A Visit to Aruba, 2021 – The Impact of Covid-19

We’ve just returned from Aruba after two glorious weeks, our longest trip ever to the “One Happy Island”.  And, despite the year-long impact of the pandemic, it’s still a very happy place.  In this post, we’ll tell you what to expect from Aruba’s pandemic rules and regulations.  We’ll fill you in on all of the fun things we did in a subsequent post.

Aruba currently requires three things of all visitors:  Fill out their online Embarkation/Disembarkation (ED) form (you’ll receive an ED card back from them), purchase Aruba medical insurance ($30 per person) and furnish proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken between 72 and 4 hours before traveling to Aruba.  A couple of tips regarding this process:

• Wait until you have your negative test results before filling out the ED form. That way, you can upload your test results online, and it speeds the process of clearing through customs, etc., in the Aruba airport.  There is currently no way you can upload your results after receiving your ED card.
• Make sure your test results clearly show that it was a PCR test and when the test was administered. If your documentation doesn’t spell that out, you will encounter delays in the airport and you might be required to take another test.
• Bring multiple forms of your ED card and your negative test results: Print them out, know where they are on your phone and screenshot them on your phone.  If you’re not connected to Setar, the Aruban cellphone system, or you can’t connect to the airport’s free wifi, you can still access your screenshots (they’re in your photos).  And if your phone’s battery is dead, you can show the hard copies.

If you don’t have that negative test, you can get one at the airport.  But you will be subject to a strict quarantine in your hotel room until the test results come back, usually 4-24 hours.  That will cut into your precious vacation time. . .so don’t do it.

Once you clear through customs and health checks at the airport, you’ll receive a document of proof.  You’ll need to present this at your hotel when you check in, so hang on to it.

Playa Linda Resort, Palm Beach, Aruba

You can now step out of the airport and into the tropical warmth and wind of Aruba!  They observe the same precautionary practices that we do in the US:  Masks are worn indoors and social distancing of 1.5 meters is (mostly) practiced.   The island looked to be operating at half to two-thirds capacity, and everyone we spoke to was pleased to see more and more tourists coming to visit.  It’s been a rough year for Arubans; over 80% of their economy is tied to tourism.  Most everything shut down from April 1 through July 1. 2020.  There has been a gradual re-opening since then, as the second/third/fourth waves of the pandemic have impacted travel plans.  Aruba itself has experienced similar waves of Covid outbreaks; as of now, there have been 10,122 cases and 92 deaths out of a population of just over 107,000 people.  The percentage of cases to the total population is nearly identical to the US, about 9.5%, but the percentage of deaths is less than half that of the US.  Their vaccination program is underway, and the goal is to vaccinate everyone by the end of the summer.

The Aruban government tightened its restrictions during the Easter season, mostly aimed at its own citizens, but also applicable to visitors.  Here are some of the rules:

• A strict 10pm to 5am curfew is in place. . .we were yelled at by police at 10:02.
• Gatherings of more than two people (unless they are from the same household) are prohibited.
• No more than four adults at a table in restaurants.
• Everything closes at 9pm, except restaurants and bars at hotels, which were open until 11pm. But don’t expect to sit or stand at the bar. . .that’s not allowed.
• All casinos closed at 9pm.
• All independent bars, rum shops and nightclubs are closed at all times.
• Musical entertainment is permitted, but only solo performers. Lots of pseudo-karaoke performers were sighted (and heard)!
• Only one person per family is allowed in grocery stores. At Super Food, where we shopped, you had to take a cart into the store, even if you’re just picking up one or two things.  I guess that helps to keep everyone apart.  Pickup and delivery service is available.

Everyone in Aruba is hoping these will be loosened in the coming weeks, but for now, these rules are still in effect.

The impact for us was pretty minimal.  We don’t go to casinos or nightclubs, so no problem there.  Instead of an 8pm reservation, the latest bookings were at 7:30, and it did feel a little rushed to be finished, paid and out of there by 9pm.  This was a pretty minor inconvenience.  The workaround is to dine at a hotel restaurant, most of which are very good, where you don’t have to leave until 11pm or so.  We still took a sunset cruise one evening, and it was even more enjoyable at half capacity.

Marriott Surf Club, Palm Beach, Aruba

We stayed at the Marriott Surf Club, as usual.  The hotel/timeshare was pretty strict about enforcing the mask and distancing rules, but not in an obnoxious way.  Masks were required everywhere inside the hotel, except in our villas; but not outside.  The one family per elevator rule was pretty well observed, although a couple of clueless doofuses (doofi?) old enough to know better barged in with us a couple of times.  The pool seating was reduced by about a third and the pool bar doesn’t serve anyone actually in the pool.  The hotel staff is fastidious about cleaning procedures. . .we felt very safe inside and out.  We were happy to be required to leave the villa for some service a couple of times and during a mid-stay cleaning.

We did get a little tired of hearing the same pre-recorded message every time we entered or left the building. . .”Please make sure to wear your mask before entering the facility”.  But it was effective.

Here’s a plus:  No rental car shortages in Aruba, since the rental companies didn’t have a market to sell their idle vehicles into.  Pricing is normal, about $35 to $50 per day.

While most restaurants and retail establishments have re-opened, a few have not, mainly in the Oranjestad area near the cruise ship port.  Hopefully these will re-open once the ships start sailing again, projected for sometime in the late summer or fall.  Interestingly, there are five ships docked in Oranjestad.  They go out for a short cruise about once a month, according to our taxi driver. . .without any passengers and only a skeleton crew.  Kind of a sad reminder of what made that port city so busy before the pandemic hit.

As our wonderful visit came to a close, we needed to comply with the US requirement for a negative Covid-19 test done within 72 hours of departure.  This was easy. . .the Surf Club, like most of the major hotels and resorts, has arranged for testing to be done on site.  Appointments are easy to make, although we did see some long lines on Thursdays and Fridays.  We received our results in about four hours.  Again, make sure your test results show the time and date of your test and that it was a PCR test.  You also need to provide an attestation (ours was facilitated online by Southwest, our air carrier) stating that you are negative for Covid-19.  Don’t wait to fill this out at the airport, as that will delay the check-in and customs process and could cause you to miss your flight.  Do it online, as soon as you receive your test results.  Once you depart, you won’t need to show either your test result or the attestation again.

Sound Aruban Advice, courtesy of T.H. Palm, Aruba

We felt safe the entire time in Aruba, as well as on our flights to and from.  Being vaccinated helped with this, too, as well as the ability to dine outside nearly every evening.  The various restrictions and closings were a minor inconvenience, far outweighed by the opportunity travel again and enjoy a tropical experience.  Despite the official CDC guidance, we are comfortable visiting Aruba, particularly as a vaccinated traveler.  What do you think?  Let us know or ask us any questions you might have in the comments section.