Travetta

This downtown hotel consists of two distinct parts: the Renaissance Marina Hotel and the Renaissance Ocean Suites. Standard rooms are in the marina section, which is on Oranjestad's main drag and overlooks the harbor. The Ocean Suite rooms are larger and have separate living areas and kitchenettes. The main hotel pool actually juts out 25 feet above L. G. Smith Boulevard (swimmers can look down on the street). Rooms here are spacious and well appointed; some overlook the six-floor atrium filled with restaurants and stores. A 40-acre island just offshore has the only private beaches in Aruba and is reserved for hotel guests (the boat to the island leaves from the hotel lobby). Most restaurants in the attached Seaport Mall allow diners to sign for their meals. Pros: Right in the heart of the downtown shopping district, lobby and shopping areas are always lively, pool area offers an unmatched view of the port. Cons: Rooms overlooking the atrium can be a bit claustrophobic, beach is off-site, hard to find a quiet spot.

"If this upscale resort's 40-acre private island, with its endless amenities, doesn't make you feel special enough, then book the private cove and enjoy your own secluded space, unlimited mimosas, and a personal butler. Oranjestad's main road, a marina, and an open-air shopping mall (replete with boutiques, restaurants, and a multiplex cinema) separate the hotel's two towers. The anchor of a second mall, the six-story Marina Tower is in the thick of the capital's bustle. Its adult-only format is popular with business travelers and vacationing couples alike. As of 2007, this facility limits access for children younger than 18 to selected areas such as the lobby, adjacent infinity pool, fitness center, spa, lounge, and both casinos."