Comfort Rentals Aruba is a wholly-owned subsidiary and a vacation rental affiliate of Prestige Vacations Aruba. Therefore, all information and policies in the below publication are also integrally and equally underwritten by Comfort Rentals Aruba. Related to Aruba’s announced reopening of its borders amidst the ongoing global pandemic, for your convenience we compiled and published below – in a summarized, yet all-encompassing and comprehensive manner – the most important and relevant pandemic-related travel information of Aruba in general, and of thereto related Prestige (= Comfort) services and offers in particular.
Note: This informational page was first compiled on June 26, 2020, and will be updated if or when amendments are made to the below services or policies. We, therefore, recommend you to, before you travel to Aruba, periodically review the information provided on this page for any possible changes that can affect your travel plans.
Extra Services for our Guests, related to the COVID-19 pandemic
Pre-Arrival services
If you are preparing to travel to Aruba, all Prestige associates who may be in contact with you either by email or phone, are able to answer all the questions you may have about vacationing in Aruba during this global pandemic, or can point you to the right source where you can find the answers to your questions. Once you have a booking with us, we will actively and continuously guide you with several tips and information that you may need or find handy to know before, during and after your travel to our ‘One Happy Island’, like:
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Online ED-card completion: This is the new requirement that the former Embarkation/Disembarkation card travelers used to fill in during their flight to Aruba, now needs to be completed online between 72 and 4 hours before the direct flight to Aruba. Additionally, this online form takes the traveler step-by-step through the terms acceptance of the new Travel Health Requirements, in order for the traveler to be allowed entry into Aruba during this global pandemic. Next is a 6-minute tutorial for completing the ED-card process; it is recommended to first view this tutorial before starting with the ED-card completion process.
Please contact Prestige if you encounter any difficulties with completing your Online ED-card.
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Traveler Health Requirements: Aruba reopened its borders for international travel on July 1, 2020. In order to protect the health and safety of visitors and locals, Aruba has implemented strict health requirements for all travelers arriving on the island during this ongoing global pandemic; these requirements are even applicable to locals who traveled abroad and are returning to the island. This highly informational web-page is very extensive, so for your convenience we summarize below the
7 most important travel prerequisites:
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All travelers to Aruba are required to complete the Online ED-card between 72 to 4 hours before the direct flight to Aruba. After the full completion of the Online ED-card process, the traveler will receive via his/her provided email address an official approval to travel and enter Aruba. The Aruba Health App can also be downloaded on your smartphone, and in that case after successful completion of the Online ED-card process the traveler can also receive through this app a QR code of the approval to travel to Aruba. The traveler can then use either the printed approval email, or the approval email and/or the QR code in digital format on his/her mobile device, as part of his/her required travel documents at the airline’s check-in and upon arrival in Aruba.
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During the Online ED-card completion process travelers have the option to upload their own certified negative PCR test result, which test must however be taken within 72 hours before – and its result completed and uploaded during the ED-card process at least 12 hours before – the direct flight to Aruba. Such ‘freshly’ pretested traveler will then have the advantage of not having to go into the otherwise mandatory maximum 24-hour quarantine in own accommodation after arrival in Aruba (see prerequisite ‘4’ below). Note: If you plan to take the test before travelling, please assure yourself beforehand if there is indeed a place, clinic or lab in your area that (a) offers the possibility of taking a voluntary certified PCR test and (b) produces the test result within the limited time-frame.
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Update November 1, 2020 by Aruba’s Minister of Transport / Department of Civil Aviation – Great news! As of November 1, 2020, the classification of U.S. “hot spot” states are no longer in effect. As such, as part of the required online Embarkation/ Disembarkation card process, residents of all 50 states will now have the option to take a PCR test upon arrival at the airport in Aruba as well as the option to provide a certified negative test result prior to travel to Aruba.
