The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba

Overall, excellent hotel - arguably the best on the island. It has the nicest beach, tremendous customer service akin to a Ritz Carlton experience you pay for. I really loved how they provided sun tan lotions, popcorn, and ice pops on the beach. Areas that keep it from a 5 star. Sundays are intolerable because despite paying thousands of dollars to stay each night you are expected to just put up with the locals who park their boats about 50 yards (45 meters) in front of the hotel and blast their music as loud as they want. They effectively have full boat parties every Sundays and apparently other days of the week during parts of the year. I refuse to believe that a multi-billion dollar enterprise has no ability to deal with the noise pollution (my gf and I went to a different beach that day to avoid it because the boombox sound was outrageously loud). Even with your hotel room door closed the noise reverberates. This is a prime reason I am not eager to go back. Also the hotel was not very intelligently designed. Our room was on the opposite side of the hotel with only one elevator group so it was nearly a 5 min walk to and from the elevator each time.

We had an amazing stay and one of the highlights was our drink server, Kilyan at the beach. He was so personable and fast the entire time. He went above and beyond to make sure we always had what we needed. LOVE him! Truly outstanding service!

My family has stayed at multiple RC properties and destination resorts over many years. The RC Aruba by far had the worst management, service, facilities, and overall terrible guest experience for any traveler. I have also been writing traveler reviews for 22+ years because I believe that people should enjoy their vacations without headache or great worry, which requires hearing the truth. We paid over $1,000 per night for the "coastal view" room - what we did not realize is that coastal view is actually a public parking lot view. Key issues: Dishonest management; overpriced food/drink; long wait times for even 1 drink; NOT for those who enjoy golf, or tennis; limited activities overall; and the room cost is not matched by service or any other onsite experience. Buyer beware: there is nothing "luxury" about this property, Issues are detailed below: room upgrade request: Based on Bonvoy status, we requested a room upgrade upon check-in. We were told that there was no upgrade available for the 4 nights we booked, however likely an opening for the remainder nights, and that someone would be in contact with us the next day. That never occurred and no one ever followed-up. Meanwhile, on the Marriott app, it was clear that upgraded rooms were available and for the remainder of our stay. This was the first sign of dishonesty, which is sadly a constant theme at the RC Aruba. Again. no one contacted us either way. check-in experience: Our room was not ready upon arrival, so we waited until 4pm and ate at the pool grill, at the direction of the front desk. This grill is mediocre at best (over fried and greasy) and overpriced. The $100 RC credit that I receive with the RC credit card was basically utilized at that "waiting "meal. We are convinced that many guests are told their rooms are not ready and then directed to eat (spend $) at one of the on site restaurants, as most are tired after a long flight and do so, especially during this time of year (spring break). The grill and lobby restaurant was essentially filled with many from our flight or other guests clearly waiting for rooms. I cannot imagine that all these rooms they were waiting to clean/turnover were granted a 2pm checkout (the latest checkout/ 1pm is the standard "late" checkout but both by request). room: the rooms could use an upgrade and are dated (not worth the price). The phone did not work. The bathroom doors were scratched and dirty. There was leftover candy stuck to the rug from prior guest. In my marriott profile and as I confirmed with the front desk, a room close to the elevator was requested. Instead, we were provided the farthest room out, quite a long walk down several different hallways, due to "coastal" (aka parking lot) view. There were closer "coastal" rooms. The staff simply does not care about customer service or membership loyalty. When our bags were delivered I requested extra hangers and an extra luggage rack. Those never arrived, ever, during our entire stay. We were told prior to arrival that each room has a mini fridge (our son has medication that required refrigeration). In reality, the mini fridge is pre-stocked with beverages that require purchase (and have sensor for movement) and there is no room for anything else. So, we requested a mini-fridge that arrived 30 minutes after we got to the room, only to be broken, so we received another one eventually - but this all took time away from our 1st day. restaurants: Avoid BLT Steak. We had a major issue with the hostess who represented to us that there were "two seatings". We arrived early for our 8:30pm reservation and