After several hours in flight, your plane approaches Aruba, and you get your first view of the small, unassuming island. Caressed by spectacularly colorful waters, the sun-drenched beaches look ready to warm your body. The cold and snow back home are a million miles away. In about an hour, you'll be sipping a tropical cocktail at your hotel's poolside bar. Because there's nothing jarringly unfamiliar about Aruba, this is going to be stress-free: People speak English, most tourists are from the U.S. and Canada, most prices are in dollars, driving's on the right side of the road, and you can drink the water. It's time to start your vacation. Full speed ahead.