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Each non-pretested traveler of 15 years or older (so, the traveler who does not have or is not able to get a ‘freshly taken’ negative PCR test result to upload during the Online ED-card process), will have to take a PCR test upon arrival at the airport of Aruba. Children of 14 years or younger are exempt from having to take a test. The local cost of a PCR test is US$ 75/test and is paid by the traveler during the Online ED-card completion process. After arrival in Aruba and taking the prepaid test at the airport, the traveler can then enter the island but will be requested to go into a maximum 24-hour self-quarantine in the comfort of the traveler’s own booked accommodation, to await the result of the test. Note: The result of the locally taken PCR test will generally be available within 6 to 8 hours after taking the test. Once the test result is known to the traveler, and if the test result is negative, the traveler is of course immediately released from any further quarantining requirement (* Further below on this page, read about our VIP services available exclusively to our test-result-awaiting guests *).
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During the Online ED-card completion process every traveler must also accept the Aruba Visitors Insurance that covers any and all COVID-19 related medical costs, isolation transportation costs, extra isolation accommodation costs, etc. if the traveler inadvertently becomes tested positive for COVID-19 on the island. Important Note: International Law stipulates that “all positive tested COVID-19 patients must be medically treated and hosted in the country where the infection is detected, until such patient tests negative again”. Based on this international law, Aruba as an island with just over one hundred thousand citizens, simply cannot carry or assume this major financial liability on behalf of its more than 1.2 million yearly visitors. Hence, the mandatory COVID-19 insurance coverage.
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The premium for the Aruba Visitors Insurance provided by a local insurance consortium, is also payable during the Online ED-card process. Update November 1, 2020: The premium has been substantially lowered to a one-time flat fee of $30 for all travelers of 15 years and older. Children of 14 years or younger are co-insured by paying a one-time premium of only $10. CLICK HERE to calculate the personal insurance premium for each (co-)traveler. Important note: As the insurance premium is paid before travelling to Aruba, the Aruba Visitors Insurance even covers any and all consequential extra expenses for the traveler, in case the traveler’s mandatory taken PCR test upon arrival at the airport of Aruba unfortunately results positive.
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During the flight to Aruba and at the airport of Aruba, the wearing of face masks is mandatory for all travelers. Once the traveler passes customs and health clearance at the airport, the wearing of face masks is mandatory only in specific places and indoor areas on the island, and is only recommended in places where maintaining social distancing guidelines may be difficult (e.g. in crowded spaces). As the local measures vary over time, any of our work associates can inform you about the latest requirements and tell you where – closest to your accommodation – you can acquire face masks.
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Essentially, and in short:
“The PCR test, whether taken optionally in the country of origin or mandatory upon arrival in Aruba, and the Aruba Visitors Insurance, are logical and necessary requirements to safeguard the well-being of all visitors and residents of Aruba.”
If you still have any concerns, unanswered questions or setbacks in your compliance with the above prerequisites, please feel free to contact the Aruba Tourism Authority via email [email protected], or you can also contact us.
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Flight Info Reminder: Between 10 to 5 days before arrival in Aruba, our guests will be sent a ‘Flight Info Reminder’ email which contains not only again the necessary links to the Online ED-card form and the Traveler Health Requirements informational page, but also convenient or good-to-know things like
– your pre-checkin form, which makes your actual check-in procedure at your accommodation much quicker, easier and safer (hands-free);
– availability of our airport pick-up service by an associated and ‘AHH-code’ complaint taxi driver (no charges, other than the government-regulated taxi fares, are applicable);
– availability of our VIP services for the extra comfort of our arriving guests who have to remain max. 24 hours quarantined in their booked accommodation (*further below, read more about these services*) ;
– information about special offers by car rental agencies, tour or activity companies, restaurants and other service providers; and, for extra assurance to our guests, we show the special offers only of those service providers that are certified by the Aruba Tourism Authority and thus carry the mandated ‘Aruba Health & Happiness Code’ seal for their specific business sector.
