Okay… so this was definitely not part of the original plan.
We were supposed to have our little Cancún trip, enjoy the beach, reset a bit, and then head back home like normal people. But somewhere between beach days, good food, and those long warm evenings, both me and one of my friends just looked at each other and said the same thing…
“I’m not ready to go home.”
And the funny thing is, neither of us really has a reason to.
We’re both entrepreneurs, which makes everything a little more flexible. I can work remotely creating fitness programs for my clients and doing content marketing, and she runs her own digital marketing agency (she’s actually the one who built my website, which still feels kind of surreal). So technically, as long as we have WiFi and a laptop… we’re good.
So instead of forcing ourselves back into routine when we’re not feeling it, we made a very quick decision.
We’re continuing the trip.
And yes… we booked flights!!!
We’re going to ARUBA NEXT!
Our other two friends are still heading home like originally planned, which honestly makes this feel even more real. Like this is actually happening, and we’re choosing something different for ourselves right now.
Of course, once the excitement settled a little, we had to actually figure out what we need to do to make this smooth. Because spontaneous is fun, but I still like to know I’m not forgetting anything important.
The good news is, it’s actually pretty simple.
First thing, no visa needed for us since we’re US citizens, which makes everything easier. As long as your passport is valid for the trip, you’re good. You usually get up to 30 to 90 days when you arrive, and they might ask for proof that you’re leaving at some point, so having a return or onward ticket is important.
Then there’s something called the ED Card, which is basically a mandatory online form you have to fill out before flying to Aruba. You usually do it within 72 hours before your flight, and after submitting it, you get a QR code that you show at the airport. From what I read, you definitely don’t want to skip this, because it can actually cause issues at check-in.
Health-wise, nothing complicated. Since we’re coming from Mexico, there are no special vaccine requirements, and there aren’t any COVID-related rules right now either. Still, having travel insurance is just one of those things I always make sure to have, just in case.
Money-wise, Aruba uses its own currency, but US dollars are accepted pretty much everywhere, which is really convenient. Cards work well too, but I’ve heard it’s not exactly a cheap destination, so we’re mentally preparing for that.
Getting there from Cancún isn’t always super straightforward either. There aren’t always direct flights, so most routes go through places like Miami, Panama, or Bogotá. Travel time can be anywhere from around five to ten hours depending on connections, but honestly… worth it.
One thing I found really interesting is that Aruba actually has US preclearance at the airport. So on the way back, you go through US immigration before you even leave Aruba, which means when you land in the US, it feels like a domestic flight. The only catch is that you need to get to the airport early, like 2.5 to 3 hours before your flight. Do correct me if I got this wrong!
And then there’s the weather… which might be the best part. Around 30 degrees, barely any rain, and apparently Aruba is one of the driest islands in the Caribbean. So basically, sunshine almost every day.
EXACTLY what we’re looking for.
We also checked the little practical things. Tap water is safe to drink, electricity is the same as in the US, and English is spoken everywhere, so no stress there either. Overall, it just feels like a really easy place to go, even on short notice.
Right now, it still feels a bit surreal. Like we just decided to extend this little escape and take it somewhere new, without overthinking it too much.
But at the same time, it feels right.
Sometimes you don’t need a big reason. You just need a feeling.
And right now, the feeling is to stay a little longer, see a little more, and not rush back to real life just yet.
So… Aruba, here we come.
-H- <3