacation rental websites, which works to your advantage too. Remember, saving money now gives you more of it for fun and adventure while you re actually on vacation. Speaking of saving money, don t forget we offer all of our booked guests our Top 10 Amazing Money-Saving Tip Guide When Traveling to Aruba, in addition to 5 other Top 10 Travel Guides. 8) What, utility surcharges! Utility surcharges can be just another way to get more money from you and are just a big blank check for the property owner who charges them. Do you really want to spend your vacation guessing how many units of electricity or water you have used? It s a questionable practice that is easily abused and it could be very expensive for you, the traveler. A lot of property owners in Aruba charge these fees because they think it s fair and reasonable, but it can be just another way to make money for some.

3 7) You get what you pay for... Not all vacation rentals are created equal. If a property seems too inexpensive or seems cheaper than comparable properties, there's a reason for that. The pictures of the lower-priced properties do not always accurately reflect the quality of the property. Lower prices often reflect a not-so-obvious problem. Some properties in Aruba still don't even have hot water heaters or window screens. So don t assume anything. Location is just as important. Another reason accommodations might seem strangely inexpensive is that they are in an unpopular area or what might be considered a less desirable area that is not particularly well suited for tourists. Aruba is very safe, but there are some areas that are just more appealing to travelers. And you certainly want to avoid busy or noisy pass-through roads. If you're a North American or European traveler, you will likely want to stick to the northwest part of the island for your accommodations known as the leeward coast. This includes areas such as Noord, Palm Beach, Malmok, Westpunt, Rooi Santo, Bakval, Ruby, Eagle Beach and Bubali. No matter where you rent, be careful and ask the right questions. 6) Avoid any property that has been listed for a year or more and has few or no reviews. A new listing may not have many reviews, which is understandable, but a not-so-new listing should have at least 6 or 8 per year. The more there are the better. Take the time to read them. You will notice repetitive patterns in reviews, both good and bad, which will really help you understand the type of experience you can expect. Collectively we have over star reviews online on the most popular vacation rental websites. Remember, Aruba is the most revisited island in the Caribbean so there is a great chance you will want to come back. Establish a good relationship with the owner and not only will you have a good first trip, but you'll have an excellent resource for your second and third. We very much value our repeat guests and offer all future travelers between $200 and $500 off future stays. Plus, whether it s your first trip or your tenth, everyone gets lots of really helpful and current information before each trip to help make each and every visit convenient and trouble free. 5) Check out the responsiveness of the owner or manager. Any rental property can have an occasional problem, from power outages, to plumbing issues, to a cloudy pool or insects, but the most important factor in resolving any problem is how quickly the owner or manager responds and how interested they seem in getting the problem resolved immediately. The reviews are where to look to determine an owner's responsiveness to any issue. If you determine that they are not immediately responsive to problems or even just general questions, your vacation will certainly be impacted. It's true that some people write reviews just to whine about their flight or a restaurant or because they couldn t find the cheese grater, but the reviews that implicate the owner as not reachable, negligent or not caring are the properties you need to completely avoid. You ll never be sorry by renting a property from an owner with a proven track record and an excellent reputation.

4 4) Avoid any property managed by a local real estate office or local rental agency. I am an independent real estate broker myself in the U.S. and have even been a broker in Aruba and continue to be active in the real estate market there, however I can say without question that most local agencies are not particularly good and managing vacation rentals for American and Canadian owners or vacationers. They think they are, but they are not. It s a changing industry and how people book everything from vacation rentals to cruises to hotels has changed. In many parts of the Caribbean if you rent through a rental agency you have a good chance of getting put through the ringer. You are a small fish in a big pond and most don t have the time or the resources to deal with the intricacies, questions and travel details of the many travelers coming to Aruba from around the world. And forget about reaching anyone on a weekend or holiday in Aruba, of which there are many. Always try working directly with an Owner. You are much less likely to have problems or be disappointed and you re almost guaranteed better responsiveness. 3) Payment options. Variety is the spice of life! As a general rule, the more payment options you have, the better off you are. If an owner or online vacation rental website offers you a single payment option or suggests only a bank wire or Western Union, run the other way. No matter who you book through, they should accept payment by check, credit card, PayPal, bank transfer (common for international wires) or direct deposit. Single forms of payment are not only inconvenient, but suspicious. International bank wires are fine, especially for overseas transactions, but be careful of any owner or manager who only accepts methods of payment that are, in reality, cash transactions. Bank wire, money order and Western Union payments are in effect, like sending cash. 2) Hotels: They're not for most people, but most people don't know it. This doesn't mean that hotels are bad. In fact, many are situated on the beach, which is great. And the timeshare folks love their travel week, but there's more to a vacation for most people than just sun worshipping, especially on an island as diverse as Aruba. There is so much to see and do all over. There are DOZENS of great beaches in Aruba, all of which are better than the hotel beaches, which are typically overcrowded, loud and usually have a film of sunscreen floating on the water. A crowded beach is really not appealing if you are looking to escape and relax. So in that regard hotels don t serve guests particularly well. That, coupled with the ongoing battle to find and keep a chaise lounge, a beach chair, or a palappa (straw umbrella) or having to deal with the crowded pool, unpredictable food, waiting for elevators, and having to rent beach equipment just takes so much allure out of a hotel vacation. A private homes or villa is a completely different experience.

