Aruba s Bakval Suites

For getting around the island, I’d personally suggest renting a car. If you’re heading to the Palm Beach strip every day, though, you can skip it. Check-in and checkout were simple, and the host was easy to reach on whatsapp. There are six parking spaces for the whole place, and the welcome sheet gives you a taxi number you can call or text on whatsapp. I liked having an empty fridge with plenty of space. There are ice trays, a microwave, toaster, tableware, silverware, lots of towels, two beach chairs, and a cooler. Booked through the Capital One Travel Portal, and the place had the basics covered.

Palm Beach was just three blocks away, with a supermarket four blocks off and Palm Beach Downtown only five minutes away. The place looked just like the pictures and felt private and beautiful. I went with my wife and children, and we had a great time. Our room was spacious, with comfortable king-size beds and a nice bathroom. We enjoyed the living room overlooking the pool, which we had to ourselves the whole time. Everything was clean, and I had a great time using the BBQ area. We also cooked breakfast by the pool each morning. The owner was very helpful, and I’d recommend staying here.

We didn’t use the shared stove or grill, but a neighbor said both had run out of propane and they had to call to get them refilled. The suite itself has no stove, and the communal cooking area and big table are on the patio. The suite looked new and was very clean and well maintained. It had AC, a pool, shower, WiFi, Netflix, Amazon Prime, a comfortable bed and pull-out sofa, a working coffee maker, and a microwave. You’ll need your own accounts for Netflix and Amazon Prime. Check-in was easy: the hotel emails a welcome note with the suite number and door code, and the key is in the suite door. Super Food, a big food store with a food court, is a seven-minute drive away; the beach is five minutes away, and movies and restaurants are about eight minutes away. Search for The movies @ Gloria. There was no toaster or spare sheet for the sofa. We didn’t call about sheets and shared what was on the main bed instead. The pillows were all the same, very thick size, and uncomfortable to sleep on. We couldn’t get the TV channels working, so watched YouTube.

Ana was a wonderful host, and we loved the friendly feel of having just six suites. The room was clean and well equipped, with beach chairs, a cooler, and towels provided. The pool and jacuzzi were a nice bonus, and the bed was so comfortable. We'd definitely stay again. Thank you, Ana!