When the Beach Boys crooned “Aruba, ooh I wanna take ya”, they sure knew what they were going on about. We loved our trip to this gorgeous “One Happy Island” which is home to aquamarine-turquoise waters, long stretches of pristine white-sand beaches, and an ever-present zephyr that’s just the right temperature. The best bit? Aruba conveniently sits just outside the hurricane belt. What makes it so popular is also the fact that it’s the perfect destination for an indulgent and splurge-worthy vacation. This list of options for the most expensive hotel in Aruba not only features big brand names, but also smaller boutique hotels and indie resorts that we just couldn’t get enough of.
With Aruba being one of the travel-bubble-like island destinations, it’s the perfect place to plan an expensive and lxuurious vacation. Here’s a detauled guide to the most expensive stays in this idyllic island country.
Table of contents
- Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort
- Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba
- Bucuti and Tara Beach Resort
- Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino
- Hotel Riu Palace Antillas
- Ritz Carlton Aruba
- Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
- Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino
- Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa
- Aruba Ocean Villas
- The St. Regis Aruba Resort
- Where do celebrities stay when they visit Aruba?
- What is the best part of Aruba to stay in?
- Which is the most expensive hotel overall?
Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort
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If you want to stay in Downtown Oranjestad in luxury, then the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba is the best choice. Surrounded by vibrant Dutch colonial-style structures, the resort is spread across two buildings, the Ocean Suites across the road and the adults-only Marina building. What’s more, both buildings have their own pools, including the adults-only infinity pool that overlooked the cruise port and downtown. However, the real draw here was the resort’s private island accessible only via its water taxi, the Renaissance Island. We spent an entire day here on the hammocks amongst the mangroves and on the private cabanas by the water. There was also the gorgeous Flamingo Beach, where the namesake pink birds wandered around the coastline freely, making for a very pretty picture.
You’ll love the character-full rooms, despite being a chain resort. They had rattan furnishings, swish mod-cons, and featured pops of textures and tropical colors. Rooms begin at USD 650/night, going up to USD 900/night for the most expensive one for 2 people. The most expensive is the Governor’s Suite, which costs around USD 2,700/night across most Marriott properties. In fact, it’s one of the best family hotels in Aruba.
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Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba
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Aruba does cutesy luxury beautifully too, in the form of the adults-only Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba. This romantic Aruba abode is one of Aruba’s best hotels, and it isn’t difficult to see why. Tucked in a former coconut grove, this locally owned and family-run place has twin sisters Stephanie and Kimberly Rooijakkers at the helm. Since they were born and raised on the island, they can tell you anything and everything about the island, including where to find hidden gems, the best places to eat, and the must-explore sights.
Despite being less than 10 minutes from Palm Beach, the resort felt a world away. What’s more, we didn’t even have to walk to the beach, but rather just hop onto the hotel’s regular shuttle. Even though it featured private casitas, there were amenities like an onsite outdoor restaurant that also hosts theme nights occasionally. There’s even a pop-up bar by the pool during happy hour every day, from where you can order amazing cocktails and beer. Moreover, Aruba Wellness Therapies offers in-room massages and treatments too.
Choose from 50 casitas, all surrounded by lush, tropical landscapes and featuring charcoal BBQs and kitchens. Most casitas cost anywhere between USD 750 and 900/night, making this a luxury boutique hotel.
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Bucuti and Tara Beach Resort
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No place in Aruba does quiet, boutique luxury better than the adults-only Bucuti and Tara Beach Resort on the equally serene Eagle Beach. A Spanish colonial exterior and contemporary interiors set the tone at this luxe resort, which featured dedicated concierges for everyone. We were waited on 24/7 and we truly felt like movie stars! While the Elements Restaurant served all meals, the Purun Spa was a world of serenity and pampering, offering treatments like coffee scrubs and more. Since the resort sat right on the sands, our days were spent lazing and lounging on the beach. Do you know the way to signal for your next piña colada? Simply put a red flag in the sand, and the extremely accommodating staff is right by your side. Yes!
All 104 rooms and suites, including the ones in the Tara Wing, looked out to the blinding white sands and the calm ocean. While winter rates apply from end of December to end of March, summer ones are applicable from April to mid-December. The standard rooms cost around USD 500/night during summer, rising to USD 750/night in winter. Moreover, the three beach-view suites, Bungalow, the Junior, and the Tara Suites, cost USD 870/night in summers and USD 1,160/night in winters. The most expensive is the Penthouse Suite, which costs USD 1,220/night in summer and a whopping USD 1,600/night in winter. All four penthouse suites boast private terraces with daybeds, bedrooms with king four-poster beds, and spa-like bathrooms. Plus, guests also get private, reserved cabanas (thatched palapas) on the beach!
