In search of some winter sun and a destination easy to fly to from the US (as we already had a trip booked in prior), Aruba has been on my bucket list for many years. White sands, blue ocean and a laid back vibe, I was excited and hopeful for a relaxing hot January break.
Watch my full walkthrough of the hotel at the end of this post or here (best watched in 4k).
THE HOTEL
Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort and Casino first opened its doors in 1959 and was the first hotel on Aruba.
Situated on Palm Beach the property was originally named Aruba Caribbean Hotel and paved the way for tourism on the island.
The hotel itself was designed by one of the greatest American architects; Morris Lapidus. The Hilton property is deemed his best work alongside other landmark hotels such as Eden Roc.
The location of the hotel we felt was perfect. Parallel to Palm Beach runs J.E Irausquin Blvd, which is lined with shops, restaurants and bars which is perfect for Aruba evenings and just a five minute walk from the hotel. As Aruba is a small island at 21 miles long and 6 miles wide, it is so easy to see all that it has to offer. You can also rent a car directly at the hotel.
See all the amazing places Aruba has to offer here.
Walking into the entrance of the hotel, we immediately felt that we had arrived at a tropical paradise. From the palm trees swaying at the entrance, to the warm breeze flowing through the foyer. We were excited to see the rest of the property.
Within the ground floor foyer area there is access to the casino, Mira Solo Bar perfect for cocktails from an elevated perspective over the beach. Two shops are also located here, Oscars Market for grab and go food and Tropical Breeze for boutique shopping.
From the foyer you can easily stroll down to the two pool areas, Castaways bar, Gilligan’s Seafood Shack, Sunset Grille, the bird garden, Eforea Spa and of course the beach.
The Room
Our partial sea view room was located in the main reception building and accessible from there. The bedroom included a king bed, partial sea view with seating for two on the balcony. The bathroom included a large sink area and shower. These rooms also have a view of a car park, so if this isn’t what you are after perhaps choose a different room, but for us this wasn’t an issue and we didn’t notice any noise.
Eforea Spa
Eforea Spa is tucked away behind the pool area and offers a peaceful sanctuary within the resort. Offering communal relaxation areas and a plunge pool and steam room. There are also saunas located in both male and female changing rooms.
The changing rooms and shower areas have own-branded Eforea Spa products.
The Treatment
Our massage was the Kopari coconut couples massage. Coconut melt was used, applied at a gentle pressure to really soothe our achy muscles. The coconut oil infused a tropical hydrating experience. My therapist really worked to remove any tension and the massage was extremely relaxing.
The massage concluded with a foot massage and I didn’t realise how much tension there is in the feet! Needless to say this was worked out delicately and I felt lighter afterwards. With the use of cold towels to finish, the massage was a truly refreshing experience.
Final thoughts
If you want to visit Aruba and be perfectly located for all the fabulous offerings this happy island has, then the Hilton is for you. The hotel itself is well maintained as well as the beach and pool areas and staff are very helpful and friendly. The beach is perfectly situated for water sports and stunning sunsets.
The hotel also has unique features such as the bird garden and waterfalls located around the property. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would recommend to anyone looking to visit this fantastic island.
See all the amazing places Aruba has to offer here.
