7 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Aruba

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Stay on Palm Beach or Eagle Beach unless silence matters more to you than a short drive. Nearly every all-inclusive sits along that strip or in Oranjestad, within a quarter of an hour of the airport. The one exception is at the south end near Baby Beach, 28 minutes out. Here’s where I’d book.

Aruba All-Inclusive Resorts

Palm Beach, Eagle Beach or Baby Beach

The three beaches draw different crowds, and the drive from the airport grows as you go north or south.

• Palm Beach Is the Busy One: High-rise resorts, many of the island’s casinos, beach bars and watersports line this beach, with shops and restaurants across the road. Loungers pack tight in high season. The airport is 10 to 12 km away.
• Eagle Beach Has More Room: Low-rise resorts sit on a wider beach with more room between loungers. Fewer restaurants sit within walking distance, so a taxi covers a night out. Oranjestad and Druif Beach sit between Eagle Beach and the airport, 3 to 7 km out.
• Baby Beach Sits Far South: It lies near the village of Seroe Colorado at the island’s southeast end, well away from the hotel strip. The water in the lagoon stays waist deep. It draws smaller crowds than Palm Beach and Eagle Beach.

Adults Only or Open to Families

Age rules split these resorts, and one resort splits its own rooms.

• Two Resorts Admit Adults Only: Secrets Baby Beach Aruba and Riu Palace Antillas take adults only. Neither admits children anywhere on the resort, so a family can’t book a room at either.
• Renaissance Splits Its Rooms: Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort keeps its Marina Hotel adults only and puts families in the Renaissance Ocean Suites. Check which section a room belongs to before you book.
• Family Resorts Run Kids’ Programs: Riu Palace Aruba runs a kids’ club and reserves its Elite Club for adults. Divi Village Golf and Beach Resort has a kids’ pool with a water slide. Both welcome families.

Wind and Rain by Month

Aruba gets about 16 inches of rain a year, so the trade winds shape the weather more than the showers do.

• Trade Winds Peak From May to August: The wind blows from the east and averages 18 to 20 mph from May through August. It keeps the heat down, and windsurfers and kitesurfers favor June and July.
• September to November Runs Calm: Winds ease to 13 to 15 mph, so the air feels warmer and more humid. Rain peaks in November at about 3 inches, in short showers.
• January to April Stays Dry and Breezy: Breezes average 16 to 18 mph from January through April. March is the driest month, with about a third of an inch of rain.

Rates by Season

Rates follow the crowds through the year.

• January and February Peak: Rates climb again from November as Christmas nears, and January and February are the busiest months. Occupancy runs highest from January through March.
• Spring Break Hits Mid-March: Crowds spike in the middle of March, while the rest of March and April stay moderate. July and August bring moderate-to-high crowds.
• September and October Cost the Least: These are the slowest months of the year, with the lowest crowds and the best deals. Showers are the trade-off.

Taxis From the Airport

Taxis are the simplest way to reach a resort, and the fare is set before you get in.

• Fares Are Fixed by Zone: Taxis in Aruba have no meters. The government sets fares by zone and destination, and the official fare site, taxi.aw, lists them.
• Dollars Work Fine: Payment is in US dollars or Aruban florins, in cash. The official Aruba Taxi App also takes card payments.
• Look for the TX Plate: Only vehicles with TX on the license plate are licensed taxis. Drivers must display a QR code that links to the fare site.

Buses Along the Hotel Strip

Arubus runs along the hotel strip and stops at all the hotels.

• Oranjestad Is the Hub: The central bus station sits downtown, next to the cruise terminal and Royal Plaza. Routes to the rest of the island start there.
• Service Ends at 11:30 pm: Buses do not run all night. Take a taxi home from a late dinner.
• Retour Cards Cover Two Trips: A retour card pays for two trips. All-day passes are also sold.

FAQs

1. Is Aruba in the hurricane belt?

No, Aruba lies well south of the main Atlantic hurricane belt, so direct hurricane hits are extremely rare. Storms passing elsewhere in the region between June and November sometimes bring brief showers. The island’s rainy season runs from October through December, in short, scattered bursts. Check the forecast for your week before you pack.

2. Which of these resorts have a casino?

Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort runs a 24-hour casino on site. Riu Palace Antillas has a casino, and guests at Riu Palace Aruba reach it over the bridge that links the two resorts. Divi Village Golf and Beach Resort runs a free shuttle to the Alhambra Casino. Pack ID if you plan to play.

3. What currency does Aruba use?

The Aruban florin is the official currency, but US dollars are widely accepted, so you don’t need to exchange money before you fly. Expect florins in your change when you pay in dollars. Major credit cards work, and ATMs take Cirrus, Mastercard, Maestro and Visa cards. Some businesses refuse large US bills because of counterfeiting, so carry smaller notes.

4. Is the tap water safe to drink in Aruba?

Yes, the water utility states that tap water is safe to drink and needs no further treatment. The island produces its drinking water by desalination and tests it every day, and a US laboratory audits the system each year. Bottled water isn’t necessary. Refill a bottle at your room’s tap or at the resort’s water stations.

5. What time zone is Aruba in?

Aruba is on Atlantic Time, four hours behind UTC, and it doesn’t observe daylight saving time. That matches New York in summer and puts the island an hour ahead of New York in winter. Clocks stay put all year, so the gap to your home time shifts when your own country changes its clocks.

6. What plugs and voltage does Aruba use?

Power runs at 110 volts and 60 cycles, the North American standard, so US and Canadian plugs fit without an adapter. Travelers from Europe or the UK need a plug adapter. A phone or laptop charger handles 110 volts, but a hair dryer from a 230-volt country needs a converter.

7. Do you tip at an all-inclusive resort in Aruba?

Your resort’s all-inclusive terms say whether gratuities are covered, so ask at check-in before adding more. Extra tips for a bartender or housekeeper who did well are appreciated, and the amount is up to you. Outside the resort, some restaurants and bars add a 10 to 15 percent service charge, so check the receipt first. Taxi fares are fixed, and a tip is appreciated.