Best Aruba Honeymoon Hotels

Sun-filled days and spectacular sunsets are two reasons Aruba makes the short list for many couples' honeymoon destination. The weather is generally reliable (Aruba is below the hurricane belt) and the island's beaches are sublime—with incredibly white sand and clear turquoise water—and there's a thriving culinary and nightlife scene, too.

But what wins over many newlyweds is the variety of well-priced hotel accommodations, from respected international brands to convenient all-inclusive properties to boutique resorts with a decidedly grown-up vibe. We've rounded up the 10 best honeymoon hotels and resorts in Aruba for the perfect romantic escape.

What two words make most honeymooners say, "Ahhh"? That would be adults-only. And Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort is not only romantically child-free, it's also intimate (just 104 rooms). What's more, Bucuti is located on magnificent Eagle Beach—often voted one of the best in the Caribbean—and its Tara Wing, which is home to honeymoon-worthy rooms and suites, completed a renovation in 2017 and now features contemporary décor in neutral yet seductive palette of ivory, beige and coral.

Equally tantalizing are the perks that include free breakfast, WiFi, parking and self-serve laundry as well as two daily happy hours (plus a Healthy Hour and on onsite wellness specialist at the Purun Spa). And for a fresh start to married life, couples can enjoy locally sourced natural cuisine in Elements, which features four menus: world cuisine, natural & organic, gluten-free and vegan.

Imagine honeymooning on Aruba, one of the Caribbean's liveliest destinations, but also being able to escape every day to a private island just offshore that's home to pink flamingos and adults-only beach with overwater cabanas and shallow, swimmable lagoons. There's no need to imagine—just book at room at The Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, where blissful days relaxing on 40-acre Renaissance Island and memorable nights spent enjoying the hotel's 24-hour casino await.

The only decision to be made is whether to sleep in the adults-only Marina Hotel building located in the heart of Oranjestad (best for couples who love a social ambience and nightlife) or the Ocean Suites (which are located across the street overlooking the water, but which are also family friendly).

All 556 rooms and suites were renovated in 2015 and have a glam mid-century vibe in shades of blue, gray and white. Additional couple time can be booked at the Okeanos Spa, where the signature treatment is the decadent Chocolate Embrace.

The Renaissance also features seven restaurants and lounges, from L.G. Smith's Steak & Chop House for meat-lovers to Aquarius for casual Caribbean cuisine, including Aruban specialties.

Feeling pampered is a popular honeymoon pastime, and couples who dream of splurging on a five-star resort can do so on Aruba, which is home to the The Ritz-Carlton Aruba. Located at the north end of Palm Beach and open since 2013, the 320-room property with its sunny yellow exterior features rooms decorated in vibrant turquoise to match the mesmerizing hue of the Caribbean Sea and suites in soothing beige and green inspired by the island's arid landscape.

For the ultimate ease, couples can book the top-floor Club Level, where a lounge offers self-serve breakfast, lunch, snacks and cocktails with a view. Special romantic moments range from a romantic private dinner on the beach at sunset to a couple's Deseo Pa Dos treatment in the spa.

The Ritz-Carlton's five restaurants include the bistro-inspired BLT Steak for top-quality steak and seafood, Casa Nonna for Italian specialties (and a special gluten-free pasta menu) and Divi Sushi Bar & Lounge for a sashimi or roll fix (it's open all day in the lobby bar). And rolling the dice? Also no problem, since there's a 24-hour casino right on the property.

Couples drawn to the idea of a locally owned boutique resort that's among Aruba's most sustainable (it's Green Globe Platinum-certified) should check out Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa. Add in the fact that this 72-room property is located on a gorgeous stretch of pristine sand—officially Manchebo Beach, but right next to better-known Eagle Beach—and offers an all-inclusive option, and the recipe for romance is a winning one.

Machebo's laid-back beachfront vibe features swaying palms and rustic palapas and a wellness focus with healthy dining options that aid post-wedding decompression. Although small, this resort has four restaurants—Ike's Bistro for Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, the Chophouse for steak and seafood, Omakase Sushi Bar for Japanese fare and Pega Pega Beach Bar & Grill for casual fruit smoothies and salads. And vegan and vegetarian options are always available.

Even the room décor is soothing, a mix of classic and contemporary in sand and subtle blue hues, and all accommodations feature a private patio or balcony with a garden or ocean view—opt for the latter since gazing at such perfect sand and sea is a must on any island honeymoon.

Booking a honeymoon at Divi Aruba All-Inclusive means effortlessly enjoying the amenities of two resorts for the price of staying at one. That's because this 265-room property, located on Divi Beach (between Manchebo and Druif beaches), shares 10 restaurants, eight bars and four pools with its sister property, Tamarijn Aruba All-Inclusive.

Both are family friendly but offer plenty of fun-in-the-sun activities for watersports-loving couples or for duos who enjoy challenging each other to a round of golf (the nine-hole The Links at Diva Aruba Golf Course is located between the two properties and is bookable at an added cost). Divi is especially known for its nightly entertainment as well as access to the adjacent Alhambra Casino.

