Anyone been to Aruba recently?

A neighbor told me that Aruba airport arrivals and departures are complicated these days and have excessive wait times. I'm thinking of traveling there in early December. Has anyone had a recent experience that either agrees or disagrees with this airport assessment? Thanks.

Not sure - here's the current cdc assessment - maybe this is why the wait times are bad at the moment:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/covid-4/coronavirus-aruba

jamie said:

Not sure - here's the current cdc assessment - maybe this is why the wait times are bad at the moment:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/covid-4/coronavirus-aruba

 Thanks.

(Interestingly, many, if not all, of those guidelines would also apply to travel to certain states.)

Not recent, but last year. Cousin went to Aruba. Their information says you need a specific Covid test before getting out of the airport. 

He went to Summit Med Gr and they gave him a different test. He and wife ended up spending $140 for two more tests at the airport.

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

Not recent, but last year. Cousin went to Aruba. Their information says you need a specific Covid test before getting out of the airport. 

He went to Summit Med Gr and they gave him a different test. He and wife ended up spending $140 for two more tests at the airport.

 Thank you for the info. I assume you mean before getting out of the Aruba airport upon arrival? (I'm also with SMG, so this is good to know.)

unicorn33 said:

 Thanks.

(Interestingly, many, if not all, of those guidelines would also apply to travel to certain states.)

 It's probably also a bad idea to travel to those states if you don't have to.  There's nothing in the world that would get me to travel to Florida, South Carolina or one of the other Southern fever ports right now.

What about Europe? Paris, Berlin, Madrid and the like?

How about Hawaii - my personal fave.

I just got back from the UK on Saturday. I didn't need to get a test before flying over there because they now accept a vaccination card. However I did have to purchase a test before the flight out to be taken at my destination 2 days after arrival. I took that test and mailed it via priority mail. I'm still waiting for the results of that one.

Coming back, however, you will need get tested no more than 72 hours before your flight to be allowed to return. 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html

There are options. You can get tested at a facility where you are (somewhere in Aruba) or you can pre-purchase a test which is taken online in front of a camera from your hotel room or wherever you have good wifi. I got mine from E-Med, a pack of 6 test kits for $150 that take about 20-25 minutes each to do. So I used them last year coming back from Greece, and again last week coming back from London. I still have 2 left for my next trip out of the country. It sounds expensive, and it is, but a $25 test is much cheaper than the price of tests in London, or trying to hunt over Corfu for a reputable test provider. It's up to you how you want to do that, but I would definitely recommend taking your own tests with you.

Anyway, i know you were really looking for info about going TO Aruba, but bear in mind you'll also need to be tested (even if you are vaccinated) to come back.

ridski said:

I just got back from the UK on Saturday. I didn't need to get a test before flying over there because they now accept a vaccination card. However I did have to purchase a test before the flight out to be taken at my destination 2 days after arrival. I took that test and mailed it via priority mail. I'm still waiting for the results of that one.

Coming back, however, you will need get tested no more than 72 hours before your flight to be allowed to return. 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html

There are options. You can get tested at a facility where you are (somewhere in Aruba) or you can pre-purchase a test which is taken online in front of a camera from your hotel room or wherever you have good wifi. I got mine from E-Med, a pack of 6 test kits for $150 that take about 20-25 minutes each to do. So I used them last year coming back from Greece, and again last week coming back from London. I still have 2 left for my next trip out of the country. It sounds expensive, and it is, but a $25 test is much cheaper than the price of tests in London, or trying to hunt over Corfu for a reputable test provider. It's up to you how you want to do that, but I would definitely recommend taking your own tests with you.

Anyway, i know you were really looking for info about going TO Aruba, but bear in mind you'll also need to be tested (even if you are vaccinated) to come back.

 Thank you. That's very interesting and informative.

unicorn33 said:

 Thank you. That's very interesting and informative.

 This process has proved to be more complicated than I imagined. First off, only specific tests are acceptable upon arrival, and there is very little consistency in terminology--e.g., molecular test, PCR test, red-dot test, etc. Secondly, tests must be taken within 72 hours of departure from the US, which means that you have to find a place that guarantees quick results. Third, many places that offer tests will let you make an appointment, but only 3 days before the desired test date. Fourth, once you have results, you have to upload them to an Aruba "ED Card," and then purchase mandatory insurance. What a royal pain. I've spent less time planning vacations than I have trying to figure this stuff out!