If you are looking for the ultimate destination to unwind, Aruba delivers. We spent a wonderful winter holiday on the island, fully embracing its incredibly chill and welcoming atmosphere.
Getting there from Seattle requires a bit of a journey since there are no direct flights. We opted for a red-eye leg to Atlanta, where a quick breakfast and a chance to refresh at the Delta Sky Club lounge gave us the second wind we needed before boarding our final flight to the Caribbean.
Tired but happy, we arrived at our hotel in the early afternoon. As soon as check-in was complete, we headed straight to the bar for drinks—a long-standing travel tradition of ours that officially signals the start of vacation. With a drink in hand, our getaway had officially begun.
Our first evening set the perfect tone: a sunset walk along the shoreline to wet our feet, explore the surroundings, and scout out a spot for dinner. That evening stroll quickly became the anchor of our trip. By the next day, we fell into a flawless, relaxing routine that we repeated for the rest of our stay: breakfast, beach time, a mandatory walk to a new lunch spot, more beach time until late afternoon, a sunset walk, dinner, and bedtime. It was exactly the kind of recharging trip we needed.
The beach in our corner of Aruba was spectacular, defined by pristine white sand, crystal-clear water, and perfect weather from start to finish.
Beyond the scenery, the local food scene was a major highlight. We particularly loved the traditional Dutch influences, frequently seeking out bitterballen, kroketten, and Vlaamse frietjes. Honestly, the food alone is a good enough reason for us to keep coming back. We made a point to try a different spot for lunch and dinner every day, and our choices were excellent across the board.
Here are a few places we highly recommend:
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For our accommodations, the Ritz-Carlton was immaculate and exceptionally well-maintained. The service and quality were flawless, making it one of the best overall hotels we have stayed at—and surprisingly reasonable given the brand name and the destination. We absolutely loved our stay there.
Just like that, our six nights on the island flew by and it was time to head home. It felt like the perfect duration for a pure relaxation getaway. Even though we stayed close to our base and skipped exploring the rest of the island, we left completely satisfied with the experience Aruba delivered.
For us, Aruba is a definitive 10/10 destination, and we highly recommend it.
