Safety in Aruba
The thing to remember is that although Aruba is one of the very safe places to travel to which is why most of us love it, like practically everywhere else on earth, it is not crime free.
General
- Remember that nowhere is perfect. Crime happens, and it happens to nice people. Always pretend you are in your home town. Follow the rules you would use there.
- When walking around at night, stick to well-illuminated areas preferably.
- Your room or hotel desk has a safe that is at your disposal. Put everything you can in it. Do not leave your valuables out. Lock that safe! If the safe has a key, take the key with you. Do not leave the key 'hidden' in the room. That ingenious hiding place is the first place a good thief will look. Most keys do not have a key ring. Buy one of those stretchy bracelets or a metal chain so that the key can be on your person no matter where you are.
- Do not leave your camera, wallet or any other valuables in your beach bag. If you can't take it in the water or can't bear losing it, leave it in your room or after you use it take it back to your room.
- Do not flash your money around in the casino. Wait until you are in your room to count your wins or losses. Keep only the money you want to spend in an easy to reach place.
- Lock your car and leave nothing where anyone can see it. Soft-top or open 4x4s are prime targets. They have no hiding places. Take nothing of value with you when you drive.
- Many tourists come in on cruise ships and leave several hours later with very full pockets. These pockets are full of wallets, cameras, and everything else that you left unlocked or exposed.
- In terms of your own behavior, always remember that if you break the law and get caught you do not have immunity. You will spend a lot of time in jail waiting for the court case. Do not expect leniency because you are a tourist. Ignorance of the law is no excuse in Aruba either. Therefore, don't do anything in Aruba that is illegal at home. Drugs are illegal. Don't do them. You have just as much chance of dealing with an undercover cop as you do a real dealer. You are a guest in Aruba and as a guest it is important to respect Aruba's laws.
Advice for parents
- Teens are gullible.
- Teens will do things when parents aren't there that they would be scared to death to do at home.
- Don't think that because there is a chaperone your child is safe. Have you ever tried to watch a dozen teens?
- Don't let your teen go out alone. Give instructions to all who are going together to keep track of each other. You might want to use cell phones so they are always able to contact you or each other.
- Teens do even more foolish things after a drink or two. They don't have to be falling down drunk to lose their inhibitions. Set limits and keep to them. Just because it is legal to drink doesn't mean that it is necessary to drink.
- Keep certain places off limits. Although 18 is the legal age to drink in Aruba, the rule is very lax as it is in many countries. Keep places off limits that you don't want your kids going to. Kids do stupid things. Keep repeating that as a chant.
- Very simple rule. If you don't trust your teen or their friends at home, don't trust them in Aruba.
Advice for teens
- You are not invincible. You can get hurt, raped, or even very permanently dead.
- If you are looking forward to scoring some pot or any other drug, don't. They are illegal in Aruba. Undercover cops love to sell these things and put cuffs on you. Jail stinks anywhere.
- Strangers are not your friends. They may become your friends sooner or later but they are not automatically your friends because they are cute or cool. They will give you the same lines you hear at home. Don't believe them just because they are foreign.
- Don't travel alone. Always have at least one person with you. There is safety in numbers. Let someone know where you will be at all times.
- Remember that what you do will always get back to your parents. You know it will. It always does.