Aruba Surfside Marina

We could walk to the center of Oranjestad in about 15 minutes. The hotel is across from Pinchos Bar and Grill and a small seaport, with clean water nearby. The rooms have air conditioning, and we had breakfast on the outdoor veranda. We thought the place was amazing.

Our balcony had a great view and gorgeous sunsets, and breakfast was brought out there each day. The rooms were spacious and clean, and the hotel was quiet, with really friendly, helpful staff. We could easily walk to several nice restaurants and were about 10 minutes from the busy markets. A hidden gem, and we’ll be back.

The water view and sunrise from the balcony were lovely, and breakfast was brought to our room and served out there. It was a simple continental breakfast. Out back, there’s a wonderful restaurant built over the water on the dock. We tried it one night and were lucky to get the last table without a reservation. After other guests left, the hostess moved us to a spot right by the railing just before our meal arrived. We watched fish swimming and jumping below, enjoyed the sunset, and listened to live music. The food was delicious, and the place was always busy. This was our second visit to Aruba, and we chose a cheaper hotel because we were there to house hunt. The rooms downtown were modest but clean, and the bed was very comfortable. A young woman at the front office waited for us before leaving for the day, showed us to the room, and explained things like the shower and balcony door. The small kitchen had a full-size fridge, a little sink, and a microwave, which was handy for keeping fruit, drinks, and snacks for the room and beach. It isn’t a luxury place, but it suited us because we’re easygoing. We arrived on a weekend, so our towels weren’t changed every day, which may matter to some people. Getting around the island was easy with a rental car. Driving up the coast, there are plenty of places to stop, walk down to the water, and snorkel.

The balcony view of the ocean is surreal, and I posted a photo of a place within walking distance. I don’t want to spoil the view, thank me later. Surf side Marina is great for the price, with wonderful staff, a very clean place, and a good included breakfast, including local desayuno. Downtown is walkable, and it’s not far from the airport. The location is awesome and a great bang for your buck. The beach is rocky, though that’s not something they can control, so bring water shoes or try one of the other beaches.