The Ritz Carlton Aruba - European Plan

Guest Reviews from Our Customers

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

3757 reviews

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  Great for families, exceptional staff, one serious allergy lapse

  Background: We traveled as a family of four (my wife, me, our 5-year-old daughter and our 22-month-old son). At check-in we paid to upgrade to a club-level one-bedroom. This was our third straight year on Palm Beach for the week going into Labor Day: Marriott Stellaris in 2024, Hyatt Regency in 2025. I have also stayed at a number of Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons properties for both business and family travel. THE ALLERGY INCIDENT At check-in the front desk asked whether anyone in our party had allergies. I disclosed that my 22-month-old has a severe peanut allergy. The agent wrote it down and I heard him phone it through to another department. We went up to the room, got settled, and later headed out to dinner. When we came back there was a welcome amenity waiting on the table: charcuterie, fruit, and a BIG BOWL OF PEANUTS! We noticed it and removed it before our son could reach it. I emailed guest relations. It took about three days to get a response, and that only came after I mentioned to the concierge that I was surprised no manager had reached out. Either the information never traveled from the front desk to the amenities team, or there is no system connecting a disclosed allergy to what gets sent to a room. Either way, it should not happen at any property, let alone one charging these rates. STAFF, RITZ KIDS, AND THE BEACH The guest-facing staff were excellent, kind and attentive and consistent across the resort. No complaints there at all. Ritz Kids was a highlight. My daughter did multiple sessions and very much enjoyed the experience. For comparison, she tried the Hyatt's kids club last year and she was the only child there. The Ritz program was well attended and well run. Staff also gave the kids small gifts nearly every day: tote bags, branded rubber duckies, backpacks, stuffed lions. None of it was requested, and my daughter lit up every time someone handed her something new. Umbrellas and loungers were not a battle. At both the Marriott and the Hyatt, securing a beach or pool umbrella was a daily stress, and here it simply was not. There were no vendors working the beach either. Plenty of families with young kids, which suited us. THE PAID CLUB-LEVEL ONE-BEDROOM Expectations went unmet. For a significant premium, the room was bare bones. The Hyatt's one-bedroom last year was more impressive. To be fair, the suite did have a fridge but only because I had requested one in advance to store some food items for the children. Club level itself is fine if you do not mind the spend, and having food and drinks available all day in the club lounge is genuinely convenient with small kids. I would not call it good value, but it is an option worth considering. FAMILY LOGISTICS The crib provided was too small for a 22-month-old, and my son kept hitting the sides and waking up. They did not have a larger one, and I do not necessarily fault them for that. What I do fault is that my wife ended up arranging a third-party rental for a standard crib herself, while we were paying for what I understood to be club-level concierge service. There was also no diaper pail which I had requested in advance. Again, fine I guess but still surprising given a) the hotel is family friendly and b) I'd expect the Ritz to figure it out. As a solve, I asked for small pet-waste bags, since I understood this to be a pet-friendly hotel, and there were none. The best they could offer was oversized trash bags, which made little sense given that the in-room bins use small liners. Each of these is minor on its own. Together they point to a level of resourcefulness to be desired. ATMOSPHERE AND LOCATION The resort sits at the far end of the strip, so it is on the quieter side, The Ritz is a calmer environment overall. The Hyatt is the more active resort, with waterslides and a swim-up bar. Neither is better, and it comes down to what you want out of the week. BOTTOM LINE Absent the peanut incident this is a comfortable four: strong staff, an excellent kids program, easy beach and pool access, a quieter setting, and a genuinely good fit for young families. With the allergy incident and a three-day response, I cannot go above three. Especially for what we paid on the room plus the upgrade, it did not deliver five-star execution.

  Sep 05, 2026
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  The best honeymoon ever!

  My husband and I spent 11 days here for our honeymoon, and wow what an unforgettable experience! Neither of us had stayed at a Ritz Carlton before, so we didn’t know what to expect. From the moment we arrived it was amazing, we felt so welcomed with champagne at check in which continued throughout our entire stay, every staff member went above and beyond to make us feel celebrated. The spa was incredible, and the ladies surprised us with chocolates, flowers, and a “Happy Honeymoon Pettersons” sign, which was so thoughtful. Jose at the pool drink van made amazing fresh drinks, Rita at Casa Nonna gave us the perfect Italian slow dining experience, and Carlo at the pool was always so funny and kind, he was always smiling and attentive not only to us but to every guest. Crismar (Chris) was especially wonderful! He heard it was our honeymoon and he surprised us with cake and champagne during our sip-and-paint class and drinks later in the week as well, he always made us feel special every day. I’ll never forget how perfect our honeymoon was. The service, hospitality, and attention to detail were truly incredible, and I can’t wait to recommend this Ritz Carlton to everyone we know! -the Pettersons

  Sep 04, 2026
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  Germain and the Ritz bar are the best!

  Germain made the us the best espresso martinis! He showed us great hospitality and gave us solid recommendations for our group on the island. We will be back - ask for Germain!!!

