Holiday Inn Resort Aruba-Beach Resort & Casino
Holiday Inn Resort Aruba holds a practical mid-tier spot on one of the Caribbean's most reliably excellent beaches. Palm Beach is wide, calm and trade-wind cooled, and the IHG flag brings loyalty points and brand standards that most of Aruba's independent properties lack. Family-friendly pricing makes it one of the more accessible ways to put a family on Palm Beach, and the on-site casino gives adults an evening option without leaving the property.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Right on Palm Beach in Aruba's high-rise corridor, one of the Caribbean's most consistently praised beaches: wide, white, calm and cooled by trade winds year-round
- +A multi-phase renovation programme has touched almost every part of the resort: the Ocean and Palm towers, a new fitness center and the Etnika Spa around 2019, a completion IHG announced in November 2023, and guest-room work in the Curacao Tower dated to 2026
- +IHG One Rewards points can be earned and redeemed here, which is rare in an Aruba beach market dominated by independent and timeshare properties
- +Family-friendly pricing, with kids able to stay in their parents' room and a kids-eat-free policy for younger children; confirm the current age cut-off when you book
- +On-site casino adds evening entertainment that the smaller beach hotels along the strip can't offer
- +Etnika Spa runs a full menu of massages and treatments, and the resort has its own fitness center
- +With 590 rooms across three towers, most with balconies, there is a wide spread of room types and views to choose from
Cons
- −Noise from nearby clubs, street traffic and the busy Palm Beach strip can reach rooms facing inland, a real concern for light sleepers
- −The renovation came in phases rather than as one rebuild, so some guests still describe parts of the property as dated
- −All-inclusive is an add-on, not the default, and carries a four-night minimum; without it, food and drink at Aruba's resort prices add up fast
- −Service is uneven, with some staff earning strong praise and others drawing complaints about attentiveness and follow-through
- −Timeshare sales activity is heavy along Palm Beach and can spill into the approach to the resort
- −Dining variety on the all-inclusive plan is narrower than at the big all-inclusive resorts in Mexico or the Dominican Republic
- −Wi-Fi quality varies across the property, with some rooms getting noticeably better connectivity than others
The long-running complaint about dated rooms has been worked on in phases rather than all at once. Around 2019 the Ocean and Palm towers were refreshed and a new fitness center and the Etnika Spa were added, IHG announced the completion of a significant renovation in November 2023, and guest-room work in the Curacao Tower is dated to 2026. Most recent guests describe a fresher property, though a minority still find corners that feel tired. The 590 rooms sit in three towers, most with balconies, and rooms facing inland can pick up noise from the strip. The all-inclusive plan is optional, requires at least four nights, and has narrower dining variety than mainland all-inclusive resorts.
The resort works best for IHG One Rewards members, families with young children and travelers who want a Palm Beach address, a casino and dependable brand standards without paying luxury-resort prices. Travelers who put food and service first will usually do better at Aruba's higher end, while couples who want an adults-only setting should look at Eagle Beach options such as Bucuti & Tara. Palm Beach itself puts restaurants, shops, snorkel trips and the island's west-coast beaches within easy reach.
Common Questions
Is the all-inclusive option at Holiday Inn Resort Aruba worth it?
Have the rooms actually been renovated?
Is the beach at Holiday Inn Resort Aruba good?
How does Holiday Inn Resort Aruba compare to the Marriott properties on Palm Beach?
Is there a significant noise problem at Holiday Inn Resort Aruba?
Is Holiday Inn Resort Aruba good for families?
Restaurants (4)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | Corals Restaurant |
| Mexican | Agave Mexican Cuisine |
| Italian | Da Vinci Ristorante |
| International & fusion | Sea Breeze Restaurant and Bar |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown.
What's nearby
Palm Beach3 min walk · 0.1 mi
Arashi Beach7 min drive · 2.9 mi
Alto Vista Chapel9 min drive · 3.8 mi
California Lighthouse9 min drive · 3.8 mi
Casibari Rock Formation10 min drive · 5.5 mi
Ayo Rock Formation14 min drive · 7.6 mi
More things to do (24)
- Eagle Beach · beach5 min drive · 2.4 mi
- Butterfly Farm · wildlife2 min drive · 1.0 mi
- Boca Catalina · beach6 min drive · 2.5 mi
- Druif Beach · beach7 min drive · 3.4 mi
- Mangel Halto Beach · beach20 min drive · 11 mi
- Sunset sail from Palm Beach · excursion3 min walk · 0.1 mi
- Bubali Bird Sanctuary · wildlife2 min drive · 0.6 mi
- Catamaran snorkel trip to the Antilla shipwreck · excursion3 min drive · 0.7 mi
- Hadicurari Beach · beach3 min drive · 1.1 mi
- Malmok Beach · beach6 min drive · 2.2 mi
- Divi Links · golf6 min drive · 2.9 mi
- Tierra del Sol Golf Course · golf7 min drive · 2.9 mi
- Aruba Aloe Museum and Factory · museum7 min drive · 3.5 mi
- Philip's Animal Garden · wildlife8 min drive · 3.3 mi
- National Archaeological Museum Aruba · museum9 min drive · 4.7 mi
- Atlantis submarine dive · excursion9 min drive · 4.8 mi
- Fort Zoutman and Historical Museum · museum9 min drive · 4.9 mi
- Oranjestad · town10 min drive · 5.0 mi
- Renaissance Marina · marina11 min drive · 5.1 mi
- Surfside Beach · beach12 min drive · 5.8 mi
- Hooiberg · viewpoint12 min drive · 6.6 mi
- Aruba Ostrich Farm · wildlife15 min drive · 8.1 mi
- Donkey Sanctuary Aruba · wildlife20 min drive · 9.3 mi
- Balashi Gold Mill Ruins · historic site20 min drive · 9.4 mi
Amenities
Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
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★ 4.1 · 4,344 reviews
“What an amazing stay. No better location. With so many hotels to choice from, the holiday inn is perfect in size. With a huge beach , and access to all the amenities the hotel has to offer , you don’t have to walk 15 mins to get to your room. Everyth...”
“We loved our stay at The Holiday Inn Aruba. The hotel is very clean. The food and drinks were excellent. Highly recommend doing the all inclusive. The beach is stunning with clear turquoise water and powder soft sand. We would def stay at The Holiday...”
“We had another great stay at the Holiday Inn Aruba Resort. We visited as a couple and spent a week there in mid-November. Just like on previous trips, the experience was excellent from start to finish. The staff are genuinely welcoming and always re...”
