BARCELO ARUBA

Barceló Aruba is the all-inclusive on Palm Beach, and that sentence alone places it: on a strip where nearly every large hotel sells room-only, it is one of the few offering a budget settled in advance. Around 370 rooms, all with a balcony or terrace, directly on the sand. Six restaurants including a Japanese room with teppanyaki, a kids' club for ages 4 to 12, a large lagoon-shaped pool, a casino and a Royal Level privilege section with its own bar. The hotel was called Occidental Grand Aruba until late 2016.

Barceló Aruba at a glance

On Palm Beach, nearly every large hotel sells room-only. Barceló is the exception: a full all-inclusive, directly on the sand, in the middle of the island's liveliest district. That is its main argument and it is a solid one.

Around 370 rooms, all with a balcony or terrace. Six restaurants, a large lagoon-shaped pool with its rockwork, a casino, a kids' club and a Royal Level privilege section. The hotel was called Occidental Grand Aruba until late 2016.

The arithmetic is simple: you get the settled budget of an all-inclusive and, on stepping out, all of Palm Beach within walking distance.

Is Barceló Aruba all-inclusive?

Yes, fully, with no optional plan to choose. Meals, drinks and entertainment are covered from the moment you book.

That counts for more here than elsewhere in Aruba. The Marriott, the Hilton and the Hyatt are all neighbours and all room-only: on this strip, Barceló is the choice for anyone who wants to know in advance what the trip will cost.

The Royal Level section adds a reserved bar, privilege services and upgraded rooms. It is not an adults-only section, it is a level of service.

Two experiences are bookable as extras and are worth it: the chef's table and dinner served on the beach.

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.

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

Eagle Beach, the Low-Rise district, has low buildings, more space 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.

Which room should you book?

Every room has a balcony or terrace, which is not a given everywhere. What separates them is the view and the level of service.

• Deluxe garden view or pool view: the best value, set back from the movement.
• Deluxe ocean view, or pool and ocean view: the postcard from your balcony.
• Deluxe oceanfront with hot tub: the category couples ask for.
• Deluxe Lanai: ground floor with a level terrace, handy with young children or for anyone who would rather skip the lift.
• Connecting rooms: request them when you book if you are travelling as a group, they go quickly.
• Royal Level: Luxury ocean view, ocean view Suite and Master Suite, with a reserved bar and services.

Where do you eat on property?

Six restaurants and several bars, all covered by the plan.

• The Palm, the international buffet, for everyday meals.
• Beach Club Restaurant, casual, beachside, in a grill register.
• Arubian Seafood, Caribbean and fusion, à la carte.
• México Lindo, Tex-Mex.
• L'Olio, Italian.
• Kyoto, Japanese, with teppanyaki cooked in front of you.

The à la carte rooms need a reservation and seats go quickly. The habit that settles it: book your evenings the day after you arrive, before you even settle on the beach. Your AquaTerra advisor will note it in your departure file.

The pool, the beach and the casino

The main pool imitates a natural lagoon, with rockwork and a bar. Two hydrotherapy basins round it out. The hotel fronts Palm Beach directly, on the leeward side of the island: the water stays calm and sargassum does not reach this coast.

A regular's tip: shaded spots, palapas and loungers alike, are taken early in the morning. Early risers have no trouble, and the beach is wide enough for everyone to find a corner.

The casino on property has five tables. The spa offers massages and beauty treatments by appointment, and the fitness room is included.

Travelling with children

The kids' club takes ages 4 to 12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is a genuine supervised programme, which is rare among the neighbouring Palm Beach hotels, where most offer only occasional activities.

Add connecting rooms, the level-entry Deluxe Lanai units and the fact that children's meals and snacks are already paid for, and you have one of the simplest addresses on the island for a family stay. The spa is reserved for guests 18 and over.

Who is it right for?

A strong fit for:

• Families and couples who want a settled budget on Palm Beach. That is the decisive argument, since nearly the whole neighbourhood sells à la carte.
• Anyone who wants the district's entertainment, shops and restaurants within walking distance while coming back to eat and drink without reaching for a wallet.
• Families with children aged 4 to 12, thanks to the supervised club.
• Anyone who wants a little more service without changing hotels: Royal Level answers exactly that.

Better served elsewhere:

• Anyone after an intimate, hushed address: Eagle Beach is the district, and Bucuti & Tara is its most accomplished expression.
• Anyone who comes first for the dining and wants a different major restaurant every night: the Marriott next door has ten, à la carte.
• Anyone who needs brand-new rooms: the furnishings show some wear in places, and the hotel sells on its plan more than on its decor.

The score sits at 4.2 out of 5 across more than 13,000 TripAdvisor reviews, a volume that says a good deal about how busy it is. Guests praise the location, the plan and the beach. They advise booking the à la carte rooms on arrival and heading out early for shade. Two habits that change the stay, and two things an advisor tells you before you leave.

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. Driving is on the right and limits are posted in km/h.
• The wind. The trade winds blow almost constantly, strongest from May to October. They cool the air, keep the humidity down and hold sargassum away from the hotel coast. They also mask the heat: sunscreen more often than instinct suggests, and a clip for your hat.
• Electricity. Current and outlets are the same as in Canada, no adapter needed.
• Currency. The florin is official, the U.S. dollar circulates everywhere. Small bills are useful for tips and taxis.
• Tipping. A service charge added to a bill is not a tip: it goes into a pool shared across the staff. A tip to your server remains appreciated and optional.
• Travel insurance. Medical care may require payment up front.

Booking Barceló Aruba with an advisor

Three things are better settled before departure: the room category, particularly if you want connecting rooms or Royal Level, the strategy for booking the à la carte restaurants, and the exact picture of what the plan covers. 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.