Post-Arrival services
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Aruba Health & Happiness Code: As an enhancement to its high standards of quality and cleanliness, Prestige and all its affiliates have since June 2020 introduced new strict protocols of health, safety and hygiene at all of their operational locations, thereby more than fully complying with the ‘Aruba Health & Happiness Code’ (= AHH-code) as certified by the Aruba Tourism Authority. On November 16, 2020, following an on-site inspection by the Department of Health of Aruba of all its resort locations, Prestige Vacations Aruba (and all of its affiliates) was awarded with the Gold Certification Seal of the Aruba Health & Happiness code:
Standard island-wide requirements are among other:
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- Hand sanitizers: In all strategic and common areas of Prestige resorts and locations, there will be hand-sanitizers provided for free use by our guests, visitors and work associates.
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- New protocols at resorts: Guidelines, signs and protocols regarding social distancing and hygiene are implemented where necessary in all common areas and accommodations at Prestige resorts and locations, for the safety and well-being of our guests, visitors and work associates.
Special and unique enhancements introduced by Prestige are among other:
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- Sanitation seal on entry doors: For your extra assurance and safety, before arriving at your booked accommodation, your booked unit will be sanitized and fogged with an anti-viral aerosol by a professional cleaning service company, and immediately thereafter the entry door of that accommodation will be secured with a ‘smart seal’ that cannot be tampered with. Only you as the guest may break that smart seal before entering your accommodation.
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- Hands-free check-in procedures: We have adapted our check-in procedures so as to make these safer for our guests and our work associates. The check-in process will also be much shorter than usual, so that you can quicker enter into the privacy and comfort of your accommodation.
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- VIP services while you are waiting for test results: For the extra comfort of our arriving guests who have to remain max. 24 hours quarantined in their booked accommodation, we provide VIP services such as:
– first-day grocery service based on your own grocery list, stored in your accommodation prior to your arrival, at cost price but free of any service or delivery charge (we require a 72-hour previous notice to timely provide you with this service);
– ordering of breakfast, lunch and/or dinner meals for all occupants in quarantine, from a member restaurant of the Aruba Gastronomic Association, delivered to your accommodation, at cost price but free of any service or delivery charge;
– availability of ‘movie night’ snack packs with choice of popcorn, chocolate bars, potato chips, nuts, sodas, beer, etc., delivered to your accommodation, at cost price but free of any service or delivery charge – further, just be sure to bring your login credentials for Netflix, Amazon Prime or any other online movie streaming platform!;
– full day (24-hour) instant availability by phone of our Manager On Duty, for the peace of mind of our VIP guests if any unexpected situation occurs or if any other immediate service from us is needed.
- VIP services while you are waiting for test results: For the extra comfort of our arriving guests who have to remain max. 24 hours quarantined in their booked accommodation, we provide VIP services such as:
New Policies and Offers, related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Rebate Policy: This is the policy that, for as long as this pandemic is ongoing, governs all cancellations of accommodation bookings with us and where any cancellation fee that is applicable on a booking is mitigated – to the benefit of our guests.
- Temporary Moderate Cancellation Policy: This is our temporary, pandemic-related and ‘less strict’ cancellation policy – that overrules our otherwise standard applicable cancellation and refund policy as per our Terms & Conditions – to the benefit of our guests.
- One Happy Workation™ – at Prestige!: Are you able to work from home and are dreaming of an escape to happiness in a tropical environment? Click on the above ‘One Happy Workation’ link now and make your dreams come true at Prestige!
- Happiness Discount at Prestige – 20% : This is our special offer in celebration of Aruba’s re-opening of its borders for inbound travel during this ongoing global pandemic (for all our resort and villa locations, except PalmAruba Condos), to the benefit of our guests.
- Happily Reduced Rates at PalmAruba Condos : This is our special offer of substantially reduced rates in celebration of Aruba’s re-opening of its borders for inbound travel during this ongoing global pandemic, at Palm Aruba Condos resort, to the benefit of our guests.
This publication is compiled and updated by
Prestige Vacations Aruba
Last Update: November 9, 2020
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