| Resort | Beach or area | What the tourism board states | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba | Palm Beach | 5-star; spa with 13 treatment rooms; 24-hour casino; two pools | A classic luxury stay |
| Barceló Aruba | Foot of Palm Beach | 5-star all-inclusive; 6 restaurants and 3 bars; Royal Level boutique wing; mall across the street | All-inclusive with a mall at hand |
| RIU Palace Aruba | Palm Beach | Adults only; over 400 rooms; 5 restaurants; 24-hour dining | Adults who want all-inclusive |
| Hyatt Regency Aruba | Palm Beach strip | 357 rooms on 12 acres; 3-level pool complex; casino; Camp Hyatt kids program | Families who want a big resort |
| Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino | Palm Beach strip | Tradewinds Club on the 8th floor with 49 suites and a private lounge; Ruth's Chris Steak House; 24-hour casino | Club-level service |
| Tierra del Sol Resort & Golf | Inland, 600 acres | The island's only 18-hole golf course; condos, apartments, villas and free-standing homes | Golfers and long stays |
How to choose
- Ritz-Carlton Aruba. The tourism board's guides describe a five-star property on the Caribbean with a spa of 13 treatment rooms, a 24-hour casino with live entertainment and a retail area. Its rooms have balconies over Palm Beach. Choose it if you want the island's best-known luxury name; the board states no room rate.
- Barceló Aruba. The five-star all-inclusive sits at the foot of Palm Beach, with six restaurants, three bars and supervised water sports (snorkeling, diving, beach volleyball). The Paseo Herencia mall is across the street, and the Royal Level section is described as a boutique hotel within the resort.
- RIU Palace Aruba. Adults only, with over 400 rooms, two outdoor pools, five restaurants and 24-hour dining and entertainment. Paddle surfing and kayaking are on offer. Families should go elsewhere.
- Hyatt Regency Aruba. 357 rooms on 12 acres of beach land, a three-level pool complex, tennis courts and the Camp Hyatt program for children. Golf is nearby.
- Aruba Marriott & Stellaris. The Tradewinds Club offers 49 suites with a private lounge. The casino has more than 26 table games and 500 slot machines, and the adults-only H2Oasis pool area has private cabanas.
- Tierra del Sol. Not on the beach: an 18-hole course on 600 acres with a spa, tennis and four accommodation types, including villas and free-standing homes. For the other areas of the island, see where to stay in Aruba.
Palm Beach or somewhere quieter?
Palm Beach is the island's lively strip, with casinos, restaurants and the sail departures (see Palm Beach). If you want a luxury stay on a quiet beach, look at Eagle Beach, which the board describes as the widest beach on the island (see Eagle Beach and Palm Beach vs Eagle Beach). For adults-only and all-inclusive lists, see adults-only resorts and all-inclusive resorts, and for couples honeymoon resorts.
What the tourism board does not say
Its guides state no nightly rates for any hotel. We publish no hotel prices: rates change with the date, so compare them in the hotel box for your dates, and read each resort's own page for resort fees and room categories before you book.
Typical mistakes
- Booking the RIU Palace for a family: it is adults only.
- Choosing Tierra del Sol for a beach holiday: it is inland.
- Assuming "all-inclusive" at Barceló covers everything: read what the plan includes.
- Comparing resorts without checking the room category, since each lists several room types.
Related: boutique hotels in Aruba.
FAQ
What is the best luxury resort in Aruba?
The Ritz-Carlton Aruba is the five-star name on Palm Beach, with a 13-room spa and a 24-hour casino; Barceló Aruba is the five-star all-inclusive.
Which luxury resort is adults only?
RIU Palace Aruba, on Palm Beach.
Is there a luxury resort with golf in Aruba?
Tierra del Sol Resort & Golf, which has the island's only 18-hole course.
Which luxury resort has kids programs?
The Hyatt Regency Aruba, with Camp Hyatt.
Aruba Authority editorial team, 7 November 2026.