  Sep 04, 2026
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  The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba - Simply the Best

  My family of 4 spent a week at the Ritz-Carlton, Aruba, and I have to say, it was one of the best experiences and vacations and the most memorable we've ever had, and there are very few of those. First, the property is on the end of the long strip of resorts, so I never felt surrounded by buildings and people. The grounds were immaculate, well groomed and manicured, and always clean and spotless. The lobby and common areas were spacious, the smells were inviting, the temperature was cool and comfortable, and the layout was very straightforward and easy to remember. We tried BLT and Casa Nonna and they were both exquisite. Our steaks at BLT were overcooked, but the server, Dennis, addressed this right away and brought us new steaks from the kitchen. Casa Nonna was incredible, and the food was so so good! Handmade pastas and breads were excellent. The pools were clean and quiet, never any ruckus or loud music. We stayed mostly on the adult pool side, but even when we walked over to the family pool, it was relatively calm, with the normal chatter and laughter of kids. I will admit, our visit was near the tail end of August (8/12-19/2026), and it was fairly empty of guests, meaning it was still well populated, but I was told by the staff that the week prior was much busier - apparently, schools in the U.S. south had started the week we were there (didn't confirm this) and a corporate retreat was also in town that week. So, we lucked out with a very relaxing and calm vacation stay. The beach was the high point -- crystal white sand and the water was clear and very calm, no big crashing waves. It was almost like walking into a zero entry pool, and the depth of the water even 100 yards out was still about waist high, depending on the tide (I'm 6 feet tall). The ocean shore area for the RC was reserved only for RC guests, and the bottom was 80% sandy, with no sharp rocks or anything. The other 20% had patches of sea grass, which is great for guests who snorkeled to see wildlife near shore. The facility offered floats and large inflatable rings that were tethered to the bottom, which allowed family and friends to lay out on the raft together comfortably, which was fun. In addition, guests at the RC had free access to non-motorized water toys, like paddle boards! My daughter was so adept at it, so she'd stand and paddle, while my wife and I would take turns sitting at the front as passengers - it was a lot of fun. While I paddled, I saw schools of fish and a giant snook, which was pretty cool. There was always a cool breeze, and the scene at the beach was just idyllic. The RC breach unlike the other resorts, retained local native trees under which you could move some recliners and get some added shade (remember, Aruba is closer to the equator, so the sun is VERY strong - bring sunscreen and keep re-applying!). Reserving beach and pool loungers was never a big deal - we've stayed at resorts where guests had to wake up at some ungodly hour and sit on a chair to reserve it. That was not fun. At the RC, Aruba, the reservation system was on the resort app, and it was so easy, and it was never a challenge to find a set of loungers for our family. The furniture was comfortable and clean, plush outdoor cushions (we walked down the beach to see the other resorts, like the Marriott and Riu, and uhhhh, their furniture was the type of 70s moldy plastic strips where when you sat down, your ass would fall through the cracks). The towels that the RC guests had were fitted by the staff for you -- a fitted towel to go over the cushion to prevent sliding, and then additional plush towels for drying off - simply awesome. Oh, and I can't forget to mention, the restaurant grill that services the drinks and food for the pool and beach - wow, the food was SO GOOD and the portions were huge. The drinks and food were carried by the servers assigned to the pool and beach areas - and because the beach is somewhat challenging to walk on with a tray full of drinks, the servers for the beach were on Segways with fat tires, so not only was the service top notch, it was quick! I personally appreciated the beers coming in ice buckets, which is so nice on a hot day in August. But what makes the RC, Aruba stand out - the hallmark of this resort - is the staff and service. It is one of the classiest, professional staff that I have ever met. We would always be met with a smile and a hello/good morning from everyone - doesn't matter if it was the staff cleaning your room, the attendant at the pool, or the crew at the front door and valet service - everyone was so welcoming and always asking if we needed anything or if everything was ok. Special shout out to the following people who really made our vacation special: David, I can't remember your last name, but I think you might have been Assistant Director - you were always making the rounds, greeting the guests, and always offering to help with amenities or reservations. Your demeanor and spirit was so uplifting, your smile was infectious, and we will always remember your kindness and willingness to assist everyday! Roger from The Netherlands - we also appreciate your friendly smile and chats we had on the beach about the local area and culture - truly grateful to have made your acquaintance. And, Gregory, the BEST server on the island - he was non-stop serving guests at the pool, always stopping by to see if we needed a refill or anything else - with a pleasant smile and very funny. We heard that you were often noted as being recognized by guests, and we understand why! RC, Aruba also helped book excursions - we did a snorkeling trip on a catamaran where we saw lots of fish and sea turtles, as well as a UTV ride through a national park, which was exhilarating! My family was sad when we left because the vacation was truly memorable, so relaxing, with lots of laughs. The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba was one of the main reasons why this trip was one of my family's best ever, and is the reason why we will probably come back. Cheers to everyone at the resort, it was truly a pleasure.

  Sep 04, 2026
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  Kevin is great!

  Kevin’s the best!!! Extremely nice and helpful

  Sep 02, 2026