In short
Aruba is a desert island thirty kilometres long, outside the hurricane belt. The wind blows constantly, which makes the heat bearable and the island well known for windsurfing.
Eagle Beach and Palm Beach, on the west coast, are sheltered and lined with hotels. The east coast, exposed to the Atlantic, is rocky and unswimmable.
What it really costs
Aruba is among the most expensive islands in the Caribbean, with a North American clientele and an entirely imported economy.
The florin is pegged to the US dollar, which circulates everywhere. The Arubus service links Oranjestad to the western beaches for a few dollars, far more cheaply than a taxi.
What nobody tells you
The island is arid: cactus, divi-divi trees bent by the wind, almost no rain. This is not a green tropical island, and that is what surprises people most.
Arikok national park covers nearly a fifth of the territory and needs a four-wheel drive for its tracks. Its natural pools have to be earned.
The constant, pleasant wind masks the strength of the sun. Sunburn is more common here than elsewhere because you do not feel the heat.