Why Digital Nomads should visit Aruba (part 1)
If you can work from anywhere, why not do it in paradise? I’ve taken on the challenge to write a 3 part series to share with you why Aruba (my current home and birthplace) is a unique place for Digital Nomads to temporary set up base.
Like many, I was bitten by the travel bug at a young age when I first traveled to Amsterdam for a tennis tournament at the age of 12. A passionate techie, it should come as no surprise that I’m inspired by the Digital Nomad movement.
In simple terms, a Digital Nomad is someone that works remote, anywhere and anytime. One common mindset among Digital Nomads is to be location independent. Many are entrepreneurs and free-lancers. These “nomads” aim to run their business leveraging technology and be in control of how they spent their time and lives, while exploring the world.
This is a movement that will continue to grow as more people become aware of the impact digital innovation has on the future of work. And here’s the thing…anyone can adopt a “Digital Nomad mindset”, which makes it even more interesting.
Why Aruba is a unique place for Digital Nomads to set up temporary base
1. Great flight connections: Aruba has direct flight connections with key European, US and Latin American cities (e.g. Amsterdam, New York, Bogota, Medellin and Panama), which makes it a perfect hub for exploring the Caribbean or the Americas.
2. Flexible VISA requirements: Aruba’s immigration policy is based on the Dutch immigration policy. This means that American, Canadian, EU and most South American citizens do not require a VISA to travel to Aruba.
3. Good Internet connection: the largest telecommunication provider in Aruba (Setar) continuously upgrades their data networks. Most on-island locations are now connected at around 100 MBPS download speed, which is one of the best Internet connection speeds in the Caribbean and Latam region.
4. You can make an impact: although still in its early stages, there is an active tech ecosystem. In the past year alone, we have seen the opening of co-working spaces, maker spaces, collaborative art spaces, and hackathons. It’s a welcoming and diverse community of collaborators. You can play a meaningful role in supporting this growing tech eco-system. At the Co.lab Workspace, the first co-working space in Aruba, you can get a desk for around $15 a day or $200 a month. If you’re visiting in September, you can join ATECH Conference. ATECH is an annual international conference focused on early-stage startups. This is a great event to connect with likeminded people.
5. The obvious: Aruba is one of the top Caribbean destinations for leisure with 20+ breathtaking beaches (tip: all beaches are public property by law. This means that you have access to all beaches for free, unlike most Caribbean islands!).
6. Melting pot: Aruba is a melting pot of cultures and food. Many Europeans (e.g. Netherlands) and South Americans (e.g. Colombia, Dominican Republic, Venezuela) made Aruba their home over the past 10 to 20 years. So it’s the place to be if you’re a foodie. Imagine a wide range of ethnic food options, of different budget ranges, and all within 19 miles! Yes — I get hungry just thinking about it. The choices range from upscale restaurants, dive bars, Dutch pancake houses to Mom and Pop diners or food trucks run by locals. Imagine: Dutch pancakes for breakfast, followed by a hearty Colombian lunch and top it off with a delicious Aruban fish soup for dinner :).
7. The people: Aruba leads the Caribbean in return visits. Arubans are hospitable and friendly. Aruba is also one of the world’s most multilingual countries, making it easy for Digital Nomads to connect with locals. In general, 4 languages are spoken on the island…English, Spanish, Dutch and Papiamento (i.e., the native language).
8. Couchsurfing community: for the couchsurfers that want to combine their stay with locally hosted days, it’s good to know that there is an active couchsurfing community in Aruba with many couchsurfers passing through regularly.
9. Testbed for digital travel products: Around a million stay-over tourists visit Aruba on a yearly basis. This makes Aruba a perfect testbed for your new travel or hospitality product. You can gather practical data on the island year-round to get your MVP off the ground.
Hit me up when you visit!
