Best hotels in Aruba: where to stay, from Eagle Beach to Palm Beach

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.