By Kevin
Quick answer
- The best Aruba all-inclusive resorts for most couples are Riu Palace Antillas (adults-only, Palm Beach) and the newer Secrets Baby Beach Aruba (adults-only, opened June 2025, far south).
- For families, Divi Aruba All Inclusive and its sister Tamarijn on Druif Beach share 12 dining options, 8 bars and 5 pools, and are usually the best value; the renovated Riu Palace Aruba (reopened July 31, 2026) is the newer, pricier family pick.
- Holiday Inn Resort Aruba, Renaissance Wind Creek and JOIA by Iberostar sell all-inclusive packages as an option; Hyatt Regency, Aruba Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Bucuti & Tara and Boardwalk are not all-inclusive.
- Aruba sits on the southern fringe of the hurricane belt and gets about 17.8 inches of rain a year; the driest months are March and April (under 0.4 inch each).
- Every visitor arriving by air needs an online ED card, and everyone aged 8 and up pays a $20 Sustainability Fee once per calendar year.
- U.S. Customs preclearance at Aruba's airport means you clear U.S. immigration before you fly home and walk straight out on arrival.
Our verdict
Our verdict: book Riu Palace Antillas for adults, Divi & Tamarijn for families, Secrets for quiet luxury
If you want a classic adults-only all-inclusive on Aruba's liveliest beach, we would book Riu Palace Antillas. It runs 24-hour all-inclusive service, sits in the middle of the Palm Beach strip and holds a Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice 2026 badge, though maintenance complaints mean you should pay for an Elite Club or upper-floor room.
Families get the most for their money at Divi Aruba All Inclusive and Tamarijn Aruba, which share one large Druif Beach complex with a kids' club for ages 4 to 12. Rooms are older, and service is uneven, but the beach is wide and the price usually undercuts Palm Beach.
Couples who care more about peace than nightlife should look at Secrets Baby Beach Aruba, the island's newest true all-inclusive, with 304 suites and early guest scores around 8.6 out of 10. Just accept that you will be a long drive from Palm Beach restaurants.
If your heart is set on Eagle Beach, JOIA Aruba by Iberostar is the top-rated option here (4.7 on Tripadvisor), but all-inclusive is an add-on there, not the default.
- Best adults-only overallHotel Riu Palace Antillas
- Best quiet luxurySecrets Baby Beach Aruba
- Best family valueDivi Aruba All Inclusive
- Best renovated family pickHotel Riu Palace Aruba
- Best on Eagle BeachJOIA Aruba by Iberostar
- Best private islandRenaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort (all-inclusive plan)
Picks are based on guest ratings, recent review patterns and official resort information, not hosted stays. Our method.
Feb–Jun
Best months
Driest: Mar–Apr, under 0.4 in of rain
Low
Hurricane risk
Southern fringe of the hurricane belt
ED card + $20 fee
Entry
Fee per visitor aged 8+, once per calendar year
AUA, U.S. preclearance
Airport
3–12 km to the main resort areas
18
Nonstop U.S. cities
Including NYC, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston
$450–1,100/night
Typical all-inclusive
Per room, 2 adults, peak-season mid-range resorts
86–92°F
Average high
Year-round, with steady trade winds
Aruban florin
Currency
U.S. dollars widely accepted
At a glance
Our 9 picks at a glance
Listed by trip type, with our top all-round pick first. Scores show how they compare on food, beach, rooms, service, activities and value.
- 1Our score8.0Guests8.3
- 2
Best quiet adults-only luxury
Secrets Baby Beach ArubaBaby Beach Bay, near San Nicolas · Adults-only · $$$$
Our score8.4Guests8.6 - 3Our score7.8Guests8.2
- 4Our score7.7Guests8.2
- 5Our score7.9Guests8.2
- 6Our score7.4Guests8.2
- 7
Best kids-eat-free value
Holiday Inn Resort Aruba (all-inclusive package)Palm Beach, Noord · All ages · $$
Our score7.6Guests8.5 - 8
Best private island (flamingos)
Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort (all-inclusive plan)Downtown Oranjestad · All ages · $$$
Our score8.1Guests8.9 - 9Our score8.5Guests9.2
“Guests” is the average of the guest ratings shown for each resort (Tripadvisor, Kayak and booking sites), converted to a 10-point scale.
Live prices
Check all-inclusive prices in Aruba
Compare the same dates across booking sites — rates for identical rooms often differ by 10–20%.
Aruba all-inclusive resorts: which ones actually are
Aruba is a high-rise, restaurant-heavy island, and most of its big-name hotels are sold room-only. That matters because many lists of Aruba all-inclusive resorts mix true all-inclusives with hotels that merely sell a meal package, or with hotels that offer nothing of the kind. Here is how the options really break down as of October 2026.
Fully all-inclusive resorts
- Riu Palace Antillas (adults-only) and Riu Palace Aruba (all ages), side by side on Palm Beach. Both run RIU's 24-hour all-inclusive.
- Barceló Aruba, Palm Beach, formerly the Occidental Grand.
- Divi Aruba All Inclusive and Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive, sister resorts on Druif Beach with shared facilities.
- Secrets Baby Beach Aruba (adults-only), the first Hyatt Inclusive Collection resort on the island, announced open by Hyatt in June 2025.
Hotels where all-inclusive is an optional plan
- Holiday Inn Resort Aruba, Palm Beach, sells a package with three meals and resort-brand drinks; breakfast-only rates also exist.
- Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort, downtown Oranjestad, offers an all-inclusive plan valid at Renaissance-run outlets, including its private island.
- JOIA Aruba by Iberostar, Eagle Beach, opened as a European Plan (room-only) resort, according to Caribbean Journal, with an all-inclusive add-on.
The Visit Aruba all-inclusive list also includes the Divi Village Golf & Beach, Divi Dutch Village and Divi Aruba Phoenix resorts, which it lists with all-inclusive options; check exactly which restaurants each plan covers before you book.
Not all-inclusive
Hyatt Regency Aruba, Aruba Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton Aruba, Hilton Aruba, Bucuti & Tara and the Boardwalk Boutique Hotel are excellent hotels, but you pay for meals separately. We cover them in their own section below so you can weigh the trade-off.
Map
Where our Aruba picks are
Numbers match the ranking below. Tap a pin for the review.
Reviews
The 9 resorts, reviewed
Each review combines guest ratings from several sites, recurring themes in recent reviews and forum threads, and our own judgement of who it suits.
1Best adults-only on Palm Beach
Hotel Riu Palace Antillas
Palm Beach, Noord
$700–$1,050 per night for two · RIU.com junior suites at about $353–522 per person per night for 2 adults, checked Oct 2026; shown per room
Our take
We think Riu Palace Antillas is the most straightforward adults-only all-inclusive in Aruba. It has the things most couples want: 24-hour all-inclusive, a big pool deck, a casino, a spa, weekly RIU parties and a spot in the middle of Palm Beach where you can walk to dozens of bars and restaurants when the buffet gets repetitive. It holds a Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice award for 2026 and a 4.0 rating from more than 6,500 reviews.
