Tipping in Aruba

Because Aruba runs on US tourism, tipping expectations are closer to home than in much of the Caribbean or Latin America. At a restaurant with no service charge, 15 to 18% for good service is normal, and staff will expect something.

It is more generous than the light-tipping norms of Europe, so budget for it as you would in the US.

Many restaurants add a service charge, often 10 to 15%, to the bill. If a service charge is there, that is largely the tip, so you do not need a full extra; rounding up or adding a couple of percent for great service is common.

Since the service charge is sometimes only 10%, a small top-up brings it in line with local expectations.

At resorts, tipping helpful bar staff, servers and housekeeping is appreciated. Taxis are fixed-rate (no meter), so agree the posted fare and round up as a courtesy. Tips can be in US dollars, which are accepted everywhere alongside the Aruban florin. For the wider picture, see cash or card in Aruba and the Aruba money guide.

Common questions

Quick answers.

More on Aruba

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• 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.
• Aruba hotel taxes and fees, explainedShort 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.