The best card to use while Aruba and yet be in touch with your family.......Irie Card. I bought mine at Magnet Perfume and Gift Shop in Casa del Mar. It costs only 8cents.per min. to USA. It's used for calling worldwide. The only catch is that you have to pay the local charges on the hotel bill. But it still works out to about 10times less than the normal charges. My best investment in Aruba!!

Thank you for that information. I know my question may seem dense but I am trying to figure out how to make an international call. How does one dial from connecticut to Aruba and from Aruba to connecticut.

We are leaving on sunday (finally!) and if I ever get my phone i wanted to leave instructions for my son.

001 - (Area Code) + 7 digit number

Regarding calling cards and the hotel charges, - my humble suggestion is that you do the math carefully on this.
MAke sure you understand what the hotel charges are. IN some hotels this can be scary while at others can run in the 50¢per minute range.
be well
charles

Hi Charles,when we call our friend in Aruba we use 011-297 & the # we are calling.Isn't that correct?Thanks Al.

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WARNING! In Aruba do not charge your calls back to the States on phones that state make calls to the States using your Credit Card. The going rate on those are like $35 and up per call. There are some Phone Centers around Aruba that are very reasonable besides that card mentioned above.

U dial 001 and your phone no. in USA in order to dial from Aruba
Some hotels may charge more , however the hotels that I am talking about are: Case del Mar, Aruba Beach Club and Costa Linda. When using these Irie cards from your room, they will charge you 50c (American) per 3mins.

Thank you Al ... That was what I was looking for. Do you dial the 011 when you are calling the US from Aruba?

From Aruba - 001
To Aruba - 011

Yes it is

I wrote an incorrect answer. Sorrrry.

To call from Aruba to America it is 001-area code + 7 digits
To call from America to Aruba it is 011-297 + 7 digits

My apologies

be well
charles

In response to calling card questions. Are there any pay phones around the island? Or would I have no other choice than to use the phone in the hotel. Would I be able to use the calling card with my cell phone?

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October 27-November 3....Aruba awaits!

I used to walk to the Holiday Inn and use their pay phone (near the check in desk, down the hall from the Excelsior).

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Chip Collector

Your best bet would be to use these cards from your hotel room especially if you are staying at Casa del Mar or other low-rise area hotels. Using these from a cellular would work out expensive because you will be paying the local cellular charges. Using a pay phone might cost a little less but you will have to have coins ready because you will be paying the local call charges. I always use them from my hotel room and the entire cost (including the card and hotel charges) work out to about 0.25 c.per min.

Behind the Alhambra casino there is a phone kiosk that charges .25/min to US and Canada. They are open 3-11PM Mon-Sat. You dial the number, talk, hang up, and the nice lady will tell you how long you talked and how much you owe, no need to buy a card or minutes you won't use. We always call from there, and it's great to be able to feel "in touch" without spending much money.

New hours for the Call Shop at Alhambra are 'till 10 pm.




At Renaissance Marketplace and La Hacienda mall (where Texas de Brazil is) there are internet places that also charge .25 min.

Thx. I know about that kiosk near Alhambra Casino. That is ideal if you just want to make a couple of calls.......Sometimes you have to wait in a long queue and everyone can hear while you are talking.
But if you want to call often and if you want to talk for "hours" (like I do) then nothing like this international calling card which you can use in the comfort of your room.