Most vendors in Aruba have a card terminal, especially in the tourist hotels. VISA and Mastercard credit and debit cards are widely accepted. Mastercard acceptance is lower.

If you are going to pay by card in Aruba: Be aware of significant card fees and currency conversion fees for card payments in Aruban Florin: Your bank’s AWG to GBP exchange rate may be dramatically bad. This is how banks make money.

Before using your bank card for payments in the Dutch Caribbean, it’s certainly a good idea to contact your bank. This will avoid your card becoming blocked due to international transactions that your bank may find suspicious.

Cash remains an important, popular and convenient means of payment in Aruba. Local vendors in Aruba will accept Aruban Florin banknotes as well as US dollar banknotes. Some vendors have also started accepting Bitcoin.

Smaller vendors will often only accept cash. This is also the case for taxi drivers, street and beach vendors, hair stylists, tour guides and salesmen on local markets such as Santa Rosa Market in Santa Cruz, Aruba.

The cost of living in Aruba is higher than the cost of living in the UK: On average, prices in Aruba are 34% higher than prices in the UK.

For a coffee in a cafe the price is around 5.5 Afl. A three-course meal in a mid-range restaurant costs in the area of 70 Afl per person.

In Aruba it is common lo leave a tip of around 10% of the check. Some restaurants include the tip as a service charge on the bill.

$1 USD bills are handy in Aruba to leave tips.