Compiled by FatPassport's travel experts

Down by Venezuela is the great little island of Aruba. Blessed with some perfect beaches and great weather virtually all year-round, Aruba is one of the more popular of the Caribbean islands. Travelers come here to laze on the beach, try their luck in the casinos, or take advantage of excellent conditions for windsurfing.

You probably won't be coming here to see the sights, as here the big draws are some beautiful beaches on the southern and western sides of the island. These are understandably popular, so don't expect to have them to yourself.

If you decide that you need something more strenuous than sunbathing, there's some good hiking among the wild rock formations of Casibari and Ayo. Shoppers can find some things here, and there are some nice boutiques for high-end clothes. Aruba, and more specifically the main town of Oranjestad, is on the cruise ship route, so local merchants are accustomed to shoppers flush with cash descending with the intent to buy.

Many travelers at least dabble in a bit of gambling at one of Aruba's eleven casinos. These aren't huge Vegas-style places, but instead are smaller and more comfortable spots that feature popular American games such as craps, blackjack, and slots.

In general Aruba is an expensive place, and budget travelers should generally go elsewhere. Don't expect many bargains here, though prices for hotels are much lower from May through November.

Aruba is blessed with great weather. Daily highs are in the 80's all year round, and there's virtually no threat of the hurricanes that hit further north each summer. There's usually a good breeze blowing, which helps keep you comfortable even if the temperatures are in the high 80s. The winds tend to disappear for the month of September, when all the sudden it's not so comfortable and mosquitoes assert themselves a bit. Most of the rain falls from October to January, though these tend to be short downpours during otherwise nice days.

Peak season for visitors is December to about mid-April; driven by the needs of Americans and Canadians to escape winter weather back home. If you come during peak season, book well in advance and be prepared to pay top dollar for a place to stay. The rest of the year there are still plenty of visitors around, but it's more relaxed and prices come way down.