Aruba is very Americanized, more than Dutch SXM. There's not a lot of Dutch flavor to it, and of course, no french influence like on SXM. LOTS of US chain restaurants and lots of other high end restaurants. Prices for cars and groceries and liquor are higher than SXM. Restaurant prices are perhaps a bit higher than SXM, alcohol in bars much higher. GREAT tourist transportation system, with buses which run all the time, clean, cheap. The climate is very dry, and outside of the resort areas, the landscape is desert. There is a pretty constant wind, usually 15 mph at least. There are a bunch of big hotels, highrises, and lots of timeshares and condos. The island is cleaner than SXM. The perception is that crime is much lower in Aruba. I'm not exactly sure that's true, but that is the perception anyway.