The catch is consistency. Recent reviews praise the beach, staff and food in one breath and complain about worn hallways, odors, smoking around the pools and hard-to-get dinner reservations in the next. That pattern tells us the room you book matters. We would pay for an Elite Club or sea-view junior suite, book à la carte dinners on day one and treat the Riu Party night as a bonus rather than the reason to go. At roughly $700 to $1,050 a night for two, it is not cheap, so compare it against Secrets and JOIA before you commit.
Skip it if You want a quiet, design-led resort or have zero tolerance for wear and tear; look at Secrets Baby Beach or JOIA instead.
Our category scores
Pros
- Adults-only with 24-hour all-inclusive
- Central Palm Beach location, walkable to restaurants and shops
- Elite Club adds premium drinks and private areas
- Casino, spa and weekly RIU Party nights on site
Cons
- Recent complaints about maintenance, odors and worn hallways
- Smoking allowed in some pool areas, per reviewers
- À la carte reservations can be hard to get
- Large, busy resort rather than an intimate one
- Opened
- October 11, 2014
- Rooms
- 482
- Plan
- 24-hour all-inclusive
- Elite Club
- Launched October 2024: premium drinks, exclusive areas
- On site
- Casino, Renova Spa, gym, nightclub
- From airport
- 10.5 km
What guests say
Great resort, perfect size, great beach, amazing food, and friendly, attentive service!
A September 2026 guest called the location prime for the beach, dining and shops, but said an older building had worn hallways and a special-occasion celebration was handled poorly.
Several recent low-rated reviews describe a run-down feel, unpleasant odors, smoking around the pools and long dining queues, with one October 2026 guest urging others not to book.
2Best quiet adults-only luxury
Secrets Baby Beach Aruba
Baby Beach Bay, near San Nicolas
Our take
Secrets Baby Beach is the most interesting all-inclusive opening in Aruba in years. Hyatt announced it open in June 2025 as the island's first Inclusive Collection resort, with 304 suites, four à la carte restaurants plus a buffet, café and grill, six bars, three pools and a 3,200-square-foot spa. Early guest scores sit around 8.6 out of 10 on both Trip.com and Hotels.com, and recent reviewers rave about the food and service.
We rank it just behind Riu Palace Antillas overall only because of location and track record. You are on the far southeastern tip of the island, well away from Palm Beach and Oranjestad, so this is a stay-put resort. One recent reviewer also called the walk to the beach a bit of a hike and noted construction views from some rooms, and another reported a 90-minute check-in delay. Book it if you want new rooms, better food than Aruba's older all-inclusives and real quiet, and if World of Hyatt points matter to you. Skip it if you want to bar-hop.
Skip it if You want to walk to restaurants and nightlife, or you prefer a resort with years of consistent reviews behind it.
Our category scores
Pros
- Newest true all-inclusive on the island (opened June 2025)
- Strong early scores for food and service
- Preferred Club suites with private pools and butler service
- Quiet location near Baby Beach and the San Nicolas murals
Cons
- Remote: far from Palm Beach restaurants and nightlife
- Short review history, and some service teething problems
- Some rooms reportedly face construction
- Beach access is a walk from parts of the resort
- Opened
- June 2025
- Suites
- 304
- Dining
- 4 à la carte restaurants, buffet, café, grill, 24-hour in-room dining
- Bars
- 6, including a swim-up bar
- Pools
- 3 (two infinity pools)
- Spa
- Secrets Spa, 3,200 sq ft with hydrotherapy circuit
What guests say
The food and service is gold standard!
An October 2026 group traveler rated the food excellent and liked the cabanas, chairs and towels on the beach, but said the beach is a bit of a hike and some rooms in building 3 face construction.
waiting 90 minutes past the official check-in time is unacceptable.
3Best family value
Divi Aruba All Inclusive
Druif Beach, Oranjestad
Our take
Divi Aruba All Inclusive is the resort we would send most families to first. It is low-rise, right on the sand at Druif Beach, about 10 km from the airport, and guests can use everything at Tamarijn next door, which together adds up to 12 dining options, eight bars and five pools. The kids' club takes ages 4 to 12, there is nightly theme-night entertainment, and the price usually undercuts the Palm Beach high-rises.
The trade-offs are real. Tripadvisor reviewers in 2026 praise the beach, often calling it among the best they have seen in the Caribbean, but others mention dated rooms, ants, missed dinner reservations and uneven service at check-in. Its 4.1 rating from about 4,100 reviews is solid rather than stellar. Our advice: book a beachside or renovated oceanfront room, reserve the à la carte restaurants early, and use the Tamarijn side for a change of scene. Families who want brand-new rooms should compare the renovated Riu Palace Aruba.
Skip it if You want modern rooms and polished service every time, or nightlife on your doorstep.
Our category scores
Pros
- Wide, calm Druif Beach with shade huts
- Shared access to Tamarijn: 12 dining options and 8 bars
- Kids' club for ages 4 to 12 and nightly entertainment
- Low-rise layout, close to the airport
Cons
- Rooms are dated unless you book renovated categories
- Service and cleanliness reviews are inconsistent
- À la carte dinners subject to availability
- Spa, fitness center and golf sit at Tamarijn or cost extra
- Rooms
- 265 (per Air Canada Vacations)
- Shared dining
- 12 options and 8 bars across Divi and Tamarijn
- Kids' club
- Ages 4–12
- Golf
- The Links at Divi Aruba, 9 holes, extra cost
- Coming soon
- Rooftop bar late fall 2026; adults-only rooms December 2026
- From airport
- About 10 km
What guests say
definitely the nicest beach I have seen in the Caribbean
A June 2026 reviewer titled their stay as not the same as a few years ago, citing ants, a lost dinner reservation and overcooked steaks.
A September 2026 repeat guest said the resort keeps getting better and loved their oceanfront suite and the staff, but disliked that smoking was allowed on balconies.
4Best value for oceanfront rooms
Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive
Druif Beach, Oranjestad
Our take
Tamarijn is the other half of the Divi complex, and for couples on a budget it is often the better half. Its 236 rooms are laid out along the water in oceanfront categories, it carries a Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice 2026 award, and it ranks fourth of 16 hotels in Oranjestad on the site. Guests have four restaurants and four bars on site and can walk over to Divi Aruba's six dining options, so the food rotation is wider than the size suggests.
The weak spot is the rooms and upkeep: TripAdvisor's own sub-scores have rated rooms lowest, and October 2026 reviewers mention a buffet under renovation, slow housekeeping and towel shortages. Parts of the shoreline here are rockier than Divi's beach. Families should note the rule that one guest in each room must be 21 or older, and that the king oceanfront rooms hold only two people. Book Tamarijn if a sea view from bed matters more to you than a new bathroom.
Skip it if You are traveling with teens or young adults under 21 in their own room, or you want modern interiors.
