Groups
Traveling to Aruba With a Big Group? Car Rental or Private Transfer
Guljar Hosen
Updated 13 Oct 2026 · 5 min read
A group trip to Aruba starts with a logistics problem: eight or twelve people, a pile of suitcases and one airport. Everyone lands at once, tired, and somebody has to get the whole group and the luggage to the hotel.
There are two good answers, and they are not the same. This guide explains when to rent a van, when to book a private transfer, and when to use both, with the real rental prices so you can do the arithmetic for your own group.
Key takeaways
- Real Deal and Dushi Transfers are sister companies. Real Deal rents vehicles; Dushi Transfers runs private transfers with a driver.
- Our larger vehicles are the Hyundai H-1 van (12 seats), the Kia Carnival and the Ford Expedition (8 seats each), from $119.99/day on a 7-day low-season rental, before tax.
- Delivery of a rental to the airport, cruise port and most hotels is free, so a rental can start at your hotel instead of at the arrivals hall.
- Dushi Transfers carries up to 14 passengers, and the driver tracks your flight.
- A group that wants a driver for the airport run and a car for the rest of the trip can use both.
Real Deal and Dushi Transfers are sister companies
Real Deal Car Rental and Dushi Transfers are sister companies. We rent cars, SUVs, vans and Jeeps. Dushi Transfers runs private airport and hotel transfers with a driver. We recommend whichever fits your group, including the one we do not sell.
Source: dushitransfer.com, read 4 Oct 2026.
When renting a van works
You want your own schedule.
A rented van goes where the group wants, when it wants, with no waiting for a booked pick-up time.
You plan several stops a day.
If the group is visiting more than a beach or two, a vehicle of your own saves repeating arrangements each time.
At least one or two people are happy to drive.
Extra drivers are $4.99/day each, so sharing the driving is cheap.
You are staying more than a night or two.
The day rate drops the longer you rent (see the table below).
You are traveling with young children.
Child, booster and infant seats are $4.99/day each.
Source: Real Deal booking system (rate card and extras), read 22 Sep 2026, price-checked 28 Sep 2026.
What a van costs for a group
| Vehicle | Seats | Low season 1 day | Low 3 days | Low 7 days | High season 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai H-1 (van) | 12 | $179.99 | $119.99 | $119.99 | $199.99 |
| Kia Carnival | 8 | $169.99 | $119.99 | $119.99 | $189.99 |
| Ford Expedition | 8 | $169.99 | $119.99 | $119.99 | $189.99 |
Per day, before tax. Low season runs 1 April to 17 December; high season starts 18 December. Dates on 25–26 December and 31 December–1 January run flat holiday rates, separate from this card. From day 7, the 7-day rate applies to the whole rental.
The rate is per vehicle, not per person, so split across the group the vehicle cost per person drops fast. A week in the H-1 in low season is 7 x $119.99 = $839.93 before tax. CDW+ is an optional $24.99/day on top, and there is a $500 refundable deposit held on a credit card. For help choosing between the vehicles, see SUV rental in Aruba: which size for families and groups.
Sources: rates from Real Deal's booking system, read 22 Sep 2026; seat counts from our SUV rental guide and fleet pages, checked 4 Oct 2026.
When a private transfer is easier
You are landing late or tired.
A driver waiting for you removes the first decision of the trip.
Nobody wants to drive.
A rental needs at least one driver who is comfortable on unfamiliar roads, and who has a licence and the credit card for the deposit.
You are traveling light on plans.
If the trip is airport, hotel and a pool, you may not need a vehicle at all.
Your group is bigger than one vehicle.
Dushi Transfers carries up to 14 passengers.
Your flight might run late.
The Dushi Transfers driver tracks your flight, so a delay does not leave the group waiting on a fixed time.
Inside Dushi Transfers' Mercedes Sprinter: rows of seats with seat belts, the van behind the up-to-14-passenger transfer.
Source: dushitransfer.com, read 4 Oct 2026. For current prices, ask Dushi Transfers.
The combination many groups pick
Arriving with a lot of luggage is the one moment a transfer beats a rental. A common plan is a private transfer from the airport to the hotel, then a Real Deal vehicle delivered to the hotel on the day the group wants to explore. Delivery to the airport, cruise port and most hotels is free, so the rental simply starts where you are staying.
For the airport side of a rental, see Aruba airport car rental and renting a car at Aruba airport: fees, waits and what free delivery covers.
How to choose
| Your situation | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Own schedule, several stops, someone happy to drive | Rent a van |
| Late arrival, tired group, heavy luggage | Private transfer from the airport |
| Group bigger than one vehicle | Private transfer (up to 14 passengers) |
| Only airport to hotel, then staying put | Private transfer |
| Airport run plus a few exploring days | Transfer first, then a rental delivered to the hotel |
Frequently asked questions
Is a van or a private transfer better for a big group in Aruba?
It depends on the trip. A van suits groups that want their own schedule and several stops; a private transfer suits late arrivals, heavy luggage, or groups with nobody keen to drive. Many groups use a transfer for the airport run and a rental for the exploring days.
How much does a van rental cost in Aruba?
From $119.99/day for the Hyundai H-1, Kia Carnival or Ford Expedition on a 7-day low-season rental, before tax. High season (from 18 Dec) is higher; see the table in this guide.
Are Real Deal and Dushi Transfers the same company?
They are sister companies: Real Deal rents vehicles and Dushi Transfers runs private transfers with a driver.
How many passengers can a private transfer carry?
Dushi Transfers carries up to 14 passengers.
Can I have a rental delivered to my hotel after a transfer from the airport?
Yes. Delivery to the airport, cruise port and most hotels is free, so a rental can start at your hotel.
Can two people share the driving on a rental?
Yes, an extra driver is $4.99/day.
Written by
Founder and CEO of NeoDimensional LLC, the software engineer and designer behind Real Deal's website and booking system.
