Aruba is one of the most popular Caribbean Islands for tourists. There are a plethora of options to use your points to stay in Aruba. Here are our favorite options.
Aruba is located in the southern-Caribbean, just 13 miles north of Puerto Escondito, Venezuela. While the northern and eastern-sides of the island is home to rugged rugged terrain, high-winds and massive waves, the west-coast of the island is sheltered from the open sea, and is where many of the resorts are located.
You'll find most of the popular resorts on two main beaches: Palm Beach and Eagle Beach. Palm Beach is a strip of dozens of hotels, with great dining options not far. Eagle beach is slightly more spread out with fewer food options. Here are the best ways to use your points for a hotel in Aruba.
The Hyatt Regency Aruba is likely one of the best ways to use points to stay in Aruba. World of Hyatt is one of the best loyalty programs out there, and can provide some great outsized value for points stays. The Hyatt Regency Aruba is no exception.
This resort features two swimming pools (one with a waterfall), an ocean lagoon, a spa, 9-onsite restaurants/bars, and a casino. It's also located in the heart of Palm Beach, which means that there are plenty of great dining options within walking distance of this resort.
World of Hyatt is one of the only major hotel chains that still uses a fixed-award chart for redemptions. This hotel is a Hyatt Category 7 Hotel, meaning that off-peak rooms start at just 25,000 Points/night, and during peak dates, rooms go for just 35,000 points/night, which is a great deal. With room rates that start at $650/night, this hotel is a phenomenal use of your World of Hyatt points (which can also be transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.
While this hotel charges a $45 daily resort fee, the World of Hyatt program waives resort fees for award stays (when you use Hyatt points), so make sure to factor that into your calculation as well when deciding to use points or cash.
While not the best 'value' hotel out there, the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino is one of the best points hotels in Aruba. What really makes this hotel special is the location. Located in the heart of Palm Beach, this property is conveniently located to most of the great restaurants on the strip, and is consistently a great stay. There are two Marriott Vacation Club Time Shares located adjacent to this property (The Marriott Vacation Club -- Ocean Club, and the Surf Club).
This property features an onsite casino (Stellaris Casino), as well as an adults-only area called Tradewinds (which includes the Tradewinds Club) and a H2Oasis adults-only pool. Access is available to guests at an up charge. This hotel also features over 10 onsite food & beverage options including a pool-bar, Starbucks, and Ruths Chris Steakhouse.
While this is certainly one of the nicer Marriotts, it's not necessarily cheap. While you can occasionally find a deal during off-peak dates (typically summer), rooms at this hotel start at 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points/night, or $600 if paying cash. Given the option of $600 cash or 70,000 points, paying cash is likely your best bet. You can transfer points to Marriott from American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Bilt Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.
This resort has a $65 daily resort fee which covers the following amenities: Enhanced Internet Access, Local Calls, International Calls, Non-Motorized Watersports, Bottled Water, Fitness Classes, and a Welcome Drink. Unfortunately, the Marriott Bonvoy program does not waive resort fees for award stays, so you'll still be stuck paying this fee no matter what.
The Renaissance certainly takes the crown for the most unique hotel on Aruba. This property, which features its own private island, with a Pink-Flamingo Beach, for hotel guests only can be yours for just 65,000 Marriott Points per night. The main hotel building is located on the main-island, right next to the Aruba Airport, guests are able to take a quick, complimentary ferry (provided by the hotel) to the hotel's own private island, exclusively for guests. One drawback to the private island is the location. Depending on which runway is active at the Aruba Airport, your serene beach time can be interrupted by the sound of jet-engines.
While I stayed there about 10 years ago, I don't remember the rooms to be anything special, however, I remember loving the private island. The hotel is located in downtown Oranjestad (the main town, and capital of Aruba). While it's certainly less touristy than Palm Beach, there are also fewer food options in the area. However, the hotel features an onsite full-service restaurant, and if you have access to a car (or are willing to take a taxi), we highly recommend Barefoot, a restaurant on the beach (try to request a table on the beach near sunset).
Rooms at this hotel start at 65,000 points/night, which can be a great deal compared to cash prices which start at about $450/night. While we likely wouldn't spend an entire week at this resort, as the sound of airplanes and distance from the main-strip with popular restaurants, can be bothersome if you're looking for a 'typical' Aruba vacation.
