All photos: Bryan Dearsley / LuxuryCaribbeanIslands
When my neighbors heard I was visiting Aruba and staying in Palm Beach, they didn’t hesitate to wish me luck in getting a good night’s sleep.
Considered this magnificent Caribbean Island’s party zone, they painted a picture of Palm Beach which, while sounding like a heck of a lot of fun, was the antitheses of what I was looking for: peace and quiet, and a relaxing place from which to explore Aruba’s many unique attractions.
As I was soon to find out, however, my choice of Palm Beach hotel was to prove an extremely good one. Not only does Radisson Blu Aruba have everything needed in terms of rest and relaxation, it was close enough to Palm Beach’s nightlife that, should you choose to venture out, you’d find your way back without issue… even after a cocktail or two. At the same time, it’s one of the quietest resorts I’ve stayed at, with noise-free nights guaranteed, even with the patio doors open.
Quiet Luxury at Radisson Blu Aruba
Located at the north end of JE Irausquin Boulevard, Aruba’s busiest holiday address, this modern 4-star hotel is an oasis of quiet luxury. And because it sits just off the main strip, it enjoys almost no passing traffic, making it a restful favourite for couples and adults who want the beach on call, not on their doorstep. The trade-off is intentional: a free beach shuttle and reserved loungers at Palm Beach remove the last excuse to stay anywhere noisier.
The seamless check-in process takes place in a funkily designed lobby, and I’m immediately impressed with the airiness of this high-ceilinged public space. As I soon found out, Aruba’s always hot, and almost always breezy, so the gentle island breeze blowing in was as welcome as the complementary glass of champagne offered.
The lobby itself is a work of art. Designed by the hotel’s owner (also an architect), the lobby ceiling features exquisitely crafted Moroccan wood that curves to mimic waves, an effect enhanced by the pink and blue neon lighting arcing up the walls towards it. It was to prove a taster of the exquisite woodwork that’s seen throughout the property’s public spaces and suites.
Polite People and Plenty of Pools
The front desk- and concierge staff are exceptional. A huge shout out in particular to concierge staff member Peter Santos who never failed to greet guests by their names… now that’s hospitality. While a cliché that first impressions are lasting impressions, it’s certainly something that the hotel’s GM, Luigi Wix, takes very much to heart. And being friendly really does come naturally to Arubans. Living in a constantly warm and usually sunny Caribbean destination that’s been dubbed “One Happy Island,” how could they not be?
As you make your way from the hotel’s front-of-house experiences (more on dining, drinking, the spa, gym, and retail experiences later), you’ll notice the amenities are thoughtfully separated from the 14-storey accommodations block by the large pool area.
And the pool deck is big, with plenty of lounge chairs around the family- and kids pools, as well as shady umbrellas spread about a huge space that never feels crowded (there’s also a covered adults-only hot tub, too).
This separation of public spaces and accommodations is something you’ll appreciate when making use of the pools, making it easy to beat a retreat to your room without trapsing through the lobby dripping wet or slathered in sunscreen. There’s even a lovely shrub-lined pathway that provides a sheltered walkway that’s so pretty I frequently used it to detour around the main pool.
Spacious Luxury Suites
The hotel offers 132 modern and luxurious suites, each featuring separate living and sleeping areas, floor-to-ceiling windows, and rainfall showers as standard. And they’re certainly spacious, ensuring everyone from solo travels to couples and families have plenty of room in which to spread out. One bedroom condo-style suites cover 753-square-feet and come with a spacious living room, a refrigerator and cupboards for storage, as well as a dining table that’s perfect for enjoying your morning coffee from the in-room Puro Coffee station.
Larger layouts include two-bedroom units and huge three-bedroom penthouses with wrap-around terraces framing those beautiful Caribbean panoramas. The penthouse suites also add full kitchens with Bosch appliances for gourmands who prefer private dining.
Design is deliberately contemporary: think pale porcelain tiles, blond timber accents, and pops of cobalt that nod to the brand’s Scandinavian roots. Smart TVs, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, and USB-C bedside ports meet modern tech expectations. Oversized closets are a practical bonus for long-stay guests or wedding parties, with the closet space in the penthouses being large enough to live in, if the mood should take you.
