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Forbes
29-04-2025
- Forbes
Best All-Inclusive Resorts In Aruba 2025
The best all-inclusive resorts in Aruba make it easy to soak in the island's white sand beaches and azure waters. Welcoming approximately two million visitors each year, Aruba offers diverse all-inclusive accommodations for every type of trip—with meals and perks rolled up into one worry-free, flat rate. Divi Dutch Village as our top overall recommendation thanks to its crowd-pleasing amenities and access to facilities at four other resorts. The opulent suites at Barceló Aruba are a great high-end choice, while wellness lovers will appreciate beachfront yoga and tailored spa treatments at Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa. Below, the best all-inclusive resorts in Aruba for 2025. Studio suite at Divid Dutch Village Resort. The endless activities at Divi Dutch Village Beach Resort ensure the whole family will never be bored, from pickleball to rock climbing on the shimmering Druif Beach. Guests can also take in stunning ocean views from the beach bar, which serves up tropical cocktails and Caribbean delights all day long; the resort's three cabana- and lounge chair-lined pools also offer plenty of water-wading fun. The accommodations encircling each pool are spacious, modern and equipped with open-air balconies and patios so you can bask in the island breeze at your leisure. When booking, choose between the signature all-inclusive package, which gives additional access to facilities at the Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort, and the mega all-inclusive package, which allows you to indulge in perks at all four Aruba Divi resorts. Aerial view of Barceló Aruba. Despite its smaller size, the luxurious amenities at Barceló Aruba do not disappoint. Its 373 rooms (ranging from ocean-view affairs with hot tubs to spacious, connected units that sleep up to seven guests) are all pristine, but its Royal level suites are a high-end highlight, featuring outdoor hydro-massage tubs, private gourmet dining and personalized turn-down service. The luxury boutique feel of this property extends to its six international restaurants, where you can find premium cuisine to satisfy your every craving: The six-course Chef's Table experience at L'Olio, the on-site Italian restaurant, is a particular guest favorite (for an additional fee). Looking to indulge in a little retail therapy? Venture to the nearby Palm Beach Plaza and Paseo Herencia Mall for a full day of souvenir-filled shopping. Oceanfront bungalows at the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort. Set on the 40-acre, private Renaissance Island, the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort feels tucked away from Aruba's main tourist spots. After arriving by complimentary water taxi, relaxation can be found around every corner, from luxe oceanfront cabanas on the flamingo-roaming shores to a luscious full-service spa (offering treatments like body wraps, shiatsu massages and more). The island and its accommodations are divided into adults-only and family-welcome areas: The soothing Flamingo Beach is sectioned off for those 18-plus only, while the teeming Iguana Beach is available for guests of all ages. Reserve the exclusive all-inclusive package for free-flowing cocktails and daily à la carte meals included in your rate (a minimum four-night stay is required). Oceanfront suite at Riu Palace Antilles. Riu Palace Antillas' 300 suites are outfitted with serene ocean views, tropical turquoise accents and, most notably, liquor dispensers that ultimately set the tone at this adults-only haven. The party never stops with an ongoing schedule of rotating festivities, high-risk high-reward games at the on-site casino and a vibrant dance floor at the Pacha discotheque (open six nights a week). When you're ready to wind down, the resort's two pools and inviting swim-up bar can service you during an afternoon of lounging, as can the Renova spa, which features six treatment rooms for couples and singles. For the more adventurous traveler, an introductory scuba diving lesson is included in your rate—or you can try your hand at snorkeling and kayaking on the pristine sands of Palm Beach. Pool at Divi Aruba All Inclusive. At Divi Aruba All Inclusive, honeymooners are greeted with a welcome gift, Champagne, a preferred room location and a complimentary night stay one year after their wedding. Each of the property's 261 suites are stocked with luxe bathroom amenities by Aruba Aloe, and give sweeping, romantic vantages of the surrounding tropics via furnished patios or balconies. Couples massages are to be had at the Indulgence By The Sea spa—or if you're the more sporty type, pair off for a game of two at the tennis and volleyball courts. For an intimate evening, reserve a beachside table at the Red Parrot: The resort's epicurean eatery serves savory mains like salmon puff pastries, duck confit and Argentinian beef tenderloin. If you're planning to tie the knot, event planners are on staff to arrange the ceremony of your dreams; wedding guests can stay on-site for a reduced price. Tamarijn Aruba exterior. For families seeking a budget-friendly