Site Inspection at Holiday Inn Resort Aruba

The Holiday Inn is set in an amazing location on Palm Beach very close to the main area with restaurants and shops. This hotel, although not a luxury property, is a great option for those budget-friendly travelers who want to visit the beautiful island of Aruba. Aruba is not known for all-inclusive resorts, but Holiday Inn is one of the few properties that offers an all-inclusive option with a four-night minimum. The property consists of 590 rooms and has just celebrated its 55-year anniversary.

This huge property is made up of three towers, all rooms with balconies. There are four different room categories: Standard (no view and you see the roof or parking lot), Resort View (see the pool), Oceanview and Oceanfront. There are only 15 Oceanfront rooms with double beds. Most of the Oceanfront rooms have king beds and have sofa beds in the room. The Sea Tower is more relaxed and quiet during the day and has cabanas that can be reserved at the pool for $30-40. If staying with kids, the Sea Tower may not be the best option as its close to the Moomba bar and can get loud in the evenings. The Ocean Tower is the middle one. The Palm and Ocean Towers have rooms with sofa beds and the Sea Tower does not. All the double bed rooms do NOT come with sofa beds. The property does have six ADA rooms available located in the Sea and Ocean Towers. If staying in the Sea Tower, it is the only one that you need to use your room key to enter as it is the only one not connected to the lobby.

The hotel does have a kids club on site for ages 4-11 and is included with your stay. They do close from 1-2 for lunch.

They do offer complimentary bikes that you can use around the island.

Reservations for palapas can be made on their website 15 days prior to arrival and vary in price $30-40 depending on location. There are two big palapas that are free and are shared with other guests.

This property has five onsite restaurants:

Da Vinci and Agave are typically open on different days. If there is a high occupancy then both will be open at the same time.

The all-inclusive package includes one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner- you can order as much as you want per meal but can't go to lunch at one place and then go to a different place a few hours later to eat again. Breakfast is buffet only. Kids 12 and under are free if they order from the kids menu. If they order from the regular menu, there will be a surcharge.

The property has three pools and one of them is a walk in. The chairs by the pool are free and come on a first come, first served basis.

The property does cater for weddings and has a few spots perfect for the occasion.

The property does have a gym that is open 24/7. There is a spa located in the Sea Tower, but it is owned by a 3rd party.

Although it is not a luxury property, the Holiday Inn Aruba is perfect for couples or families who are more budget conscious but want to stay centrally located, oceanfront on Palm Beach and have access to an all-inclusive option. The grounds are beautiful and the views from the balconies are amazing!

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Aruba page.