asked to be seated early if anything opened- she said impossible due to the "two seatings". Well according to the restaurant manager there are no "seatings". The hostess served many "known" guests prior to us and management claims their reservations were earlier - however I did see the screen and that was another moment of dishonesty - and management continues to defend their lies. NOTE: We were seated at our reservation time (8:31 but only after manager discussion). Yet that was not the issue - the issue was the dishonesty. BLT did offer us a complimentary dessert and a side to help with these issues. During our trip, we ate at other restaurants on the Palm Beach boardwalk path and neighboring Marriotts, which were much better overall. false advertising: The RC Aruba advertises and notes as an event "Papiamento Rum Tasting" in the lobby. Well no staff in the lobby area knew about this at all so we never experienced this "event". Instead, my husband and I went to the outdoor balcony to get drinks. We waited 45 minutes and no service. Not the staff's fault as there was only one server for all the outdoor seating at sunset. concierge: friendly but not helpful at all. They refer to Open Table to make reservations and have no weight with local restaurants. Also, AVOID this hotel if you enjoy golf or tennis. Each require a car or taxi ride. The tennis programming at the main Aruba Racquet Club is minimal. Golf at Tierra del Sol is great - so if you enjoy golf just stay there as that resort is better in every way. Concierge did not help with any of these as well - we emailed or called the clubs directly. There are tennis courts (and pickle ball) and a putting green at the neighboring Marriott Ocean Club but RC guests are not allowed to access or use these at all!! beach: There is an app for beach chair reservations which is glitchy and does not always work. You lose out if you do not reserve by 7am the day prior to, or its first come first serve which requires going to the beach at 7am. Also, do not expect speedy or even average wait time for beach drink and food service. it is exceptionally slow. You might be approached twice to order food/drinks during an entire beach day, even after trying to flag someone for help. Dishonest management: On the evening prior to our last full day at the resort I detailed ALL of our issues to Guest Services in an email. The next day I received a call on my personal mobile from Joseph, the front office supervisor. He asked to meet with me, and so I left the beach and met with him on the ground floor of the building around 3:45pm (timestamped on my phone) that afternoon. I stated to him that I purposely waited to email guest services on our last day to truly evaluate the experience to see if anything would change or resolve - and it did not. I reviewed all the issues noted above again with him, and he stated that they would like to offer us a credit and upon discussion he verbally stated that would be $750 USD which was based on the extent of issues. Well upon checkout there was ZERO credit. After I inquired, the front desk manager made a phone call, and then stated that Joseph had sent me an email the night prior in response to the issues raised. How interesting that I never received this email until after we returned home, and clearly Joseph had my personal mobile phone number because he had called me as we met in person the day prior. In addition, when I received his email, he only addressed the issue at BLT and the room upgrade request. He did not address ANY of the other issues that we experienced or our in-person meeting which was evidenced by others. He never addressed in the email the lack of any follow-up or response by the front desk regarding our upgrade request regardless of whether it was possible or not; nor the lack of receiving requested items; nor the other service issues. I am happy to add a photo of the email exchange should the RC Aruba continue its dishonesty - which is a real pattern that is observed by their responses to the other negative reviews listed. Interestingly. some of the best reviews relate to the bartender near the pool - who was friendly. But note that one drink in a fun pineapple is $55 USD plus tip. SUMMARY: AVOID RC Aruba at all costs because you will never receive close to the full value of the cost! There is little to nothing to do there with overpriced and mediocre food/drinks. Service is very slow. No entertainment or activities. I did not go to the spa other than to buy overpriced Aloe gel so I cannot comment on spa services. RECOMMENDATION: STAY at Joia Aruba by Iberostar (which has the exceptional Tierra del Sol golf); or the St. Regis; or Bucuti & Tara Beach. If you prefer Marriott properties stay at the Marriott Ocean Club Aruba - as they have updated rooms, tennis, putting green, pool, spa, other amenties, and great onsite restaurants with their private beach directly adjacent to the RC! I wish we had this information prior to booking RC Aruba, to salvage the very little time that our family gets to vacation together.

