7 Tourist Scams in Aruba

A US couple walking the Palm Beach strip was handed a scratch-off card that "won the grand prize" — redirected to The Cove Mall, they spent two phone-free hours in a high-pressure timeshare close where the price dropped from $9,900 to $4,000.

Walking the Palm Beach strip near the Marriott, a friendly young woman with a clipboard handed them a scratch-off card. Both scratched, both "won the grand prize." The promoter directed them to a restaurant inside The Cove Mall to claim "$3,500 in vacation vouchers" — a quick "60-minute presentation," free dinner, unlimited cocktails.

At The Cove they were greeted by a host in a suit. First rule: phones into a sealed pouch ("for our presentation video copyright"). Inside the back room, a 90-slide deck about a "members-only" deeded vacation network. Two presenters tag-teamed in English and Dutch.

"60 minutes" stretched to two hours, then three. The price ladder slid from $9,900 down to $4,000 with theatrical phone calls "to manager." When the couple tried to leave, their phones were still locked in the pouch and the host insisted "we will return them after the formal close." A senior closer joined and rushed contracts with overnight Visa charges as "deposit hold."

Former employees confirm online that the scratch cards are rigged — tickets ending in "2" always win. Tourists report "winning" the same prize three times in one evening from different street promoters. Aruba Tourism Authority and Korps Politie Aruba have repeatedly warned against street scratch-card promoters along the Palm Beach strip.

Refuse every scratch-off card and "free presentation" prize on the strip — every one is a timeshare lure. NEVER hand over your phone to a sealed pouch; that is your evidence and your exit. NEVER sign anything or hand over a credit card under time pressure, since the Aruba timeshare cooling-off window is short and contracts stick. If a presentation runs longer than promised or your phone is held, walk out and call Korps Politie Aruba on 100 or 911 — KPA investigates timeshare-coercion complaints filed with paperwork.

A US tourist arriving at Queen Beatrix Airport was waved toward an unmarked sedan quoting "$25 to Palm Beach" — halfway down the highway the driver announced it was "$25 per person" and demanded $100 for the family of four.

A family of four arrived at AUA on a 2 PM flight. A man in a polo shirt waved from the curb before they reached the official taxi rank: "Palm Beach? $25, easy, follow me." His sedan had no roof sign, no "TX" plate prefix, and no government rate card.

Bags loaded, doors closed, sedan rolled. Halfway to the high-rise strip, the driver said "$25 each, sir, four people, one hundred dollars." Standard Aruba airport-to-Palm Beach official fare is approximately $22 USD flat for up to four passengers.

Bags in the trunk, the driver pulled into the hotel driveway and refused to unload until paid $100 cash. The dad eventually negotiated to $50 — still 2× the official rate. Other arrivals report drivers from the cruise terminal demanding $40 for trips to Eagle Beach that the government rate fixes at around $20.

Aruba's Department of Civil Aviation and Aruba Tourism Authority require all licensed taxis to display "TX" plates, a roof-mounted taxi sign, and a printed government flat-rate card visible in the window. Reddit Reddit and TripAdvisor AUA forum threads document touts who park BEFORE the official taxi stand to intercept tired arrivals — almost always unmarked sedans without the TX prefix.

ALWAYS use the official taxi rank with "TX" plates, roof signs, and visible government flat-rate cards — walk past every man who waves at you on the curb. Confirm the FLAT total fare to your exact destination before luggage goes in the trunk. Pre-book through your hotel for a printed rate. If a driver demands more on arrival, refuse to pay above the agreement, photograph the license plate, and call Korps Politie Aruba on 100 or 911 — KPA investigates unlicensed-taxi extortion when reports include the plate.

A US family rented a budget car in Noord — pickup was rushed with no inspection, return three days later involved a flashlight tour by a different agent who "found" a $350 scratch and threatened to charge their card on file.

