At first glance, the tourist scene in Aruba is one you could find anywhere in the world. The gambling, the bathing suits, the bustling activity of tourists, makes you wonder why you should bother spending the money to come all the way to Aruba when you could just go to Florida. But the gay friendly island of Aruba has more to offer than just the snapshot tourism scene. Beyond being fun, gay friendly, and not-quite-as expensive as other islands, it is also, once you get beyond the resorts, a sparsely populated testament to the beauty of nature, a spotless isle dotted with small communities.

Aruba is an independent, gay friendly island which has a high population of queer folk from all around Latin America. While it’s still not has hopping as the gay scene in Puerto Rico, in Aruba gay life is very open, and most resorts will work with gay groups or couples. A large amount of gay tourism means that it’s even a great place for singles to go.

The best place to stay for GLBT travelers is in the Orenjastad. While it’s not right on the beach, it has all of the night life, the shopping, the gambling, and everything touristy you need. And anytime you want to get out, the beach is only a short ride away. Keep in mind that prices fluctuate depending on the season. If you go in the summer rather than winter, you can often get half off.