Oranjestad Vacations

Charming boutique hotel on the beach, minutes from everythingEnjoy luxury on a smaller, more personal scale here at the warm, family-owned Amsterdam Manor Beach hotel. Everyone seeking a gorgeous beach vacation, from families to singles, will appreciate this marvel of Dutch Caribbean architecture, right on Eagle Beach. Laze under the waterfall at the fresh water pool, or splash around at the designated pool for kids. Snorkel equipment is available to better explore Eagle Beach. Happy hours clock in twice daily here, and ask ahead how to plan for the weekly theme nights with live acts. HighlightsTwo pools, a waterfall and a beachfront with excellent snorkelingTwo restaurants on-siteTwo happy hours every dayConcierge, activity desk and car rental desk in-houseFree Wi-Fi throughout hotel RoomsGuests at the Amsterdam Manor Beach may forget that they are in Aruba, as the 72 rooms here are elegant and streamlined with efficient Dutch modern design in neutral tones with strong red accents. Choose from a one- or two-bedroom suite, or a studio. Suites come with a spacious living room with a pull-out sofa, fully equipped kitchen and a Jacuzzi with an ocean view. All rooms come with air conditioning, a cable TV, clock radio, iPod docking station, direct dial telephone, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, and safety deposit box. DiningTwo restaurants are on-site at Amsterdam Manor Beach: Mango's, which serves three meals in the open air at the heart of the hotel, and Passions, which serves dinner directly on the white sands of Eagle Beach for an unabashedly romantic atmosphere. On some nights, Mango's serves French and Italian cuisine, and offers a barbecue buffet. Each restaurant has a vast wine list, and Passions boasts a number of specialty cocktails. RecreationWith a stretch of Eagle Beach right in front of Amsterdam Manor Beach hotel and plenty of equipment on hand, guests would be remiss to skip snorkeling. A pool for children lets families play together, and a fresh-water pool has a waterfall to soak underneath. A concierge and activity desk will help plan excursions, and the in-house car rental desk will allow full exploration of the island, if one desires. TransportationQueen Beatrix Airport (AUA) (7 mi/10.5 km) Attractions Bubali Bird Sanctuary (0.3 mi/0.5 km)Red Sail Sports Aruba (1.5 mi/2.4 km)Pedernalis (1.7 mi/2.7 km) BusinessFree high-speed Internet throughout hotel Policies and fees Guests must show ID at check in.There is a three-night penalty for high-season cancellations made inside 14 days of scheduled arrival, as well as no-shows.

Tropical luxury resort a short walk from Eagle BeachThis spot has been recently taken over by the Tropicana (the casino is coming soon), and offers loads of amenities within walking distance of Eagle Beach. Kids will love the wild water slide, while adults seeking tranquility can find it in the more atmospheric pool across the property, with a waterfall and Jacuzzi tub. USPTR- and USRSA-certified tennis professionals are on hand to help with that swing, and should one be interested in a few extra calories, a Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins shop is on-site at the Tropicana Aruba Resort & Casino. HighlightsThree pools, a water slide and a waterfallTennis pros on-siteDe Palm Tours office on-siteGuest rooms at the Tropicana Aruba Resort & Casino come with Jacuzzi tubsDunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins stands on-site RoomsEach of the 362 sun-drenched suites at the Tropicana Aruba Resort & Casino come equipped with a Jacuzzi tub, kitchenette, separate living room and a private balcony or patio. Rooms also have two television sets, each with an expanded cable lineup. The adults-only deluxe rooms have an extra-large wraparound balcony and come furnished with a love seat, wing chair and two-chair dining set for in-room entertaining. RecreationTwo pools are on the Tropicana Aruba Resort & Casino property -- one with a wild water slide and smaller kiddy pool, another with a tranquil, burbling waterfall and Jacuzzi tub. Tennis is a house favorite, and USPTR- and USRSA-certified tennis professionals are on hand, ready to lead seminars or arrange play (equipment rental is available). Five jogging or walking trails are tucked away on lush spots across the grounds -- keep an eye out for friendly iguanas. A new fitness center has treadmills, elliptical, upright and recumbent bikes, and a three-arm workout station. A day spa offers relaxing treatments. A representative from De Palm Tours is in the lobby and can help plan island excursions from luxury shopping to SNUBA to rugged Jeep tours. TransportationQueen Beatrix International Airport (8.3 mi/13 km) Attractions Red Sail Sports Aruba (0.1 mi/0.1 km)Bubali Bird Sanctuary (1.2 mi/1.9 km)Rancho Daimari (1.7 mi/2.7 km) BusinessInternet access (fee applies)