Couples often book the Horizon Collection on floors 10-14 for unimpeded sunset views, while families favor the 1,592-square-foot two-bedroom corner suites that sleep six without the need for roll-aways. All categories include balconies large enough for a breakfast table, a nice touch as room service runs 24 hours.
Regardless of the size of the suite, you’ll sleep like a baby: no noisey people wandering the corridors, no noisy pool parties, and not a peep from the nearby Palm Beach strip and beaches. Heaven.
Pools and Amenities
The showstopper at the Radisson sits 170 feet above street level: Aruba’s largest adults-only rooftop infinity pool. Boasting panoramic ocean views, nothing interrupts west-facing views over Palm Beach and the Caribbean Sea, making sunset swims a must.
The poolside Acqua Breeze Pool Bar mixes classic daiquiris and serves locally brewed beers. Sunrise yoga sessions and weekly aqua-aerobics classes add complimentary wellness programming.
The bright 24-hour gym overlooks the family pool for those needing a workout, and personal trainers can be arranged with 24-hour notice. Post-workout, guests pad a few steps to the whirlpool to soothe quads before a cool dip and an elevator ride back to their suite.
Spa and Wellness Experiences
For more dedicated pampering, the second floor Verde Renacer Spa offers cutting-edge skin care treatments and anti-aging services designed to care for mind, body and soul. The spa features three treatment rooms including couples’ suites for candle-oil rituals and bamboo-stick massages.
And I thoroughly recommend you book a session. From the check-in with Nicolle to the wonderful masseuses (ask for Odalis!), it was a calming and extremely relaxing one hour that left me wishing it wouldn’t end. In fact, it was so soothing I spent much of the remainder of the day catnapping next to the main pool.
Weekly complimentary guest activities highlight wellness, with the hotel having partnered with a variety of local businesses. Examples include DIY aloe scrub workshops in collaboration with Aruba Aloe, jewelry making with ArtisA (a local art gallery that works exclusively with the hotel), and even weekly floating meditation, a new activity that’s gaining in popularity at luxury resorts like the Radisson Blu Aruba.
Food and Drink Options
Mornings begin on the third-floor terrace at Sunset Bistro, where a hybrid buffet à-la-carte breakfast menu features Dutch pancakes with maple syrup, fresh-made omelettes, washed down with a “Super Breakfast” mimosa.
Between meals, The Clover coffee lounge near the hotel entrance pulls single-origin Colombian pour-overs and stocks 32 loose-leaf teas. This air-conditioned spot also offers a great selection of pastries and other treats you can eat in or whisk back to your room.
For poolside drinks and light bites, Acqua Breeze handles poolside cravings with poke bowls and passion-fruit popsicles. Room service, available around the clock, means late arrivals can sample exquisite dishes like lionfish ceviche or even lighter bites without leaving their terrace. Though not yet opened when I visited, a new food venue featuring a curated selection of unique wines and beers, plus specialty cheeses and cold cuts, is set to open soon.
Leading the Way for Sustainability in Aruba
The entire island paradise that is Aruba prides itself on its eco-friendly practices, and the Radisson Blu Aruba is no exception. As I soon learned, the hotel is committed to sustainable practices and is notable as the first hotel in Aruba to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.
Other notable sustainability highlights include:
- Advanced automated air conditioning system and exclusive use of LED lighting
- Reuse of A/C condensation for irrigation
- Indigenous landscaping that integrates native species
- Water-saving bathroom fixtures
- Eco-friendly cleaning supplies
- Refillable soap and shampoo dispensers
The hotel also recently received the prestigious 2025 Ring of Honor Award from Choice Hotels International, placing it among the top one percent of Choice Hotels worldwide, a remarkable achievement for a property that’s celebrating its fourth anniversary.
The Beach and Beyond
Palm Beach’s white sands are an easy five minute stroll from the hotel, and a complimentary shuttle is also available that’ll whisk you to a designated beach area where padded loungers, umbrellas, and chilled water are reserved exclusively for guest use.
