Aruba
Palm Beach
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High-rise hotel strip — Marriott, Hyatt, Ritz, the pool-deck and casino scene.
Palm Beach is a 3km strip of high-rise resorts (Marriott, Hyatt Regency, Ritz-Carlton, Hilton) on Aruba's leeward coast, with calm shallow water that's effectively a swimming pool. This is where most North American visitors stay; the pool decks, casinos and Palm Beach Plaza shopping form a self-contained resort bubble. Authentic Aruba is elsewhere.
Scores
Walkability
Transit
Price
Local feel
Nightlife
Family-friendly
Centrality
What you gain
- ↑Calmest swimming water on the island, ideal for young families
- ↑Densest concentration of restaurants, bars and casinos
- ↑Senor Frogs and the South Beach Centre concentrate nightlife into walkable blocks
What you sacrifice
- ↓Most resort-feel area in Aruba — could be Florida
- ↓Sun beds claimed at 6am during peak season by towel-game regulars
Best for
Avoid if
Other Aruba neighbourhoods
Pastel Dutch-colonial capital with cruise port, casino strip, the Renaissance Island ferry.
Old oil-refinery town reborn as Aruba's street-art district — Aruba Art Fair central.
Northern tip — Tierra del Sol golf, Arashi Beach, the California Lighthouse dunes.
Know where to stay — now find when to go.
Best time to visit Aruba →