Small and lovely Eagle Beach gemWith just 19 rooms and a one-minute walk to the gorgeous and secluded Eagle Beach, the MVC Eagle Beach hotel is the key to a quiet, intensely tranquil vacation. Families are welcome too, and can use a kiddy pool and separate play area for little ones. If guests choose to never leave the grounds, a small fresh water pool and large garden terrace are available for sunbathing and relaxing. Guests can stay connected with complimentary wireless Internet access. Highlights A one-minute walk to Eagle BeachFresh water pool and a smaller kiddy poolAll rooms have a garden or ocean viewFree high-speed wireless InternetComplimentary tennis court RoomsOnly 19 modern rooms are available at the MVC Eagle Beach, with 16 double rooms and three suites suitable for up to five guests. All guest rooms come equipped with a telephone, cable television, small refrigerator and a terrace that overlooks the tropical gardens, or if the room is on the second floor, the ocean. DiningTulip, the in-house restaurant at the MVC Eagle Beach, offers patio seating with high-backed wicker chairs and a view of the hotel gardens. Three meals are served daily, and fresh, local seafood is the house specialty. RecreationFamilies can play together at the brightly colored play area for kids, or take a dip in the designated kiddy pool. Tennis courts are open to guests for no charge. High-speed wireless Internet is complimentary. Eagle Beach is a one-minute walk away. Should one want to leave the MVC Eagle Beach, downtown Oranjestad is five minutes away, and the concierge at the hotel can help plan day trips or guide one to activities around the island. TransportationReina Beatrix International Airport (1.7 mi/2.8 km) Attractions Bubali Bird Sanctuary (0.1 mi/0.2 km)Red Sail Sports Aruba (1.1 mi/1.8 km)Pedernalis (2.1 mi/3.3 km) BusinessFree high-speed Internet access in public areas Policies and feesGuests must show ID at check-in.

Adults-only romantic serenity at award-winning resort on Eagle BeachIf walking about 200 steps from the guest room to an expanse of glittering white sands and aqua water is a key goal of the trip, the 14-acre adults-only Aruba Bucuti Beach Resort and Tara Beach Suites on Eagle Beach will be a good choice. For a beachfront getaway of a romantic or purely relaxing nature, use the flag service: simply stake the flag of the resort in the sand to alert staff of your needs. Aruba Bucuti Beach Resort and Tara Beach Suites, awarded "Top Resorts in the Caribbean" in Condé Nast Traveler: 2011 Readers' Choice Awards and TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2011 for the second time in a row, also offers free Wi-Fi access and and full American buffet breakfast. Highlights Award-winning stylish beachfront boutique resortPeaceful setting on Eagle Beach catering to couplesRomantic beach dining and excellent serviceEuropean spa with Vichy shower treatment room RoomsSophisticated Colonial touches are seen in the main Dutch-inspired low-rise building at the Aruba Bucuti Beach Resort and Tara Beach Suites. The same is true in the guest rooms with modern dark wood furnishings, and cream and yellow hues on the bedspreads, walls and upholstery. Each room has its own ceiling fan, climate control and spacious balcony or terrace. Amenities include a microwave, minibar, mini-fridge, coffee maker, cable TV and Aruba Aloe toiletries. DiningThe all-inclusive flexible meal provides three meals and all-day grazing on fresh, locally sourced and expertly prepared fresh foods. The website for the Aruba Bucuti Beach Resort and Tara Beach Suites even provides recipes of its fresh seafood dishes and tropical cocktails so its guests can taste the flavors while back at home. The restaurant at the resort is within a full size replica of a 17th-century shipwrecked Dutch Galleon. RecreationVisit the European-style Intermezzo Spa at Tara, with its own Vichy shower treatment room. Choose from a vast menu of massages, body wraps and aromatherapy treatments, all of which utilize local plants and herbs. The spa and fitness center at the Aruba Bucuti Beach Resort and Tara Beach Suites also provide views of the newly updated infinity pool, or one can work out with weights, spin-bike machines, treadmills, step machines or rowing machines in the open air, under a palm-thatched roof with privacy walls. Transportation Queen Beatrix International Airport (7 mi/12 km) Attractions Red Sail Sports Aruba (0.7 mi/1.2 km)Rancho Daimari (2.3 mi/3.7 km)J.L. Penha & Sons (2.8 mi/4.5 km) Business Complimentary Wi-Fi on-site Business center Policies and fees NOTICE: The hotel will undergo a three-phase renovation from May 13 and August 10, 2013 Phase I (May 13 through May 31)             The entire resort will be closed during this three-week period. Phase II (June 1 - July 5)             This time period entails the assembly of prefabricated elements of the structure within a fenced enclosure, which will be much less disruptive than phase 1.  To minimize any disruption work will take place between 9:30am and 6:00pm. Since our beachfront restaurant will not yet be complete we will be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in our Tara Lounge.  The renowned Carte Blanche (chef's table concept) restaurant will also be open and accepting dinner reservations five nights a week.             The pool and entire beach area, including new lounge chairs and umbrellas, will be available.  The Sand Bar will be open for guests during this time, and the hotel will also have an alternate bar location available in one of the Bungalow Suites.  The Bucuti Wing Superior rooms facing south (towards Manchebo Beach Resort - with smoking balconies) and the Bungalow Suites will be closed during this phase, as these rooms would face the traffic for equipment and supplies delivery to the restaurant site.  For smoking balconies, the hotel would have the Deluxe Ocean View rooms available. Other room categories will remain available to guests, at a very special rate: a 35% reduction in the net room rate.  Phase III (July 6 - August 11)              The last phase involves the detail work inside the new restaurant including interior decoration and the renovation of the beachfront restaurant/lounge deck. The restaurant will remain closed, and breakfast lunch and dinner will continue to be served in Tara Lounge.  The Superior rooms on the south (Manchebo) side will be available for reservations.  All the rooms will be offered at a special rate during these dates, representing a 25% reduction of the net room rate.

