The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba

My husband and I had perfect week with our daughter, son in law and grandson in the concierge floor. Prior to our visit, concierge Sergio helped get us set up for the baby and Christian helped with dinner reservations. Once in the lounge, Rico, Agnes, Arelys, Rose, Brian and Zion treated us like family and my grandson as one of their own. 2 special shoutouts for this visit…..Bibiana who took care of rooms 7214 and 7215 and Gladys who brought me curated lunches. Both went above and beyond and need to be acknowledged. Thank you for another fabulous vacation. We will see you again soon!

Staying at the Ritz-Carlton in Aruba for the first time after two previous visits to the island was a highly anticipated experience, especially given our wonderful stay at the Ritz in the Cayman Islands. Unfortunately, this trip fell short of expectations in several key areas. Upon check-in, we were informed that we would have an oceanfront view room. While we generally spend little time in our room, it's always a nice bonus. However, we were surprised to find ourselves given a limited view room instead. It felt misleading to promise one thing and deliver another, which set a somewhat disappointing tone for our stay. The beach area staff were friendly and did their best to provide good service, but the overall experience left much to be desired. The wait times for food and drinks were frustratingly long. On multiple occasions, we found ourselves waiting 45 minutes for drinks, only to discover that our waiter had forgotten our order. This happened on different days, which was disheartening for a property of this caliber. Additionally, the staff rarely checked in with us throughout the day, which meant we often had to get up and seek service ourselves. At one point, we decided to venture further down the beach for lunch, where the food was not only better but also significantly more affordable. The inconsistency in drink quality was another point of concern. For example, my wife would order a frozen cappuccino, and while it was prepared perfectly one day, the next day it was completely unrecognizable. This lack of consistency was frustrating, especially considering we were paying over $20 for each drink. We never complained or made a fuss, instead choosing to go with the flow, but perhaps we should have voiced our concerns given the prices we were paying. Moreover, the cleanliness of the beach area was noticeably lacking. Each morning, we would arrive to claim our beach chairs, which we reserved through the app, only to find plastic debris and cups littering the ground beneath our seats. There were even pieces of plastic stuck in the little tables next to our chairs. It was clear that the area hadn’t been cleaned the night before. One would expect that a resort of this caliber would ensure that the beach was racked and tidied up to remove branches, leaves, and garbage, but that wasn’t the case. While not a major issue in the grand scheme of things, it did contribute to the overall impression that the Ritz-Carlton Aruba was falling short of the standards we anticipated. Overall, the beach service at the Ritz-Carlton Aruba was disappointing and did not meet the high standards we had expected based on our previous experiences. Given the range of options available in Aruba, I would likely choose a different resort for future trips. For those considering the Ritz for a special occasion or honeymoon, be advised that despite the luxurious branding, the service may not live up to the expectations set by other Ritz properties. While we have fond memories of our time at the Ritz in the Cayman Islands and have enjoyed other stays at Ritz locations, the Aruba experience has left us feeling that there are better options on the island.

The restaurants were amazing, enjoyed BLT Steakhouse for anniversary dinner. The beach staff at Madero kept our drinks coming!

I booked this resort based on price and reviews. It is pricey, but there is a reason for that. The hospitality was tremendous and the food was fantastic. I cannot rave enough about both. Every employee we encountered was pleasant, courteous, and always asked how our stay was going. Ben from Guest Services was fantastic and assisted us with making reservations for the restaurants. The hotel is beautiful, clean, and has that new feel to it. The rooms were decent, clean, and spacious. We stayed on the 5th floor with a partial ocean view. The beds were comfortable, and the bathrooms were spacious and had a stand-up shower and oversized tub. It is the Ritz, so be prepared to spend money. Food and drinks are on the high side in price, but the quality is there. The bar adjacent to the lobby is vibrant and has access to an outside sitting area. They host a sunset toast every day. I believe this is part of the sushi restaurant Noor. The on-site Italian restaurant, Casa Nonna, had some of the best Italian food I have had. We went twice. Who would think that Italian in Aruba would be this good? The on-site steakhouse, BLT, wasn't too shabby, either. The Madero Pool & Beach Grill for lunch had amazing sandwiches and apps. The Pina Colada, which has a shot of dark rum on top, hit the spot with lunch. The beach was amazing and clean. There were plenty of beach chairs and umbrellas for this time of year(Oct). No getting up at the crack of dawn to get your chairs. The sand was soft, and the water was perfect. Little to no seaweed(more like sea grass), and the water is easy to get in and out of, with no big dips or slopes. The water depth is consistent all the way out to the marked swimming buoy lines. They do charge a $90 a day resort fee, which includes access to paddle boards and other water equipment. On the beach, they have staff who zoom around on Segways to provide drink and food service to you. The pools were nice, but the water was too warm and not refreshing. In my opinion, the beach is the way to go. There is a casino with approximately 10 - 12 table games and plenty of slot machines.

The service at the pool and beach was exceptional! Everyone was overly polite and amenable. Our room was beautiful and well kept. I think my only issue with the hotel would be the outside dining. Too many birds flying onto the tables to get the food. Perhaps screening in all the outdoor spaces for the restaurants would be a much better option! You still get the feel of outdoors but just not the crazy birds pecking at the tables of food.