Where to Stay in Aruba • Best Aruba Hotels + Resorts

by Sarah Peterson

Wondering where to stay in Aruba to enjoy the best beaches, water sports, dining, and nightlife the island has to offer? 

Maybe you’re looking for a secluded and romantic spot for a couples getaway, or pricing self-catered villas large enough to fit the whole family.

This guide will help you sort out the best Aruba hotels and resorts for any vacation style. 

The southern Caribbean island is full of high-end casino properties with pools and a host of global cuisine. But, you might be surprised to find a few boutique hotels away from the crowds, and wallet-friendly lodgings with easy access to the white sands and water sports of popular Palm Beach.

Check Out: Aruba Travel Guide • Plan Your Trip to Aruba

The Districts & Neighborhoods of Aruba

Most of Aruba’s resorts and hotels are located between the capital city Oranjestad and Palm Beach along the northwestern coast. 

Palm Beach is the most popular zone for mega resorts with casinos and dining, with neighboring Eagle Beach a close second.

More affordable options are typically a couple of blocks inland in the Oranjestad and Noord districts. 

Other boutique hotels and apartment rentals are scattered around the island, in quieter neighborhoods and coastal towns with fewer amenities.

4 Best Hotels in Aruba 

Massive beachfront resorts may steal the show in Aruba, but the island’s smaller hotels, boutique villas, and condo properties are the best way to avoid crowds or stick to a budget. 

These 4 best hotels in Aruba are highly-rated and reviewed by travelers.

Guide

#1. Aruba Ocean Villas 

Where to stay in Aruba

Located on the southern end of the island, away from the bustling resorts of Palm Beach, Aruba Ocean Villas caters to couples with a small selection of private bungalows.

Thatched-roof beach cabins on the sand have amenities like canopy beds, free-standing tubs and hammocks, while over-the-water villas add wooden decks and private spots to soak and swim.

Neighborhood: Savaneta

Restaurants: The Old Man and the Sea Restaurant serves fresh catches and Caribbean favorites in an open-air setting with tables on the sand.

Best for: Couples and honeymooners.

#2. Pearl Aruba Condos

Where to stay in Aruba

A five-minute walk from Eagle Beach, the Pearl Aruba Condos are convenient to the dining, shopping, and nightlife of Palm Beach without the hefty price tag of the oceanfront resorts there.

Suites at Pearl Aruba come with balconies, kitchenettes, and one or two bedrooms, perfect for larger families with kids. In the common areas, you’ll find a pool and kiddie pool, picnic and grilling areas, and a spa and salon.

Neighborhood: Eagle Beach

Restaurants: Fruto D’Mare Restaurant serves Aruban seafood, soups, and salads in a casual and colorful setting. The Clover Minimarket has snacks for the beach and groceries for the condo kitchens as well as coffee, smoothies, and sandwiches to grab-and-go.

Best for: Budget travelers and families.

#3. Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba

Where to stay in Aruba

The family-run Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba sits on an old coconut plantation, just a five-minute walk from the soft sands of Palm Beach. 

Contemporary Caribbean casitas here are accented with bright colored feature walls, furniture, and art and come with private patios and living rooms. Each unit is a bit different, with studios, one bedroom, and two bedroom options featuring amenities like kitchenettes, outdoor grills, and hammocks. You can even splurge for a private plunge pool.

A large resort-style pool on-site has lounge beds and hammocks, while an adults-only one is tucked in a quiet spot on the property. The hotel offers complimentary chairs, palapas, coolers, and toys on a nearby section of Palm Beach.

Neighborhood: Palm Beach

Restaurants: Guests can order breakfast room service or grab coffees, smoothies, and acai bowls from the Lobby Café.

Best for: Groups and families with kids.

#4. Coral Reef Beach Apartments

Where to stay in Aruba

The no-frills Coral Reef Beach Apartments are perfect for travelers looking for a self-catered stay and a bit of peace and quiet. The property is 20 minutes from Aruba’s buzzing resort zone on the southwestern shore of the island.

Almost every suite here has an ocean view, plus features like kitchens, balconies, and up to two bedrooms. The beach is just outside the low-rise building, with lounge chairs and hammocks at the ready.

Neighborhood: Savaneta

Restaurants: No restaurants are on-site but the Flying Fishbone next door has a surf-and-turf dinner menu. Units are self-catered and come with private or shared kitchen access.

Best for: Budget travelers, families, and groups.

6 Top Resorts in Aruba 

Most Aruba resorts are congregated along the sandy white oceanfront of Eagle Beach and Palm Beach, with tourist amenities like water-sports rentals and cafes nearby.

Guide

#1. Aruba Marriott Resort

Where to stay in Aruba

The Aruba Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino sits on the white sand of Palm Beach, offering a wealth of amenities and restaurants that make it tempting to never leave the property.

The hotel wraps around a lush resort pool deck, with all rooms and suites boasting balcony views of gardens or the ocean. The Tradewinds Club, a separate adults-only section, has a private pool and beachfront.

Eight dining options range from casual beach cafes to upscale steakhouses, plus quick bars to grab coffee, cocktails, and gelato. There’s also a 24-hour casino, ocean-view fitness center, and Balinese-style spa on-site.

Neighborhood: Palm Beach

Restaurants: Eight dining and drinking spots include a Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, seafood restaurant, Starbucks, ice cream shop, and buffet.

Amenities: Beachfront, resort pool, adults only pool and club, casino, spa, and fitness center.

Best for: Adult and couples.

#2. Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa

Where to stay in Aruba

One of Aruba’s top wellness resorts, Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa offers yoga retreats, spa services, and healthy dining on a sweeping oceanfront property at the southern end of Eagle Beach.

