exploring a variety of Aruba accommodations
The Amsterdam Manor is a lovely small resort in Aruba that boasts the Dutch heritage found throughout the ABC Islands.
When visiting a destination that is new to you, it’s important to know specifically what you’re looking for. Are you the type of traveller who likes the features of a large all-inclusive five-star resort? Are you looking for a private rental property (such as Vrbo or Airbnb) where you can seek out the specific amenities that are important to you at a cost you can afford? Or are you somewhere in between where you don’t want a large noisy resort with hundreds of people but you want something special to the destination that will take your stay over the top with just the right amenities? These were the questions we asked ourselves as we visited Aruba for the first time.
Our private pool at the Airbnb property we stayed at was something we enjoyed nearly every day of our stay.
As the risks of COVID are still a factor in many destinations, we chose a budget-friendly Airbnb property for the first two weeks of our stay as having a private apartment with a private pool made good sense. Our rental came with a small kitchen where we could prepare our own meals if we chose to, a kingsized bed which we were used to having at home, and plenty of greenery and flowers to remind us that we were on a beautiful tropical island. It was perfect for us.
Our welcoming Airbnb rental included free parking and was located in a residential neighbourhood well-suited to touring the island of Aruba.
We spent the final three days of our Aruban honeymoon vacation at the Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort, a small resort with a good variety of accommodation options to choose from. We loved the recently renovated one bedroom suite that offered 770 square feet of living space, a lovely walk-in shower featuring local aloe vera products, spacious bedroom with kingsize bed, and tastefully designed, fully-equipped kitchen that added an extra level of convenience and flexibility to our stay.
The Amsterdam Manor is a Dutch-owned resort with 72 studios and suites located right across the street from beautiful Eagle Beach. The centre door shown on the main floor in the photo above was our suite and convenient to the pool, the bar and the beach!
The swimming pool at the Amsterdam Manor is spacious and it was never too crowded to find a lounge chair or clear path to swim in the welcoming waters.
Our suite at the Amsterdam Manor was beautifully appointed, spacious and true to the spirit of Aruba.
Our favourite event at the Amsterdam Manor was the Sunset Dinner on Eagle Beach presented by Passions on the Beach, the resort’s beach bar and restaurant. Having the opportunity to dine right on the beach is fabulous unto itself. But to watch the amazing sunset (keep scrolling!) while dining on giant prawns and sipping a wide variety of libations while listening to live beachside music was without a doubt one of the best travel moments I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing.
The Sunset Dinner on Eagle Beach is a must when staying at the Amsterdam Manor in Aruba. We loved having that table in the forefront of the photo above. And having our toes in the soft white sand!
The menu said “shrimp” but these are definitely referred to as giant prawns where we come from! It was a dinner to remember.
The sunset we enjoyed while dining at Passions on the Beach at the Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort was one I shall never forget.
For those who prefer the myriad of activities and louder noise associated with a large all-inclusive resort, both the Hyatt Regency (359 rooms including 16 suites) and the Riu Palace (400+ rooms) located on Palm Beach are gorgeous properties perfect for unforgettable destination weddings. Check out the official page of Visit Aruba for a complete list of properties and everything you need to know in selecting just the right accommodations for you.
I look forward to your feedback on this post. Please share an comment in the thread following this post and share on social media if your friends and family might be interested in experiencing #theArubaEffect. And do stay tuned for my next post, which will feature the incredible art of Aruba.
Thank you for sharing! Your description of Passions on the Beach is captivating, and I’m excited to read more about Aruba’s art scene in your next post!
My friend Tonie and I just got back from Barcelo Resort in Aruba. We signed up for their Sunset Dinner on the beach too. There was only one table set on the beach with candles circling the table and paths smoothed leading up to it. it was a very romantic scene. We giggled and giggled. We’re not partners, just friends. Little bit embarrassing. But worth it. The meal was magnificent. Steak & Lobster with all the trimmings. We had a wonderful vacation there with lots of good times. However, that Sunset Dinner was definitely the highlight. You were right Doreen. Thank you so much for suggesting it.
Hi Carole & thx do much for sharing your experience with us. I’m so glad you enjoyed the sunset dinner in Aruba as we did. It was definitely the highlight of our trip.
Nice photos and good description. Thank you very much for the interesting information about accommodation options in Aruba.
