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Aruba is not supposed to be like that though. It's a very low crime place, actually part of Holland. Or something like that, but who knows?

Not supposed to be, perhaps. But the reality? If nothing else, the CIA World Factbook includes the entry:

transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity

And then there's this, from the U.S. State Department:

CRIME: Street crime is low, but there have been incidents of theft from hotel rooms. Armed robbery has been known to occur. Valuables left unattended on beaches, in cars and in hotel lobbies are easy targets for theft.

Car theft, including that of rental vehicles for joy riding and stripping, can occur. Vehicle leases or rentals may not be fully covered by local insurance when a vehicle is stolen or damaged. Be sure you are sufficiently insured when renting vehicles and jet skis. For more information see the section below entitled “Special Circumstances.”

LINK

Not the worst armpit, certainly....but I stand by my earlier assessment. It's a third world armpit. Why go there?

CRIME: Street crime is low, but there have been incidents of theft from hotel rooms. Armed robbery has been known to occur. Valuables left unattended on beaches, in cars and in hotel lobbies are easy targets for theft.

Car theft, including that of rental vehicles for joy riding and stripping, can occur. Vehicle leases or rentals may not be fully covered by local insurance when a vehicle is stolen or damaged. Be sure you are sufficiently insured when renting vehicles and jet skis.

Except for the "Street crime is low" portion of this statement, you could be describing Anytown, USA.

Street crime is low, but there have been incidents of theft from hotel rooms. Armed robbery has been known to occur. Valuables left unattended on beaches, in cars and in hotel lobbies are easy targets for theft. Car theft, including that of rental vehicles for joy riding and stripping, can occur. Vehicle leases or rentals may not be fully covered by local insurance when a vehicle is stolen or damaged. Be sure you are sufficiently insured when renting vehicles and jet skis

If only Miami could be described in this nice of terms...

Have you been to Aruba sir?

It is not a third world armpit. They have had one murder in the past 6 years.

It is rather modern with very pretty beaches and turquoise water.

A number of nice hotels and casinos.

The San Nicholas area to the south of Aruba is where most of the merchant ships ply and has a seedier atmosphere then Orangestaad but still I never saw any slums or ghettos or favelas in Aruba the likes of which one sees in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica or Haiti...not even close.

Aruba is right below the level of safety one would expect in Bermuda or Saint Barts. Similar to the Caymans.

That reputation Aruba enjoys is one reason this story is so big.

No one would expect it there.

You can call anywhere an armpit and in some cases you might be correct but not on this one.

You must not travel very much. Look at any country on the State Department website and you will get the same type of warnings on most of them. No matter the common sense and caution that one uses abroad or at home, it simply lowers your likelyhood of becoming a crime victim. There are no guarantees anywhere.