Our category scores
Pros
- Oceanfront room categories at mid-range prices
- Full access to Divi Aruba's restaurants and pools
- Travelers' Choice 2026 award on Tripadvisor
- New Barista café and refreshed pool areas
Cons
- Rooms feel dated to many reviewers
- Rockier shoreline in places than neighboring Divi
- One guest per room must be 21 or older
- Buffet renovation disrupted some autumn 2026 stays
- Rooms
- 236
- Dining
- 4 restaurants on site, plus 6 at Divi Aruba
- Bars
- 4 on site (pool, beach, lounge, swim-up)
- Age rule
- At least one guest 21+ per room at check-in
- Included
- Snorkel gear, bikes, tennis, rock climbing, nightly shows
- Award
- Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice 2026
What guests say
got exactly what we paid for and more
An October 2026 returning guest said the buffet was under renovation, hot food was served cold and housekeeping was slow; another October reviewer found the room poorly cleaned and towels scarce.
5Best renovated family pick
Hotel Riu Palace Aruba
Palm Beach, Noord
Our take
Riu Palace Aruba is the comeback story of 2026. RIU closed it for a top-to-bottom renovation and reopened it on July 31, 2026, with refurbished rooms, a redesigned lobby, a restructured pool and garden area facing Palm Beach, a new RIU Land kids' club, a children's pool with slides and an adults-only Elite Club with 31 private-pool rooms. Post-reopening Tripadvisor reviewers use words like impeccable and say it is now nicer than its adults-only sister next door.
The renovation fixed the rooms more than the food. Several August and September 2026 reviews describe the buffet as repetitive and à la carte reservations as hard to get, and one couple found the pool music and noise too much. The 4.0 Tripadvisor rating from more than 9,500 reviews still mostly reflects the old hotel, so treat it as a floor. We would book it for a family that wants Palm Beach, a kids' club and fresh rooms, and add a few dinners out on the strip.
Skip it if Food is the highlight of your vacation, or you want a calm pool scene.
Our category scores
Pros
- Fully renovated, reopened July 31, 2026
- New RIU Land kids' club and splash pool with slides
- Elite Club with 31 private-pool rooms for adults
- Prime Palm Beach location next to restaurants and shops
Cons
- Food reviews remain average to mixed
- Specialty restaurant reservations are competitive
- Busy, noisy pool deck at peak times
- Few post-renovation reviews so far
- Opened
- 2007; reopened July 31, 2026 after full renovation
- Rooms
- 450 (per RIU, pre-renovation count)
- Restaurants
- Don Nicolás buffet, Krystal, Sayuri, Milano, steakhouse, Tiki Taco, Pepe's
- Kids
- RIU Land kids' club and children's pool with slides
- Elite Club
- Adults-only, 31 private-pool rooms, own restaurant and beach lounge
- Plan
- 24-hour all-inclusive
What guests say
Hotel completely renovated and much nicer than its sister property Riu Antillas.
A September 2026 family found the buffet consistently decent and loved the French restaurant and the renovated rooms and pools, but said food at the Asian restaurant arrived warm rather than hot.
August 2026 reviewers said the buffet offered virtually the same items every day, à la carte reservations were hard to get, and food quality fell short of a five-star hotel.
6Best mid-price Palm Beach option
Barceló Aruba
Palm Beach, Noord
Our take
Barceló Aruba, the former Occidental Grand, is the most-reviewed all-inclusive on the island, with a 4.2 Tripadvisor rating from more than 13,000 reviews. It has 370 rooms and suites, seven restaurants, four bars, a casino, a kids' club for ages 4 to 12 and a Royal Level of 44 rooms with VIP service, all on a prime stretch of Palm Beach. Reviewers repeatedly say the beach is the highlight.
Where it falls down is everything behind the beach. 2026 reviews call the building dated, describe broken air conditioning and safes, slow check-in, missing towels and trouble booking the on-site restaurants, and one family said they ended up eating off property. A reddit thread from 2025 makes the same point more bluntly. We still think it can be fair value for a family that wants Palm Beach at a lower rate than the Riu pair, especially in shoulder season, but we would not pay extra for the Royal Level based on what reviewers report.
Skip it if You expect five-star polish, or you plan to rely on the specialty restaurants every night.
Our category scores
Pros
- Excellent Palm Beach frontage
- Kids' club for ages 4 to 12
- Seven restaurants and a casino on site
- Usually cheaper than the Riu resorts next door
Cons
- Dated building and rooms
- Inconsistent service and housekeeping in 2026 reviews
- Hard to book à la carte restaurants
- Royal Level upgrade gets lukewarm reviews
- Rooms
- 370 rooms and suites (Aruba Tourism Authority)
- Dining
- 7 restaurants, 4 bars
- Royal Level
- 44 rooms with VIP services
- Kids' club
- Ages 4–12 (Costco Travel listing)
- Formerly
- Occidental Grand Aruba
- From airport
- 11.6 km
What guests say
The beach is definitely the highlight.
A July 2026 family liked the property but could not book the on-site restaurants during their stay and ended up going off property to eat.
A July 2026 reviewer found the property dated, the rooms and staff lacking, and the Royal Level upgrade of little added value; another praised the staff but said broken air conditioning and a dead safe fell short of five-star.
7Best kids-eat-free value
Holiday Inn Resort Aruba (all-inclusive package)
Palm Beach, Noord
Our take
Holiday Inn Resort Aruba is not a classic all-inclusive resort, but its all-inclusive package is one of the simplest family deals on Palm Beach. The package covers three meals a day at the resort's restaurants, unlimited resort-brand liquor and soft drinks, Wi-Fi, parking and the activities program, adds a $75 spa credit and 25% off Pelican Adventures tours, and lets kids 11 and under eat free, according to Visit Aruba. The resort is big, with 590 rooms on about a quarter-mile of beach, and it rates 4.3 on Tripadvisor from more than 8,600 reviews.
The reviews are warm about people: staff, the kids' club and the general family feel. Complaints are about small frictions, such as all-inclusive guests signing for every item, a $40 palapa fee, coffee supplies not being restocked and air conditioning that needed attention. Dining is more limited than at the Riu or Divi resorts, and in-room dining is excluded. We like it for families who will use the beach all day and eat out a couple of nights.
Skip it if You want a wide rotation of à la carte restaurants or a true resort-wide all-inclusive atmosphere.
Our category scores
Pros
- Kids 11 and under eat free on the package
- Warm, family-friendly service in reviews
- $75 spa credit and 25% off Pelican Adventures tours
- Choice of all-inclusive or breakfast-only rates
Cons
- Fewer restaurants than full all-inclusive resorts
- All-inclusive guests sign for each item
- Palapa fee reported by reviewers
- In-room dining not included
- Rooms
- 590 (Tripadvisor listing)
- Plan
- Optional all-inclusive package; breakfast-only rates also sold
- Kids eat free
- Ages 11 and under
- Restaurants
- Corals, Sea Breeze, Oceanside Bar & Grill, Da Vinci (select days)
- Beach
- About a quarter-mile
- From airport
- 12.2 km
What guests say
the KidsClub is the best.
A June 2026 reviewer disliked signing for each item on the all-inclusive plan, a $40 palapa fee, unfriendly towel exchanges and the shortage of covered loungers at breakfast.
