Roseau, Dominica (Textor)
Getting around Aruba is relatively straightforward within the heavily-trafficked parts of the island. Venturing out beyond the developed beach strip, however, pretty much necessitates renting a car.
Downtown Oranjestad itself, composed of tiny streets and many dead ends, is easily navigable on foot. The Arubus runs from downtown all the way up to the high rise hotels at Palm Beach (the stop there is in front of the Marriott Resort). The fare is $1.15 one way or $2 roundtrip. The bus runs three times an hour on weekdays and hourly on weekends.
Taxis run 24 hours a day and are rather expensive. We advise visitors to steer clear of them beyond journeys to and from the airport. Whenever taking a taxi, establish your fare before getting in. Even though official drivers very reassuringly maintain a list of fares to all locations on the island, it is a good idea to nail down the fare before starting off.
There are countless car rental agencies at or near the airport, many of them with very inexpensive rates. We recommend Top Drive, where the rate for a compact car is around $35 a day. It is also popular to rent a bike or moped. There are several options along L.G. Smith Blvd. and a few inland as well. Take a look at this list to get a sense of the most popular. A disclaimer: when renting anything with two wheels, drive carefully. Traffic is full and fast on Aruba's streets, especially along the main highway by the beach.