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Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino
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The 1959-built Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino has the distinction of being the island’s very first large hotel. Tucked in the heart of Aruba’s high-rise district, this Morris Lapidus-designed hotel was aptly nicknamed the “Grande Dame.” Today, this 357-room Hilton resort retains much of its former midcentury charm but has added a whole lot of modern conveniences; think ordering drinks and food directly to your poolside palapas. Don’t forget to order the Aruba Ariba, the island’s signature cocktail, that was invented right at this property. Sigh, that’s the life.
Despite being such a huge resort, it never feels crowded. The outdoor bar Mira Solo was the perfect place to enjoy cocktails with nightly live music and gorgeous sunset views. You can even borrow bikes and explore the property as well as indulge in a ton of water activities. However, one of the best features here is that you can reserve palapas for the entire day beforehand without any additional cost!
All three towers feature rooms offering stunning ocean views. While the Project/Limited Garden-view Rooms cost USD 650/night, the most expensive rooms for two people go up to USD 1,900/night for the Palm Beach Oceanfront King Suite, which is also the most expensive room on the property.
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Hotel Riu Palace Antillas
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If you’re looking for all-inclusive, adults-only, party-atmosphere-like luxury in Aruba, then the Hotel Riu Palace Antillas is the place to be. Perched on spectacular Palm Beach just outside Oranjestad, the former Westin-turned-Riu Palace is rare for Aruba: it’s all-inclusive and adults-only both. Even the tower structure is not typically Riu, but the sea views from most of the rooms were spectacular.
The highlight of this property is the fabulous pool area, which happens to be Westin’s original extensive pool area and water circuit. What’s more, it has its own spa, fitness center, themed restaurants, and even a casino and a nightclub! The bonus is that we could even avail the facilities of the next-door sister resort, Riu Palace, giving us many more choices in terms of activities, entertainment, and dining.
This adults-only hotel offers a bunch of all-inclusive rates, starting with the Junior Suites which cost around USD 950/night, going up to USD 1,300/night for its most expensive room, the Elite Club Oceanfront Suite, which houses 2 people.
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Ritz Carlton Aruba
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The age-old adage of “get what you pay for” rings absolutely true at the Ritz-Carlton Aruba. Our unforgettable stay on what was the best stretch of the beach on the island. Expect to be spoiled to the hilt here, as servers cruise around the pristine shoreline on Segways, serving you cocktails as you sprawl on the loungers. It’s the same story at the gorgeous pools, complete with pool towels from Prada. Whether you’re looking for an elusive table reservation for a sold-out restaurant or a bespoke itinerary, the concierge here can weave magic in a matter of minutes. Moreover, the huge 15,000-sq-ft spa is one of the island’s largest and best, as are the Ritz’ onsite restaurants. The upscale without being stuffy vibe is what we loved, and you will too.
The rooms and suites were quiet, despite being right on the beach, and the beds were very comfortable. While the standard rooms start at USD 900/night, the Club Ocean View suites for 2 people go up to USD 1,400/night. The swankiest digs in the house, though, is the Presidential Suite, which costs USD 5,000/night! No check-in, a VIP concierge meet-and-greet, champagne on arrival, a private chef, and an abode with a spacious wraparound balcony — now luxury doesn’t get any better than this.
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Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
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Everyone is permanently in a relaxed mode at the polished Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, an upscale Marriott outpost on the serenely picturesque Palm Beach. It’s mellow and refined by big resort standards, with the atmosphere being more restrained than at its neighbors. However, that didn’t mean that the pool and beachside scenes weren’t hopping, especially around peak hours. What made the two outdoor pools oh-so-popular was the fact that there was even a swim-up bar, which fitted beautifully with Aruba’s laid-back vibe. Besides the full-service Starbucks in the lobby, the resort had several restaurant options, a luxe spa, and even a large casino.
Choose from more than 400 rooms and suites, all of which boast furnished balconies with views ranging from the gardens to direct ocean ones. While standard rooms start at USD 1,000/night, the costliest suite for 2 people, the Junior Suite, costs USD 1,400/night. The priciest room, though, is the Governor’s Suite, which costs a whopping USD 2,700/night.
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Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino
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Home to one of the island’s best pool areas, the Hyatt Regency Aruba is one for all water babies. It boasted both, a beachfront family pool, complete with a two-storied waterslide, and an adults-only one, this with a swim-up bar. In fact, it’s one of the only few swim-up bars on the island. We were impressed right off the bat as we stepped into the open-air lobby, overlooking the entire beachfront property and featuring Aruba’s signature, omnipresent breeze. The manicured grounds were amongst the island’s best, with tropical birds, cascading waterfalls, freshwater lagoons stocked with koi, and bridges traversing them.
We were able to reserve palapas just a day before we wanted to use them, and we didn’t have to wake up super-early, unlike at some other resorts. When relaxing by the water gets old, and we aren’t saying that it necessarily does, there is a wide range of complimentary activities ranging from aloe scrub-making to aerial yoga!.