The Ritz-Carlton Aruba, which opened in November of 2013, still has it's (relatively) new feel. Located just north of the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, the Ritz-Carlton is great for the luxury traveler looking for opulence using points.
Located just north of the main strip in Palm Beach, it's not a far walk to get to the popular restaurants and attractions. This property, which features 320 guest rooms, including 55 suites, has two swimming pools, and five on-site dining options. Additionally, there's an onsite Spa by Ritz-Carlton, and a 24-hour casino. This Ritz-Carlton location does feature a club-level, which has Food & Beverage offerings throughout the day.
Rooms at this property start at just 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points/night, which is reasonable compared to many other Ritz-Carlton Resort properties. If you're looking to pay cash, you can expect to find rooms start at $1,250, and all the way up to $2,000/night for peak dates.
This property also has a $90 daily resort-fee assessed to the room which covers: a Welcome Drink, Non-Motorized Watersports (including standup paddle boards, kayaks, floating rafts, water hammocks and snorkeling gear), use of the Spa accommodations (steam room & sauna), the 'Bahada di Solo' Sunset Experience Cocktail Sampler, Ritz Kids activities, Daily Exercise Classes, High-Speed Internet, and Valet Parking. As mentioned above, unfortunately, resort fees are not waived for award stays in the Marriott Bonvoy Program.
The Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino is effectively your only option to use Hilton Honors points in Aruba (unless you want to use them at the Embassy Suites). Located on the southern-end of the Palm Beach strip, this resort features 357 guest rooms (including suites), along with two pools (with food & beverage service), and private cabanas or palapas to rent. Additionally, there's an onsite casino.
Rooms at this resort start at about $500/night, and can go for over $1,250 during peak dates. This hotel is generally not a good use of HIlton Honors points, however. Rooms start at 225,000 Hilton Honors points, which is not a good redemption, unless cash rates are over $1,750/night.
Aruba is one of the most popular Caribbean destinations for good reason -- a plethora of good food, hotel options, and short(ish) flight from many places in the US & Canada. To find the best way to use your points for a trip to Aruba use AwardTravel to figure out how many points it'll cost you, and weather or not it's worth using points, or pay cash.
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Aruba is located in the southern-Caribbean, just 13 miles north of Puerto Escondito, Venezuela. While the northern and eastern-sides of the island is home to rugged rugged terrain, high-winds and massive waves, the west-coast of the island is sheltered from the open sea, and is where many of the resorts are located.
You'll find most of the popular resorts on two main beaches: Palm Beach and Eagle Beach. Palm Beach is a strip of dozens of hotels, with great dining options not far. Eagle beach is slightly more spread out with fewer food options. Here are the best ways to use your points for a hotel in Aruba.
The Hyatt Regency Aruba is likely one of the best ways to use points to stay in Aruba. World of Hyatt is one of the best loyalty programs out there, and can provide some great outsized value for points stays. The Hyatt Regency Aruba is no exception.
This resort features two swimming pools (one with a waterfall), an ocean lagoon, a spa, 9-onsite restaurants/bars, and a casino. It's also located in the heart of Palm Beach, which means that there are plenty of great dining options within walking distance of this resort.
World of Hyatt is one of the only major hotel chains that still uses a fixed-award chart for redemptions. This hotel is a Hyatt Category 7 Hotel, meaning that off-peak rooms start at just 25,000 Points/night, and during peak dates, rooms go for just 35,000 points/night, which is a great deal. With room rates that start at $650/night, this hotel is a phenomenal use of your World of Hyatt points (which can also be transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.
While this hotel charges a $45 daily resort fee, the World of Hyatt program waives resort fees for award stays (when you use Hyatt points), so make sure to factor that into your calculation as well when deciding to use points or cash.
While not the best 'value' hotel out there, the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino is one of the best points hotels in Aruba. What really makes this hotel special is the location. Located in the heart of Palm Beach, this property is conveniently located to most of the great restaurants on the strip, and is consistently a great stay. There are two Marriott Vacation Club Time Shares located adjacent to this property (The Marriott Vacation Club -- Ocean Club, and the Surf Club).
