Luxury Stay at the St. Regis Aruba

From the moment guests arrive, the welcome is warm and seamless. I was greeted with Champagne and even offered a complimentary upgrade to a beautiful ocean-view room. The lobby is expansive and airy, with multiple spaces to gather. I especially loved the large circular bar with 360-degree seating. This is also where daily Bloody Mary classes take place, honoring the original cocktail perfected at The St. Regis New York in 1934. During the class, guests learn the history of the drink and compare the classic recipe to Aruba’s local twist, the Bon Bini, which means "welcome" in Papiamento, their native language. Another signature tradition is the evening Champagne sabering ceremony on the porch, where guests gather to toast the night ahead.

Nightly ritual of Champagne sabering

The hotel features 252 rooms, including 53 suites. The beds are exceptionally comfortable, and the bathrooms include indulgent soaking tubs with separate showers. One important note: The beds are set on a raised platform, so guests with mobility concerns should request an alternative room configuration.

Ocean view king room

The dining scene is a standout. The breakfast at Eskama features à la carte options but also an expansive buffet including a fresh omelet station, a rotating local breakfast station, and a wide variety of traditional American options. If you prefer something lighter, the lobby coffee shop, Grano Cafe, offers grab-and-go yogurt bowls, hot breakfast sandwiches, and excellent coffee. For lunch, Nuba at the pool has a menu offering a great variety of crowd-pleasing fresh items—I wanted everything. I opted for fish tacos one day and ceviche the next; both were incredibly fresh and flavorful.

Specialty cocktails and mocktails made with exotic fruits and creative flavors

Dinner is where things truly shine. The lobby offers a Sachi Sushi bar that serves Asian fusion dishes, including sushi and wagyu fried rice. Eskama transforms in the evening into a refined Italian dining experience, Eskama Italian Cucina. However, the highlight of our trip was the rooftop restaurant, Akira Back. It was hands-down the best meal we had on the island, paired with breathtaking sunset views. I will dream about the wagyu tacos for quite a while and may even plan a trip back just for them!

Sunset dining on the rooftop patio of Akira Back

As for activities, we were perfectly content relaxing poolside. While shade is somewhat seasonal (we visited in January), there are shaded areas throughout the day. There also is occasional “party” music by neighbor, Riu. It was more noticeable to me if I was on my patio than if I was poolside, but worth noting as some guests find it a disturbance to the tranquility of the pool. Also worth noting is that their beach offers chairs and cabanas that are closer together than other resorts. With that said, there is a long stretch of beach on the other side of the resort without development that offers a quiet reprieve. For water activities, Red Sail Adventures offers everything from snorkeling excursions to parasailing and float rentals.

The resort’s location is exceptional. We took a scooter ride to Eagle Beach, walked to the famous karaoke beach bar Bugaloe, and enjoyed easy access to the restaurants in Noord. Aruba’s nightlife and energy are readily accessible, yet the resort still feels like a retreat.

The lobby bar is the perfect place to gather

The spa is another highlight. Guests of The St. Regis receive complimentary daily access to the steam room and sauna, even without booking a treatment. The casino is appropriately sized for the resort, and while we visited several casinos on the island, we found it easiest to secure a table here—and maybe we had better luck, too.

I would also be remiss not to mention Okaicos, the island’s exclusive clothier. This is its second Caribbean storefront, offering distinctive Aruba apparel, including signature sweatshirts and T-shirts. If you’re looking for a unique, high-quality souvenir, this would be my first stop.

Overall, we adored The St. Regis Aruba. Its location, comfort, and dining are exceptional, but what truly sets it apart is the service. I have not experienced this level of attentiveness at any other Caribbean destination. Staff knew our names by the second day and our drink orders shortly after. The general manager even arranged a last-minute specialty dining experience for us.

While there are many great accommodations on the island, I can’t imagine staying anywhere but the St. Regis Aruba.

Make sure to book a UTV tour while on your vacation! It is a highlight for sure. We enjoyed a tour with Around Aruba Tours. Kids would especially enjoy this because it starts at a rescue zoo for exotic animals. We enjoyed feeding camels and kangaroos, to name a few!

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