Lots of upgrades at this recently renovated Palm Beach gemThis Westin Aruba Resort, on 7.5 acres of white sands in Palm Beach, encased by lush gardens and swaying palm trees, recently had a $22 million renovation. Guestrooms and suites have been upgraded with new furnishings and amenities including 32-inch flat screen TVs, marble baths, custom bath products and pillow-topped beds. The resort is home to a 12,000 square-foot Casablanca Casino, which received 200 new state-of-the-art slot machines. The 8,500 square-foot pool received new teak furniture. For breakfast, check out the new Bon Bini Cafe. Highlights Multi-million-dollar renovation site-wideKids Club for ages 4-12Seven restaurants and lounges on-siteThe 2,500 square-foot Intermezzo Spa offers a comprehensive menu of spa services Wi-Fi throughout resort RoomsMarble baths, pillow-topped mattresses, stocked mini-bars and fully loaded entertainment centers have been upgraded recently as part of the $22 million resort-wide renovation at the Westin Aruba Resort. Modern wood furniture and sleek flat screen TVs are in all rooms. Floor-to-ceiling windows are extra-stunning when paired with pool or ocean views. DiningGuests can enjoy breakfast or a light lunch poolside at the Terrace.  At Azul, chefs prepare intricate four-course dinners that are meant to be shared with a loved one on the beach during sunset. Try and resist doing an impression of Bogart while at Rick's Café, which is outfitted with comfortable teak and rattan armchairs. RecreationA Kids Club offers scheduled activities, and the Little Chef program allows kids ages 6 and up to prepare a meal (with expert supervision) for their happy parents. The Westin Aruba Resort fitness center provides ample opportunities to elevate one's heart rate – as do the azure ocean views one sees while snorkeling or fishing. Pro guides will lead trips to do either. Feel the wind while sailing, or experience another kind of thrill at the casino, which recently got new slot machines. TransportationQueen Beatrix International Airport (7.5 mi/12 km) Attractions Pedernalis (0.9 mi/1.5 km)Bubali Bird Sanctuary (1.6 mi/2.6 km)Red Sail Sports Aruba (2.8 mi/4.5 km) Business AV equipment and high-speed InternetSix convertible meeting rooms offer 10,075 square-feet of spaceBanquet and catering menus Policies and feesGuests must show ID at check in.