Aruba - Adventure Guide to Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao - page 139

Island Facts & Contacts

AIRPORT: Queen Beatrix International Airport, 297-

582-4800.
ATMs: Widely available at locations throughout the island,
including the airport, shopping centers, hotels, and banks.
Most dispense only Aruban florin. Machines are connected to
the Cirrus network and accept Visa and MasterCard.
BANKS: Most banks are located in Oranjestad and Noord (near the high-
rise hotels), and are open Monday-Friday, 8 am-noon and 1:30-3:45 pm.
The Caribbean Mercantile Bank at the airport is open daily, 8 am-4 pm,
Saturday-Sunday, 10 am-6 pm.
CAPITAL: Oranjestad.
COUNTRY CODE: 297.
DEPARTURE TAX: $34.25 for international flights (usually added to the
cost of your airline ticket). The tax from Aruba to Bonaire and Curaçao is
$10.
DRIVING: Traffic travels on the right side of the road, as in the US, Can-
ada, and most of Europe.
ELECTRICITY: The voltage is 110 AC (60 cycles), and the outlets accept
the same plugs used in North America.
EMERGENCY: As of March 1, 2002, the emergency number for fire,
police, and ambulance became 911.

GAS STATIONS: At publication, gas prices were in the range of 88¢ per
liter, which is roughly equivalent to $3.25 per gallon. Stations are conve-
niently located near towns and the hotel district, and most accept major
credit cards.
GOVERNMENT: Aruba is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands; the Dutch Government is responsible for defense and foreign
affairs. Local government is based on a parliamentary democracy.
HOSPITAL: Horacio Oduber Hospital on L.G. Smith Blvd,

297-587-

4300.
LANGUAGE: The official language is Dutch, but locals speak
Papiamento (spelled Papiamentu on Bonaire). Many are multilingual and
also speak Spanish, English, and German.
LEGAL AGE: 18 for drinking and gambling.
MONEY: The official currency of Aruba is the Aruban Florin (AF or Afl),
which is divided into 100 cents. US and Canadian dollars and most major
credit cards are widely accepted. Current exchange rates are stable at
1.77 Afl to the US dollar and 1.34 Afl to the Canadian dollar. One of the
most unusual coins in the world is the square Aruban 50-cent piece.