Watch your bill and card charges at the lobby bar . Charged us for dbles and when confronted the “ refund “ on the card was a charge instead .

Aruba is the kind of place people dream about. Crystal blue water, breathtaking sunsets, and picture-perfect beaches surround you everywhere you turn. But what truly transforms a beautiful place into an unforgettable experience is the people. As travelers with strict dietary restrictions, we know that even the most beautiful destination can become stressful if those needs are not clearly understood. Arriving at The Ritz Carlton Aruba for our first visit, we carried both excitement and a quiet uncertainty. What we experienced instead was something remarkable. Our very first evening set the tone for everything that followed. Dinner at BLT Steak on the property was where we first met Executive Sous Chef Nando, along with the wonderful team members Janine, Josie, and Gwen. Within minutes of sitting down, it became clear that this was not going to be a typical dining experience. Chef Nando took the time to understand my dietary restrictions in detail, asking thoughtful questions and reassuring me that he would personally make sure I could enjoy every meal during our stay. In that moment, the anxiety that often accompanies traveling with strict dietary needs simply melted away. We also had the opportunity to briefly meet Executive Chef Awanish during our stay, and it was clear that the level of care and coordination we experienced across the resort reflected the leadership happening behind the scenes. From that very first night, it was evident that the entire culinary team was aligned in making sure my needs were not just accommodated but genuinely cared for. What followed over the next several days was something truly special. Chef Nando did not simply take care of us that first evening. He made it his personal mission to ensure that no matter which restaurant we visited throughout the resort, my dietary needs were clearly understood and thoughtfully accommodated. He communicated with his culinary teams across the property so that every dining experience felt effortless and welcoming rather than stressful. What became clear throughout our stay was that this level of attentiveness was not just one person going above and beyond, but a culture of service shared across the entire Ritz Carlton team. What impressed us most was that Chef Nando personally checked in throughout our stay, making sure everything was being handled exactly as promised. And then came one of the most memorable surprises of our trip. Knowing that desserts are rarely an option for me, Chef Nando created a beautiful chocolate cake that I could safely enjoy. Each evening we found ourselves sitting on the veranda, overlooking the glow of the ocean while live music drifted through the warm island air, sipping wine and sharing that incredible cake together. For someone who rarely gets to enjoy dessert, it was not just delicious, it was deeply thoughtful and something I will remember long after the trip itself. The care did not stop at dinner. Each morning, Chef Lucien made sure that breakfast was something I could enjoy without hesitation, once again removing the stress that dietary restrictions can sometimes bring to travel. When we planned an early morning deep sea fishing excursion, Lyn went out of her way to help arrange breakfast and snacks to take with us so that I could head out for the adventure without worrying about finding something safe to eat. Down at the beach bar each afternoon, Harold, Cezar, and Yousef welcomed us with warm smiles and the kind of hospitality that makes you feel less like a guest and more like an old friend returning. They took such great care with our lunches, making sure everything was prepared perfectly while greeting us each day like family. Out on the beach, the care continued in the most effortless way. Essmainlin “Smiley” and another wonderful Harold took incredible care of us each day, always appearing at just the right moment with a fresh towel, a drink, or simply a warm smile to check in and see if we needed anything. Their attentiveness never felt intrusive, only thoughtful and genuine. It created that rare feeling where you can completely relax because you know everything is being taken care of. And when the day came to an end, we would return to a room that felt refreshed and perfectly prepared for the evening. The housekeeping team did a beautiful job each day, and their evening turndown service truly felt like a warm hug after a day in the sun. The Ritz Carlton Aruba is undeniably beautiful. Turquoise water, stunning sunsets, and an immaculate property create the kind of setting most travelers dream about. But what truly makes this place extraordinary is the people. From the culinary team to the beach staff and the many team members working behind the scenes, we felt genuinely welcomed and cared for throughout our stay. Chef Nando’s leadership and genuine care for his guests represent hospitality at its very best. In the end, Aruba gave us the beauty, but the people at The Ritz Carlton Aruba gave us the memories.