A guest paying about $700 a night in March said coffee packets and cups were never restocked, though management apologized; others in July called the hotel an exceptional value.
8Best private island (flamingos)
Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort (all-inclusive plan)
Downtown Oranjestad
Our take
The Renaissance is the only place on this list where the beach is an island. Guests take free water taxis every 15 minutes to a 40-acre private island with wild flamingos, a Spa Cove and two bar-restaurants, open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and limited to resort guests, per the Aruba Tourism Authority. The resort splits into the adults-only Marina Hotel and the all-ages Ocean Suites, 556 rooms in total, and it sits in downtown Oranjestad about 3 km from the airport. It rates 4.3 on Tripadvisor from more than 9,000 reviews and holds a 2026 Travelers' Choice award.
The all-inclusive plan is an option, not the default, and it is narrower than at the Riu or Divi resorts: three meals and domestic drinks at Renaissance-run outlets, with dinner set as one starter, one main and one dessert and a surcharge for premium steak cuts. Reviewers praise cleanliness and staff, but some question value and slow restaurant service. Note the Ocean Suites lobby refresh running from September 7 to the end of November 2026. Book it for the island and the short transfer, not for the food.
Skip it if You want to walk out of your room onto the sand, or you expect unlimited à la carte dining.
Our category scores
Pros
- Private 40-acre island with wild flamingos
- Adults-only Marina Hotel plus family-friendly Ocean Suites
- Three km from the airport, walkable to Oranjestad
- Travelers' Choice 2026, strong cleanliness reviews
Cons
- All-inclusive plan is narrower than full resorts
- No beach at the hotel itself; island hours end at 7 p.m.
- Some reviewers question value
- Lobby works at Ocean Suites through November 2026
- Rooms
- 556 across Marina Hotel (18+) and Ocean Suites (all ages)
- Private island
- 40 acres, water taxi every 15 minutes, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Plan covers
- 3 meals, domestic drinks, non-motorized water sports on the island
- Included outlets
- FLUX, Aquarius, Fresco, L.G. Smith's, Papagayo, Mangrove Beach Bar, Solé
- Renovation
- Ocean Suites lobby refresh, Sept 7 to end of Nov 2026
- From airport
- 3.1 km
What guests say
Every inch of the resort was clean and freshened daily.
I would not call it a good value.
A June 2026 reviewer rated service poorly after a late-night check-in, a card hold for fees and breakfast spoiled by birds; an October guest loved the staff but found restaurant service slow and understaffed.
9Best on Eagle Beach (optional plan)
JOIA Aruba by Iberostar
Eagle Beach
$583–$1,238 per night for two · Kayak average nightly rates for the resort's cheapest and priciest months, checked October 2026 (September low, December high)
Guest ratings
Tripadvisor4.7/5 · 934Expedia9.2/10 · 259Booking.com9.1/10 · 42Kayak9.1/10 · 125Checked Oct 2026; review counts in grey.
Our take
JOIA is the best-reviewed resort on this page and the only one on Eagle Beach, Aruba's widest and calmest-feeling beach. Iberostar's adults-only, 240-suite resort soft-opened in December 2024 and has quickly earned a 4.7 Tripadvisor rating from 934 reviews, a 2026 Travelers' Choice award and a 9.2 on Expedia. Reviewers rave about the beach, the staff and the rooftop live music, and many call the food excellent.
It is on this list with an asterisk: JOIA opened as a European Plan resort and sells all-inclusive as an add-on. Reviewers describe the plan as covering the restaurants, café and pool bars, with one reporting about $119 per person per day at booking, but others note charges for sparkling water, short café hours and only one à la carte lunch option. With just a buffet and two specialty restaurants, variety is limited for a week-long stay. We would book JOIA with the plan if you want the best beach and a calm, grown-up vibe, and skip it if you want a full resort program.
Skip it if You want a large resort with lots of restaurants and activities, or a single all-in price with no extras.
Our category scores
Pros
- Highest Tripadvisor rating on this list (4.7)
- Adults-only on Eagle Beach
- Newer property, opened December 2024 to January 2025
- Rooftop live music and an infinity pool
Cons
- All-inclusive is an add-on, and some items are still charged
- Only a buffet and two specialty restaurants
- Housekeeping and air conditioning complaints
- Little evening entertainment beyond music
- Opened
- Soft opening December 2024, grand opening January 2025
- Rooms
- 240 suites
- Meal plan
- European Plan by default; all-inclusive add-on
- Dining
- Buffet and two specialty restaurants, Star Café
- Pools
- Two, including an infinity pool (open 7 a.m.–7 p.m.)
- Award
- Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice 2026
What guests say
Eagle Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever set foot on.
An August 2026 reviewer said an all-inclusive at this price should have almost no exclusions, objecting to paying for sparkling water and asking for longer Star Café hours.
the cleaning is not very thorough either
Score card
How our picks compare, category by category
Scores out of 10. Darker means stronger; the top score in each column is ringed.
| Resort | Food | Beach | Rooms | Service | Activities | Value | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Riu Palace Antillas | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 7 | 8.0 |
| Secrets Baby Beach Aruba | 8.5 | 8 | 9 | 8.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8.4 |
| Divi Aruba All Inclusive | 7 | 8.5 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 8 | 7.8 |
| Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive | 7 | 7.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8 | 7.7 |
| Hotel Riu Palace Aruba | 7 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7 | 7.9 |
| Barceló Aruba | 6.5 | 8.5 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 7 | 7.4 |
| Holiday Inn Resort Aruba (all-inclusive package) | 6.5 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7.5 | 8 | 7.6 |
| Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort (all-inclusive plan) | 7.5 | 8 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 7 | 8.1 |
| JOIA Aruba by Iberostar | 8.5 | 9.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 8.5 |
Decide
Which resort should you book?
If you want Adults-only with nightlife within walking distance
Hotel Riu Palace Antillas
24-hour all-inclusive in the middle of the Palm Beach strip, with a casino and weekly RIU parties.
If you want A quiet, newer adults-only all-inclusive
Secrets Baby Beach Aruba
Opened June 2025 with 304 suites and strong early food and service scores, far from the crowds.
If you want The best-value family all-inclusive
Divi Aruba All Inclusive
Kids' club for ages 4–12 and shared access to 12 dining options at Divi and Tamarijn, usually below Palm Beach prices.
If you want An oceanfront room without a luxury price
Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive
Oceanfront room categories and a Travelers' Choice 2026 award, with Divi's restaurants next door.
If you want Freshly renovated rooms for a family
Hotel Riu Palace Aruba
Reopened July 31, 2026, with a new kids' club, splash pool and refurbished rooms.
If you want Kids eat free and a flexible plan
Holiday Inn Resort Aruba (all-inclusive package)
Kids 11 and under eat free on the package, and you can pick breakfast-only instead.
If you want Flamingos and the shortest airport transfer
Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort (all-inclusive plan)
Private 40-acre island with wild flamingos, 3 km from the airport, adults-only tower available.
If you want Eagle Beach and the highest guest ratings
JOIA Aruba by Iberostar
4.7 on Tripadvisor, adults-only, with an optional all-inclusive add-on.
