Me, my husband and 10 year old daughter are leaving for Aruba on the 19th of July, I just was wondering if anyone could give advice on bringing money. Should we carry cash, traveler's checks, or bring some cash and just use our debit cards? Also not sure how much spending money to bring, I've never been and I'm not sure how expensive everything is, such as dinners and snorkeling and such.

Our personal preference is to carry "x" amount of money, depending on the number of days for tips in singles and fives. Unless we know there will something such as watersports for which we need cash, we travel with as little cash as possible.

An option of course is to travel with traveler's check. The front desk at your resort will cash them for you but they will more than likely limit the amount each day. On our recent stay at the Tamarijn our friends found they limit "breaking down" $50 bills into smaller denominations.
Aruba Travel with an ATM Card

Before traveling with an ATM card, please check with your bank's policies regarding lost and stolen cards. Rules and policies are not necessarily the same as they are with credit cards where you are normally liable for only the first $50 in charges.
http://www.pirg.org/consumer/banks/debit/debitcards1.htm
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/atmcard.shtm

From Kiplinger
"Debit cards. The rules are similar for debit cards, but there are a few restrictions. For example, your liability under federal law is limited to $50, but only if you notify the issuer within two business days of discovering the card's loss or theft. [this would probably be easy if you travel and access the internet daily to check your account balances.] Your liability could jump to $500 if you put it off. And even this cap is lifted if you wait more than 60 calendar days from the time your bank statement is mailed."

Credit cards, including American Express, are widely accepted all over the island.

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>>> " just use our debit cards? "
---- When traveling out of the country would not use a DEBIT card except at a bank's ATM. If someone were to get your number they could use it to drain your checking account. Yes you protest and you get your $$ back but how many days and phone calls does that take. Would only use a credit card.
I use US$$, a credit card, and American Express Travel Checks.
Get the very new US$$. Don't be surprised to see shop merchants or Casino people in Aruba hold big bills up to a light to see the watermarks.

Just to double check.... everyone uses U.S. dollars there when they go, right?

The US dollar is widely accepted.

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Thanks to the replies, it is helpful. I'm thinking about $200-300 a day spending should be good, anybody have comments on that amount?

Here's a simple idea, i havent used it in Aruba, but am going to this upcoming trip this month. I did use it in St Kitts in February.
Assuming you are staying at a resort with a casino, open up a credit line. Even if you dont gamble. Then when you need cash, just draw a marker for $500. At the end of the trip, if you do gamble, and you have the money, pay back the markers. If you dontgamble, or if you do, but have lost, just go home, and make sure the cash is in your checking account. The casino will present the markers (checks you signed when you took the cash) to the bank, and it will automatically come out of your checking account about 8-14 days after you return.

Went to St Kitts, set up a line for $3000 before I went down, and just took $200 cash with me. Paid for meals with credit card, unless i was at the hotel, in which case I signed the charges to my room, same for drinks, and used the markers for gambling, and miscellaneous stuff i needed to buy at the store or whatever.

Even tho the markers and credit line are meant for gambling, there is no rule that says you must use it as such.

For 2 people I plan on 100 USD per day for incidental carry cash only. For any larger purchases or expensive meals, excursions, car rental etc. I use a CC . Personally...I never have never had any problem breaking $100 bills at the front desk of the Tamarijn, and I do it every day of my stay. I guess that it is possible that due to the fact I have stayed at the Tamarijn so many times that they "look the other way, so to speak" and allow me to do this. I honestly do not know what their policy is on this (so you may want to check), I just know that I do it all of the time and I do not anticipate any problems in the future.

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, steering wheel in one hand, Martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “Haaa Wooo” what a ride!!!"

The Casino's cash travelers checks to US dollars with no problem.
We use cash and then cash the trav. checks as needed.

I think $200-$300 per day should do fine for walking around money; that being said, I usually plan on $500 per day plus $500 per night @ the casino.

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