← Part of the Aruba money guide
Arubachecked Jul 2026Aruba hotel taxes and fees, explained
Short answer: the headline room rate is not what you pay. Between government levies and hotel charges, a nightly rate can climb by a quarter to a third. Here is exactly what stacks on top.
At a glance
On top of the room
Several taxes and fees
Government
12.5% tourist levy + a small eco levy
Hotel
Service charge 10 to 15%, resort fee
Resort fee
Commonly $30 to $90 a night
On top of the room rate, an Aruba hotel bill adds a 12.5% tourist levy and a small environmental levy (about 3 US dollars per room per night), both government charges, plus the hotel's own service charge (often 10 to 15%) and a resort fee (commonly 30 to 90 dollars a night). Together these can add roughly a quarter to a third to the nightly rate. Separately, every air visitor pays a 20 dollar sustainability fee at entry, and there is no VAT refund.
The official route
Background on the levy and hotel charges. Exact service charges and resort fees are set by each property, so check your booking's fine print.
Aruba Tourism Authority: hotel charges and the tourist levy(opens in a new tab) we earn nothing
The government charges
The main one is the tourist levy, set at 12.5% of the room rate since 2023 (up from 9.5%), charged every night. On top of it is a small environmental levy of about 3 US dollars per occupied room per night. Both are government charges collected by your accommodation.
These apply to hotels, timeshares, guesthouses and vacation rentals alike. Residents are exempt, but as a visitor you will see the levy on essentially any paid stay.
The hotel's own charges
Most hotels add their own service charge, often around 10 to 15%, which functions as a built-in gratuity for staff, and many resorts also add a resort fee, commonly 30 to 90 dollars a night, covering things like Wi-Fi, loungers and activities. These are not taxes, but they are usually mandatory.
Because the levy and these fees compound, a room advertised at one price can settle a quarter to a third higher once everything is added. Read the fine print at booking, and ask what the all-in nightly total is.
The rest of your money
Two more things worth knowing. Aruba has no VAT, so there is no tourist VAT refund: it charges a turnover tax (BBO) of around 7% on goods and services, built into prices. And every air visitor pays a 20 dollar sustainability fee through the ED Card before arrival, while the old departure tax is now inside your airfare.
For how to pay, tipping and using dollars versus florin, see the Aruba money guide.
Common questions
Quick answers.
What is the hotel tax in Aruba?
The government tourist levy is 12.5% of the room rate each night, raised from 9.5% in 2023, plus a small environmental levy of about 3 US dollars per room per night. On top of those, most hotels add their own service charge (often 10 to 15%) and a resort fee (commonly 30 to 90 dollars a night), which are not taxes but are usually mandatory.
Why is my Aruba hotel bill so much higher than the room rate?
Because several charges stack on top: a 12.5% tourist levy, a roughly 3 dollar per-night environmental levy, a hotel service charge of around 10 to 15%, and often a resort fee of 30 to 90 dollars a night. Together they can add about a quarter to a third to the advertised rate, so check the all-in total when you book.
Is there a resort fee in Aruba, and is it mandatory?
Many Aruba resorts charge a resort fee, commonly 30 to 90 dollars per night, covering amenities like Wi-Fi, loungers, fitness facilities and some activities. It is set by the hotel, not the government, and is usually mandatory rather than optional, so factor it into your nightly cost.
Can I get a VAT refund in Aruba?
No. Aruba does not have a VAT, so there is nothing to refund. It uses a turnover tax (BBO) of around 7% on goods and services, generally built into prices, with no airport refund scheme for tourists. The charges you will notice are the hotel levy and fees, not a reclaimable sales tax.
More on Aruba
The little money things nobody warns you about.
- Tipping in ArubaAruba leans closer to US-style tipping than most of the Caribbean, thanks to heavy US tourism. Check the bill for a service charge, and tip a bit more if none is added. Here is what you actually owe.
- Do I need cash in Aruba, or can I use cards and dollars?Short answer: you can do almost the whole trip on a card and US dollars, and you never need to exchange for florin. Here is how to pay, and the one habit that saves you money.
- Do US citizens need a visa for Aruba?Short answer: no visa, but there is a form you must do before you fly, and it now costs 20 dollars a person. Here is what it is, and how to avoid paying extra to a lookalike site.
- Getting around Aruba: taxis, buses and carsShort answer: taxis run on fixed government rates rather than meters, there is no Uber, and a rental car or the cheap public bus fills the gaps. Here is how each works and what it costs.
Sources, and how this was checked
Last checkedJul 2026
- Aruba Tourism Authoritythe tourist levy and hotel charges
- Government of Aruba ED Card portalthe 20 dollar sustainability fee at entry
Our own readThe tourist levy and environmental levy are set by the government; service charges and resort fees vary by property, so the quarter-to-a-third estimate is our planning guide rather than a fixed figure. Checked July 2026.