Compare
Side-by-side comparison
Aruba all-inclusive resorts compared (ratings and plan details as of October 2026)
| Resort | Area | Adults-only | Plan | Price tier | Best for | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOIA Aruba by Iberostar | Eagle Beach | Yes | Optional add-on | $$$$ | Couples, beach lovers | 8.5 |
| Secrets Baby Beach Aruba | South (Baby Beach) | Yes | Full all-inclusive | $$$$ | Quiet luxury | 8.4 |
| Renaissance Wind Creek | Oranjestad | Marina Hotel only | Optional plan | $$$ | Flamingo island | 8.1 |
| Riu Palace Antillas | Palm Beach | Yes | 24-hour all-inclusive | $$$ | Adults with nightlife | 8.0 |
| Riu Palace Aruba | Palm Beach | No (adults-only Elite Club) | 24-hour all-inclusive | $$$ | Families, renovated rooms | 7.9 |
| Divi Aruba All Inclusive | Druif Beach | No | Full all-inclusive | $$ | Family value | 7.8 |
| Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive | Druif Beach | No (21+ adult per room) | Full all-inclusive | $$ | Oceanfront rooms | 7.7 |
| Holiday Inn Resort Aruba | Palm Beach | No | Optional package | $$ | Kids eat free | 7.6 |
| Barceló Aruba | Palm Beach | No | Full all-inclusive | $$ | Mid-price Palm Beach | 7.4 |
Pros & cons
Aruba for an all-inclusive trip: why go, why not
Reasons to go
- Outside the main hurricane track, so autumn trips are lower risk than most of the Caribbean
- Very dry: about 17.8 inches of rain a year, with March and April the driest
- Calm, swimmable west-coast beaches such as Palm, Eagle and Druif
- U.S. preclearance at the airport makes the trip home faster
- Nonstop flights from 18 U.S. cities, and short transfers to every resort area
- Drinkable desalinated tap water and walkable restaurant strips
Reasons to think twice
- Few true all-inclusives, so the best ones book up and cost more
- Many all-inclusives here are older properties with uneven reviews
- Constant trade wind can blow sand and chill evenings
- Mandatory online ED card and a $20 fee per person aged 8 and up
- Popular Palm Beach resorts get crowded, with early-morning palapa competition
- Great independent restaurants make an all-inclusive less of a no-brainer
Eagle Beach vs Palm Beach vs Druif vs the south: where to stay
Aruba's resorts line the calm west and south coasts. The area you pick shapes your trip more than the brand does.
| Area | Feel | All-inclusive options | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach | High-rise strip, busy, walkable bars and restaurants | Riu Palace Antillas, Riu Palace Aruba, Barceló, Holiday Inn | Nightlife, water sports, first-timers |
| Eagle Beach | Low-rise, wide sand, fofoti trees, quieter | JOIA (optional plan) | Couples who want space on the sand |
| Druif Beach | Low-rise, closer to Oranjestad | Divi Aruba, Tamarijn | Families on a budget |
| Oranjestad | Downtown marina, shops, casino | Renaissance Wind Creek (optional plan) | Short transfers, private-island days |
| Baby Beach (south) | Remote, near San Nicolas street murals | Secrets Baby Beach | Quiet, adults-only escapes |
Palm Beach
Palm Beach is where Aruba's high-rise hotels stand shoulder to shoulder, with piers, catamarans and jet skis in front and a strip of restaurants behind. The water is usually calm and shallow. The downside is crowding: guests at several resorts here complain about early-morning chair and palapa competition.
Eagle Beach
Eagle Beach is broader and less built-up, with the famous wind-bent fofoti trees. It has only one resort on our list with an all-inclusive option, JOIA, plus the adults-only Bucuti & Tara, which is not all-inclusive. A JOIA guest on Tripadvisor called it one of the most beautiful beaches they had ever set foot on, and that is a common view.
Druif and Oranjestad
Druif Beach, just south of Eagle Beach, is home to the Divi and Tamarijn complex and sits about 10 km from the airport. The Renaissance is right in downtown Oranjestad, about 3 km from the airport, and its beach time happens on a private island reached by water taxi.
The south
Secrets Baby Beach sits near Baby Beach Bay on the southeastern tip. It is about twice as far from the airport, in a straight line, as Palm Beach is, and far from the main restaurant scene, which is either the point or the problem.
Best adults-only all-inclusive resorts in Aruba
Aruba has three genuinely adults-only all-inclusive choices and a couple of adults-only sections inside mixed resorts.
- Riu Palace Antillas is the default adults-only pick: 482 rooms, 24-hour all-inclusive, a casino, a spa and RIU's weekly party nights, right on Palm Beach. It opened on October 11, 2014, and launched an Elite Club section in October 2024, according to RIU.
- Secrets Baby Beach Aruba is the newer, quieter, more polished option, with 304 suites, four à la carte restaurants, six bars and a Preferred Club with private-pool suites and butler service.
- JOIA Aruba by Iberostar is adults-only and the highest-rated resort on this page on Tripadvisor (4.7 from 934 reviews), but the all-inclusive plan is optional.
Inside mixed resorts, the Renaissance Marina Hotel is 18-plus, while families stay at the separate Renaissance Ocean Suites. The new Elite Club at Riu Palace Aruba is reserved for adults, and Divi & Tamarijn plan to add adults-only rooms, including swim-up suites, in December 2026, according to Recommend.
If you want adults-only but do not need all-inclusive, Bucuti & Tara on Eagle Beach is the island's best-reviewed adults-only hotel, at 4.9 on Tripadvisor from more than 11,000 reviews.
Best family all-inclusive resorts in Aruba
Aruba is an easy family island: short flights from the East Coast, calm west-coast water and drinkable tap water. The family all-inclusive choice comes down to budget and how new you want the rooms to be.
- Divi Aruba All Inclusive is our value pick, with a kids' club for ages 4 to 12, nightly theme-night entertainment and access to Tamarijn's facilities next door.
- Riu Palace Aruba reopened on July 31, 2026, after a full renovation, with a new RIU Land kids' club and a children's pool with slides, according to RIU.
- Holiday Inn Resort Aruba lets kids 11 and under eat free on its all-inclusive package, according to Visit Aruba, and Tripadvisor reviewers single out its kids' club.
- Barceló Aruba has a kids' club for ages 4 to 12, per its Costco Travel listing, and a big Palm Beach frontage.
- Renaissance Ocean Suites welcomes all ages, and the flamingo island is a hit with children.
One trap: Tamarijn requires at least one guest aged 21 or older in each room at check-in, per Air Canada Vacations, and its oceanfront king rooms sleep only two. Families of four should look at its two-queen rooms or at Divi.
