Hotel Review: Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino

First, we want to give a big THANK YOU to all those who participated in our Duracell Powermat wireless phone charger/tablet giveaway – you guys rocked it and we loved seeing all of your Tweets and posts about the giveaway!!! Check to see if you’re one of the lucky winners of our giveaway! We hope you enjoy your new tech goods and your charger keeps you happy on your next trip! If you didn’t win this time, don’t worry – we’ll have more giveaways and good stuff coming soon. But make sure you SIGN UP for our newsletter so you don’t miss out. Speaking of happy, we recently had the opportunity to stay at the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino for a night…
 

We spent our first night on Aruba at this resort and it was a great introduction to the tropical paradise that has aptly named itself “one happy island.” What’s not to like on an island with balmy 80-degree temperatures, beautiful beaches, great nightlife and friendly people? It certainly brought a smile to our faces, as did our first night at the Marriot Stellaris.

LOCATION

Where is the hotel located?
Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino is located on Palm Beach, a two-mile strip along the island’s western shore that’s lined with (mostly) high-rise hotels, pristine beaches, and restaurants. It’s about a 20-minute drive from Reina Beatrix International Airport. One quick note – most hotels in the area don’t provide shuttle service, so you’ll need to grab a taxi (and they sometimes charge extra for each bag you’re carrying, so travel light, friends!). We had an awesome taxi driver who gave us a guided tour of Oranjestad, Aruba’s capital, on the way to our hotel and gave us tons of insight about the local culture. Did you know most Arubians can speak four languages? English, Dutch, Spanish and Papiamento (the native language of Aruba). Definitely puts my semi-bilingual English/German abilities to shame!

What was our first impression when we arrived?
The lobby of the hotel is expansive and beautiful!

SERVICE

How easy was check-in?
Check-in was quick and easy, and all resort staff were very helpful.

Were we offered a room upgrade or any other complimentary perks?
We booked a Premium Ocean View room, which is one of the best there is. We didn’t get any complimentary upgrades, but the ocean view did not disappoint!

How was the service throughout our stay?
The service was good throughout our stay – employees were friendly and courteous.

OUR ROOM

What was our first impression of our room?
It was a nice, but pretty standard hotel room – we were most excited about the gorgeous view from our balcony.

How was the view from our room?
Awesome!!!

AMENITIES

Bathrobe, slippers, and bath amenities?
No bathrobe or slippers, but the bathroom was fully stocked with amazing-smelling orange and ginger Bath and Body Works products. Might be the best hotel shampoo we’ve tried yet!

Beverages?
Nope! Be sure to bring your own. There’s a coffee bar in the lobby, but drinks (and food) in Aruba are very pricey, so stock away some bottled water in your luggage or ask your taxi driver to stop by the grocery store on your way to the hotel (note: they’ll charge you while they wait – and they’ll likely charge you for transporting your groceries too). Another money-saving option is to take the local bus to the store, which is just as easy as taking a taxi, as long as you don’t plan on purchasing too many groceries.

Wifi / Phone Charging Station
We didn’t see a phone charging station (good thing we gave away those wireless chargers so you can stay charged up!) and wireless is available, but it will cost you…

Fee for in-room high-speed Internet (wired): USD 7.95 per day (rates may vary)
Fee for wireless Internet in limited public areas: USD 4.95 per hour (rates may vary)
Fee for high-speed Internet (wired) in business center: USD 7.95 per day (rates may vary)

Food
We sampled the buffet at LaVista, which included unlimited food and drink for the two us for $100. Though the food was plentiful, the price was a little hefty in our opinion. It did come with this gorgeous sunset view, which we have to say, is kind of priceless.

RECAP

Cost:
Approximately $315 per night for the Premium Ocean View room – well worth the price if you’re like us and you feel like your vacation isn’t complete unless you can see the ocean!  

Would we stay there again?
We would – although we liked Mariott’s Aruba Surf Club a little better because it had a little more activity and was closer to restaurants and shops downtown. For those looking for a quieter (aka kid-free), more secluded stay, Marriott Stellaris is a great option.

Would we recommend it to a friend?
Yes – we think you should check it out – and then let us know what you think!