You capture your adventure so beautifully Doreen! Aruba is one of the few Caribbean destinations I’ve actually been to. I love your pictures and I’m looking forward to hearing more in person! See you and Kim soon.
Thanks for your comment, Katharine. I’d love to hear more about what special memories you have of Aruba. There’s so much to love about this tiny island of happiness.
Sounds like a destination I definitely need to visit. Love hearing about all of your great experiences and hope to someday get to Aruba as well. Glad your honeymoon was fantastic Your dinner and sunset on the beach sounds just amazing!! Keep us posted as you venture to other destinations. You sure seem to pick the great ones
Thx so much, Terina.
It has always been my passion to discover new destinations. I’m so fortunate to have a new partner that shares that passion.
I hope you get to Aruba sometime soon. The Amsterdam Manor would be a great pick for you and Ken.
Looks absolutely amazing! I hope to make it to Aruba one day!
Hi Shelly. Welcome to Chocolatour and thanks so much for your comment. Aruba has a beach called Baby Beach that is great for young families. I hope you get to visit it some day soon.
Thanks for the information! I haven’t been but it is somewhere that is on my list. The sunset dinner looks terrific!! Haven’t ever done an all-inclusive either but would like to give it a go some day.
Hi Arial and welcome to Chocolatour! It’s a great feeling when you finally get to visit a destination that is on your bucket list. Aruba had been on mine for quite some time, so I’m glad it not only met but exceeded my expectations.
Just came back from Curacao and we chose a resort that wasn’t all inclusive. We were able to purchase a breakfast buffet as part of the package but preferred to go into town for light snacks in the afternoon. Lots of fine dining was available at a myriad of restaurants every evening so we could try different foods every night. And because it wasn’t an all-inclusive it wasn’t overly crowded there either so we will easily got a spot under a canopy on one of the two beaches at the resort without fighting with crowds. This type of resorts might be another option for people thinking of going to a Caribbean destination. It’s somewhere in the middle between all-inclusives and independent rentals. I’m interested in visiting Aruba so I’ll be checking out the link you posted here. Thanks!
Thx so much for your comment, Suzanne. Yes, the Amsterdam Manor is precisely the kind of resort you stayed at in Curacao, so I think you’d love it. We are really looking forward to discovering Curacao this coming winter.
This is a useful and very appealing guide. Makes me want to go. And those shrimp look gigantic. Peace. Beauty. And of course some chocolate.
Thx for your comment, Judie. Aruba is indeed a very peaceful and beautiful place, Judie. And, yes. We did find some decent chocolate there as well. I’ll mention it in the next post.
Loved both accommodation choices. Sunset dinner on the beach looked amazing. The beach and sand were all competing with that shrimp dinner! You both must have looked like smiling Cheshire cats.
Look forward to your next post.
Thx so much for your comment, Pat! You always seem to pickup on the mood of the post. We were indeed smiling like Cheshire cats as we enjoyed each and every moment of that Sunset Dinner on the beach. The highlight of our trip to Aruba!
Both choices look great to me. Where you stay is such an integral part of any vacation. When my husband and I travel, I tend to plan our itinerary around one of his interests. (This year, we’re flying to see the Blue Angels at the air show in Key West.) But, I plan where we stay and where we dine around my interests. (It works for us.)
We’re heading to Key West next month and I’ve booked an art-deco hotel on South Beach, a B&B in Key West and a small beach resort in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. I can’t wait.
Absolutely, Sherryl. I find that combining more than one type of stay in a destination can be great as it gives you a broader spectrum of activities and sights to see versus putting all your time in at one property. Have a superb time in FLA and hope to see you again here very soon.
I’ve not yet visited Aruba, but have been to Bonaire and Curacao, the other two of what are often called the ABC islands. I think your combination of an AirBnB and a small resort stay was a good choice! I just returned from an all-inclusive resort stay, which is quite different, but also enjoyable. I like to mix things up and try different types of accommodations. Glad you enjoyed your honeymoon!
Thx so much, Debbie. I do like a trip where you get to experience a variety of situations and always look for something that is authentic to the destination as possible. Our choices in Aruba were perfect. I hope we do as well with our plans for Curaçao.
Had a fantastic 16 days on Aruba with my lovely wife Doreen and look forward to our next adventure. Love you sweetie ❤️
What an incredible trip indeed! I’m loving how we two avid travelers have so easily found what’s important to us in a destination. ❤️