The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba

I do look forward to my trips to Aruba but they would not be complete without a visit to Jose’s truck - exotic creations at the Ritz. His drinks are a masterpiece! Beautiful to look at, taste amazing and so large!

It's indistinguishable to see and describe a mixologist with so much talent and knowledge in what he does best: making addictive cocktails and drinks with unique and delicious recipes. I remember the Tamarind Mezcalita; he explained to me that it's a fruit from Aruba and the Caribbean. The spicy guava margarita was mega wow! His "crazy monkey" with banana and three different rums, not to mention his exotic mojito and pina colada... super addictive, 1000/10! Follow him at @exoticreationsaruba; I'm one of his fans.

We had an absolutely incredible stay! From the welcome email before we arrived, to the super kind front desk staff, and the awesome beach and pool staff — no attention to detail was missed. This hotel was the only one on Palm Beach who would guarantee us connecting rooms, as we booked about 6 months out. We traveled as a family of four, with two teens, so the space and extra bathroom spaces to spread out was needed. The guest relations team was very helpful in getting us all set up for a great week of fun in the sun! The hotel has sunblock, bottled waters, and towels everywhere you turn. We rented beach cabanas every day and loved the guaranteed shade, impeccable service, and truly wonderful experience. Great food, even better drinks, and a beautiful (and quiet!) hotel made our trip relaxing and memorable!

Would not stay again unfortunately. Disappointing on multiple levels. The Ritz is a beautiful property on the island. The staff is kind and courteous, however our experience was not ideal. 1. We had issues at checkin. We used Trip Advisor booking and there were problems with room assignments. Trip Advisor had one room type- Ritz had another category lower. 1 hour lost. Room assignment not ideal. 2. There is one pool at Ritz accessible to children. The other pool 18* 3. Beds are high, one of my children fell off and bumped her head. We could not have another bed brought in due to room assignments. 4. Ritz charges 110 resort fees on top of our reservation per day. Trip Advisor failed to share. Unexpected hidden fees at checkout. 5. The resort is vert transactional. Every activity has a cost and every person is looking for a fee per transaction. 6. The resort is remote, good and bad. You need a car unless just staying at hotel. 7. Food expensive but the cost for quality not on par. Would not stay again, unfortunately. This one missed the mark for excellence which the Ritz strives to provide at a cost.

Staying at the Ritz for the first time has been an unforgettable experience, and it’s truly the people here who make it exceptional. We’re in Aruba celebrating my son’s first birthday, and tonight’s dinner at Casa Nova turned into something really special—thanks to our server, Mario (who absolutely deserves the nickname “The super Mario”). We initially chose an outdoor table, but with a cranky baby and restless kids, things quickly became stressful. Mario immediately stepped in with such patience, warmth, and genuine care. Without hesitation, he reassured us that he would make our evening better—and he truly delivered. He thoughtfully arranged for us to move to a more comfortable indoor table, making sure our kids were at ease and that we could actually relax and enjoy the night. What stood out wasn’t just the action, but the way he did it—with humility, kindness, and a calm, friendly presence that completely turned our evening around. He went above and beyond in every sense, not because he had to, but because he genuinely cared. This is exactly what sets the Ritz apart—the people. Mario is a shining example of the level of service and heart that defines this brand. We will never forget his warmth and exceptional hospitality. Ritz is truly lucky to have him