Hotels
Best hotels in Aruba: where to stay, from Eagle Beach to Palm Beach
The trade wind blows steadily across Eagle Beach, and the twisted fofoti trees all lean the same way, towards the south-west. It hardly ever rains, and the sea stays turquoise right up to the sand. Aruba sits outside the hurricane belt and is one of the Caribbean's most reliable sunshine islands, and the beach you choose decides the holiday you get.
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Aruba is a small, dry island off the coast of Venezuela and part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Almost all its hotels are on the west coast, where the beaches are white and the sea is calm. The east is rocky, with cacti, caves and Arikok National Park, which covers nearly a fifth of the island. Distances are short: Palm Beach is around twenty minutes by taxi from the airport, and you can drive round the whole island in a day.
We have chosen nine hotels along the west coast, from small adults-only hotels to big resorts with casinos, and we say who each one suits. All score highly with guests on Hotels.com. Our links go there, and the hotel is always chosen before the link.
Short answer: where to stay in Aruba
Couples after peace and the widest beach should stay on Eagle Beach. Families, and anyone who wants restaurants, bars and a casino within walking distance, are best on Palm Beach. Oranjestad works if you want the town on your doorstep, and the Renaissance has its own island with flamingos.
Best for romance: Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort
Best for families: Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort
Best for first-timers: Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa
Best for value: Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort
Best all-inclusive: Tamarijn Aruba
How to choose the right hotel in Aruba
Eagle Beach or Palm Beach: Eagle Beach is wide and quiet, with low-rise hotels. Palm Beach has the high-rises, more nightlife, water sports and a casino in almost every hotel.
Low-rise and high-rise: these are the names locals use for the two hotel areas. The low-rise hotels are on Eagle Beach and Druif, the high-rises on Palm Beach.
Wind: the trade wind blows almost all year. It keeps the heat comfortable but can whip up sand on the most exposed beaches.
Getting around: Aruba is small, and taxis and buses will do. A hire car for a day makes it easy to see the national park and the north coast.
Cost: Aruba is expensive, including eating out. Breakfast included or a kitchen in your room makes a real difference.
Snorkelling: the best spots are north of Palm Beach at Arashi and Boca Catalina, and in the south at Mangel Halto and Baby Beach. Many hotels lend gear, and boat trips leave from the Palm Beach piers.
The beach at dusk
The palms and beach at Bucuti & Tara at dusk.
Eagle Beach and Manchebo: the wide beach
Eagle Beach is often ranked among the finest beaches in the Caribbean, long, wide and largely free of buildings down to the water. Hotels sit across the road or just behind the dunes.
Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort: adults only on Eagle Beach
Bucuti & Tara sits right on Eagle Beach and welcomes adults only. It is known for its environmental work and for being quiet, with shaded huts on the sand and dinners with your feet in the beach.
This is our romantic pick, and one of the most popular hotels in the whole Caribbean among couples. There is no casino, no nightlife and no big pool, and that is the point. Book early, especially for the winter months.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort
The beach from above
The wide beach at Manchebo Beach Resort, seen from the air.
Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa: the widest stretch of sand
Manchebo sits on the widest part of the beach, where Eagle Beach becomes Manchebo Beach. The hotel is low-rise and relaxed, with a spa, yoga on the sand and several restaurants.
This is our first-timer pick, for travellers who want beach and calm with a bit to do. Rooms are simpler in style than at the priciest hotels. Oranjestad and Palm Beach are both a short taxi ride away.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa
From the air
Amsterdam Manor with its orange roofs and Eagle Beach behind, seen from the air.
Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort: Dutch gables in the Caribbean
Amsterdam Manor is built with gables and colours that recall the canal houses of Amsterdam, just across the road from Eagle Beach. Many rooms have a kitchen, and the family-run hotel has a small pool in the courtyard.
It is our value pick and suits couples and families who want to cook some meals themselves. You cross the road to reach the beach, and there is no big spa or long list of restaurants. A supermarket is close by.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort
From the air
The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba on Palm Beach, seen from the air.
Palm Beach: water sports, nightlife and casinos
Palm Beach is Aruba's best-known beach, with tall hotels in a row, piers for boat trips and water sports, and a strip of restaurants and shops just behind.
