Aruba Specialist program 2011 - (Page 5)

Airline and general information Getting there Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) is served by most major U.S. scheduled airlines, with non-stop service from 14 different gateways in the U.S.—many offering daily service. Canadian visitors can choose from scheduled air, with connections, through the U.S. or select a Canadian charter operator with non-stop service from Toronto. For entry requirements, visit www.aruba.com/traveltoaruba. com/entryrequirements.aspx. days and holidays. Schedules, maps and hours are available at www.arubus.com. Culture and languages Aruba’s ﬁrst inhabitants were the Caquetio Indians of the Arawak tribe. In 1499, Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda colonized the island for the ﬁrst time, but it became a Dutch stronghold during the 80-year war between Spain and the Netherlands. For a brief time during the Napoleonic Wars, Aruba was ruled by the English. Still, Dutch culture has had a major inﬂuence and is the most evident on the island today. With 96 nationalities calling it home, Aruba is truly a multicultural destination. Dutch and Papiamento, a local language that developed from native Creole, are its ofﬁcial languages, but English and Spanish are spoken throughout the island as well. Most Arubans speak four languages, so it’s highly unlikely that English-speaking clients will encounter language barriers during their stay here. Read and hear translations of common phrases at http://www.aruba.com/ explorearuba/culture/language.aspx. Gateways U.S. cities/airports with non-stop service to Aruba: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, Houston, Miami, Newark, New York (JFK and LGA), Orlando, Philadelphia, Washington. D.C. (Dulles). In Canada: Toronto. Airlines Scheduled carriers serving Aruba from the U.S.: AirTran Airways, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, Surinam Airways, United Airlines (Continental), and US Airways. In Canada: Air Canada, Thomas Cook and Sunwing (charters). For a full listing of airline routes and frequencies, visit http://www.aruba. com/traveltoaruba/airlineroutes.aspx. Government On January 1, 1986, Aruba gained its independence from Holland, becoming a separate entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Aruba has its own constitution, based on Western democratic principles with elections held every four years. Getting around Once your clients arrive at the airport in Aruba—which is 19.6 miles long and six miles across at its widest point, with a total area of 70 sq. miles—they have several options for getting to their hotel. Some air/ land packages with tour wholesalers include round trip airport/hotel transfers. Otherwise, several transfer companies offer bus transfers which can be purchased right at the airport. Or taxis are always available outside the arrival hall. The government sets the fares for Aruba’s taxis, meaning that cabs here have no meters; each driver should have a rate sheet that explains the costs of each trip. Minimum fare is $5, and is charged per ride, not per person. Taxis are also readily available in downtown Oranjestad and at most hotels for trips to and from shopping sites, restaurants and other venues on the island. For more information on taxis, visit http://www.aruba.com/sigma/ Aruba_Taxi_Fares.pdf. Limousine rentals are available for groups of up to 10 clients. Visit http://www.aruba.com/thingstodo/gettingaround/royal_ limousine_aruba.aspx to learn more. Auto rentals are another option for exploring Aruba. Well-known brands like Thrifty, Avis and Hertz have outposts on the island, as well as local businesses including Economy/Europcar, ACE Car Rental and Amigo Rent a Car. Because much of Aruba’s terrain is rugged and bumpy, any client considering off-roading should upgrade to a Jeep or other all-terrain vehicle. Though driving is on the right side of the road, the same as in North America, drivers should familiarize themselves with Aruba’s road signs, which differ from their North American counterparts. Visit http://www.aruba.com/sigma/ road_signs_in_aruba.pdf for an explanatory chart of Aruban road signs. Public transportation in Aruba is reliable and inexpensive for tourists; the average round-trip bus fare between resorts and downtown Oranjestad is $2.30. Busses run along the entire hotel strip and operate from 5:45 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. with limited schedules on Sun- Medical facilities Modern medical facilities are available for visitors who encounter medical problems in Aruba. Should visitors require medical assistance, it is recommended they contact their hotel front desk ﬁrst for a doctor-oncall or to be directed to the appropriate physician or the emergency room at the hospital. The 280-bed Dr. Horacio Oduber Hospital is located a short distance from the low-rise hotels. Pharmacies (boticas) are also conveniently located throughout the island. U.S. and Canadian medical insurance is not normally accepted. Banks and ATMs Banks are generally open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday and some branches are open later on Friday and Saturday morning. Travelers who have ATM cards with Cirrus, MasterCard, Maestro or Visa logo can withdraw cash at more than 50 locations at hotels, malls, gas stations and banks in Aruba. Drinking water Aruba is home to one of the world’s largest desalination plants providing safe and refreshing drinking water from the tap. Telephone calls Calls to the U.S. and Canada can be expensive, but an economical alternative is to purchase a telephone card and/or call from a Teleshop operated by Setar, the national telecommunications company. Cell phones for rental are also an option. They can be rented in the arrivals terminal at the airport or check with a hotel concierge for more information. december 2011 A5 http://www.arubus.com http://www.aruba.com/traveltoaruba.com/entryrequirements.aspx http://www.aruba.com/explorearuba/culture/language.aspx http://www.aruba.com/traveltoaruba/airlineroutes.aspx http://www.aruba.com/sigma/Aruba_Taxi_Fares.pdf http://www.aruba.com/thingstodo/gettingaround/royal_limousine_aruba.aspx http://www.aruba.com/sigma/road_signs_in_aruba.pdf

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Aruba Specialist program 2011

Key selling points
Airline and general information
Target market and value-added programs
Accommodations
Active vacation options
Dining and nightlife
Weddings and honeymoons
Shopping
Spas
Culture and festivals
Cruise programs and MICE
Rewards and more

Aruba Specialist program 2011