Celebrating 35 Years, This Classic Aruba Resort Just Got Better

“Bon bini,” a server at the Regency Club lounge at Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino said as she placed a glass of Champagne in front of me. The drink was a welcome sight after I’d traveled more than half a day to get to the resort, which is located off Palm Beach on the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba.

Bon bini means “welcome” in Papiamento, one of Aruba’s official languages, along with Dutch. This warm welcome is reflective of Aruba’s nickname — “One Happy Island” — which speaks to the island’s sunny weather and welcoming hospitality.

This sentiment runs deep at Hyatt Regency Aruba, from the resort’s dedication to making guests feel at home to its inviting, open-concept layout. Each space flows seamlessly from one area to the next and from indoors to outdoors. As I strolled around the property and waited for my room to be ready, I took note of how the contemporary decor mixed with the natural surroundings. This design sensibility is especially evident in the lobby, which was recently renovated ahead of the resort’s 35th anniversary in October.

It’s also evident in the animals you’ll see around the property — so much so that the resort’s sales coordinator, Jerelaine Romano, joked with me that “the wildlife are the true owners of the hotel.”

Small lizards are a frequent sighting, as are a variety of wildlife ambassadors. This includes dozens of large koi fish in the lagoon, ducks, Francisco the black swan, a turquoise cododo lizard (aka Aruban whiptail lizard), and a green iguana. Hyatt Regency Aruba is also home to three parrots: Rocky (a yellow-shouldered Amazon), Chichi (an African grey), and Bibi (a blue and gold macaw).

Photos: Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, Spa & Casino

Located in Palm Beach’s high-rise hotel area, Hyatt Regency Aruba has 364 guest rooms, including 16 suites, 31 premium, and seven accessible rooms. Rooms come with either a king or double queen beds and either resort, beach, or garden views. The building wraps around the resort, so the rooms facing the interior get a sprawling view of the property, overlooking the family pool and Alfresco Bar (one of several on-site dining and drinking venues).

My home for the next few days was one of four recently renovated rooms on the fifth floor. When I walked in and turned the corner, I was greeted by large windows leading out to a balcony that provided a tableau of the pristine beach and the blue-green Aruba waters.

Minimalist, modern, and outfitted in neutral hues, my King guest room housed a TV, comfy couch, Nespresso machine, and mini-fridge. Along one wall are built-in dressers and wardrobes, spacious enough for me to comfortably unpack and make myself at home over the next few days. The bathroom was equipped with a shower, standard deluxe bath amenities, an LED vanity mirror, and aloe soap (a nod to the island’s biggest export) from Aruba Aloe, the oldest aloe company in the world. Other room amenities included bathrobes and the comfiest slippers I’ve ever worn.

One notable update that came with the resort’s 35th anniversary updates was a refreshed Governor’s Suite on the ninth floor. For those wanting more space, the one-bedroom suite is equipped with a kitchenette, dining area, and two bathrooms — including one with a free-standing bathtub. Notably, the 2,745-square-foot suite features three balconies that wrap around the living, kitchen, and dining areas, providing picture-perfect panoramic views.

Photos: Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, Spa & Casino

After a short rest, I headed down to the water. In front of the resort on Palm Beach is a mix of palapas and beach umbrellas. Much like Aruba’s other beaches — with the exception of Renaissance and De Palm Islands — Palm Beach is open to the public, not just guests. Each morning when I looked out my window, I saw beachgoers heading to the beach early to claim a spot for the day.

Besides the beach, the resort has adults-only and family pools, the latter complete with a waterslide. There are various events hosted at the family pool throughout the week, such as bingo, waterslide races, shuffleboard contests, and scavenger hunts. The resort also has many programs to keep kids entertained, such as Camp Watapana and a wildlife tour, giving guests a chance to learn more about the animals that call the resort home.

Reservations for both pools open up to four months in advance. Whether you’re on the beach or by the pool, make sure you secure your towels and belongings. As a first-time visitor to Aruba, I was surprised at how windy it is. The constant breeze provides a nice reprieve from the heat, but make sure to keep your items in place so they don’t fly away.

Other amenities include a 5,290-square-foot ballroom that can be configured for a variety of events, from weddings to conferences, and a spa located on the first floor around the corner from the reception. I visited the ZoiA Spa on my second day, and I felt my stress melt away as my masseuse worked out the knots in my shoulders with Pink Himalayan salt stones. Guests can use the spa’s steam room before or after their treatments, as well.