A beach concierge service is available that can arrange watercraft rentals or reef-safe snorkeling kits with an hour’s notice. They can also book JetLev jetpacks, kitesurf lessons, or sunset catamaran cruises, too.
Eagle Beach, routinely cited among the Caribbean’s top baches, is just three kilometers south and is a must-visit at least once while in Aruba. Other popular beach spots include the more rugged Arashi Beach close to the California Lighthouse viewpoint (it’s just a 10-minute taxi ride north) and a personal favorite, the lovely Baby Beach, a lagoon-like oasis a 30-minute drive away at the south end the island.
Exploring Aruba
Its location (and its peaceful setting) is very much the Radisson Blu’s trump card. Palm Beach Plaza Mall with its boutiques, mini-golf, and Caribbean Cinemas complex is just two blocks away, while Paseo Herencia Mall takes just seven minutes on foot. Guests who time their visit for Thursday night can wander the mall’s alfresco cultural market and return safely under well-lit boulevards (and Aruba is incredibly safe!).
Oranjestad, the island’s cool capital, is a must-visit. Just an easy taxi-ride away, it’s fun to explore after sunrise when you’ll get those pastel-colored buildings with their Dutch gables to yourself.
Don’t worry, coffee shops like the excellent SANTOS Coffee With Soul start opening up soon after 8 am as locals begin to go about their everyday lives. Other businesses soon follow, whether fishing charters in the Renaissance Marina, the Renaissance Marketplace, or the local vendors at the waterside Aruba Flea Market.
You’ll also want to come back later in the day when the sun’s gone down to experience a little of the city’s incredible food scene. My personal favorite? That had to be the Lima Bistro, a superb Peruvian restaurant serving up delicious seafood and beef dishes (go for the short ribs) and an Old Fashioned worth writing home about.
Radisson Blu Aruba: Fast Facts
The bottom line? The magnificent Radisson Blu Aruba is definitely a rising star on the luxury Caribbean resort scene. Quiet, intimate, friendly, and modern, if there was a 4.5-star certification on the usual resort ratings system, this wonderful place to stay in Aruba deserves it.
It also deserves your attention the next time you’re planning a quiet luxe Caribbean getaway. Here’s why:
- Special Rates: Visitors to LuxuryCaribbeanIslands.com who book a stay directly with Radisson Blu Aruba now through December 22, 2025, will receive up to 40% off the regular rate of the resort’s one- and two-dedroom suites. Private airport transfer and a welcome amenity are also included.
- Location & Access:The property is barely a 20-minute taxi ride from Queen Beatrix International Airport, and an even shorter stroll from the entertainment corridor that lines the Palm Beach strip. You can wander five minutes along landscaped sidewalks to the beach yet, back at the hotel, the only sounds are the rustle of palm trees in the breeze and the clink of ice in a sunset cocktail.
- Accommodations:132 contemporary suites ranging from 753-square-foot one-bedroom layouts to opulent three-bedroom penthouses.
- Pools:Three pools are available, including Aruba’s largest adults-only rooftop infinity pool, plus a grand family pool, kids pool, and an adults-only whirlpool.
- Dining: Sunset Bistro for breakfast/dinner, The Clover for coffees and sweet treats, and the Acqua Breeze Pool Bar. Countless other dining options are a pleasant and safe stroll away in Palm Beach.
- Wellness:Verde Renacer Spa with three treatment rooms, the 24-hour Technogym fitness center, and complimentary yoga and aqua-aerobics classes are all available.
- Sustainability:First LEED-certified hotel construction in Aruba.
- Beach Access:Complimentary shuttle to designated beach area with reserved loungers and umbrellas.
- Business Services:Meeting rooms and event spaces are available for corporate retreats and weddings.
- Contact:Radisson Blu Aruba, J.E. Irausquin Boulevard 97-A, Noord, Aruba | +297 526 5000
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Bryan Dearsley is Editor of LuxuryCaribbeanIslands and writes about luxury travel and lifestyles (hey, someone has to do it!).
