Barceló Aruba - All Inclusive
Barcelo Aruba is a 373-room family resort right on Palm Beach in Noord, the stretch of high-rise hotels where Aruba's calm, swimmable water does most of the selling. The island is the draw here: it sits outside the main hurricane belt, the trade winds keep things comfortable, and Oranjestad is a short drive away. The resort itself has a long-running reputation for underperforming the Barcelo name, and the two complaints that come up again and again in traveler forums are dated rooms and a liquor program that keeps the brand-name bottles at the lobby bar.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Aruba sits outside the main hurricane belt, so it is one of the safer Caribbean picks for August to November travel
- +Direct beachfront on Palm Beach in Noord, Aruba's high-rise strip, with the calm, clear water the island is known for
- +Genuinely family-friendly: a supervised kids club for ages 4 to 12 runs 9am to 5pm, and the lake-shaped pool with rock features and palms is a hit with kids
- +More on site than most Aruba all-inclusives: a casino with 5 gaming tables, a spa, a gym, 2 lighted tennis courts with lessons, and live entertainment several nights a week
- +Diving certification courses, snorkeling and kayaking run from the resort, and the island's famous windsurfing and kitesurfing at Hadicurari is a short ride up the coast
- +Six restaurants (Mexican, Japanese teppanyaki, Italian and an international buffet among them) plus 3 bars, with a separate restaurant for Royal Level guests
- +One of the more affordable ways to do Aruba all-inclusive, and it works well for groups and multi-family trips where the island matters more than the hotel
Cons
- −Alcohol selection is the recurring complaint: brand-name spirits tend to show up only at the lobby bar, with pool bars pouring generic labels
- −Room and decor condition is the other big gripe; recent guests describe a hotel in need of renovation, and Barcelo has not announced a property-wide refresh
- −Food draws mixed reviews, and guests who know Barcelo's Riviera Maya properties tend to find it a step down
- −Consistently rated below Barcelo's Mexican and Dominican flagships, so do not expect the same polish the brand delivers at Barcelo Maya
- −Six restaurants is fine for a week but nowhere near the variety of the brand's Mexican or Dominican megaresorts
- −You pay Aruba prices for a resort that would be mid-tier in Mexico or Punta Cana, so the value per dollar is weaker
- −Aruba's all-inclusive market is thin, which leaves few alternatives if the resort disappoints
Day to day, you get six restaurants and three bars, including Mexican, Japanese teppanyaki, Italian and an international buffet, with a separate restaurant reserved for Royal Level guests in the upper floors of the North Tower. The main pool is a big lake-shaped affair ringed with rocks and palm trees, with two hot tubs alongside. There is a casino with five gaming tables, a spa (18 and over), a gym, two lighted tennis courts, diving courses, snorkeling and kayaking, plus live entertainment several nights a week. Food reviews are mixed, and room condition is the area most worth checking against recent reviews before you book.
It works best for families and groups who specifically want Aruba and a kids club, and for travelers who will spend their days out on the island rather than judging the buffet. Riu Palace Aruba next door is the usual comparison and tends to win on food and drinks, while a similar budget buys a more polished resort in Mexico or the Dominican Republic. Around the island, Hadicurari is the windsurfing and kitesurfing hub, Arikok National Park and the natural pool are classic jeep-tour days, and the airport is about 7 miles away.
Common Questions
Is Aruba worth it for an all-inclusive, or is it better done without one?
Is the alcohol situation as bad as people say?
Has Barcelo Aruba been renovated recently?
Is Barcelo Aruba good for kids, or better for adults?
Why is Aruba considered safe for travel during hurricane season?
What is there to do on Aruba beyond the resort?
Restaurants (6)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | The Palm |
| Mexican | México Lindo |
| Italian | L'Olio |
| Teppanyaki / hibachi | Kyoto |
| Caribbean & local | Aruban Seafood |
| International & fusion | Beach Club |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
Palm Beach9 min walk · 0.4 mi
Arashi Beach8 min drive · 3.2 mi
Alto Vista Chapel8 min drive · 3.4 mi
Casibari Rock Formation10 min drive · 5.2 mi
California Lighthouse10 min drive · 4.1 mi
Ayo Rock Formation13 min drive · 7.3 mi
More things to do (24)
- Eagle Beach · beach5 min drive · 2.2 mi
- Butterfly Farm · wildlife2 min drive · 0.7 mi
- Druif Beach · beach7 min drive · 3.1 mi
- Boca Catalina · beach7 min drive · 2.8 mi
- Mangel Halto Beach · beach20 min drive · 11 mi
- Bubali Bird Sanctuary · wildlife6 min walk · 0.3 mi
- Sunset sail from Palm Beach · excursion9 min walk · 0.4 mi
- Catamaran snorkel trip to the Antilla shipwreck · excursion9 min walk · 0.4 mi
- Hadicurari Beach · beach4 min drive · 1.5 mi
- Divi Links · golf5 min drive · 2.6 mi
- Malmok Beach · beach6 min drive · 2.5 mi
- Aruba Aloe Museum and Factory · museum7 min drive · 3.1 mi
- Tierra del Sol Golf Course · golf7 min drive · 3.2 mi
- Philip's Animal Garden · wildlife8 min drive · 3.0 mi
- National Archaeological Museum Aruba · museum9 min drive · 4.3 mi
- Atlantis submarine dive · excursion9 min drive · 4.4 mi
- Fort Zoutman and Historical Museum · museum9 min drive · 4.6 mi
- Oranjestad · town9 min drive · 4.7 mi
- Renaissance Marina · marina10 min drive · 4.7 mi
- Surfside Beach · beach11 min drive · 5.5 mi
- Hooiberg · viewpoint12 min drive · 6.3 mi
- Aruba Ostrich Farm · wildlife14 min drive · 7.8 mi
- Donkey Sanctuary Aruba · wildlife15 min drive · 8.9 mi
- Balashi Gold Mill Ruins · historic site20 min drive · 9.0 mi
Amenities
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Seaweed & sargassum
Aruba gets sargassum, typically worst April through September, and almost entirely on the windward east coast.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.4 · 6,017 reviews
“This resort is beautiful and the staff are amazing! They go above and beyond and everyone is so joyful. Jhon was our server for dinner and was so helpful with suggesting sights to see on the island. Marie and Glembert were our waiters at breakfast an...”
“I had an amazing stay at Barceló Aruba, largely because of the incredible staff who truly made our trip unforgettable. Every single staff member we interacted with was exceptionally kind, welcoming, and attentive. Glenn, Claudia, Liza, and Zotina at...”
“Overall, it's a nice hotel in a central location. Service was consistently good, especially in restaurants. Japanese restaurant was memorable with Jason and Manuel providing superb service! They were great with my little one. Most staff and bartender...”