5 Here is a recent review from one of our guests! Review #2149 Lovely property so close to the action but privacy and space when you need it. Amazing house. Mike was so responsive and accommodating. I don t know how people can spend 2x as much for half the space at a hotel. We could walk to the beach and enjoy the people watching but come home within 5 minutes and jump in our private pool and relax- that s what vacation s all about! Jennifer - Boston, MA But, if a hotel is your thing, then at least try to avoid any hotel that is under a 4-star rating. Most hotels actually rank a little worse than their highest public rating. So a 4-star is likely a true 3-star. 1) All-inclusive resorts maybe great on some islands but are lost in Aruba. The only thing more restrictive than a hotel vacation in Aruba is an "all-inclusive resort." Aruba is not like Jamaica or the Dominican Republic, where your safety is at issue if you leave the compound. Aruba is one of the safest islands in the Caribbean and there is a lot to do, see, and experience all over the island. So staying at an all-inclusive can be very limiting, especially when it comes to dining. There are a lot of great restaurants and activities that you are not likely to experience if staying at an allinclusive resort because you already pre-paid for many of your island experiences. You may not even rent a car and you are a lot less likely to travel to other, better beaches or explore beyond the guided tours offered by the package you bought or that the resort offers. All inclusive resorts have their place in the Caribbean, but in Aruba the general rule is that it s not money well spent. And yes, there are die-hard all-inclusive travelers that you won t convince otherwise, but it s usually because they think they are actually saving money. There s a big debate going on about how terrible all-inclusives are for the overall local economy. Aruba has a thriving economy because of tourism, but many businesses don t benefit when people are captive to a single location. In fact, there is talk about banning all-inclusives. Whether that ever happens who knows. As with any travel planning you need to be prepared. We love Aruba for all the wonderful things it offers, especially to vacationers. Our decades long experience there has helped us prepare this Top 10 list for you, as well as a host of others. We provide all of our guests with our exclusive Top 10 Lists at check-in. Top 10 Amazing Money-Saving Tips including 15 great ways to save money on airfare Top 10 Restaurants in Aruba the best of the best in all price ranges Top 10 Pier Bars and Casual Dining in Aruba Top 10 Most Popular Beaches in Aruba Top 10 Secluded Beaches in Aruba Top 10 Things To Do In Aruba that Nobody Will Tell You About

6 Traveling on a budget? If you are traveling on a budget consider renting a home where you can share the expense with family or friends and do some cooking and grilling at home. As an example, a $3,000/week house divided by only 6 people is $500 per person per week, or $1000 per couple. A $1,000/week hotel room for a couple does not put you into a very nice hotel. Plus you then have to pay more for food and drinks. A cheap hotel can actually be more expensive than a luxury home. I may be biased in this regard, but I have had many guests tell me that after staying at one of our properties they will never stay at a hotel again. There s a reason for that. In fact more many of our guests come back within 2 years which is why we are rented between 40 and 45 weeks per year. Renting a vacation home makes for a better vacation experience, overall. You can also save on alcohol by buying at Duty Free, from local markets or by bringing your favorite libations in your checked-bags. One couple brought two (award-winning) Black Box wines with them. That's a total of 8 bottles of wine at a total cost of $40. They were set for the week, and it was great for the beach too. Yes, it's legal to drink on the beach. You can even bring your own beer, wine and specialty alcohol to many restaurants. Renting a home can be the first best step in planning travel to Aruba. And it can certainly save you money so you will have more for that catamaran snorkel sail, fancy restaurant or ATV rental. Your Next Best Vacation Ever At GreatArubaVacationHomes.com we take the fear and the risk out of planning your Aruba vacation. We are not a nameless, faceless rental agency; We are real people who live in the U.S. and know and love Aruba. You can find us on our website, on Facebook or you can , call or text me, Mike at any time, night or day, with any questions. We hope you found this information insightful and helpful, and we wish you many years of happy travel to Aruba... "One Happy Island." Thank you, Michael Gilliar Start planning your next best vacation ever! About Michael: Mike lives with his wife Kimberlie in Pennsylvania and Nevada. He is a vacation home developer and licensed real estate broker in Pennsylvania and is a broker for American buyers in Aruba, specializing in vacation rentals and the Aruba vacation rental market. He owns and personally manages numerous investment and vacation rental properties in Aruba and works as a Buyer's Agent for new investors interested in the Aruba real estate market and for Americans interested in owning a home or rental property in Aruba. Mike offers buyer s representation at no charge to anyone interested in investing in Aruba. Feel free to call or him any time at Mike2820@ptd.net or call All Contents Copyright Great Aruba Rentals / Great Aruba Vacation Homes. All Rights Reserved. Content may not be reproduced, disseminated, published, or used in any form or by any means, except with the prior, express written permission and authorization of the holder. Copyright infringement is a violation of federal law subject to criminal and civil penalties.