vacation, toddlers and infants under 2 years old can stay, play and eat for free at the Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive Resort, while kids and teens can stay at a reduced rate. Activities for children at the resort are scheduled around the clock: By day, you can embark on pirate treasure quests, snorkeling tours and windsurf tutorials; by night, live steel bands, karaoke and limbo fire shows will keep the whole family captivated and make unforgettable memories. When parents need a bit of rest and relaxation away from the kids, the resort's Sea Turtles Club entertains little ones all day long with arts and crafts, face painting, movie screenings and more. As sunset rolls around, round out the day by treating the kids to woodfire pizzas at Pizza Per Tutti, a family favorite casual dining experience. Pool at the Manchebo Beach Resort And Spa. At Manchebo Beach Resort And Spa, Aruba's premiere wellness resort, your relaxation and rejuvenation are prioritized above all else. Service is incredibly personalized at this boutique, 72-room property: Meals cater to a diverse array of dietary restrictions, and you're free to choose between daily classes that best suit your wellness goals (such as yoga, Pilates, Tai-Chi and meditation courses). Meanwhile, at the Bali-inspired Spa del Sol, trained experts dole out curated treatments designed to enhance tranquility via skincare remedies, body scrubs, massages and wraps, all in open-air gazebos that center guests right on the beach. À la carte dining at each of the resort's four restaurants is included in their Premium All-Inclusive plan, which also covers one off-property dinner for guests staying a minimum of four nights. Aerial view of Riu Palace Aruba. As with other Riu hotels, Riu Palace Aruba is popular for its bustling nightlife scene. Every week, live music, exhilarating shows and heart-pumping Riu parties fill the night with pulsating beats that can be heard throughout the resort; the property's rotating entertainment schedule ensures guests will never be bored. Once sunrise rolls around again, guests are often found gravitating toward the property's two massive swimming pools that have plenty of chaise loungers to go around—or at the swim-up pool bar delivering delightful craft cocktails. All-inclusive rates at the resort encompass everything from drinks and gourmet meals at its five mainstay restaurants to 24-hour room service and complimentary in-room mini-bar snacks. Adult guests can also venture to the neighboring Riu Palace Antillas to indulge in even more fine dining. We regularly update this story to incorporate the newest all-inclusive resorts in Aruba, and monitor upcoming properties worth considering for 2025. The Forbes Vetted travel team has researched, reported and written on countless hotels across the globe. We conducted extensive research, taking into account numerous factors like reviews, hotel rewards and testimonials from Forbes Vetted staff. I am a New Jersey-based editorial assistant working across the beauty, fashion, travel and home & kitchen categories here at Forbes Vetted. As a Caribbean descendant, I've traveled all over the islands since I was young. I graduated with bachelor's degrees in English and Psychology from Amherst College and attended the Columbia Publishing Course. In addition to Forbes Vetted, my work can also be found in Make Muse and The Common.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Your guide to white sand beaches, flamingos and secret seaside pools in Aruba
We're whisked off by boat, knowing only we are destined for a nearby island. With the setting Aruban sun painting a sky of warm pastels and the balmy breeze lifting the cares from our shoulders, we step onto the buttery beach and abandon our sandals. Our toes melt into the shimmering sand and clear Caribbean waters as the island's flamingos approach. As we sit at our seaside table, the paradise that is Renaissance Island unfolds with designer plates of culinary masterpieces — like ponzu-marinated tuna and beurre blanc sea bass — arriving at our table in a perfectly synchronized dance with flamingo watching between the four courses. The Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort in downtown Oranjestad has perfectly curated its own private island a 15-minute boat taxi from the hotel. Renaissance Island is a dream escape with two Caribbean Sea-connected lagoons creating calm waters for snorkelling, private cabanas for rent and hiking paths ideal for spying on turquoise geckos, giant iguanas and scuttling hermit crabs. Our first day pampered at the rooftop-pooled Renaissance, complete with an in-hotel boat taxi to its private island, is sharply juxtaposed with our third day when we hoist ourselves into a vaulted land-rover with local guide to be transported to the undeveloped side of this Caribbean paradise. Aruba, located outside of the hurricane belt just 29 nautical kilometres north of Venezuela, measures only 32 kilometres long by 10 kilometres wide. On the island's rugged east side we explore Arikok National Park where we find mystery in the Quadirikiri and Fontein Caves dotted with Arawak Indian drawings, and wonder in the feet-nibbling fish whose kissing lips and scraping tongues provide our pond-dipped toes with a pedicure. But the true crowning glory of the park is swimming in Conchi Natural Pool where waves throw themselves against the towering volcanic stones that surround and protect us. With explosions of white water draping the skyward-reaching lava outcroppings, we float in the tranquil volcanic basin in awe of what nature has provided. 