A family rented a four-door from a budget agency near their Noord hotel. Pickup was rushed; the agent said "everything fine, fine" without walking the car. They drove off with no signed pre-rental damage diagram and no photos.

Three days of careful driving on paved roads only — no off-road, no rough surfaces, no lot dings reported by the family.

On return, a different employee spent fifteen minutes with a flashlight circling the vehicle. He pointed to a tiny scratch low on the rear bumper that the family was certain was pre-existing — they had no photos to prove it. He demanded $350 cash for "repair" or he would charge the credit card on file. The family argued; he threatened to call police.

A separate tourist booked a UTV at $280 that became $379 because they were "upgraded" without consent. TripAdvisor Aruba forum and Reddit Reddit document phantom-damage shakedowns at multiple Noord and Oranjestad budget agencies — the rushed pickup is the tell, and the second-employee flashlight tour is the close.

BEFORE signing anything, walk the entire vehicle with the agent and photograph and video every panel with a date-stamped phone — corner-to-corner, undercarriage included. Insist on a written and signed pre-rental damage diagram. Use a credit card with rental car insurance coverage for chargeback protection. Read recent TripAdvisor and Google reviews of the specific agency before booking. If hit with a phantom-damage claim, dispute via your card issuer within 60 days as "service not rendered" and file a complaint with Korps Politie Aruba on 100 or 911.

A US couple settling in at Palm Beach asked a vendor for two chairs and a palapa — no price quoted up front, the bill was $90, and their hotel had free chairs 50 meters away.

A couple staying at a Palm Beach high-rise spotted a vendor renting chairs and palapas right at the waterline. They asked for two chairs and a shade.

The vendor cheerfully set everything up without quoting a price. "Yes yes, comfortable, enjoy your day."

Three hours later as they prepared to leave: $30 per chair, $30 for the palapa, $90 total. Cash only, no receipt. Their hotel, it turned out, provided free beach chairs and umbrellas to guests just 50 meters away.

Reddit Reddit and TripAdvisor Palm Beach threads document vendors who specifically position between hotels and the water, accept verbal-only quotes, and tack on add-ons. One traveler reported a drinks vendor who quoted $5 for water then added $5 for "ice" and $3 for "delivery."

ALWAYS check with your hotel first — most Aruba resorts (Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Riu, Holiday Inn) provide complimentary beach chairs and shade for guests. ALWAYS ask for the FLAT total price in writing before accepting any beach service — ice, cups, and tax included. Bring your own water and snacks from a Super Food, Ling & Sons, or Maggy's. Compare prices with at least one other vendor before committing. If a vendor refuses to honor a verbal-quote price, walk away or call Korps Politie Aruba on 100 or 911.

A solo US traveler rented a jet ski at Palm Beach for $75 and handed his passport as "deposit" — when he returned, the operator pointed at a pre-existing scuff and demanded $400 cash, gesturing at the passport in a lockbox.

Walking Palm Beach, the traveler stopped at a beachfront jet-ski hut. $75 for one hour. The vendor asked to "hold your passport, standard security, return when you return." No video of the watercraft, no signed inspection.

The ride was uneventful — no collisions, no hard maneuvers, no contact with anything. He returned the watercraft to the same operator at the same dock.

The operator and a partner spent ten minutes inspecting. They pointed to a small scuff mark near the waterline ("you did this") and demanded $400 cash. When the traveler protested, the operator gestured toward his passport visibly inside a lockbox. No passport, no leaving the country. He negotiated to $200 cash and walked away shaking.

Multiple TripAdvisor Palm Beach reviews and Reddit Reddit threads document identical passport-hostage shakedowns — pre-existing damage weaponized as recurring revenue, with passports held until cash changes hands. Aruba police have warned travelers not to surrender passports as collateral to ANY watersport operator.