The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba: the northern end of Palm Beach
The Ritz-Carlton stands at the far end of Palm Beach, where the sand is quieter than further south. It has large pools, a spa, a casino and several restaurants, and most rooms have a balcony facing the sea.
It suits travellers who want classic luxury with the Palm Beach scene close by. It is a large hotel, and the style is elegant if predictable. Walk south along the beach in the evening for restaurants and bars.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba
The gardens
Palms and gardens around the pools at Hyatt Regency Aruba.
Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort: lagoons and waterslides
Hyatt Regency sits in the middle of Palm Beach, with a multi-level pool complex, a lagoon full of fish and a slide that children love. The gardens are lush, and there is a kids' club and several restaurants.
This is our family pick in Aruba, with everything in one place. It is popular and busy, especially in school holidays. Make time for a snorkelling trip from the pier outside.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort
The pool
The pool area at Radisson Blu Aruba seen from above.
Radisson Blu Aruba: new and contemporary
Radisson Blu is one of the newest hotels in the Palm Beach area, with bright rooms, a rooftop terrace and a pool. It is close to the restaurants and shops along the main strip.
It suits couples and friends who want a modern, central base without paying for the best-known names. It is not directly on the beach, but the sand is a few minutes away. Bars in the area stay open late.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Radisson Blu Aruba
The casitas
The brightly painted casitas at Boardwalk Boutique Hotel.
Boardwalk Boutique Hotel: colourful casitas in a palm garden
Boardwalk is a small adults-only hotel of brightly painted casitas in an old palm plantation close to Palm Beach. There is a pool and hammocks between the trees, and many casitas have a kitchen.
It is a good choice for couples who want something personal and peaceful with the Palm Beach scene nearby. It is not on the beach, but the hotel lends beach gear. With few rooms, it fills quickly.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba
The private island
Renaissance Island with its overwater cabanas.
Oranjestad and Druif: town, island and all-inclusive
The capital, Oranjestad, has pastel buildings from the Dutch era, a harbour and shops. South of Eagle Beach is Druif Beach, with lower-rise hotels.
Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba: flamingos on a private island
The Renaissance sits on the harbour in Oranjestad, and guests take a boat from the lobby to the hotel's private island. Flamingos wander freely on one of its beaches, the most photographed stretch of sand in Aruba.
It suits travellers who want the town on the doorstep and a private beach a short boat ride away. Flamingo Beach is for adults only. The hotel has two wings, one of them adults only.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort
The pool
The palm-lined pool facing the sea at Tamarijn Aruba.
Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive: every room faces the sea
Tamarijn lies on Druif Beach, with low buildings along the sand and every room facing the sea. Everything is included, even water sports, and guests can use the facilities at the sister resort next door.
This is our all-inclusive pick, for keeping the budget in check on an expensive island. The food is good, though not at the level of the island's best restaurants. The beach is narrower than Eagle Beach, but the water is just as clear.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive
When to book
December to April: high season, with many visitors from the US and the Netherlands. Book early, especially for Christmas and Easter.
May to November: lower prices and still dry and warm. Aruba lies south of the hurricane belt and is rarely hit by storms.
Carnival: hotels fill around carnival in January and February. Check the dates.
Longer stays: many hotels offer a better nightly rate from seven nights. Check the price for a week even if you plan a shorter trip.
Frequently asked questions about hotels in Aruba
Where is the best place to stay in Aruba?
Eagle Beach is best for peace and a wide beach, Palm Beach for nightlife and family activities. Oranjestad suits those who want the town close by.
Does Aruba get hurricanes?
Rarely. Aruba lies south of the hurricane belt, so you can travel year round with a low risk of storms.
Where are the flamingos in Aruba?
On Renaissance Island, the hotel's private island off Oranjestad. Renaissance guests have access, and a limited number of day passes are sold.
Do I need a hire car in Aruba?
Not necessarily. Taxis and buses cover the hotel areas. A car for a day is good for Arikok National Park and the north coast.
What currency is used in Aruba?
The Aruban florin, though US dollars are accepted almost everywhere.
When is the best time to visit Aruba?
The island is dry and warm all year, at around 28-32°C. Prices are lowest from May to November, and the wind is strongest in summer.