Where to Stay in Aruba

The tiny island of Aruba is one of the most picturesque of all the Caribbean Islands. Home to just over 100,000 people, there is plenty of beach space to go around. As a Dutch colony, Aruba features an amazing multiculturalism that sees Europe meet the Caribbean.

The crystal-clear waters off the coast of Aruba are some of the most awe-inspiring that you will ever see. Dive beneath the shimmering surface and you’ll be welcomed into a whole new world. Off the Aruban coast is some of the most vibrant marine life in the Caribbean Sea. Snorkeling is a popular pastime here, and it is not hard to see why. Sailing is another highly recommended pastime, if you don’t fancy getting wet.

Aruba is a firm favorite destination with honeymoon couples and older, luxury travelers. With this in mind, be aware that it is something of an exclusive travel destination. Accommodation is not always cheap, but it is nearly always outstanding. The locals depend on tourism and care deeply about giving the best service possible.

There are plenty of accommodation options here – from flash beachside resorts to cozy, self-catering apartments. Let’s take a look at where to stay in Aruba.

Palm Beach

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Palm Beach is an obvious first choice for travelers to Aruba. As the most iconic beach on the island, Palm Beach has earned its good name. If you could picture in your mind the perfect Caribbean beach, Palm Beach in Aruba would look a lot like it.

This is where you will find the main bulk of the big resort hotels, so if you want a beach entirely to yourself, you may want to look elsewhere. If you want to meet fellow travelers and make a few holiday friends, then Palm Beach is the place.

Set back from the beach you will find a great selection of beach bars and laid-back eateries. Many of these restaurants will serve up the most delectable fish dishes. The fish is as fresh as it can get – straight out of the ocean and on to your plate. The Lazy Turtle is a firm favorite.

Good For: Active Travelers, Beach Bums, Couples, First Time Travelers, Honeymooners, Foodies, Sociable Travelers, Luxury Travelers; All Kinds of Travelers

Neighborhood Highlights: Palm Beach, Orchid Casino, Bubali Bird Sanctuary, Jolly Pirates Sailing Cruises & Snorkeling, Aruba Butterfly Farm, Aruba Watersports Centre

Hotel Recommendations:

• Brickell Bay Beach Club Boutique Hotel – Brickell Bay Beach Club is an adults-only hotel that is a six minute walk from Palm Beach. Guests can spend their days relaxing by the pool or working out in the fitness center. Bicycles are available for hire should you want to explore further afield. Breakfast is included.
• Playa Linda Beach Resort – Set right on the beachfront, Playa Linda Beach Resort features multiple outdoor pools, a health spa and a great fitness center. There are suites and studio apartments available, all of which have a kitchenette and ensuite bathroom. The two bedroom suite can sleep up to five people.
• Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club – A tropical oasis directly overlooking Palm Beach, Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club is a luxury resort complex that features an onsite casino and a number of restaurants. There are both rooms and villas available. Guests can relax by the outdoor pool and sun terrace or on the private stretch of Palm Beach.

Monserat

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For those who want to be close to Palm Beach but do not fancy staying at a big resort, Monserat is a great neighborhood to stay in.

Set behind the beachfront resorts, Monserat offers travelers the opportunity to experience Aruba like a local and potentially save a dollar or two on the accommodation front. The hotels in Monserat are just as luxurious as those in Palm Beach, and often much quieter.

In Monserat, you will find a great selection of locally run eateries. Linda’s Dutch Pancakes serves up one of the best breakfasts around and is family friendly. The beauty of Monserat is that it is just a ten minute walk to the creamy soft sands of Palm Beach. You really do get the best of Aruba in Monserat.

If you fancy a good stretch after the long flight to Aruba, drop into Island Yoga on Route 3.

Good For: Beach Bums, Budget Travelers, Couples, Like a Local Travelers, Long Term Travelers

Neighborhood Highlights: Palm Beach, Island Yoga, Linda’s Dutch Pancakes, Noord Neighborhood Sports Centre, Saint Anna Church, Happy Buddha Aruba Yoga School

Hotel Recommendations:

• Coconut Inn – Coconut Inn is a 15 minute walk from Palm Beach. This authentic Aruban hotel offers basic rooms at an affordable rate. All rooms have ensuite bathroom and free WiFi. Guests are welcome to relax on the sun terrace and cool off in the swimming pool. A continental breakfast is included.
• Caribbean Palm Village Resort – This is a quiet and charming hotel in the heart of Monserat Village. There are two hot tubs and two swimming pools to enjoy. Caribbean Palm Village Resort offers a free beach shuttle service to all guests. The hotel has its own bar and restaurant serving both local and international dishes.
• TuribanaPlaza – Turibana Plaza is a self-catering apartment complex just a few minutes walk from Palm Beach. Each apartment comes with a fully equipped kitchen and breakfast-bar-style seating area. There is air conditioning throughout all the apartments and free WiFi too. There is free on site parking.

Hadicurari Beach

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Sitting due north of Palm Beach is Hadicurari Beach. A great alternative for travelers who want to experience the crystal clear waters of Aruba’s east coast without the crowds of central Palm Beach.

If your dream holiday consists of waking up, walking to the beach, relaxing, and walking home again, Hadicurari Beach is the best neighborhood in Aruba for you. That said, there is a great selection of water sports outlets in Hadicurari Beach area.

Should you want to have a more active holiday, even for a couple of days, Hadicurari Beach can make it happen for you. You can learn to kite surf at Aruba Kitesurfing School or even book yourself in for a daring skydive over this beautiful island. If you are going to brave a skydive anywhere in the world, why not make it over a picture-perfect Caribbean island?