Restaurants, which include Pure Lime for Mexican specialties and Ginger for modern Asian, feature abundant, locally-sourced eats (such as papaya, plantains, mahi mahi and red snapper). And while rooms are similar in style to its sister property, they are a bit larger with décor that's crisper and brighter, but not all are oceanfront as they are at Tamarijn.

Yes, small is in its name and this joyful property run by Belgian twin sisters is happy to be the little guy amid the big brand-name hotels. Featuring just 14 casitas—from studios to two-bedrooms—the Boardwalk Small Hotel Aruba is tucked away in a former coconut plantation a short walk from Palm Beach and offers cheerful accommodations decorated with local art that some honeymoon couples will find too charming to resist.

Each casita also features a fully equipped kitchen, ideal for budget-conscious couples who love to cook. A small pool surrounded by lush foliage, private patios with hammocks for two, and loungers and palapa-style umbrellas on a special section of Palm Beach (with beach service) between the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton create an intimate, unique and memorable ambience.

For a stunning setting by day—on quiet, white-sand Druif Beach, which blends into Divi Beach on one side and Manchebo Beach on the other—and live entertainment each night, consider 236-room Tamarjin All-Inclusive. Because the resort is right next door to sister property Divi Aruba All-Inclusive, there are a total of 10 restaurants, eight bars and four pools to enjoy.

Renovated in 2017, Tamarijn offers free WiFi and a range of on property activities, which include kayaking, snorkeling, windsurfing and even a beachfront rock-climbing wall by day and locally-inspired music and dance by night (including participatory salsa and limbo, so limber up!). Golf is also an options at the nine-hole The Kinks at Divi Aruba (at an added cost). All rooms are oceanfront and feature modern décor in deep sea blue, gold and dark brown—so the view out the sliding glass door to the balcony truly pops.

Dining options include Paparazzi for rustic Italian, Ginger for Asian-fusion, Red Parrot for romantic fine dining and Lime for Mexican cuisine. And while it's not included in the nighty rate, hitting the gaming tables at the adjacent Alhambra Casino is a popular pastime.

For the classic Caribbean beach resort experience, honeymooners have relied on the 411-room Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino for several decades. Located front-and-center on Palm Beach and renovated in 2018, this property offers all the amenities couples love: incredible white sand dotted with loungers and palapa-style umbrellas and featuring a casual beach bar and grill (Waves, where rum cocktails and lite bites are the specialties), two pools (including an adults-only pool and bar called H2Oasis) and four restaurants (among them Ruth's Chris for steak).

Ambience in the rooms is crisp and contemporary with upbeat blue and white décor and balconies offering garden, partial-ocean or ocean views and cooling breezes. A Mandara Spa, 24-hour gym and 24-hour Stellaris Casino mean there's something to satisfy all kinds of interests. And, yes, there's an onsite Starbucks for couples who need a latte fix.

Not all honeymooners crave seclusion—some want to celebrate their new life together by being right in the center of all the fun. If so, a lively Caribbean escape awaits at Hotel Riu Palace Antillas, the 482-room adults-only option located on the southern end of Palm Beach. With almost nonstop activities, music and entertainment—along with free-flowing cocktails—the ambience is decidedly upbeat.

Spacious rooms are located in a 16-story tower and offer partial or full sea views. That said, they are in need of an update, so if décor matters and kids don't bother you, consider booking at the 450-room Hotel Riu Palace Aruba, located in a trio of lower-rise buildings next door, which channels a Moroccan/Andalusian vibe with white domes and parapets outside, crystal chandeliers in the lobby, and dark wood headboards and floral embroidered pillows in mauve and brown in the guestrooms.

Each property features two pools (one with a swim-up bar), five restaurants featuring Italian, Japanese, Aruban and steakhouse menus, and an international buffet, of course, plus six bars. A fitness center, casino (drinks and gaming at extra cost), Renova Spa and Pacha disco (at Antillas) round out the amenities. Guests at either resort can eat lunch at the other property (guests must be 18 to dine at Antillas).

A mid-century tropical vibe is the calling card of the 357-room Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino, which is located on Palm Beach and was designed in 1959 by architect Morris Lapidus (who also designed the Fontainebleau and Eden Roc in Miami).

A 2016 renovation polished it back into fine form—think mid-tone woods and shades of coral and turquoise—while adults who are kids at heart will also enjoy the 15-acre property's beachfront pool area with two pools, waterfalls and a freshwater lagoon. Rooms and suites feature private balconies and cheery blue and white decor with tufted fabric headboards, Aruba-inspired local artwork and photos and free WiFi.

The six restaurants and bars range from Gilligan's Seafood Shack for fresh local fish and cocktails to Sunset Grille, a modern steakhouse. While family friendly, the Hilton also has amenities couples will appreciate, namely the eforea Spa and the Casino at Hilton Aruba.