As soon as you step out of the airport, you’ll notice steady trade winds, bright sun, and a horizon that doesn’t seem to fade for long. Aruba operates on consistency. The sand stays white, the water stays clear, and the weather rarely makes you rethink your plans. What changes every year is the check-in location. And those decisions determine everything from how you spend your morning to whether you walk to dinner or whether you start your car.
Aruba is divided into different zones, so choosing the right zone is important. Palm Beach is a high-rise corridor. There is a wide sandy beach and deep water, offshore water sports operators and restaurants and entertainment within walking distance. Eagle Beach offers wider, more open coastline, fewer towers and a quieter energy, making it ideal if you want long walks and less traffic. Head south towards San Nicolas and Baby Beach for shallower, sheltered waters and a quieter feel. But if you plan to explore beyond the resort, you’ll also need a car. Oranjestad offers shopping, art galleries and games.
Room layout is important here too. Aruba is a week-long destination for most travelers, so suite-style accommodations and full kitchens are more useful than you might expect. If you’re traveling with kids, pay close attention to their sleep count and bathroom layout. If you are coming as a couple, the amount of time you spend outdoors may vary depending on the size of your balcony and wind direction.
This year’s list demonstrates the island’s continued growth. New luxury entries creating early buzz, established Eagle Beach classics continuing to deliver, the capital’s private island resorts, and still-anticipated openings just around the corner. Here are the 10 most popular accommodations in Aruba right now and how to book each one correctly.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort
We have always loved this brand. Comfort and space are unparalleled. And our Aruba location enjoys a great location right in the heart of Aruba’s most entertainment district. Embassy Suites has become one of the most practical and popular places to stay on the island. The resort includes 330 two-bedroom suites, so you don’t have to navigate the tight standard layout. It offers a separate living room, private bedroom and enough storage to last you a whole week. The pool deck is spacious with a central bar and numerous loungers, and is within minutes’ walk to Palm Beach restaurants and water sports outlets. But this is just the beginning. There’s a kids’ club, a complimentary breakfast every day, and, our favorite, a cocktail reception every evening.
Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba
Boardwalk keeps its footprint small, with 49 casitas and suites arranged like the colorful residential neighborhoods near Palm Beach. You enter through a garden passage rather than the tower lobby, and each unit has a kitchen or kitchenette, making it a worthy grocery run. Guests have access to a private beach area on Palm Beach with reserved palapas. Make reservations early in the morning during peak season. The property’s swimming pool feels private and uncrowded, allowing you to walk to dinner while maintaining a quiet, self-directed stay. This hotel is one of the best small hotels in Aruba and one of the best anywhere in the Caribbean.
Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort
Located directly on Eagle Beach, Bucuti & Tara remains Aruba’s most popular adults-only beach resort, featuring 104 rooms and suites facing a wide white sand beach. The coastline here is wide and open, and the water is calm and shallow, ideal for long swims or early morning walks. The impressive, sustainable accommodations’ Elements Restaurant and SandBar is located right on the beach, providing dining access to the water. If you want one of the tables closest to the shoreline, make a reservation for beachfront dining before sunset. The small number of rooms ensures a quiet atmosphere and allows you to walk along Eagle Beach without passing the large resort complex. If you prioritize calm over nightlife, book here. It’s intimate and tranquil, and it’s a place you’ll return to every year.
The St. Regis Aruba Resort
One of Palm Beach’s newest additions, The St. Regis Aruba offers 252 rooms and suites on the north side of the beach. The lobby opens onto the water, and upper category rooms include butler service. A variety of restaurants and bars are available on site, offering a variety of evening entertainment options without leaving the resort. If you’re booking a suite, ask for direct access to the beach so you can go straight from your terrace onto the sand. The property has 52 rooms like this one, making it a unique option in Aruba.
The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba
Located on the northern tip of Palm Beach, The Ritz-Carlton Aruba features 320 rooms and suites, a large spa, several restaurants and a small casino. The beachfront has rows of loungers and attentive service, and if you arrive before mid-morning you can choose a seat near the water. The BLT Steak remains one of the island’s strongest dinner reservations, and the adults-only pool area offers a quieter alternative to the main deck. Sea view rooms on the upper floors offer panoramic views of the coast. This is a full-service Palm Beach stay where you can spend an entire week without having to venture far.
The Westerly Aruba (opening soon)
Westerly is the most anticipated opening on the island this year and is expected to include approximately 97 residential suites near the Palm Beach corridor. Hilton Aruba is a resort within a resort. Opening schedules may vary, but early booking windows typically offer favorable rates before the building fills up. The smaller footprint compared to larger Palm Beach resorts will appeal to travelers who want to be close to restaurants and entertainment without being tied down to a high-rise environment. The biggest story? A real swim-up room is also available.
Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort
Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort in Oranjestad offers 555 rooms divided into the adults-only Marina Hotel and the family-friendly Ocean Suites. The defining feature is Renaissance Island, accessible by a short boat ride reserved for guests. Once there, you will find quiet, shallow waters and a private beach area. Head to the island early in the morning to secure the best palapas and enjoy a quieter environment before daytime visitors increase. When you stay here, you’ll enjoy both the beach and city conveniences, with downtown shopping and dining options within walking distance.
Aruba Ocean Villas
Located in Savaneta on the island’s quiet south coast, Aruba Ocean Villas offers a dramatically different setting from Palm Beach. Featuring 13 overwater and beach villas, the property focuses on privacy and direct ocean access. Closer to local seafood restaurants and the less commercial coastline. If you want to take a ladder directly into the sea, book an overwater villa, and if you plan to buy a car, you’ll need a car to explore the beaches on the west side of the island. Evenings here are more about quiet waterfront dining than nightlife.
Secret Baby Beach Aruba
Located on the southeastern edge of San Nicolas Island, the new Secrets Baby Beach Aruba offers a completely different setting from Palm Beach, with 304 suites facing the calm, shallow waters that define this part of Aruba’s coastline. This adults-only, all-inclusive resort is located near Baby Beach, a crescent-shaped, sheltered stretch of sand that creates one of the island’s best swimming conditions. Suites feature a furnished terrace or balcony, and upgrading to the Preferred Club category gives you access to elevated views and a private lounge. The high-rise corridors are eliminated here, so plan on a car if you want to explore Eagle Beach or Palm Beach during your stay.
JOIA Aruba by Iberostar
One of the hottest new luxury hotels near Eagle Beach, Iberostar’s JOIA Aruba offers 240 beachfront suites to the island’s upscale market. The property also features spacious rooms, private terraces, and a curated dining lineup designed to keep guests occupied well into the evenings, along with some swim-up options. The location is close to the expansive coastline of Eagle Beach and just off the beaten path of Palm Beach. Book your beachfront loungers early during peak season, and consider booking a higher category suite if you want more terrace space and elevated views. JOIA, which recently debuted, has been receiving a lot of interest from the beginning, so it is recommended to confirm rates in advance.
Aruba’s hotel scene this year ranges from sprawling Palm Beach resorts to boutique Eagle Beach retreats and south coast villas. Your decision will depend on density, proximity to entertainment, and how much space you want. Secure your room early during winter and spring travel periods. Aruba’s consistency is precisely why rooms here don’t remain available for long.