The rooms and suites were nice and bright with floor-to-ceiling windows, pops of Caribbean-inspired decor, and excellent mod-cons. While entry-level rooms cost USD 850/night, the most expensive is the Governor’s Suite, which costs USD 2,700/night.
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Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa
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With just 72 rooms across 2 stories, the boutique Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa is one of Aruba’s original low-rise resorts. Today, it’s reinvented itself as a dedicated health and wellness boutique resort; think healing cuisine menus, seafront yoga, and the like.
Amenities
From the moment you check-in, it’s evident that the Manchebo is different from the other resorts. The thatched-roof, open-air lobby was perfect for sipping on the complimenatry mojito and soaking in the views. Since it’s a wellness-focused resort, there’s everthing from pilates classes and yoga on the beach everyday to healthy dining options, like plant-based offerings across the four onsite restaurants. What’s more, it sits on one of Aruba’s widest stretches of beach, along with 65 gorgeous, well-spaced-out, and shaded cabanas. So, we were ensured privacy as well as the fact that we’d never have to worry about reserving loungers ahead of time. Besides the fitness center, there was also a stunning seaside Balinese-style spa, which was perfect for recharging.
Rooms
While the rooms are spacious and comfy, their real highlight was that they were just steps from the beach! On an average, all rooms here, right from the entry-level to the higher-up ones, cost arouns USD 1,000, with the resort also offering optional all-inclusive packages.
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Aruba Ocean Villas
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Imagine stumbling upon a hidden gem of a resort that boasts Aruba’s only overwater villas! We’re talking about Aruba Ocean Villas on the island’s serene southeastern coast. It sits in the small village of Savaneta, the town’s oldest. The approach might be dicey, but as soon as you arrive, it’s a vibrant slice of paradise with tropical thatched-roof tiki huts, lush greenery, and cocktails around the clock. Sigh; that’s the life.
Amenities
The entire vibe here is exclusivity, and why not? After all, they are the only overwater villas on the whole island. You can use snorkeling gear, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards to explore the surrounding aquamarine waters. What’s more, their spa is a private alcove surrounded by mangroves, where we indulged in a couples massage when we stayed here. The team can even arrange for private dinners via the onsite restaurant, the Old Man and the Sea. When we wanted to unwind, we’d sit on the adirondack chairs on the deck, with amazing views of the Caribbean Sea. Did we mention that they have a wine room? Yep.
Rooms
Past the indoor-outdoor lobby and the inviting beachfront bar sit six villas, of which three are overwater ones while three are perched right on the sands. On the inside, though, they all boast crystal chandeliers, plush beds, Bose sound systems, bespoke bath products, and deep soaking tubs, all with direct ocean views. While the Chupi Villa costs USD 700/night, the most expensive are the Penthouse Villas Potcho Potcho and Jon Jon, which cost a cool USD 2,700/night.
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The St. Regis Aruba Resort
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If there’s the word “expensive,” a St. Regis has to be around, doesn’t it? Welcome to The St. Regis Aruba Resort, the brainchild of the inimitably dapper American business magnate John Jacob Astor IV, opened in fall 2024, and is the newest hotel on this list.
Amenities
The stately hotel, much like its fellow resorts all over the world, is opulent to the hilt, with a stunning Palm Beach location and the brand’s signature happy-hour sabering ritual and Bloody Marys. The magnificent property is home to multiple infinity pools, complete with private cabanas and slick poolside service, making it the ultimate in lounging luxury. What’s more, the Iridium Spa will cosset wellness seekers, offering a bevy of treatments, many of which use local ingredients for indulgent rituals. However, the standout is the 9,000-sq-ft casino, which is a different addition here and promises a whole lot of entertainment. Of course, there’s the rooftop restaurant with delicious fare and superb views. The star, though, is the fact that this St. Regis outpost features its own take on the brand’s classic ‘Bloody Mary,’ created by the St Regis New York King Cole Bar’s head bartender — do try it.
Rooms
Choose from 251 brand-new rooms, which include 52 suite. While the entry-level rooms themselves cost nearly USD 1,400/night, the most expensive digs for 2 people is the Caroline Aster Suite, which costs more than any other room on this list, USD 3,200/night. But that’s not even the most expensive room in this hotel! That would be the Grand 3-Bedroom Oceanview Suite, which will set you back by USD 4,500/night. Oof.
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Where do celebrities stay when they visit Aruba?
The Ritz-Carlton Aruba is very popular with celebrities, as it balances the ultimate in luxury with natural beauty.
What is the best part of Aruba to stay in?
If you want to explore, the capital Oranjestad is perfect. Other destinations include Palm Beach, Eagle Beach, and Noord.
Which is the most expensive hotel overall?
While the St. Regis’ rooms are more expensive than anywhere else, the Aruba Ocean Villas have the most consistently expensive rooms across the board.