Low-rise hotel buildings here blend into the environment, overlooking swaying palms and the oceanfront. The modern but cozy guest rooms are designed with touches of the tropics in their dark wood tones and Caribbean blue décor.

Optional all-inclusive dining packages incorporate buffet and a la carte meals at four on-site eateries as well as cocktails, wines, and other bar options. The resort has regular yoga and Pilates classes, a fitness studio, and a Caribbean-Balinese inspired spa.

Neighborhood: Eagle Beach

Restaurants: Open-air Ike’s Bistro features Mediterranean flavors for breakfast and dinner. Pega Pega Beach Bar and Grill serves up oceanfront lunches of burgers, salads, and smoothies. The Chophouse is open for formal steak and seafood dining. And Omakase Sushi Bar has sashimi, tempura, and other Japanese favorites. 

Amenities: Beachfront, swimming pool, spa, and fitness center with classes.

Best for: Couples and wellness travelers.

#3. Ritz Carlton Aruba

Where to stay in Aruba

The five-star Ritz Carlton Aruba brings a lux experience to the shores of Palm Beach, with private-balcony rooms overlooking the ocean and a pair of resort-style pools. You can lounge in cabanas here or walk a few paces out to the sea for snorkelling and sailing.

The property has everything you need in one place. Six dining options include a steakhouse and sushi bar. A luxury spa uses island plants for facials and aromatherapy. And an on-site casino has slots, table games, and nightly entertainment.

Neighborhood: Palm Beach

Restaurants: Grab a specialty latte from Ritual Coffee Culture, breakfast with an ocean view at Solanio, and a casual lunch outdoors at the Madero Pool and Beach Grill. In the evening, BLT Steak opens for prime cuts and a raw seafood bar in a modern bistro setting, and Casa Nonna has Italian favorites with wine pairings. Divi Sushi Bar and Lounge is perfect for hors d’oeuvres or a nightcap. 

Amenities: Beachfront, two pools with cabanas, 24-hour casino, beachfront spa, fitness center and classes, and daily kids program. 

Best for: Luxury travelers.

#4. Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino

Where to stay in Aruba

Located on the waterfront in Oranjestad, Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino offers easy access to downtown shopping and dining, plus a host of on-site amenities, including a private island.

Rooms and suites decorated in sandy browns and ocean blues have views of the resort gardens, marina, and ocean. Travelers can choose from adults only or family-friendly sections of the resort.

In addition to the pools, casino, and restaurants on the mainland, the Renaissance’s 40-acre private island has spa services, family and adult beaches, kayaking trails, a bar and grill, and private cabanas. 

Neighborhood: Oranjestad

Restaurants: Try Aquarius and Fresco for casual dining throughout the day, Papagayo Bar and Grill for wood-oven pizzas and cocktails on a private island, and L.G. Smith’s Steak and Chop House for an upscale dinner. A handful of bars with small bites include a swim-up option at the pool and sleek lounges with live music.

Amenities: Oceanfront, private island, resort pool, adult pool, spa, fitness center, jogging trail, water sports, casino, and kids club.

Best for: Adults, couples, or families with children.

#5. Tierra del Sol Resort and Golf

Where to stay in Aruba

Tierra del Sol sits on 600 scenic acres on the northern tip of Aruba, with coastal views to both sides and the California Lighthouse nearby. The resort trades the oceanfront walkouts and casinos popular at other Aruba hotels for a quieter neighborhood feel on an 18-hole championship golf course.

Accommodations here are in condos and villas with private pools and multiple bedrooms for large groups and families to spread out in. A clubhouse pool, hot tub, tennis courts, and spa fill the time between rounds of golf and snorkeling trips to Arashi Beach, about a mile away

Neighborhood: Noord

Restaurants: The Restaurant at Tierra del Sol and 19th Hole Bar serves sandwiches, salads, starters, and spirits with golf course views for lunch and dinner. Panda Express by the clubhouse pool has fast-food Chinese for quick bites. You can also grab snacks and drinks from Lookout Bar on the golf course.

Amenities: Tennis courts, 18-hole golf course, private pools, clubhouse pool and hot tub, fitness center, and spa.

Best for: Golfers, groups, and families.

#6. All-Inclusive Resorts Tamarijn Aruba and Divi Aruba

Where to stay in Aruba

Lining more than a mile of beachfront, Tamarijn Aruba and Divi Aruba pack in everything you want in a Caribbean vacation, from the freshwater pools to 10 all-inclusive restaurants shared by the pair of neighboring resorts.

The low-rise hotel blocks here offer breezy rooms with patios and balconies that open to the sea and lush pool deck. 

Around the property, you can play tennis and beach volleyball or pop by the water sports center for snorkels, kayaks, and windsurfing clinics. A nine-hole golf course is across the street at the Links at Divi Aruba for an extra fee. Check kids into the included Sea Turtles Club for arts and crafts, pool games, movies, scavenger hunts, and more.

Neighborhood: Oranjestad-West

Restaurants: 10 all-inclusive restaurants feature global flavors like Italian, Mexican, Asian, and Caribbean. Try the Palm Grill for steak and seafood by the seaside, Red Parrot for fine dining with an island flair, and Coco Grill and Bar for brick-oven pizzas by the pool.

Amenities: Beachfront, four pools, water sports, fitness center and classes, tennis courts, rock-climbing wall, loaner bikes, and a kids club.

Best for: Families with children.


Sarah Peterson
@sarah
Sarah Peterson
@sarah

Sarah Peterson is the co-founder and head of marketing at FLIGHTFŪD. She's a travel health expert and after having visited 20+ countries as a digital nomad and flying every 4-6 weeks for business, she became passionate about empowering others to protect their bodies on the go.


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