ARUBA MARRIOTT RESORT AND STELLARIS CASINO

Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino occupies the northern end of Palm Beach, the island's liveliest district, with 414 fully renovated rooms and suites, ten dining outlets including a Ruth's Chris Steak House, a casino open around the clock and a twelve-treatment-room spa. Two pools, one of them adults-only with private cabanas. The plan is room-only, which leaves the field open to the dozens of restaurants in the neighbourhood, all within walking distance. The Tradewinds Club, an adults-only privilege floor, has its own lounge, concierge and stretch of beach.

Aruba Marriott at a glance

A large beachfront resort at the northern end of Palm Beach, fully renovated: 414 rooms and suites, ten dining outlets, a casino open around the clock, a twelve-treatment-room spa and an adults-only pool.

Two things set it apart. First the dining, with ten outlets on property including a Ruth's Chris Steak House, rare even on Palm Beach. Then the Tradewinds Club, a privilege floor Marriott itself calls a hotel within the hotel: adults only, with private check-in, a lounge, concierge service and its own stretch of beach.

The plan is room-only, with meals settled on property. That is the norm on Palm Beach, and it is worth knowing from the start.

Is the Aruba Marriott all-inclusive?

No, and neither are most of the large hotels on Palm Beach. The rate covers your accommodation, and you choose your meals à la carte, on property or in the neighbourhood.

There is logic to that, and it works in your favour here. The hotel sits at the heart of Aruba's liveliest district: step outside and you have dozens of restaurants, two shopping centres and the island's whole evening scene within walking distance. Many travellers come precisely for that.

If you would rather have the budget settled in advance, Barceló Aruba is the genuine all-inclusive in this district, a few minutes away. Your AquaTerra advisor will tell you which of the two matches how you travel.

One inclusion worth knowing: the Tradewinds Club adds food and beverage service in the lounge, which covers a good share of the day's lighter meals.

Palm Beach or Eagle Beach: what changes

Aruba sorts its hotel districts by building height, not by category. That is the key to choosing well, and it is widely misunderstood.

Palm Beach, the High-Rise district, where the Marriott sits, lines up towers along roughly three kilometres of sand. Across the road runs a continuous strip of restaurants, shops and casinos. This is where you walk out for the evening.

Eagle Beach, the Low-Rise district, has low buildings, far more space between them and the widest beach on the island. You go there for the quiet.

A Low-Rise hotel is not a lesser hotel: it is a geography, not a grade. The Marriott occupies the upper end of the lively side.

Which room should you book?

The 414 rooms and suites come in nine types, all refreshed in the renovation. What separates them is the view and the level of service.

• The standard rooms suit most stays, with a balcony and a view of the ocean or the island.
• The 24 suites, from about 58 m², add a separate living area. The Governor's Suite comes with a wraparound balcony.
• The Tradewinds Club occupies its own adults-only floor: separate check-in, a lounge with service through the day, concierge and a reserved stretch of beach. Five of its rooms are suites. It is the choice for couples who want quiet without leaving a full-service resort.

The practical tip: if you are travelling as a couple and the buzz leaves you cold, the Tradewinds Club changes the experience of the same hotel entirely.

Where do you eat on property?

Ten outlets, which puts the Marriott at the top of its district on this front.

• Ruth's Chris Steak House, the well-known American steakhouse.
• Atardi, feet in the sand, for dinner at sunset.
• Mercát, in a market-and-sharing register.
• Waves Bar & Grill and The Lobby, for casual meals.
• H2Oasis Adult Pool Bar, beside the adults-only pool.
• And through the rest of the day: Starbucks, Gelato & Co., Nana's Dutch Pancakes and room service.

Atardi books up early: it is the most requested table and there is only one seating a night on the sand. Ask for it when you book the stay.

The pools, the beach and the spa

Two pools, and the distinction matters. The family pool has its own swim-up bar. H2Oasis is adults only, with private cabanas of its own: this is where people go to read.

The beach is Palm Beach, the northern stretch, calm and sheltered. The hotel manages palapa reservations through its app: book yours as soon as the window opens in the morning and you will have the shade you want. Your advisor will walk you through it before you leave, which spares you learning it on arrival.

The Mandara Spa has been rebuilt: roughly 600 m², twelve treatment rooms, new saunas and steam rooms, and an outdoor courtyard with a hot tub and a cold plunge. The Stellaris Casino runs 24 hours, with 17 gaming tables, sports betting kiosks and a live entertainment lounge.

Who is it right for?

A strong fit for:

• Couples and adults who want a large, freshly renovated brand hotel with the casino and the evening scene at the door.
• Anyone who likes to eat well and change tables every night without getting in a car.
• Travellers who want everything within walking distance: shops, restaurants, cinema, beach.
• Families whose children have outgrown the kids' club, since the resort welcomes children without a supervised programme.
• Marriott Bonvoy members, whose free membership covers the wifi.

Better served elsewhere:

• Anyone who wants the budget settled in advance: Barceló Aruba answers that better.
• Anyone after complete quiet: Eagle Beach is the district, and Bucuti & Tara is its most accomplished expression.
• Anyone travelling with young children who wants a supervised club through the day.

The score sits at 4.5 out of 5 across more than 8,200 TripAdvisor reviews. What guests praise: the renovation, the dining and the location. What they advise: arrive knowing how beach seating is booked and that meals are added to the rate. Two things an advisor settles in five minutes before departure.

What to know before you book

• The ED Card is mandatory for everyone, infants included. It is completed online within seven days of departure and it is free on the official site edcardaruba.aw. Third-party sites charge for it: always use the official address.
• Documents. A valid passport, no visa for Canadians up to 90 days, and a return ticket and proof of funds that may be requested. Current requirements on travel.gc.ca.
• Right turns on a red light are prohibited in Aruba. That is the Canadian reflex that earns a ticket. Driving is on the right, limits are posted in km/h, and a Canadian licence is accepted.
• The wind. The trade winds blow almost constantly, strongest from May to October. They cool the air, they keep the humidity down and they hold sargassum away from the hotel coast. They also mask the heat: apply sunscreen more often than instinct suggests, and bring a clip for your hat.
• Electricity. Current and outlets are the same as in Canada, no adapter needed.
• Currency. The florin is the official currency, the U.S. dollar circulates everywhere. Carry small bills, as some businesses decline 50s and 100s.
• Charges on property. Accommodation tax, service charges and a resort fee are added to the rate. Your advisor gives you the full picture before you book.
• Travel insurance. Medical care may require payment up front.

Booking the Aruba Marriott with an advisor

Three things are better settled before departure than at the front desk: choosing between a standard room and the Tradewinds Club, reserving Atardi and your beach seating, and getting the exact picture of what is added to the rate. An AquaTerra advisor confirms all of it and assembles the complete file.

To compare, see our Aruba vacations page, our Aruba travel guide and all of our all-inclusive destinations.

Call 1 866 628-6241 or use our online form.