Last Updated on November 16, 2021
The Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort is the most iconic hotel in Aruba as it was the first luxury resort in Aruba, officially opening in 1959. The hotel is a purposeful mix of modern luxury touches while still celebrating the history of the hotel and Aruba. Everything you need for an amazing Aruba vacation can be found here, especially the famous Palm Beach! The Hilton Aruba is one of the best places to stay when visiting the One Happy Island.
We spent 4 blissful days at the Hilton Aruba Resort and loved every second of it. We put together this hotel review so you know exactly what awaits when you are planning your stay here. We’ve also put together a great list of 15 unique things to do in Aruba as well as a full guide of the famous Flamingo Beach on Renaissance Island.
Disclaimer: Our stay at the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino was compensated. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and as always, all our opinions on where to stay and what to do are our own. Please note that some of the links in the below article are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase. Click here for the full disclosure statement. Thank you for supporting the businesses that support us!
Table of Contents
Hilton Aruba Location
Since Aruba is not a very large island, that means everything is pretty close, and the Hilton Aruba is only a 15 to 20 minute drive from Queen Beatrix International Airport. The Hilton Aruba is located near the southern end of Aruba’s famous Palm Beach. This is the most famous area of Aruba for good reason as it offers a beautiful white sand beach, picture-perfect sunset views, and many restaurants and shopping opportunities in the streets behind all of the oceanfront resort hotels.
The Hilton Aruba does not provide shuttle service, so to get to the hotel, you can choose to take a taxi for around $30 USD, book alternative bus transfer for $20 USD roundtrip per person, book private transportation, or rent a car for your stay. If you have a rental car, there is lots of free parking located in the parking lot to the left of the hotel entrance.
Hilton Aruba Arrival
As you pull up to the grand entrance of the Hilton Aruba, the bellman will greet you and help you with your bags, before taking you to the reception in the open-air breezeway of the resort. The main check-in area of the resort with reception and the concierge is all open-air so you don’t miss out on any of that amazing warm Aruba weather.
The lobby area also houses the coffee shop and market, is the main entrance to the casino, and has views of the Mira Solo open-air bar and the sprawling pool area behind. This area celebrates the amazing history of the Hilton Aruba Resort with photographs of the resort and the many famous people who have stayed here over the decades, from rock stars to royalty to movie stars. There is so much history, that the hotel is almost a destination in and of itself!
As we arrived during COVID-19 times, safety precautions were in place such as hand sanitizers and all staff were wearing face masks throughout our entire stay, as were most guests except when at the pool or dining at the restaurants.
Check-in was completed quickly and seamlessly, there is also a special line for those with Hilton elite status to make your experience as fast and efficient as possible.
Hilton Aruba Rooms
The Hilton Aruba Resort has three main towers where all of the rooms are located, the Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao Towers. The rooms in each tower are quite similar, with minor differences in the types of rooms on offer. During our time at the Hilton Aruba, we stayed in the Aruba tower with a room looking out over the huge pool area, and the incredible Palm Beach. It was perfect for taking in the Aruban sunsets.
Rooms in the Bonaire and Curacao towers are similar, but are a slightly different style as the buildings are newer. They also offer rooms and suites that look out onto the beautiful tropical gardens.
The room is spacious with lots of room for storing your luggage, a super comfortable King-size bed, and a desk and seating area. Though the best part is of course the balcony, where you can spend time outdoors enjoying the great weather any time of day.
Read More: Hotel Review of the Hyatt Regency Aruba
Hilton Aruba Amenities
The standout feature of the Hilton Aruba Resort has to be its main pool area. The pools are spacious, palm-tree lined, and perfect for relaxing. There are many lounge chairs, cabanas, and even hammocks to spend hours at, sipping an Aruba Ariba. Between the main building and the pool area, there is a large waterfall, and also the Bird Garden, which features a number of exotic birds. During the day you can come visit the birds and chat with their keeper, or you may just find them flying around the resort area!
In front of the pool area is an expansive area of the famous Palm Beach. This is why you’re coming to Aruba! Soft, white sand stretching for miles! There are a ton of palapas spread out on the beach here, where you can also order food and drink service. If you’re looking to do some activities, you can even try out standup paddle boarding, canoeing, or paddle boating out on the water.
For those that want to stay fit and active, there is a 24-hour fitness center available in the resort as well as outdoor tennis courts. If you like to relax on vacation, the Hilton Aruba has the eforea spa, complete with many unique to Aruba aloe vera treatments. Aloe vera is one of the Aruba’s most famous exports, and the spa has many treatments which incorporate this amazing plant.
Hilton Aruba Dining
When staying at the Hilton Aruba, there are five main restaurants and bars to choose from for dining and drinks throughout your stay.
Breakfast is served at the Laguna Restaurant, which overlooks a tropical lagoon. You can choose to sit indoors or outdoors, and are spoiled with choice for what to eat. A Continental Buffet, many a la carte options, as well as Endless Breakfast are all available. We highly recommend the Endless Breakfast option as you can order as much as you like from the a la carte menu, sample the buffet, and it includes bottomless mimosas.
Lunch options include the Castaways Bar, which overlooks the pool area and is perfect for casual lunch bites, drinks, and a daily happy hour. Just next door is Gilligan’s Seafood Shack, which was our favorite place for an afternoon snack. We loved the Coconut Shrimp and Crab Cakes, and be sure to sample their delicious Yucca fries!
The flagship bar and lounge is Mira Solo, which is just off of the lobby, and specializes in Caribbean cocktails and live music! This is the best place to sample the signature Aruba Ariba cocktail which was actually invented here at the Aruba Caribbean Resort back in the 1960’s. Since then, the Aruba Ariba has become the go-to cocktail everywhere on the island, and you haven’t been to Aruba if you haven’t tried one!
Once you’ve sampled a cocktail at Mira Solo, it’s not far to Sunset Grille, which as you might guess is an excellent place to watch the sunset. Sunset Grill is the higher end restaurant on property and the perfect place to enjoy some excellent steaks and local fish and seafood.
Another upscale alternative for dinner is to reserve the Sunset Concierge experience. Here you can select a five-course meal to enjoy with personalized service at a table set up just for you right on Palm Beach.
Being coffee lovers, we stopped by the lobby coffee shop at least once every day of our stay! The baristas created some great lattes with Lavazza coffee, which paired nicely with the baked goods on offer. There is also a large selection of snacks, gelato, and to-go items available at the market.
Of course, in-room dining is also available, as is dining and drinks while on the beach at your palapa!
Hilton Aruba Conclusion
The Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort is the most iconic resort in Aruba, and is perfectly located on Aruba’s famous Palm Beach. The resort has numerous food options to keep you satisfied throughout your stay, and one of the most impressive pool areas on the island, making the Hilton Aruba a great choice for any trip to Aruba.
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