- Pristine Palm Beach location
- Some of the best restaurants in Aruba
- Spacious rooms, all with balconies
- Exclusive Tradewinds Club lounge and amenities
- Bon Bini children's program
- Tradewinds Club rooms no different than others at the resort
- Some renovations still in progress as of 11/08
- Beach umbrellas must be reserved in advance and can be scarce
- Address: L.G. Smith Boulevard, #101, Palm Beach, Aruba
- Phone: 297-586-9000; 800-223-6388
- Rates for 2009: $269-$1269
- Dining: 6 restaurants including 24-hour coffee shop; all-day dining at the Tradewinds Lounge for Club members
- Other Amenities: Pool, beach, an array of water sports, lobby mall, fitness center, spa, outdoor Jacuzzi, children’s programs
- Rooms: 411 (includes 35 suites) on eight floors
The exclusive Tradewinds Lounge, only available to those staying in the Tradewinds Club, is located on the 8th floor and provides sweeping views of Palm Beach. Two computers with free wireless internet are provided, as well as a variety of complimentary food and drinks throughout the day. Guests are not allowed to bring the latter back to their rooms, but can nosh in the club's dining area or the lounge balconies.
It is important to note that the rooms with access to the Tradewinds Lounge differ in no way from the hotel’s other rooms; the difference is in amenities alone. Every room is spacious, however, and includes a walk-in closet and a large bathroom with a double sink. For those who need extra space, 35 suites are available. It is up to you to decide if the substantially higher Tradewinds tab is worth the perks or if your money is better spent at the spa and restaurants.
The Marriott's Stellaris casino attracts locals as well as tourists; bingo, an Aruba favorite, is offered three afternoons a week. Six restaurants dot the property, including the new Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, the chain's only Caribbean location outside of Puerto Rico. When you're not enjoying the beautiful grotto-style courtyard and pool (bedecked with red umbrellas and populated by roaming iguanas), take to the sand. The Marriott’s exclusive stake on Palm Beach stretches far west.
The people of Aruba are an extremely kind and generous bunch, and the Aruba Marriott reflects this welcoming culture. This is a fantastic hotel for sunny days, and, if luck should bring rain, it is by no means a bad place to be stuck inside.