What Aruba all-inclusive plans include, and what they don't
All-inclusive means different things at each resort here, and the fine print matters more than in Mexico because several plans are add-ons.
| Resort | Plan style | Notable limits |
|---|---|---|
| Riu (both) | 24-hour all-inclusive | À la carte dinners need reservations; premium drinks at Elite Club |
| Divi & Tamarijn | Meals, snacks, domestic drinks across both resorts | Spa and golf extra; à la carte dinners subject to availability |
| Secrets Baby Beach | Unlimited-Luxury, 24-hour in-room dining | Some premium items and spa extra |
| Holiday Inn | Three meals, resort-brand liquor and soft drinks, Wi-Fi, parking | In-room dining excluded; $75 spa credit per room per stay |
| Renaissance | Three meals plus domestic drinks at Renaissance-run outlets | Dinner is one starter, one main and one dessert; premium steak cuts cost extra |
| JOIA | Optional add-on covering restaurants, café and pool bars | Some drinks charged; one reviewer reported about $119 per day |
The Renaissance plan in detail
According to Air Canada Vacations, the Renaissance plan runs from dinner on arrival day to breakfast on departure day and covers FLUX, Aquarius, Fresco, Papagayo Bar & Grill, Mangrove Beach Bar, Solé and L.G. Smith's Steak & Chop House, with a surcharge on premium cuts. The Lounge and Starbucks are not included.
Divi & Tamarijn: stay at one, play at both
The two Druif Beach resorts share 12 dining options, eight bars and five freshwater pools, per Recommend. A rooftop bar is due in late fall 2026.
Best time to visit Aruba (and why hurricanes rarely matter)
Aruba is hot, dry and breezy all year. Average highs run from about 86°F in January to about 92°F in August and September, based on 1991–2020 normals from the Departamento Meteorológico Aruba summarised on Wikipedia. Annual rainfall is only about 17.8 inches.
Month by month
- February to June is the dry season. March and April average under 0.4 inch of rain each.
- October to December is the wettest stretch, with about 3.0 to 3.4 inches a month, usually as short showers.
- Winter (mid-December to April) is peak season for prices and crowds, driven by North American winter breaks.
- May, June, September and October usually bring the best rates, with summer school holidays pushing July and August up again.
Hurricanes
Aruba sits on the southern fringe of the Atlantic hurricane belt. The national weather service says that only once every 100 years is considerable damage caused by tropical cyclones passing just south of the island, though storms passing to the north can cause beach erosion and coastal flooding. That makes Aruba one of the safest Caribbean bets for a September or October trip, which is when much of the region is at its riskiest.
The trade wind is constant. It keeps the heat bearable but can blow sand on Eagle Beach and makes the north and east coasts rough. Resort beaches on the west and south coasts are the calm ones.
Best time to go
Aruba: weather, prices & crowds by month
Average daily high (°F)
High 86.5°F · low 76.6°F
Rain 1.73 in · Prices peak · Packed
High 87.1°F · low 76.6°F
Rain 0.77 in · Prices peak · Packed
High 88°F · low 77.5°F
Rain 0.39 in · Prices peak · Packed
High 89.4°F · low 78.8°F
Rain 0.34 in · Prices mid · Busy
High 90.3°F · low 80.1°F
Rain 0.56 in · Prices low · Quiet
High 90.5°F · low 80.4°F
Rain 0.69 in · Prices low · Quiet
High 90.3°F · low 80.1°F
Rain 0.77 in · Prices mid · Busy
High 91.8°F · low 81°F
Rain 1.24 in · Prices mid · Busy
High 91.8°F · low 81.1°F
Rain 1.69 in · Prices low · Quiet
High 90.3°F · low 80.1°F
Rain 3.01 in · Prices low · Quiet
High 88.7°F · low 78.8°F
Rain 3.43 in · Prices mid · Busy
High 87.3°F · low 77.5°F
Rain 3.15 in · Prices peak · Packed
Average rainfall (inches)
High 86.5°F · low 76.6°F
Rain 1.73 in · Prices peak · Packed
High 87.1°F · low 76.6°F
Rain 0.77 in · Prices peak · Packed
High 88°F · low 77.5°F
Rain 0.39 in · Prices peak · Packed
High 89.4°F · low 78.8°F
Rain 0.34 in · Prices mid · Busy
High 90.3°F · low 80.1°F
Rain 0.56 in · Prices low · Quiet
High 90.5°F · low 80.4°F
Rain 0.69 in · Prices low · Quiet
High 90.3°F · low 80.1°F
Rain 0.77 in · Prices mid · Busy
High 91.8°F · low 81°F
Rain 1.24 in · Prices mid · Busy
High 91.8°F · low 81.1°F
Rain 1.69 in · Prices low · Quiet
High 90.3°F · low 80.1°F
Rain 3.01 in · Prices low · Quiet
High 88.7°F · low 78.8°F
Rain 3.43 in · Prices mid · Busy
High 87.3°F · low 77.5°F
Rain 3.15 in · Prices peak · Packed
Resort prices
High 86.5°F · low 76.6°F
Rain 1.73 in · Prices peak · Packed
High 87.1°F · low 76.6°F
Rain 0.77 in · Prices peak · Packed
High 88°F · low 77.5°F
Rain 0.39 in · Prices peak · Packed
High 89.4°F · low 78.8°F
Rain 0.34 in · Prices mid · Busy
High 90.3°F · low 80.1°F
Rain 0.56 in · Prices low · Quiet
High 90.5°F · low 80.4°F
Rain 0.69 in · Prices low · Quiet
High 90.3°F · low 80.1°F
Rain 0.77 in · Prices mid · Busy
High 91.8°F · low 81°F
Rain 1.24 in · Prices mid · Busy
High 91.8°F · low 81.1°F
Rain 1.69 in · Prices low · Quiet
High 90.3°F · low 80.1°F
Rain 3.01 in · Prices low · Quiet
High 88.7°F · low 78.8°F
Rain 3.43 in · Prices mid · Busy
High 87.3°F · low 77.5°F
Rain 3.15 in · Prices peak · Packed
Crowds
High 86.5°F · low 76.6°F
Rain 1.73 in · Prices peak · Packed
High 87.1°F · low 76.6°F
Rain 0.77 in · Prices peak · Packed
High 88°F · low 77.5°F
Rain 0.39 in · Prices peak · Packed
High 89.4°F · low 78.8°F
Rain 0.34 in · Prices mid · Busy
High 90.3°F · low 80.1°F
Rain 0.56 in · Prices low · Quiet
High 90.5°F · low 80.4°F
Rain 0.69 in · Prices low · Quiet
High 90.3°F · low 80.1°F
Rain 0.77 in · Prices mid · Busy
High 91.8°F · low 81°F
Rain 1.24 in · Prices mid · Busy
High 91.8°F · low 81.1°F
Rain 1.69 in · Prices low · Quiet
High 90.3°F · low 80.1°F
Rain 3.01 in · Prices low · Quiet
High 88.7°F · low 78.8°F
Rain 3.43 in · Prices mid · Busy
High 87.3°F · low 77.5°F
Rain 3.15 in · Prices peak · Packed
View as table ▾
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Rain (in) | Prices | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 86.5 | 76.6 | 1.73 | Peak | Packed |
| Feb | 87.1 | 76.6 | 0.77 | Peak | Packed |
| Mar | 88 | 77.5 | 0.39 | Peak | Packed |
| Apr | 89.4 | 78.8 | 0.34 | Mid | Busy |
| May | 90.3 | 80.1 | 0.56 | Low | Quiet |
| Jun | 90.5 | 80.4 | 0.69 | Low | Quiet |
| Jul | 90.3 | 80.1 | 0.77 | Mid | Busy |
| Aug | 91.8 | 81 | 1.24 | Mid | Busy |
| Sep | 91.8 | 81.1 | 1.69 | Low | Quiet |
| Oct | 90.3 | 80.1 | 3.01 | Low | Quiet |
| Nov | 88.7 | 78.8 | 3.43 | Mid | Busy |
| Dec | 87.3 | 77.5 | 3.15 | Peak | Packed |
Entry rules: the ED card, the $20 Sustainability Fee and U.S. preclearance
The ED card
Every visitor flying into Aruba must complete an online Embarkation and Disembarkation (ED) card at edcardaruba.aw before travel. Airlines check for the confirmation at check-in or boarding. You cannot edit a submitted card; if you make a mistake after paying, you have to start a new one.
