Hi All: Heading to Aruba for the first time the beginning of September and have received great tips from the board. One question though, is it better to arrange for a taxi pick up ahead of time or are there ample at the airport waiting for fares? Thanks for the insight.

Kirk,
Unless you have a specific contact (which somone on this board may want to volunteer), it is best just to go out of luggage pick up and to the next taxi in line. There are plenty of cabs available.

charles
arubafastphones.com

Actually, the very best way to get to and from the airport is to arrange transport with one of the tour buses (DePalm tours is the biggest) through your travel agent or online ahead of time. Cabs are plentiful but expensive as they charge per person and also for luggage. Count on paying at least $30 each way to get to the hotel area if you take a cab. The DePalm package, however, only costs about $18 per person and is good for transport to your hotel (drop you off curbside) and transport back to the airport on your day of departure (pick you up curbside). They don't really try to sell you their tours during the bus ride. Have a great time!

When you come out of the airport, there is a long line of taxi's waiting.

Hi Kirk,
We were last there in June and like walking out of the airport and getting into one of the waiting cabs instead of waiting for when the bus was ready. I'm not sure when Roy was there, but to the Marriott Hotel we were charged $20 total for the 2 of us. The taxi fees are set and never have been charged per person. Of course we always add extra $ for bags. Very easy taking a taxi back to the airport also instead of the bus. Just be sure to get to the airport close to 3 hrs before departure time to get through customs (or before the bus load of people arrive).
Hope you have a wonderful trip!

Plenty of taxi's available and very reasonable to the hotels. Airport to Hyatt was $20 for the two of us. Plus tip. It's the best way to get to the hotel quickly. We tried the De Palm bus first year....ouch! After a 4&1/2 hour flight we want to get to the hotel without having to stop at every hotel before ours. I think Roy had misinformation at $30 for a taxi. cj

$20.each way DONT take the buses they stop at every hotel and it will take you an hour to get to yours.

I thought taxi's were a flat rate in Aruba

I disagree about taking the DePalm bus. You have to wait till it's loaded with passengers and their luggage before it leaves the airport then it stops at all the resorts along the way to drop off people and their luggage. Depending on where you're staying this could take some time. The taxi's are lined up outside and do not charge per person and more for luggage. There's a set fee regardless of whether two people use it or four people use it. Now maybe if you have an over abundance of luggage, more than most people would ordinarily take they'd charge more for a piece or two of excess luggage but I've never heard of such a thing. If you grab a cab to your resort by the time the DePalm bus gets there you could already be checked in and on the beach. The Marriott is the farthest hotel away and to get there is in the neighborhood of $22 one way, per cab not per person.

Thanks everyone, once again this board comes through.