17-05-2025
Inside hidden gem Caribbean island with perfect beaches and city centre that's like stepping back in time
Its lives up to the Beach Boys' classic tune
THE BEACH JOYS Inside hidden gem Caribbean island with perfect beaches and city centre that's like stepping back in time
STEPPING out of the airport into the warm, almost bath-like climate of Aruba, I wasn't sure what to expect.
On paper this was far from the usual type of holiday I would go for.
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Aruba Marriott Resort
Credit: Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
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Palm Beach at Aruba
Credit: Alamy
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The main pool area of the Stelaris
I've never been great at the whole idea of 'relaxation', so a beach break is an absolute foreign concept to me.
I'm much more at home discovering new cities or out on the hillsides, rather than lounging next to the sea.
But after tucking into a delicious dinner watching the sunset dip over the gentle waves on a table just inches from the shoreline, something started to click.
If you haven't heard of Aruba, the stunning sunshine island is located right in the very south of the Caribbean, just off the north coast of Venezuela.
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Known for its appearance in the legendary Beach Boys song Kokomo, it lives up to the ideal imagery conjured up in the sun-soaked lyrics of Brian Wilson.
Sister islands with both Bonaire and Curacao, the Dutch colony feels like a tiny stretch of paradise.
My partner Katie and I stayed at the stunning Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, a luxurious lodging located directly on the beautiful Palm Beach.
Our garden view suite had a lovely, spacious balcony overlooking the main pool area, silhouetted by the looming ocean in the distance.
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The resort has a bustling bar area with excellent nightly performances from musicians, a decently-sized casino, two pools (one of which featured an incredible swim-up bar) and several other bars and restaurants with a great selection of food and drinks.
Most notably for us was their beach side restaurant Atari and their stunning sunset dining experience which we enjoyed on our first night.
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The Stelaris has everything you could want from a resort, with its spacious roster of sun loungers and bookable pallapas, to easy access to nearby activities if you feel like trying out something more adventurous.
On our first morning we headed out to do just something completely different.
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Making our way to a bay just outside the colourful island capital of Oranjestad, we met up with the lovely crew at Tropical Sailing Aruba.
Laying sunbathing on the nose of the yacht with a Caribbean rum in hand as we sailed up stream to the south east side of the island, it was hard not to be taken aback by the beauty of the shifting colour of the ocean.
Literally shimmering and shifting from teal to a deeper sapphire, it was absolutely breathtaking.
And getting right into that sea was next on the agenda, as we dived off the boat into the crystal clear waters to snorkel and join the amazing aquatic life, including the beautiful blue tang, better known as the Dory fish to Finding Nemo fans!
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GO ARUBA
Getting there: Daily flights with KLM via Amsterdam, fares start at £1046 return. Visit
Staying there: Marriott Bonvoy, Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, for the best rates visit
More Info: For more on visiting Aruba see
The strong current helped us work up a healthy appetite and as we very slowly made our way back into shore we were presented with a brilliantly tasty barbecue, grilled to perfection by the boat's private chef.
Back at the hotel we took to the water again as we tried out some stand up paddle boarding and windsurfing.
Of the former there really is nothing more peaceful than gently cresting pale blue waves towards distant palms, with the cooling island breeze at your back.
That is until you end up backside over elbow flying into the water. That didn't stop us from getting back on the board and trying again though!
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The following day we enjoyed an excellent private jeep tour of the island with the brilliant Ross from Isla Aruba tours.
Catering the stops to match our vibe, he gave us a great sense of the history and community on the island and let us in on local hidden gems far away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist crowds.
From ancient cave paintings, to animal sanctuaries where you can feed adorable donkeys and secluded secret beaches, it felt like being passed a set of hidden secrets from a friendly, local expert.
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ORANJESTAD, ARUBA
Credit: Alamy
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Now, although it first it didn't sound like my kind of thing, stopping in for a tour of Aruba Aloe company's factory was fascinating.
The miracle gel is one of the island's primary exports, right, and an essential to help in recovering from the effects of the sun.
As the locals say, it's no joke out there, with even the intermittent clouds between the glorious bursts of blue a bit of a burn risk, as Katie sadly found out on the first day.
The capital Oranjestad is a feast for the eyes, with it vibrant coloured buildings — it's like Tobermory on steroids!
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The blend of the modern with traditional gives the city a lot of character and its got a good mixture of big brand name bars and restaurants to make it worth a trip away from your luxury hotel and the glorious beaches.
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Palm beach in Aruba
We loved exploring the local businesses being built up and thriving away from the main resort strip, with places like the excellent Pepe Margo distillery and its collection of rums, gins and other delicious Caribbean favourites a must see.
We loved the delicious aloe liqueur (yes that eponymous plant again) which tastes unlike any drink I've had. Works well in a Mojito or mixed with lemonade.
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Despite its tiny size, Aruba packs a punch when it comes to food and has a phenomenal up-and-coming culinary scene.
Sure, there's lots of familiar fast food haunts to satisfy its main tourist population of Americans, but why settle for that when the local restaurants are as incredible as they are.
For upscale and elegant dining Wilhelmina and Pappillion are the places to be, with the fantastic combination of European and Caribbean flavours.
For South American and island fusion, Caya melds a more casual vibe with some out of this world dishes.
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Me and my partner Katie couldn't get enough of the beautiful beaches
The top of the list however is the truly incredible Ever Chef's Table, where a group of culinary geniuses guide diners through a stunning eight-course tasting menu with excellent paired wines.
Each chef was friendly and chatted to us throughout the dinner, making sure each and every diner got the best experience possible.
Having been lucky enough to have eaten at Michelin star restaurants in the past, I can confidently say Aruba is a true hidden culinary gem but I reckon its secrets won't last for long.
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Easily the best part of a holiday here however, is the people.
Everywhere you go they are genuinely happy to stop, chat and make sure you're having the best possible time.
It never felt forced or fake during our stay and Aruba sure lived up to its name of 'one happy island'.
And as for me and beach holidays? With the glorious sunshine, amazing food, and lovely people it's safe to say, Aruba has converted me.
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Chef Christopher preparing our steak