Get the best of both worlds at Hadicurari Beach.

Good For: Active Travelers, Beach Bums, Couples, First Time Travelers, Honeymooners, Foodies, Sociable Travelers, Luxury Travelers; All Kinds of Travelers

Neighborhood Highlights: Hadicurari Beach, Palm Beach, California Lighthouse, Aruba Kitesurfing School, Skydive Aruba Air Adventures, Island Cabana – SUP Aruba, Windsurfing Aruba

Hotel Recommendations:

• The Ritz-Carlton Aruba – The Ritz-Carlton is a luxury resort complex situated in a secluded spot between Hadicurari Beach and Palm Beach. Guests are welcome to enjoy the hotel’s private stretch of beach or relax by one of the two outdoor pools. There is a kids-club and family rooms are available.
• Karibu Aruba – This is a locally run, boutique hotel just a five minute walk from the beach. The rooms are basic but the service is outstanding, and there are luxury finishing touches everywhere you look. You can hire bicycles or a car at reception if you want to explore more of Aruba.
• Yoyita Suites Aruba – You will find Yoyita Suite just a six minute walk back from the beach. The hotel offers a concierge service as well as a helpful tour desk. Guests can relax on the outdoor terrace and take a dip in the cooling outdoor swimming pool. All rooms have a kitchenette and ensuite bathroom.

Eagle Beach

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Lying south of Palm Beach is Aruba’s second most-popular beach, Eagle Beach. Offering the soft white sands and the crystal clear waters you have come to expect from Aruba, Eagle Beach is a real treat.

For keen golfers, Eagle Beach is just about perfect. Wherever you stay in the neighborhood, you will be within a short walk of Divi Village Golf Course. Open for residents and non-residents, if you fancy a round or two while you are away, Divi Village is waiting for you.

Staying at Eagle Beach gives you access to some of Aruba’s lesser-visited east coast beaches. No less beautiful than Palm or Eagle Beach, arguably more so, Divi Beach and Drulf Beach are some of the island’s best kept secrets. Manchebo Beach is Aruba’s easternmost point and is a great sunbathing spot.

Eagle Beach is home to a number of big, all-inclusive resorts with private stretches of beach.

Good For: Active Travelers, Beach Bums, Couples, First Time Travelers, Honeymooners, Foodies, Sociable Travelers, Luxury Travelers; All Kinds of Travelers

Neighborhood Highlights: Eagle Beach, Palm Beach, Divi Beach, Drulf Beach, Manchebo Beach, Aruba Aloe Factory Museum and Store, Alhambra Casino, Trop Club and Casino, Glitz Casino

Hotel Recommendations:

• Palazzio Studio and Apartments – Palazzo Studio and Apartments is a great option for budget travelers. These apartments have self-catering facilities, as well as a dining room area. There is air conditioning throughout the apartments and free WiFi too. There is a shared patio, sun terrace area and communal outdoor swimming pool.
• Ladybugs Apartments – Bright and airy, capturing the Caribbean feel perfectly, Ladybugs Apartments are a real home away from home in Aruba. The beach is less than a ten minute walk away and the nearest supermarket is less than five minutes walk. Some of the apartments have self-catering facilities. The garden is really lovely.
• Bubali Bliss Studios – Ideal for travelers who want their own space in Eagle Beach, each studio has a spacious bedroom and ensuite bathroom. This is in addition to a well equipped kitchen and access to the shared sun terrace and outdoor swimming pool. The whole complex is bright, modern and in tropical Colonial style.

Aruba Downtown

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Aruba Downtown bridges the gap between Palm and Eagle Beach and the island’s capital of Oranjestad. Some have referred to this area of Aruba as a ‘Caribbean Amsterdam,’ and it is a fair comparison.

In Aruba Downtown you will find a great mix of traditional Caribbean vibes and extravagant colonial architecture. Aruba Downtown is a great place to stay if you want to experience authentic Aruba or if you like an urban atmosphere.

This neighborhood is not urban in the modern sense of the word. This is an 18th-Century kind of modern, with a few smatterings of the 21st-Century for good measure. You will find Aruba’s historical gems in this neighborhood – you can discover Fort Zoutman, one of the oldest landmarks on the island.

At the National Archaeological Museum, you can learn all about the indigenous history of Aruba and observe artefacts that date back as far as 2500 B.C. Simply incredible.

Good For: Active Travelers, Budget Travelers, Budding Historians, Culture Vultures, Like a Local Travelers, Whistle-Stop Travelers: All Kinds of Travelers

Neighborhood Highlights: Renaissance Beach, Surfside Beach, Splash Park Aruba, Fort Zoutman, Hooiberg Hike, Archaeological Museum, Shopping on L.G Boulevard

Hotel Recommendations:

• Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino – Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino is a luxury resort in Downtown Aruba on Renaissance Beachfront. The hotel is modern and has some impressive design features. Despite being a large resort, the hotel retains a boutique feel. There is a full-service spa complex, casino and a number of restaurants.
• Hostel Room Aruba – The best option for budget backpackers in Aruba is Hostel Room Aruba. Incredibly basic dorm style accommodation that offers great value for money and a good night’s sleep. Locally owned and managed, the staff can help with travel arrangements and tours. There is free WiFi and air conditioning throughout the hotel.
• Aruba Apartments – Aruba Apartments are a great self-catering option in Downtown Aruba, ideal for long-term travelers or families. Each apartment can sleep up to four people across two double beds. There is free parking on site and the team can arrange an airport shuttle on request.