My family and I visited Aruba in the beginning of April and it was a vacation that we will never forget. We stayed at the Barcelo Resort and I wanted to share some information about this wonderful, oceanfront property.
The Barcelo is located on Palm Beach, which is on the northwestern side of the island. Palm Beach is also known as the high rise section and it’s approximately 20 minutes from the airport and the cruise terminal. The Barcelo is an all-inclusive resort that has 373 rooms and suites. The resort has several room categories, including: lanai garden or lanai pool view, ocean view, pool/ocean view, and ocean front. Guest rooms have either a king bed or two double beds and they are well appointed. Because each room has its own private balcony, guests have the opportunity to witness the spectacular sunsets each night from the comfort of their room.
In the center of the resort, there is a spacious, lagoon-style swimming pool that has two hot tubs and features a swim-up bar. Lounge chairs and umbrellas surround the pool area, and there are also a few shaded day beds for guests to relax on.
The resort has six different restaurants. The Beach Club is a casual restaurant that serves lunch with the option to eat inside or outside on the beach front terrace. Aruba Seafood is only open for dinner and it also offers the option to eat inside or outside on the beach front terrace. The Palm Restaurant is the resort’s buffet and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Kyoto is the Japanese restaurant and features a hibachi dinner show that should not be missed. Mexico Lindo serves authentic Mexican cuisine and I highly recommend ordering a glass (or pitcher) of the sangria. L’Olio is the Italian restaurant and features an elevated outdoor terrace, where guests can dine while watching the incredible Aruba sunsets.
Just off the lobby is the casino and lounge area. There are plenty of comfortable seats surrounding the bar and it’s the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail while listening to the live entertainment that is offered each night.
The New Image Wellness and Spa is located on the first floor and offers individual and couples massages, facial treatments, manicures, pedicures, and other salon services. There is also a gym located on the second floor, which features treadmills and ellipticals, along with free weights and strength training machines. If you are interested in taking an island tour or excursion, DePalm Tours has an office near the front desk. DePalm Tours is one of the largest tour companies in Aruba and they offer many different sightseeing options. I always recommend booking your excursions in advance to ensure the popular tours will not be sold out when you arrive. Aruba is a very easy island to navigate and we usually rent a Jeep for the day to explore the island on our own. Top Drive is one of the main car rental companies on the island and they also have an office inside the resort.
The white sand beaches and the crystal clear, turquoise water in Aruba is why continue to return year after year. The Barcelo has palapas on the beach, along with many palm trees that provide shade from the sun. There is never a shortage of beach chairs and the staff will happily set up everything for you when you arrive. The trade winds along Palm Beach keep the waves to a minimum, which means you can swim or float in the calm water all day. Non-motorized water sports are included in your resort reservation. If you would like to use the complimentary snorkel equipment or the floating beach mats, they can be picked up at the Coconuts Beach Shop, located in front of the resort, directly on the beach
The Barcelo offers an upgraded concierge option called the Royal Level. Guests that stay reserve a Royal Level room receive additional amenities including a room located on the top 3 floors of the resort, a private check-in area located in the 9th floor concierge lounge, complimentary WiFi, complimentary room service, and nightly turn down service. Royal Level guests are also granted access to the the beach bar and the Royal Level restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The employees at the Barcelo are the absolute best. Everyone at the resort was friendly and welcoming, and they treat you like you’re part of their family, but in a good way :-). Because the resort is smaller than some of the other accommodations along Palm Beach, it allows for a personalized experience that truly makes you feel like an important guest.
We decided to stay at an all-inclusive resort for the convenience of having all of our meals and drinks paid for in advance. Aruba has some amazing restaurants throughout the island, but the food costs much more than what you would expect to pay at home. Another important expense that should be considered is the amount of beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) that you may enjoy during your stay. The cost of bottled water, frozen cocktails on the beach, and glasses of wine at dinner can add up very quickly. I believe that the all-inclusive option allowed my family to enjoy all of the food and beverage options throughout the resort without having to worry about receiving a large bill at the end of our vacation. Plus, there is nothing better than swimming up to the pool-side bar and ordering a refreshing margarita while floating in the water. After comparing the costs for everything that we ate and drank, the all-inclusive package worked well for my family and we definitely got our money’s worth. Aruba has so many great places to eat and we have a lot of restaurants that we look forward to visiting. There were days that we ventured out and paid out of pocket for some of our meals; it was definitely worth it.
If you’re ready to visit Aruba, I highly recommend staying at the Barcelo and I know that you will have an unforgettable time. I hope that you contact one of the amazing travel planners at About the Memories Travel to help you plan your next adventure. We will ensure that every detail of your vacation is taken care of; all you’ll have to do is pack your suitcase.