NEVER hand over your passport as collateral to a watersport vendor — it is illegal for them to hold it as ransom. Offer a credit card hold or a refundable cash deposit instead. Photograph and video the watercraft from every angle BEFORE you ride, with date-stamped audio confirming "we both agree no damage at start." Book through your hotel concierge or established operators (Delphi Watersports, Red Sail Sports, Pelican Adventures) where insurance and standards apply. If confronted with a false damage claim, stay calm, show your photos, and call Korps Politie Aruba on 100 or 911 — confiscation of your passport by a private vendor is a serious offense KPA prosecutes.

A US cruise couple was offered "Rolex Submariners" and "14k gold bracelets" for $80 each — back on the ship, a fellow passenger confirmed the watches were Chinese knock-offs and the bracelet was brass with thin gold plating.

Walking from the cruise terminal toward Renaissance Marketplace, the couple was waved over by a vendor with a folding table covered in high-end watches, designer sunglasses, and gold jewelry — all at remarkably low prices.

The vendor swore "authentic overstock from the Renaissance Hotel jewelry shop, my cousin works there, I sell cheap because closing tomorrow." A "Rolex Submariner" for $80, "normally $400." A "14k gold" bracelet for $80.

The couple's ship was leaving in 90 minutes — the vendor played that hard: "now or never, the next ship buys these." They paid $150 cash for two pieces, no receipt, no business card.

Back on the ship, a fellow passenger identified the bracelet as brass with electroplated gold-tone finish that would tarnish within weeks. The "Rolex" had a quartz movement that ticks (real Rolex movements sweep). Sunglasses had no UV protection. Reddit Reddit and TripAdvisor cruise-port threads document the same Caya G.F. Betico Croes vendors selling counterfeit watches and brass jewelry to every cruise day.

NEVER buy watches or jewelry from sidewalk vendors or folding tables in Oranjestad — full stop. Buy gold and watches only at established Oranjestad retailers (Gandelman, Little Switzerland, Shiva's) where the receipt is honored on cruise return. If a deal seems too good to be true, it is — authentic Rolex never sells from a folding table. Avoid impulse purchases under cruise-departure time pressure. Counterfeit goods are also confiscated and fined at US/EU customs on re-entry; report aggressive vendors to Aruba Tourism Authority or call Korps Politie Aruba on 100 or 911.

A US group hiked to the Natural Pool (Conchi) and returned 90 minutes later to find their Jeep's rear window smashed and a backpack with two passports, $300, and a camera gone — the trailhead is unattended and rental insurance excluded "off-road."

A group rented a Jeep specifically to explore Arikok National Park and the Natural Pool. They drove the unpaved access road, parked at the trailhead lot (no attendant, no cameras), locked their bags in the trunk, and hiked down to Conchi for a swim.

90 minutes at the Natural Pool. The trail back is open desert — no view of the parking lot from anywhere on the route, no way to hear breaking glass.

They returned to find the rear window smashed in. Backpack with two passports, $300 cash, camera, and an iPad — gone. Other parked cars showed older glass on the gravel from previous break-ins. At the police station, the officer said "this happens here every day."

Dozens of TripAdvisor Aruba forum and Reddit Reddit threads document break-ins at the Natural Pool (Conchi) parking, Arikok trailheads, Baby Beach lot, and San Nicolas mural-tour parking. The rental car's insurance routinely excluded the loss because the unpaved access road qualified as "off-road" — a clause buried in most basic Aruba rental contracts.

Leave ABSOLUTELY nothing of value in the rental car at any remote attraction — carry passports, cash, phones, and cameras in a waterproof pouch on your person. Leave the glove box open and visibly empty so thieves do not break the window to check. Book a guided 4×4 tour to remote sites (ABC Tours, De Palm Tours) where the operator's vehicle and insurance carry the risk. ALWAYS lock your actual passport in the hotel safe and carry only a photocopy. Read the rental insurance fine print — most basic policies exclude off-road damage on unpaved Aruba roads. If broken into, file with Korps Politie Aruba on 100 or 911 immediately for the police report your travel insurance and US embassy will require.