8 Best Hotels in Aruba

The Marriott—the best all-around stay on Aruba—ticks all the Caribbean vacation must-haves: there's a swim-up pool bar for adults only, a prime oceanfront location fronting popular Palm Beach, and even a vintage schooner for whisking guests offshore on snorkeling excursions. Depending on the room type you choose, you can experience the feel of a mass resort or a more boutique property (for the latter and some of the best views in the house, opt for a club level room with a balcony). Spend the day's sunniest hours under a beachfront palapa between dips in the ocean; at night, enjoy everything from authentic gelato to steak and seafood at the property’s four restaurants before trying your luck at the tables in the onsite casino.

With its twisted-in-the-wind Divi trees and sugar-fine sand, Eagle Beach—consistently ranked one of the best beaches in the world—attracts a more low-key crowd than nearby Palm Beach. Needless to say, the 104 rooms at this adults-only property on the quieter end of the strand are ideal for a couples’ getaway where sand, sea, and good food and cocktails are the main ingredients. Boutique-style perks include complimentary daily breakfast and balconies in all rooms, but it's the romantic extras that truly wow, including beachside dining and movie screenings beneath the stars.

RELATED: The 9 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Aruba

This grande dame of the Palm Beach hotel scene had us at hammock massages (just one of the offerings in the 15,000-square-foot spa). Set on a quieter stretch of Aruba’s busiest beach, the Ritz-Carlton is as romantic as it is family-friendly (yes, it’s possible). All rooms have balconies with sea views, there’s an onsite kids club, and among the swoon-worthy upgrades are private dinners on the sand and sunset horseback rides along the coast. When you’re not relaxing on the beach, stop by the hotel’s beachfront outpost of BLT steakhouse for oysters at the raw bar or go for a dip in one of the two onsite pools.

Right in the heart of Palm Beach (and within walking distance of all manner of restaurants, bars, and shops), this recently updated Hyatt is a favorite for families. The entertainment options are as vast as the property itself, including a whopping 12 restaurants and bars, a huge pool that spills across three levels, water sports like sailing and scuba on offer along the beachfront, and even an on-site casino. For that all-encompassing resort vacation where you have to remind yourself to go see what’s off property, you won’t go wrong here.

RELATED: 9 All-Inclusive Family Vacations Worth Bragging About

Home to Aruba’s largest casino, Renaissance Aruba in downtown Oranjestad puts the historic capital's shopping and sightseeing within as easy reach as its pretty beaches. The property is actually two resorts in one: there’s the adults-only Renaissance Marina (where you'll find the spa and infinity pool) as well as the more family-friendly Renaissance Ocean Suites (which feature spacious bathrooms and living rooms with pull-out sofas). No matter which side you choose to stay in, all guests are welcome to hop aboard the water taxi bound for the hotel's own 40-acre private island just offshore, where you can swing in a hammock on Iguana Beach and Instagram the resident flamingos prancing through the water at the beach’s edge.

A treatment in the oceanfront oasis of eforea Spa, lounging in a private grass hut on the beach, and sipping colorful boat drinks at Castaways Bar are among the many ways you can slide into vacation mode at this Palm Beach resort. All guest rooms have balconies or patios, but it’s worth splashing out on one with an ocean view to complete the vacation mood. Along with onsite PADI scuba diving courses, a kids club, and a casino, the hotel offers sightseeing tours to the desert-like surrounds of Arikok National Park, where you can spot unique lava and limestone formations as well as endemic species like burrowing owls and the Aruban parakeet.

RELATED: 9 Dreamy Waterfront Hotels Around the World

For a boutique-style all-inclusive experience that feels more personal than your typical big-name Caribbean resort, Manchebo is a pleasant surprise. The property fronts idyllic Eagle Beach and all 72 rooms are decorated with island photographs as well as private balconies—many with views of the sand and sea. Fit in some time for wellness at the Balinese-inspired Spa del Sol—a cool, open-air oasis with daily yoga and pilates—then re-up those spent calories at the hotel’s tasty sushi bar or steakhouse.

A good half-hour south of Palm Beach, in the small fishing village of Savaneta, this unique all-villa property offers the only overwater accommodations in Aruba. While it’s not quite Bora Bora, it’s a lovely experience to relax on your private deck and jump directly into the sea to cool off. In addition to the overwater villas, there are an additional three villas built along the beach, all done up with pretty mahogany furnishings, colorful hand-woven throws, and traditional thatch roofs.