Also located on the first floor is the resort’s 11,200-square-foot casino that’s open daily from 10 AM to 2 AM. For those who want to sneak in some exercise, there’s a fitness center below the spa, as well as tennis and pickleball courts. I started my first full day at the resort with morning yoga on the lawn. Other classes include energy healing, aerial yoga, and Pilates fusion. For those who want to try something new, there are also classes for mixology, cooking, painting, and aloe scrub-making. I opted to make a scrub and, at the end of it, was pleased to have a custom souvenir to take home.

For more goodies to take home, there’s plenty of shopping on site, too, including Little Europe Jewels & Time, Aruba Aloe, and a weekly community market on Fridays showcasing local artisans. Magnets are my souvenir of choice, so I picked up a few handmade ones at the market.

Photos: Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, Spa & Casino

Dinner on my first night was at Ruinas del Mar — one of the resort’s three full-service restaurants, excluding bars and casual spots — which serves up seafood and pasta dishes. Located in the middle of the resort, the restaurant pays homage to the island’s history with the exterior designed to resemble the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, an abandoned 19th-century gold mill site that’s located on the opposite side of the northern end of the island from the resort.

I was seated right by the pond, and a look to my left gave me a view of happy koi fish swimming about busily. My eyes were then drawn up to the sky as my dinner coincided with the sunset. A dusky rose canopy provided the backdrop to my first dinner in Aruba. I started with a lobster bisque, which came with generous chunks of lobster and was topped with a drizzle of pesto. For the main course, I went with my server’s recommendation of the linguini frutti di mare, pasta with massive shrimps, octopus, scallops, and squid mixed together in a pomodoro sauce. I returned to Ruinas del Mar once more during my stay and also tried the miso-glazed Chilean sea bass, which usurped the pasta as my favorite dish of the trip. Unfortunately, on both nights, the pear and pistachio dessert I wanted to try was sold out, so I opted for a delightfully refreshing pina colada panna cotta that did not disappoint.

Other dinner choices consist of Piccolo, the resort’s steakhouse set to open in May; Piet’s Pier, one of Aruba’s few over-the-water bars; and, of course, room service, which features some dishes from Ruinas del Mar. Palms Beachside Grill serves up classic breakfast and lunch fare — you can order a la carte or enjoy the impressive buffet, including omelet and crepe bars.

For grab-and-go options, you can’t go wrong with Shoco Market, dishing out classics like pizzas, sandwiches, and soft serve. I stopped by nearly every day for a gelato pop as an afternoon pick-me-up. Right beside Palms Beachside Grill, you’ll find Kadushi Juice bar, whipping up smoothies, juices, and other light bites. The most popular items on the menu are the acai bowls (go early to snag one as they sell out quickly).

Bar options range from the beachfront Palms Beach Bar and swim-up Balashi Bar and Grill to Alfresco Bar, located up the stairs from Ruinas del Mar. Tuesday through Sunday, there’s live music at Alfresco Bar from 6 to 10 PM. The bar doesn’t take reservations, but the prime time to go is during happy hour to enjoy the trifecta of tasty bites, live melodies, and spectacular sunset views.

Guests who book the Regency Club Access package can also enjoy the Regency Club Lounge, which comes with amenities like daily breakfast, midday snacks, and evening hors d’oeuvres, along with concierge services.

Photo: Steve Photography/Shutterstock

Aruba is a fairly small island. You can get from the resort to the popular Eagle Beach in under 10 minutes by car. Transportation on the island includes public transit, as well as bike and scooter rentals, but the most common way visitors get around is by taking a taxi.

Getting to downtown Oranjestad from the resort takes 15 minutes and costs about $15 (US dollars are widely accepted on the island). You can shop for souvenirs and view the Dutch-influenced architecture downtown. There’s a free streetcar that runs every 10-25 minutes, stopping at some of the major attractions along the way, such as Main Street and the House of Parliament. Aim to go on a weekday, as many businesses are closed on the weekend (mostly Sundays).

For off-property adventures, the resort partners with Red Sail Sports, an adventure and water sports company offering a range of activities such as sailing tours, scuba diving, and snorkeling. Visit the designated table in the lobby to book an activity.

For my penultimate day, I opted instead for a horseback riding tour with The Gold Mine Ranch. Transportation to and from the ranch is included, and experienced guides accompany the group the entire way. It was my first time horseback riding, and I was a bit nervous, but my horse Picasso put me at ease as he steadily trotted along the shoreline and through the desert. The tour was a great way to see more of the island as we stopped by sights such as the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, Shark Bay, and Budui Beach.

When visiting Aruba, you fly into Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA), located south of downtown Oranjestad. From there, Hyatt Regency Aruba is about 15 to 20 minutes away. When departing Aruba, make sure to give yourself plenty of time at the airport, as there are four checkpoints when heading to the US.

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