If you plan on traveling to Aruba — the One Happy Island, you will face a variety of hotels to choose from in Eagle Beach, Arashi Beach, Baby Beach, and more. I recommend staying at the Boardwalk Boutique Hotel in Palm Beach because it’s tucked away in a green oasis that is a short walk from the beach and the main hotel strip that has plenty of restaurants and bars to check out.

Arriving to the Hotel

inside the hotel lobby

My friends and I took a taxi from the airport to the hotel, which was about a 25-30 minute ride. As we stepped foot into the lobby, we were greeted by the warm staff who welcomed us with a glass of complimentary champagne.

Vibe Check

• bright and inviting
• relaxed energy
• cute nooks that were all tidy and photogenic!

Room Options

The hotel offers unique rooms, or casitas, as they call them. We stayed in the One Bedroom Casita, which was perfect for our week-long stay.

It includes a full kitchen, a patio with an outdoor dining table, BBQ, and a hammock for lounging. The separate bedroom has two comfortable queen beds with plenty of room for storing belongings.

The best part about this casita is that everything is set up thoughtfully. For example, one day we wanted to bring cold drinks to the beach, so we just grabbed the provided cooler in our kitchen — there’s no fuss!

After a long day of relaxing at the beach, we couldn’t wait to come back to our inviting casita. The space’s tropical colors and cool air conditioning were just what we needed to unwind before going out at night.

The hotel also offers other rooms, like the Deluxe Coco Casita, which is perfect for a romantic getaway since it even has a private patio!

Note: Starting Jan. 2025, all guests have to be 18 and over.

Food and Drink

Brekkie (8 a.m. – 12 p.m.)

Every morning we took advantage of our room’s tea kettle and Nespresso machine, but for breakfast, we headed down to The Coco Café on-site for a nice meal to start the day. We pre-paid for the hotel breakfast, which includes a main dish, cold drink, and a hot drink.

There’s a full menu and we attempted to try new foods every day (although the avocado toast was my personal favorite — its chili oil was just out of this world! also, don’t forget to ask for hot sauce with papaya).

Daily Happy Hour (3 – 5 p.m.)

enjoying Piña Coladas at the pool

Don’t miss out on the daily bar service! Be sure to try the Piña Colada, which is so creamy and refreshing, or the Aruba Ariba cocktail with rum and creme de banana.

Dinners

If you’re overwhelmed with the island’s restaurant options (there are A TON), have no fear! Make a reservation at The Coco Café. They have a fantastic full menu and on some nights they even have themed dinners, like Tapas Night or Caribbean Night with curated food and live music.

Other Amenities and Perks

Pools

view of the Main Pool

The hotel offers two pools: a smaller, private one and then the Main Pool, which has plenty of lounge chairs/beds and a swinging hammock.

Fitness and Wellness

Are you passionate about health and wellness and want to stay on track during your vacation? The hotel has a fitness room, yoga deck, and a treatment room (for scrubs, facials, and massages). I highly recommend the deep tissue massage!

Beach

The Boardwalk is minutes from the beach, accessible via a short walk or by the hotel’s private shuttle, ChiChi. Grab a fresh towel at the front desk and head to the beach for some sun!

The hotel has their own reserved area on the shore where guests can find palapas and sun beds. Pro tip: reserve a palapa for your group at the front desk. This reservation process is great, especially if you’re vacationing during peak season (Dec. – April/May).

snorkeling gear provided by the Boardwalk

At the beach, food and cocktail service is provided by the nearby Ritz Carlton — you will see their staff members on segways, taking orders from guests. I highly recommend trying the ceviche or loaded fries with sausage!

our lunch from the Ritz

Service

The staff is so hospitable and kind! They are ready to help however they can, from making taxi/restaurant reservations, coordinating car rentals, to preparing a private chef dining experience right at your casita, they have you covered.

Final Thoughts

Our stay at the Boardwalk Boutique Hotel made my Aruba experience even better. It makes sense why Aruba is called One Happy Island! The on-site staff cared about our stay not just at the property, but also on the island. They gave us great recommendations for local bars and restaurants and pro tips on how to off-road on the island (stay tuned for my next blog post about all the things to do in Aruba!).

If you’re looking for a chill destination to fully take advantage of rest and relaxation, this lush and tropical resort is for you!