Money

Cash/Currency

The U.S. dollar is as widely accepted as the Aruban florin (AFl), and most items and services are priced in both currencies. Traveler's checks and major credit cards are almost universally accepted.

The Aruban florin (AFl) is divided into 100¢. Silver coins come in denominations of 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, and 50¢ as well as 1, 2 1/2, and 5 florins. The 50¢ piece, the square yotin, is Aruba's best-known coin. Paper currency comes in denominations of 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 florins. At press time, the (fairly stable) exchange rate was 1.78 AFl to US$1 (1 AFl is worth about U.S. 56¢). Hotels, restaurants, and stores accept dollars at rates of between 1.75 and 1.80 AFl; supermarkets and gas stations use a conversion rate of 1.75 AFl to the dollar.

The currency used in the neighboring Dutch islands of Curaçao and Bonaire, the Netherlands Antillean florin (NAf), is not accepted in Aruba.

Note: Prices are quoted in U.S. dollars throughout this book.

ATMs

Aruba has plenty of cash machines -- at the airport; in Oranjestad, in Noord, at the Allegro, Holiday Inn, Hyatt, Marriott Playa Linda, and Radisson in the High-Rise area; and at La Cabana in the Low-Rise. Your hotel can steer you in the right direction, and an ATM is never far away. Most dispense both florins and dollars. Since you can expect to pay a fee of about $3 per transaction, take out as much as you estimate you'll really need rather than taking out a small amount and planning to go back later.

Credit Cards

Does anyone travel without a credit card today? They're safer than cash, and you get a detailed record of your expenses. With most cards, you can also get cash advances from banks or ATMs. But you'll still need good old paper money for small purchases, cabs, and the occasional restaurant or small shop.

Major credit card companies have toll-free emergency numbers to call if your card is lost or stolen. Usually, the office will wire you a cash advance immediately, and deliver an emergency card in a day or two. Visa's U.S. emergency number is tel. 800/336-8472, or visit www.visa.com. American Express cardholders and traveler's check holders should call tel. 800/221-7282. MasterCard members should call tel. 800/307-7309. Both MasterCard and Visa cardholders can visit branches of Aruba Bank (tel. 800/325-3678) or Caribbean MercantileBank (tel. 954/846-1585) for cash advances or to report a lost or stolen card. In the U.S., Discover cardholders can get assistance by calling tel. 800/DISCOVER, or 801/902-3100 in Aruba (www.discover.com).

If you lose your card, chances are slim that the police will find it. Notify them anyway: Lots of credit card companies and insurers require a police-report number.

Traveler's Checks

Traveler's checks are becoming a bit of a relic now that ATMs make cash accessible 24/7. If you want to avoid ATM service charges, though, or if you just want the security of knowing you can get a refund if your wallet's stolen, go ahead and get traveler's checks. You'll have to show identification every time you cash one. Most banks sell them, and most Aruban businesses accept them. Be sure to keep a record of the serial numbers (separate from the checks, of course). You'll need the numbers to get a refund if your checks are lost or stolen.

You can get American Express traveler's checks by calling tel. 800/221-7282 or at www.americanexpress.com. Visa offers traveler's checks at financial institutions nationwide; call tel. 800/227-6811 to find a location near you. They also offer traveler's checks through Thomas Cook Currency Services (tel. 800/223-9920).

Taxes, Service Charges & Tipping

Aruba has recently introduced a sales tax, but it is undecided whether merchants will charge the tax or simply incorporate the additional fee into their prices or a combination of both. Hotels charge an 11% government tax on rooms, and most routinely add 5% to 7% for "service." A few resorts charge an energy surcharge of $4 to $8 per unit per night.

Most, but not all, restaurants charge 10% to 15% for service, but not all of this goes to the service staff. Some restaurants keep a percentage for overhead, while the rest is distributed among all restaurant personnel; so you are generally expected to leave a little extra cash on the table (say 10%). If no charge is included in your tab, leave 15%, or 20% if the service was excellent.

Taxi drivers expect 10% to 15%, and porters should get about $2 per bag. Some of the hotel service charge should trickle down to the chambermaids, but if you're staying in a nice place, leave $2 per day for the housekeeper anyway. For spa treatments, if a service charge is not included, leave 15%.