The Sustainability Fee
Since July 1, 2024, Aruba has charged a $20 Sustainability Fee to visitors arriving by air, paid during the ED card process, per Visit Aruba. Key rules:
- Children under 8, cruise passengers and Aruba residents are exempt.
- You pay once per calendar year per passport number; a renewed passport means paying again.
- Visa, Mastercard and Discover are accepted, and cash on arrival is not.
- The charge is a hold that becomes a payment only when you cross the border.
For a family of four with two kids aged 8 or older, that is $80 before you leave home.
U.S. preclearance on the way home
Aruba's airport is one of a short list of U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance locations. You clear U.S. immigration and customs in Aruba, then land in the U.S. as a domestic arrival and skip the CBP lines. A U.S. check-in terminal opened for flights from April 8, 2025, so U.S.-bound passengers no longer reclaim and re-screen bags, according to Wikipedia. Give yourself extra time on departure day: preclearance happens before you board, not after you land.
Getting to Aruba: nonstop flights and transfer distances
Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) has nonstop service from 18 U.S. cities, some seasonal, per its Wikipedia airline table: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit (from December 19, 2026), Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Nashville (from March 13, 2027), New York JFK and LaGuardia, Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia and Washington Dulles.
Transfers are short because the island is small. Road distances from the airport, per Visit Aruba:
| Resort | Distance from AUA |
|---|---|
| Renaissance Wind Creek | 3.1 km |
| Divi Dutch Village | 6.7 km |
| Divi Village Golf & Beach | 7.3 km |
| Divi Aruba Phoenix | 10.5 km |
| Riu Palace Antillas | 10.5 km |
| Barceló Aruba | 11.6 km |
| Holiday Inn Aruba | 12.2 km |
Secrets Baby Beach is the outlier, on the opposite end of the island near San Nicolas. If you plan to eat out on Palm Beach while staying there, budget for taxis or a rental car.
How much an Aruba all-inclusive costs, and when it's worth it
Aruba is one of the pricier Caribbean islands for all-inclusive stays because supply is small and demand from U.S. travelers is high. A few real data points we saw while researching in October 2026:
- RIU priced Riu Palace Antillas junior suites at roughly $353 to $522 per person per night, so about $700 to $1,050 for a couple.
- RIU showed Riu Palace Aruba from about €266 per person per night.
- A JOIA reviewer reported the all-inclusive add-on at about $119 per person per day at booking.
- A Holiday Inn reviewer reported paying about $700 per night in March.
Is all-inclusive worth it in Aruba?
It is worth it if you drink, have kids, or will mostly stay put. It is less clear-cut than in Cancun because Aruba's independent restaurant scene is strong and many resorts are walkable to it. Forum regulars repeatedly suggest booking a few dinners out even if you go all-inclusive.
Tipping and extras
Budget for tips to bartenders, servers and housekeeping, plus extras such as spa treatments, golf at the Divi Links, premium steak cuts at the Renaissance and palapa fees at some Palm Beach hotels (one Holiday Inn reviewer reported a $40 palapa fee). Aruba's tap water is desalinated and drinkable, as the Aruba Tourism Authority's own video on this page explains, which saves on bottled water.
Budget planner
Typical 7-night Aruba all-inclusive trip for two (USD)
Big-name Aruba hotels that are not all-inclusive
These hotels top many Aruba wish lists, but none of them is an all-inclusive resort, so plan to pay for meals.
| Hotel | Area | Tripadvisor (Oct 2026) | Why people book it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyatt Regency Aruba | Palm Beach | 4.4 (7,414 reviews) | Big pool complex, families |
| Aruba Marriott & Stellaris Casino | Palm Beach north | 4.5 (8,295) | Loyalty points, casino |
| The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba | Palm Beach north | 4.4 (3,793) | Luxury, four à la carte restaurants |
| Bucuti & Tara | Eagle Beach | 4.9 (11,184) | Adults-only, quiet |
| Boardwalk Boutique Hotel | Palm Beach north | 4.9 (1,132) | Small, design-led |
The Hyatt Regency in particular confuses people: Hyatt's all-inclusive on Aruba is Secrets Baby Beach, not the Regency. Ratings above come from the Tripadvisor Palm-Eagle Beach hotel list.
Room-only can be the smarter choice if you plan to eat out most nights, do not drink much, or want points. Do the maths: two people eating three restaurant meals a day plus drinks on Palm Beach can easily match the all-inclusive surcharge.
Community
What travel-forum regulars say
Travel-forum consensus
On Reddit's r/Aruba and long-running travel forums, the consensus is that Aruba is a different kind of all-inclusive destination. Regulars point out that the island has relatively few all-inclusives and an unusually good independent restaurant scene, so many recommend either a room-only hotel on Palm Beach or an all-inclusive plus several dinners out. When people do go all-inclusive, the Riu resorts usually get warmer comments than the Divi pair or Barceló for food and rooms, while Divi and Tamarijn win on beach and value. Barceló draws the most mixed talk: a great Palm Beach location but a building that feels its age and food that some call below par for an all-inclusive. Forum posters also warn that older threads may describe resorts before recent renovations, especially the Riu Palace Aruba, which reopened in July 2026.
A 2025 thread about Barceló Aruba called the food below average for an all-inclusive and the hotel not worth the price despite its nice location; a reply said the hotel had improved but is still old.
Posters weighing Aruba's all-inclusives tend to favor the Riu resorts for food and suites, see the Divi rooms as basic but right on the beach, and suggest saving a few nights for Aruba's restaurants.
Honeymoon planners discussing Aruba noted that some adults-only resorts offer all-inclusive only as an option and passed on advice that Aruba's restaurants are good enough that a plan may not be worth it.
Watch
Video tours worth watching
Independent walkthroughs help you judge room size, beach and crowd levels before you book.
Photos
Aruba in pictures
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does Aruba have all-inclusive resorts?
