Hotel Spotlight: Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino

Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino

The Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino on Palm Beach in Aruba is perfect for a family beach vacation! When we were last in Aruba, this beachfront resort was teeming with families – from strollers to teens. This whole area is great – white sand beaches, paved boardwalk along the beach for strolling and strollers, local restaurants and shopping across the street, water sports, and so much more!

One of our favorite activities for kids ages 12 and up (they may allow younger, but I’d still stick with 12 and up) is SNUBA. It’s the perfect cross between scuba diving and snorkeling. If your child likes to snorkel, but hasn’t passed or taken a diving certification yet, then this is perfect! The air tank floats on a raft above you and keeps you from going down too deep. The excursion picks you up at Palm Beach and brings to another area where there is a wonderful snorkel area if you don’t want to do the SNUBA. I highly recommend this excursion whether you stay close to the dock and snorkel or venture a little further out with the SNUBA group. Near the dock you will actually see more fish because they are constantly tossing little pieces of bread so the fish know to hang around by the docks. Nearby are little restaurants, bathrooms and shopping.

Back at Palm Beach, you can rent boogie boards, build sand castles, or frolic in the hotel pool. The entire resort has a Mayan ruins theme, and you will find random tropical animals like a parrot that says Hello to anyone who walks by. They have a swim-up snack bar and water slide, too. Most of the Hyatt restaurants are kid-friendly, and across the street there is a shopping area with local restaurants that are family friendly too.

Hotel Highlights:

The 12-acre Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino sits on world-famous Palm Beach and is located approximately five miles from downtown Oranjestad and nine miles from Queen Beatrix International Airport. This location is also a mile from the Butterfly Farm, two miles from the Bubali Bird Sanctuary, five miles from the Atlantis Submarine, eight miles from Hooiberg Mountain, and 11 miles from Arikok National Park.

Hotel amenities include the casino, two outdoor whirlpools, a three-level swimming pool with cascading waterfalls and a waterslide, freshwater lagoon, tennis, basketball, and fitness center with sauna, steam, facials, and massage. Wireless high-speed internet is available in the public areas of the hotel. Cafe Japengo features an innovative fusion of pan-Asian cuisine, specializing in sushi and fresh seafood. The Palms offers a choice of seafood and grilled specialties, innovative salads, and spectacular sandwiches (with outdoor seating available). Try the unique health drinks at Kadushi Juice Bar, located in front of the Palms Beach Bar. Other on-site dining and drinking includes Alfresco Bar, Balashi Bar, Shoco Market Cafe, Cafe Piccolo, Cafe Japengo, Ruinas Del Mar, and 24-hour room service. Parking is available free for all hotel guests.

All guests checking in will receive a renovated guestroom, featuring iHome clock radio docking station, voicemail, minibars, ceiling fan, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, coffeemaker, 25-inch or larger cable TV, high-speed wired internet and balcony.

What you should know:

From August 20 to December 15, 2012, Ruinas del Mar restaurant, Cafe
Piccolo and Cafe Japengo will be closed for upgrades. The beachfront Palms restaurant will be the main dining option, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Additional choices include oceanfront dining at Footprints Beach Grill, a sushi bar at Alfresco Lobby Bar, and dinner menus at Palms Bar and Piets Pier Bar. Upon completion of the upgrades, a new Mexican themed restaurant will be open for dinner and Ruinas del Mar will be open daily for breakfast, dinner and Sunday Brunch.