I've always been a fan of the Embassy Suites hotel chain. Between their signature free hot breakfast each morning and their family-friendly suite accommodations, they are one of the most consistent and reliable hotel chains for families traveling with kids. In addition to the more common hotels they offer, Embassy Suites also has a small collection of resorts in its portfolio.
I recently had the opportunity to visit the Embassy Suites Aruba Resort and am pleased to say it's a great option for families visiting Aruba who need extra space in their room. Here's our review of the Embassy Suites Aruba.
Disclosure: My trip to Aruba was complimentary for this review. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links. A click-through/purchase through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.
Family Review of the Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort
Here's what we loved about the Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba:
- Complimentary hot buffet breakfast
- Secluded beach area with beach palapas and chairs accessible by tunnel
- Large pool
- Hotel suites with a separate living space
- Kids' club
- Hotel gym with complimentary fitness classes, including yoga and pilates
- Free parking in the adjacent garage
- Complimentary drinks and snacks during the daily evening reception
Location of the Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort
The Embassy Suites Aruba is located 15 minutes from Aruba's Queen Beatrix International Airport, between Eagle Beach and Palm Beach. Once you arrive at the airport, you can easily get a cab, rental car, or shuttle and be at the resort in just a few minutes.
Rooms at the Embassy Suites Aruba
All the rooms at the Embassy Suites are suites, though there are several options when you book. These include:
- 1 King or 2 Queen bedrooms
- Oceanview rooms (higher floors)
- Pool view rooms (lower floors)
- Sunrise view rooms, which overlook the Bubali Bird Sanctuary
- There are also two premium suites, with larger balconies overlooking the ocean
Because of the resort's layout, most rooms have either a pool or an ocean view. There are a few dozen rooms overlooking the Bubali Bird Sanctuary, but the majority face the opposite direction, toward the ocean.
During my stay, I was in a one-king bedroom suite with an ocean view. This room offers the following:
- A wet bar with a sink, microwave, coffee maker, and mini refrigerator.
- Dining room table with four chairs
- A pullout couch
- A balcony with two chairs and a small table
- A bedroom with a door separating it from the living space
- One bathroom with a large shower
- A view of the resort pool and the gorgeous ocean
- Televisions in both the living space and the bedroom
- A large closet with drawers
With the separate living space, the Embassy Suites Aruba is a fantastic option for families. If the kids go to bed early, you can close off the living room and stay up later.
Food Options at the Embassy Suites Aruba
The Embassy Suites isn't an all-inclusive resort, although the hot breakfast is included. Each morning, you'll be treated to a full breakfast buffet, including pastries, fruit, cereals, make-your-own waffles, a cooked-to-order egg/omelet station, and hot items such as scrambled eggs, bacon, and breakfast potatoes. There's plenty of seating throughout the lobby for breakfast, so you'll have a leisurely experience before your vacation day.
The hotel offers some additional à la carte dining options.
Brickstones Kitchen Restaurant, where you'll have your included breakfast each morning, is also open for dinner. This restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating, and its menu features a variety of entrees, including ceviche, burgers, steak, and international specialties. I ate there for dinner every night of my stay and loved all the entrees I tried.
Brickstones Food-To-Go is a small convenience store located off the lobby. In addition to grab-and-go and grocery items, it offers a coffee counter service with Starbucks coffee and tea. If you are planning to spend time at the beach, it's a great idea to grab some food here before you head out.
Brickstones Lobby Bar is where the evening cocktail reception is held. Each day, you'll go to the front desk to get your two complimentary drink tickets per adult. There are two specialty cocktails offered each day (during my stay, my favorite was the Mai Tai), as well as local beer and wine. The lobby bar also serves as a cash bar for the rest of the evening, perfect for a pre- or post-dinner drink.
The Splash Pool Bar is where you can get drinks during your day at the resort's pool. You can sit at the bar, at the adjacent tables, or order your drink from one of the servers right from your pool lounge chair.
The Splash Grill is open daily for lunch. This outdoor grill, adjacent to the pool, offers a variety of great lunch entrees, including salads, ceviches, flatbread pizzas, tacos, and more. I had lunch here twice during my stay and really enjoyed it (the shrimp tacos were my favorite).
Room service from Brickstones Kitchen Restaurant is available for dinner. For families with young kids, this is a great option because the hotel suites have a small dining table, making it easy to eat dinner in the comfort of your own suite.
Amenities at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort
Unlike some of the Embassy Suites hotels you may be familiar with, the Aruba location is a true resort offering a variety of amenities for families to enjoy. Here's what you can expect.
Pool
The resort offers a large outdoor pool area, complete with a kiddie pool and a huge hot tub. There's plenty of seating and shade, and I saw many families enjoying a pool day during my stay.
Near the pool, there's a towel hut where you can check out towels. They also have beach chairs and beach toys that you can borrow. There are larger chairs already by the pool and the beach, but the smaller folding chairs are great for sitting by the water or for use at another beach.
There are a few small beach cabanas around the pool area. These are offered complimentary on a first-come, first-served basis. However, you can reserve one in advance for an additional fee.
Secluded Beach
While none of the beaches in Aruba are private, the beach across from the Embassy Suites is pretty secluded. Beach palabas and beach chairs are available on a complimentary, first-come, first-served basis.
Because the beach is across the street, there's a tunnel to take you right to the beach from the resort. It's filled with street art, and it's a quick walk. You'll want to bring towels and snacks, since they aren't offered at the beachfront.
Gym and Fitness Classes
The resort offers a full gym, filled with cardio and weight equipment. There are also fitness classes offered throughout the week, including yoga and Pilates.
Laundry Facilities
If you need to wash your clothes during the week, there's a small laundry room in the basement. While I don't generally like to do chores on vacation, it's nice to have that option if you need it.
Kids' Club
Traveling with younger kids? The Embassy Suites Aruba offers a kids' club by the beach. Reservations are required the day before, to ensure appropriate staffing.
Other amenities at the resort include:
- Ebike rentals to explore the resort and the island
- Adjacent casino
- Concierge to help make any reservations you need (dining, etc)
- Red Sail excursion desk to help you book excursions
- Resort shop offering toiletries, snacks, souvenirs, clothes, and more
- Free garage parking (no valet)
- A spa is currently under construction with plans to open in the upcoming months
Excursions
While you are in Aruba, you may consider doing an excursion for part of a day. It's a great way to see more of the island, explore the ocean, and take a break. The Red Sail excursion desk in the lobby offers several excursion options for an additional fee. These include:
- Scuba diving
- Antilla and Catalina Sail
- Sunset Sail
- Caribbean Dinner Sail
- Wine and Dine Sail
- Lunch and Snorkel Sail
During my trip to Aruba, I had the chance to participate in the Lunch & Snorkel sail. It runs for about 4 hours and includes three short snorkel stops, an open bar, and a Caribbean lunch. You can also borrow their snorkel equipment if you don't want to bring your own.
I really enjoyed it and was surprised by how many different options were offered at the open bar. The crew was so accommodating and friendly, and the lunch was delicious. While I understand the food options change, our buffet included salad, grouper, pasta, and chicken with mushrooms. We also had fruit skewers, mini cupcakes, and pastechi.
Bring a towel from your resort, as none are provided. You'll also want to have lots of sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. It gets sunny and hot on the open water.
If you are considering an Aruba family vacation and want a room with some extra space, the Embassy Suites Aruba is a fantastic option. You can learn more on their website.
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