Aruba might not scream “budget destination,” but don’t let that stop you. This sunny island has a ton of ways to save if you plan it right.
During my visit, I made it my mission to stretch every dollar while still feeling like I was on a luxury vacation.
It wasn’t as easy as I expected it to be, but I learned a ton about the dos and don’ts of saving while traveling in Aruba.
TLDR: Book an all-inclusive stay for the best value, and book EARLY.
Can you actually do an Aruba Trip on a budget?
If you’re planning a trip to Aruba, your first thought might not be about saving money, because it sounds impossible. I’m here to show you exactly how possible it is.
Of course doing a trip on a budget means something different to everyone. For comparison, I was able to spend around $1,000 for the week that I spent there. This doesn’t include flights, which ended up being around $400 roundtrip (Denver to Aruba). You can learn more about how to save on flights here.
Aruba is well-known as a luxury destination, and for good reason. It’s a very well-built up island, with gorgeous views, awful public transportation, and tons of luxury resorts.
I enjoyed a mix of expensive and non-expensive experiences while I was there. While I was there, I also came up with better ways to save if I do a future visit that I wasn’t aware of before arriving.
Keep in mind that I traveled in a group of 4, so we were able to save on most costs like accommodation and rental cars. I would suggest you travel with 2-4 more people so you can maximize savings.
Here’s exactly how you can get the best value out of your Aruba trip…without falling into overpriced tourist traps or wasting your time.
Where to stay for maximum value
There are a lot of ways you can save on accommodation, but also keep in mind that this was the most expensive part of my trip. The price was similar to flights, but I also had access to a timeshare room that I shared with 3 friends.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to have these perks to save on accommodation. Let me first mention that the cheapest accommodation won’t be worth it for your trip. If you want to make this experience worth it, you should find good accommodation, close to the beach.
Here are my top tips for making your accommodation value go the farthest:
First up, you can take advantage of all-inclusive resorts. If you are paying for accommodation, I’d recommend choosing one of these resorts. The main reason for this is that Aruba’s food is pricey, whether you cook at the grocery store or eat at a restaurant.
Eggs were priced at $6 from the market, and a cheap meal would run you between $10-20 if you’re lucky. Unless you want to end up spending $100/day on food per person, then you should consider booking an all-inclusive stay to save the most.
I would suggest staying at a Divi Resort, the Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort to be specific was where I stayed and it was incredible value.
We were beachfront, with access to a rock climbing wall, a beach, a few pools, parking, and a fitness center. Our condo was also overlooking the ocean, and it was central enough to easily get around the island.
If you want to stay a bit more in the thick of things, then you are going to want to stay in the Palm Beach area. I’d recommend something affordable like this vacation rental which is a crazy deal considering the location.
If you have a bit more of a splurge, then Tryp Wyndham is perfect and it’s in an incredible spot, especially if you don’t want to use or have a car during your stay on the island.
Now my next tip can feel a bit specific, but if you’ve read my articles before, you know that I always recommend this tip since it’s saved me thousands every year… and that’s doing petsitting.
I use TrustedHousesitters to find free accommodation, and it works as an exchange of services where you watch someone’s pet in exchange for a free stay. Aruba isn’t always crawling with housesits, but I’ve seen a few there, so it’s worth looking into.
A year-long membership to this platform costs less than a single night at most hotels. If you plan to use this option, you can use my link to get 15% off your first year. Even if you don’t find one in Aruba, it can save you a ton around the world. Check out my article if you want more details on how to start housesitting.
For my last tip, it’s some advice. Book early! The prices go up the closer you get to your stay, but more importantly, the best and cheapest options get booked up.
Did you know that when people don’t use their timeshare, they almost ALWAYS try to get it booked since they have to pay for that week whether they use it or not? You can actually buy that room that they aren’t going to use, and usually can get some really great prices that way.
If you plan to stay for a while (longer than a week), you can also find some cheaper stays if you search longer booking options on Booking.com. Ones that are listed as new to the platform AND offering long-term discounts can save you the most if that’s your plan.
Transportation: car vs. no car
Aruba is not a very public transportation-friendly place. They have it, but it isn’t very reliable, it’s pretty expensive, and it is very infrequent, so I wouldn’t plan to rely on it. That being said, whether you think a car is a good idea is totally up to what you plan to do while you’re on the island.
For all of you beach people, you’ll be better off booking accommodation near the beach and not renting a car. Unless your plan is to do some beach tourism throughout the island. You can always hire a taxi if you need to get around the island. Follow this advice especially if you plan to do a lot of drinking on vacation.
If you want to explore the islands (which you should, but everyone has a different plan for a vacation), then you need a rental car. There is so much to see on the island, so if you want to see more than just the beach, a rental car is super important for getting around.
In case you’re wondering, driving on the island is super easy. The signs are easy to read and generally well-marked, and the streets are mostly well-paved. Plus, there is free parking almost everywhere on the island.
I’d recommend using DiscoverCars to book. The platform searches all the major car rental options, and finds you ones with the best value. When I used DiscoverCars, I found a rental for half the price of the cheapest options my friends found.
Don’t forget that if you’re renting a car, make sure you book with a major credit card (particularly in the US). They INCLUDE car rental insurance, so you don’t need to add the additional insurance. My go-to is Capital One Venture X card, and you can read more about the benefits of it here.
