Aruba Ariba! Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino: Onsite Review

Picture a hotel with a little James Bond in it, or at least a bit of Rat Pack verve and put that property in the middle of an empty beach on a Caribbean island just 15 miles north of Venezuela. Squint and you might just see what is now the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino long before Vegas was a household word.

The property initially opened in 1959, an oeuvre by Fountainebleau designer Morris Lapidus, father of the neo-Baroque touch that later became swank Miami Moderne. A soupçon of that moment is still accessible in the Hilton Aruba, ensconced on a sunset-facing stretch of silken sand on a quiet bay the bottom of the Caribbean. The then Aruba Caribbean Hotel opened up the tiny island of Aruba to a new form of tourism – luxury travel — and gave the been-there-done-that set a deeper tan and a new name to drop. Jack Benny entertained there and as did Harry Belafonte, George Benson, Elizabeth Taylor, Eddy Fisher, Arthur Godfrey, Xavier Cugat, Abbe Lane, Bob Hope and Liberace. Other visiting notables included Natalie Wood, Roger Moore, Tony Martin and, naturally, top-deck royals from the Netherlands. 

Hilton Aruba Flow

Today, the first thing that strikes you about this legendary hot spot is the spaciousness and the casual flow of its rhythms. The open air lobby that lets in the endless Trade Winds fans out to gardens and walkways and waterfalls and even an exotic bird aviary all leading down to meandering pools and the sea beyond. Classic Aruba friendliness speedily dispels the worries and traumas of traveling with quick reminders “you are on Aruba time now.”

The current 357-room Hilton Aruba resort went through a few iterations before becoming a Hilton in 2015. For a swath of those 62 years it was a Radisson-branded property and the single Aruba Tower expanded to the three towers that are there today. The once empty beach is now abutted by a Riu next door, a Hyatt down the street, a Holiday Inn, Marriott and onward toward the Ritz-Carlton and a soon to come St. Regis. And the strand, which started with this single luxury property, is now a bustling strip of souvenir shops, artsy boutiques, bars, restaurants, cigar shops and a fashion mall. While there is plenty to do and see on the island (which is a comfortably compact 19.5 miles long by six miles wide), those who simply want to chill will have all they need onsite or a short walk away. 

Hilton Aruba’s Roomy Rooms

My expectation of experiencing the telltale signs of a hotel past its prime were vanquished with the room: a standard room that had undergone part of a recent hotel-wide upgrade that exchanged baths for new spacious glass shower stalls as well as new softgoods and amenities. The room was large with two queens and an ocean view. Every room comes with a patio with comfortable chairs looking out to sea or to shady gardens. Mine, in the Aruba Tower, sat right above a flowing rock waterfall feature so I was able to enjoy the water sounds rather than the energized music emanating from the Mira Solo Bar and pools beyond. At night, thick-paned glass kept party sounds from creeping in and I slept like a rock on the super-coiled Hilton dream bed the company touts. Because I sleep hot, I kept the room cool at the 60-degree mark. Most hotels do not slide below 68 degrees these days. Amenities were refilled responsibly each day, another surprise for the frequent traveler.

Food Finds at Hilton Aruba

In the morning, the in-room coffee machine produced a strong-enough cup by use of two supplied filter packs – enough for me to head downstairs to Oscar’s and purchase a double espresso with some readymade items and a scone. What I did not finish I saved in the room mini-fridge. On other mornings I indulged in the Laguna Buffet that offered a hot and cold menu that included all manner of eggs, pancakes, pork sides, fruit, yogurt, cereal and breads. For lunch it was Gilligan’s with open outdoor tables that often included friendly iguana visits. The menu skewed toward café casual with burgers, fried fish dishes, salads and tacos. In Aruba, food is economical, making piquant stews, drippingly delicious caserroles and addictive fried cornrolls with ingredients at hand. Do not expect to lose weight here. Fried carbs are king and then comes the catch of the day. 

Dinner at Hilton Aruba should include at least one night at the Sunset Grille, which offers outside seating and focuses on surf and turf, fine wine and good service. A must cocktail there is the Aruba Ariba – a large umbrella-style indulgence of rum, vodka, fruity liqueurs and grenadine and actually invented at this property. 

When not dining, there are pools to ply and beach palapas to try. These come with plug-in power and plenty of fast Wifi (which also runs free throughout the hotel and in rooms). Kids can take in the children’s programs, tweens can enjoy the free beach activities and adults can wander the 3-mile roundtrip beachwalk or head to the Eforea spa for some serious New Age healing options complemented by Aruba-grown aloe elixirs. 

Business & Pleasure at Hilton Aruba

Those traveling for meetings and conferences will note the 40,000 square foot meeting facilities that can handle up to 900 people in eight meeting rooms with flexible configurations.

Upshot? For an in-demand property focused on families, groups and leisure (it was running at more than 90 percent occupancy at the time of my stay), there seems to be space for all comers without getting in each other’s way. Two ocean-facing penthouse arrangements are available for those with large broods or who want to elevate their stay. The Palm Beach Club offers exclusive lounge services to those booking upgraded rooms and suites. In all, especially for those with Hilton Honors or Unlimited Rewards points to spend, the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino checks all the boxes. All services and amenities are a la carte at this time, however packages are available starting at $424 per night. Honors members can save up to 20 percent by booking at least a week in advance. www.HiltonAruba.com