'The journey to this hidden gem includes traversing through rocky terrain, offering guests a chance to connect with nature and experience Aruba's natural beauty,' says Tyson Lopez, CEO of the Aruba Conservation Foundation. 'Conchi is a place where guests can float in the sea among its marine wildlife, offering a unique experience amid the ocean.' While the sea and natural wonders have brought us to Aruba, it is the people that make us want to stay. This small island, which remains part of the Netherlands, boasts a population of just over 100,000 who are taught four languages in school — Dutch, English, Spanish and the native Papiamento. We did not meet anyone in Aruba who did not embrace us wholeheartedly despite being overwhelmed by a booming tourist trade of about 1.3 million visitors to the island annually. 'In Aruba, we believe that every guest is a friend, and every day is an opportunity to share our island's beauty and warmth with the world,' says Sjeidy Feliciano of the Aruba Tourism Authority. Tito Bolivar provides us with the most authentic glimpse into the hearts of our generous hosts, the Aruban people, as he takes us on an art tour of world-class murals in the tiny village of San Nicolas. Bolivar, an Aruban with a post-secondary degree from the Netherlands, fell in love with art while overseas. He returned to his country in 2016 with a vision of economically reviving his hometown using art as his main tool. Abandoned by its oil-refining partners whose foreign workers created the 'red-light-inspired' village from 1924 to 1985, the new San Nicolas is painted in colours of ochre, turquoise and magenta and landscaped with mosaic benches, quaint cafés and … hope. 'When I came back to Aruba, I thought, 'where is all of the art here?'' says the exuberant Bolivar, owner of two San Nicolas art galleries and the creator of Aruba's Mural Tours and world-renowned art fair. Armed with a roving microphone and the personal mantra that 'art is life,' Bolivar walks us through a maze of masterpieces created by some of the world's most celebrated mural artists from Artur Bordalo of Portugal to German-born Bond Truluv. The larger-than-life and symbolism-filled murals leave us speechless but Bolivar does not, as his ebullient and honest assessment of Aruban culture informs us about why this island is one of the safest and most welcoming in the Caribbean. On day five, we wake up to the capital city of Oranjestad teeming with activity as the greatest Aruban party of the year (held annually on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday) is set to take to the streets for eight full hours. Thousands of dancers and musicians pour through Aruba's capital in a cataclysmic fusion of colour and steel-drummed song as the end of Carnival arrives and the Grand Carnival parade marks the culmination of the two-month long celebration of all things Aruban. 'Go, go and celebrate,' says an elderly man standing nearby who gently takes my phone as he ushers me directly into the roadway. Brightly sequined and feathered dancers immediately gather around me to pose for a photo. Our one week of glory in Aruba holds highlights every single day as we take to the two-mile-long Palm Beach area for a catamaran snorkel trip and we swim among plate-sized Palometa fish at Flamingo Beach on Renaissance Island. Our evening meals of fresh-caught fish, lobster with charred butter, the Gouda-wrapped local delicacy of keshi yena and locally crafted cocktails provide perfect endings to perfect days. I am left with only one question as I leave Aruba. How quickly can I come back? Accommodations: The centrally located Renaissance Hotel, with its own private island and rooftop pool, is certainly the place to stay. However, if the nightly price of approximately $600 to $1,500 is out of reach, many affordable all-inclusive options are available on the island's southwest shores in the Palm Beach and Eagle Beach areas. Renaissance Island: If you're a hotel guest, you get 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. access, but even if you're not a guest, you can buy a day pass for approximately $180 CAD (children under five are free). Or book Dinner under the Stars by world-class executive chef Sebastian Cechet every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. for about $130 (children from five to 12 years old pay about $60). For more information, visit Restaurants: The Flying Fishbone has tables right in the water and blue lights attracting a wide variety of fish. Papiamento features more than 100 years of history and served our favourite dishes of the meat-stuffed cheese ball called keshi yena and stone-grilled mahi-mahi, shrimp and lobster. For more information on Arikok National Park, visit For more information on Aruba and to book your trip, visit
