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Aruba. Introduction

This parched speck of an island off the coast of Venezuela has guaranteed sunshine and is blessed with beaches that make you say 'ahhh.' Tourism is the big business here and it's served in a flavorsome double scoop of beach beaus and sun bunnies from North America and Holland, and Latin coastal coasters, nearly all of them on circuit-breaker trips to pep up winter suntans, prop at the poolside bar and try their luck at the casinos.

More at www.lonelyplanet.com

Oranjestad

Aruba's bright and breezy pastel-colored capital is on the island's southern leeward coast, just southeast of the main resort area. It has a distinctly Dutch flavor, thanks largely to the modern vogue for fake colonial architecture. Most tourists visit to scour its boutiques and duty-free shops, but it has three small museums worth a peek if you're interested in the island's history.

Oranjestad becomes a shabbier, livelier prospect. Local bars, sometimes just holes in the wall, are a good place to prop, watch some sport and drink beer with the locals.

Palm Beach & Eagle beach

Take an exquisite slice of nature, add a bunch of concrete monoliths, a forest of palm thatched beach umbrellas and a flotilla of watersport toys, and you'll get some idea of the adventure playground that the resort area stretching from Eagle to Palm Beach has become. There's no denying that the sand is as soft and fine and golden as you could wish, or that the water looks like it belongs in a Bacardi ad, but there's also no ignoring that this entire stretch of coast is single-mindedly devoted to the business of providing a well-oiled Caribbean beach experience for as many people as possible.

There are far worse places to join the crowd, since Palm Beach has great swimming and snorkeling and Eagle Beach is too broad and dazzling to fit in a fisheye lens, but if you want to discover what Aruba has to offer, don't spend your whole time horizontal here.

Getting to Aruba

By Air: Airlines serving Aruba include Air ALM, Avensa (from Venezuela), Avianca (from Colombia), American Airlines, Continental Airlines, KLM, Martinair (from Miami) and VARIG (from Brazil).

Approximate flight times: From Oranjestad to London is 11 hours 40 minutes (including a connection, normally in Amsterdam), to Los Angeles is 10 hours and to New York is 4 hours.

International airports: Queen Beatrix (AUA) is 3.5km (2.5 miles) southeast of Oranjestad. Airport facilities include a duty-free shop, bank, restaurants and left luggage facilities. A taxi service is available between the airport and the town. Bus services run to the town centre.

Sea: Aruba has extensive duty-free shopping and many cruise ships call in on their Caribbean itineraries. Holland America Lines, Cunard, Royal Caribbean, Majestic, Sun Line and Princess amongst others sail to Oranjestad.

After Expedia.co.uk