Yes, but fewer than Mexico or the Dominican Republic. The true all-inclusives are Riu Palace Antillas, Riu Palace Aruba, Barceló Aruba, Divi Aruba All Inclusive, Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive and Secrets Baby Beach Aruba. Holiday Inn Resort Aruba, Renaissance Wind Creek and JOIA by Iberostar sell all-inclusive as an optional plan. Most big-brand hotels, including the Hyatt Regency, Marriott and Ritz-Carlton, are room-only.
What is the best all-inclusive resort in Aruba?
For most couples we would pick Riu Palace Antillas for a lively adults-only stay on Palm Beach, or Secrets Baby Beach Aruba for a quieter, newer resort that opened in June 2025. Families get the best value at Divi Aruba All Inclusive, while the renovated Riu Palace Aruba, reopened July 31, 2026, has the newest family rooms. JOIA by Iberostar has the highest Tripadvisor rating, 4.7, but its all-inclusive plan is an add-on.
Which Aruba all-inclusive resorts are adults-only?
Riu Palace Antillas and Secrets Baby Beach Aruba are the two adults-only resorts where all-inclusive is standard. JOIA Aruba by Iberostar is adults-only with an optional all-inclusive add-on. The Renaissance Marina Hotel is 18-plus within a mixed resort, and Riu Palace Aruba's new Elite Club section is reserved for adults. Bucuti & Tara is adults-only but not all-inclusive.
What is the best all-inclusive in Aruba for families?
Divi Aruba All Inclusive is our top family value: a kids' club for ages 4 to 12, nightly entertainment and shared access to Tamarijn's restaurants and pools. Riu Palace Aruba suits families who want brand-new rooms, a new kids' club and a splash pool with slides. Holiday Inn Resort Aruba lets kids 11 and under eat free on its package. Barceló Aruba has a kids' club for ages 4 to 12 on Palm Beach.
Is Hyatt Regency Aruba all-inclusive?
No. Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino on Palm Beach is sold without an all-inclusive plan, and you pay for meals at its restaurants. Hyatt's all-inclusive on the island is Secrets Baby Beach Aruba, an adults-only Inclusive Collection resort on the southeastern tip that opened in June 2025. The Aruba Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba are also not all-inclusive.
Is an all-inclusive worth it in Aruba?
It is worth it if you drink cocktails daily, travel with children or plan to stay at the resort most of the time. It is less clear-cut than in Cancun because Aruba's independent restaurants are excellent and walkable from Palm Beach, and some plans here, such as the Renaissance and JOIA add-ons, have limits. Many forum regulars book all-inclusive and still plan two or three dinners out.
Do I need to pay a fee to enter Aruba?
Yes. Since July 1, 2024, visitors arriving by air pay a $20 Sustainability Fee during the mandatory online ED card process at edcardaruba.aw. Children under 8 are exempt, and you pay only once per calendar year per passport number. Cash is not accepted on arrival; the system takes Visa, Mastercard and Discover. A family of four with children aged 8 or older pays $80.
When is hurricane season in Aruba, and is it a risk?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November, but Aruba sits on the southern fringe of the hurricane belt. The national meteorological department says considerable damage from tropical cyclones happens only about once every 100 years, though storms passing north can cause beach erosion. October to December are the rainiest months, at about 3 inches each, usually in short showers.
Should I stay on Eagle Beach or Palm Beach in Aruba?
Choose Palm Beach if you want high-rise resorts, nightlife, water sports and restaurants you can walk to; most of Aruba's all-inclusives are here. Choose Eagle Beach if you want a wider, quieter beach and low-rise hotels, but note that JOIA is the only resort there with an all-inclusive option. Druif Beach, just south of Eagle, is home to the Divi and Tamarijn all-inclusives.
Sources
Sources and further reading
Every figure on this page was checked against these sources. Ratings and prices change — we note when each was checked.
- 1All-inclusive resorts in Aruba — VisitAruba.com, accessed October 20, 2026
- 2Sustainability Fee — VisitAruba.com, accessed October 20, 2026
- 3Holiday Inn Aruba All Inclusive — VisitAruba.com, accessed October 20, 2026
- 4Barceló Aruba — Aruba Tourism Authority, accessed October 20, 2026
- 5Renaissance Island — Aruba Tourism Authority, accessed October 20, 2026
- 6JOIA Aruba by Iberostar — Aruba Tourism Authority, accessed October 20, 2026
- 7Hyatt's Inclusive Collection expands to Aruba with Secrets Baby Beach Aruba — Hyatt Newsroom, accessed October 20, 2026
- 8RIU Hotels reopens Riu Palace Aruba following a comprehensive renovation — RIU Hotels & Resorts, accessed October 20, 2026
- 9This Aruba all-inclusive resort just reopened on Palm Beach — Caribbean Journal, accessed October 20, 2026
- 10Hotel Riu Palace Antillas — RIU Hotels & Resorts, accessed October 20, 2026
Show all 26 sources
- 11The Riu Palace Antillas is ten! — RIU Hotels & Resorts blog, accessed October 20, 2026
- 12Divi and Tamarijn Aruba add new features for 2026 — Recommend, accessed October 20, 2026
- 13Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort — Air Canada Vacations, accessed October 20, 2026
- 14Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive — Air Canada Vacations, accessed October 20, 2026
- 15Divi Aruba All Inclusive — Air Canada Vacations, accessed October 20, 2026
- 16Iberostar is opening its new Aruba beach resort — Caribbean Journal, accessed October 20, 2026
- 17A guide to Aruba's new and refreshed resorts — Travel Market Report, accessed October 20, 2026
- 18Preclearance locations — U.S. Customs and Border Protection, accessed October 20, 2026
- 19Climate of Aruba — Departamento Meteorológico Aruba, accessed October 20, 2026
- 20Oranjestad, Aruba: climate data (1991–2020 normals) — Wikipedia, accessed October 20, 2026
- 21Queen Beatrix International Airport: airlines and destinations — Wikipedia, accessed October 20, 2026
- 22Hyatts in Aruba — Travel on Points, accessed October 20, 2026
- 23Hotels in Palm-Eagle Beach — Tripadvisor, accessed October 20, 2026
- 24Aruba hotels (all-inclusive filter results) — Tripadvisor, accessed October 20, 2026
- 25Secrets Baby Beach Aruba guest reviews — Trip.com, accessed October 20, 2026
- 26Barceló thread — Reddit r/Aruba, accessed October 20, 2026
Written by
Kevin · Editor & lead researcher
Kevin researches and writes the guides on All Inclusive Resorts Deals, comparing guest ratings across review and booking sites and checking every figure against its source. This guide cites 26 sources and was last fact-checked on . We don't accept payment for placement.
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11 all-inclusive resorts for couples and honeymoons compared by vibe, price, perks and real guest ratings, plus free-wedding rules and legal fees by island.
Guides & deals
All-Inclusive Deals all-inclusive guide
Find real all-inclusive resort deals in 2026: cheapest months, packages vs separate, 7 booking sites compared, points nights and 7 resorts that price well.
Guides & deals
Cheap All-Inclusives all-inclusive guide
Cheap all-inclusive resorts that are genuinely good: 11 picks from about $155 a night, the cheapest destinations ranked, what you give up and red flags to avoid.