This property features an onsite casino (Stellaris Casino), as well as an adults-only area called Tradewinds (which includes the Tradewinds Club) and a H2Oasis adults-only pool. Access is available to guests at an up charge. This hotel also features over 10 onsite food & beverage options including a pool-bar, Starbucks, and Ruths Chris Steakhouse.
While this is certainly one of the nicer Marriotts, it's not necessarily cheap. While you can occasionally find a deal during off-peak dates (typically summer), rooms at this hotel start at 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points/night, or $600 if paying cash. Given the option of $600 cash or 70,000 points, paying cash is likely your best bet. You can transfer points to Marriott from American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Bilt Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.
This resort has a $65 daily resort fee which covers the following amenities: Enhanced Internet Access, Local Calls, International Calls, Non-Motorized Watersports, Bottled Water, Fitness Classes, and a Welcome Drink. Unfortunately, the Marriott Bonvoy program does not waive resort fees for award stays, so you'll still be stuck paying this fee no matter what.
The Renaissance certainly takes the crown for the most unique hotel on Aruba. This property, which features its own private island, with a Pink-Flamingo Beach, for hotel guests only can be yours for just 65,000 Marriott Points per night. The main hotel building is located on the main-island, right next to the Aruba Airport, guests are able to take a quick, complimentary ferry (provided by the hotel) to the hotel's own private island, exclusively for guests. One drawback to the private island is the location. Depending on which runway is active at the Aruba Airport, your serene beach time can be interrupted by the sound of jet-engines.
While I stayed there about 10 years ago, I don't remember the rooms to be anything special, however, I remember loving the private island. The hotel is located in downtown Oranjestad (the main town, and capital of Aruba). While it's certainly less touristy than Palm Beach, there are also fewer food options in the area. However, the hotel features an onsite full-service restaurant, and if you have access to a car (or are willing to take a taxi), we highly recommend Barefoot, a restaurant on the beach (try to request a table on the beach near sunset).
Rooms at this hotel start at 65,000 points/night, which can be a great deal compared to cash prices which start at about $450/night. While we likely wouldn't spend an entire week at this resort, as the sound of airplanes and distance from the main-strip with popular restaurants, can be bothersome if you're looking for a 'typical' Aruba vacation.
The Ritz-Carlton Aruba, which opened in November of 2013, still has it's (relatively) new feel. Located just north of the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, the Ritz-Carlton is great for the luxury traveler looking for opulence using points.
Located just north of the main strip in Palm Beach, it's not a far walk to get to the popular restaurants and attractions. This property, which features 320 guest rooms, including 55 suites, has two swimming pools, and five on-site dining options. Additionally, there's an onsite Spa by Ritz-Carlton, and a 24-hour casino. This Ritz-Carlton location does feature a club-level, which has Food & Beverage offerings throughout the day.
Rooms at this property start at just 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points/night, which is reasonable compared to many other Ritz-Carlton Resort properties. If you're looking to pay cash, you can expect to find rooms start at $1,250, and all the way up to $2,000/night for peak dates.
This property also has a $90 daily resort-fee assessed to the room which covers: a Welcome Drink, Non-Motorized Watersports (including standup paddle boards, kayaks, floating rafts, water hammocks and snorkeling gear), use of the Spa accommodations (steam room & sauna), the 'Bahada di Solo' Sunset Experience Cocktail Sampler, Ritz Kids activities, Daily Exercise Classes, High-Speed Internet, and Valet Parking. As mentioned above, unfortunately, resort fees are not waived for award stays in the Marriott Bonvoy Program.
The Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino is effectively your only option to use Hilton Honors points in Aruba (unless you want to use them at the Embassy Suites). Located on the southern-end of the Palm Beach strip, this resort features 357 guest rooms (including suites), along with two pools (with food & beverage service), and private cabanas or palapas to rent. Additionally, there's an onsite casino.
Rooms at this resort start at about $500/night, and can go for over $1,250 during peak dates. This hotel is generally not a good use of HIlton Honors points, however. Rooms start at 225,000 Hilton Honors points, which is not a good redemption, unless cash rates are over $1,750/night.
Aruba is one of the most popular Caribbean destinations for good reason -- a plethora of good food, hotel options, and short(ish) flight from many places in the US & Canada. To find the best way to use your points for a trip to Aruba use AwardTravel to figure out how many points it'll cost you, and weather or not it's worth using points, or pay cash.
