I Ate Dinner on the Sand at The Aruba Marriott Resort

The Caribbean is my happy place, and my recent trip to the “one happy island” of Aruba was made that much better because of the food, beach and hospitality I received at the Aruba Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino.

Located directly on Palm Beach and only a 20-minute ride from Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA), this upscale resort boasts 414 freshly renovated guest rooms, including 24 suites with direct ocean views. Additionally, the property is home to the largest casino on the island and several restaurants. My favorites were the lobby sushi bar and a feet-in-the-sand dining experience at Atardi.

I was invited to check out the newly remodeled resort and amenities over a four-night stay in July 2026. Although the hotel covered the cost of my stay and food, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I found the resort’s location to be ideally situated for long walks along the beach and venturing away from the property.

The resort’s guest rooms were all renovated at the end of 2025 with coastal colors and a natural palette. You can also upgrade to an adults-only Tradewinds room that comes with club lounge access, complimentary breakfast, a midday snack and happy hour each night. Depending on availability, all room types are bookable with Marriott Bonvoy points.

I stayed in an ocean view room with a king bed, sleeper sofa and spacious balcony that overlooked the adults-only pool and beach. During my visit, award redemptions started at 103,000 Bonvoy points per night.

Aside from the fantastic view, I really liked the soft, recessed lighting throughout the room, which created a really pleasant atmosphere.

Double vanities, marble countertops and back-lit mirrors were installed in all rooms during the renovation.

I was also able to tour one of the junior suites during my stay, and all I could say was “wow.” These rooms are elegant and spacious, with wrap-around balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows that allow for an absolutely stunning view of the Caribbean Sea. All of the suites adjoin an adjacent standard room, allowing families and parties to lodge together. During my visit, the junior suites cost around $1,300 per night, or $400 plus 103,000 Marriott points.

Marriott doesn’t publish an award chart. Instead, the number of points required for an award stay fluctuates based on demand and the cash rate.

NerdWallet values Marriott points at 0.8 cent each. During low-traffic weekdays, room rates at The Aruba Marriott Resort start around $650 or 84,000 points plus about $81 per night in taxes and fees. At that price, you’d receive a value of 0.7 cents per point, and you might consider using cash for your stay.

But during peak season, rates increase to around $1,500 or 121,000 points per night (plus $81 in taxes and fees). In that case, you’d get a fantastic 1.2 cents per point, making it a no-brainer if you have a stack of Marriott points. If you’re short on points, Marriott also lets you combine cash and points for a stay, which can help stretch your points balance across more stays.

If you’re looking for a lower annual fee, you might prefer one of Marriott’s other cards. Here’s how they stack up:

Cards that earn Marriott points

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

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NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.

on Chase’s website

Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

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NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.

on Chase’s website

Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card

NerdWallet rating

NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

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NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.

on American Express’ website

Rates & Fees

• 3 Marriott Bonvoy® points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

• 2 points per $1 on grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming and internet, cable and phone services.

• 1 point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

• 6 Marriott Bonvoy® points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

• 3 points per $1 on up to $6,000 a year in combined purchases on grocery stores, gas stations and dining.

• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

• 6 Marriott Bonvoy® points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

• 4 points per $1 on up to $15,000 a year in combined purchases at grocery stores and on dining.

• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

• 6 Marriott Bonvoy® points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

• 3 points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.

• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

Terms apply.

Earn 60,000 Bonus Points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.

Earn up to 125,000 Bonus Points + 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on qualifying purchases in the first 3 months.

Earn 85,000 Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.

Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months and an extra 50,000 bonus points after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. Terms Apply.

The Aruba Marriott Resort has 10 on-site dining and bar options, ranging from casual eats to fine dining.

My favorite restaurant at the resort was Atardi. This dinner-only, feet-in-the-sand dining experience offers upscale seafood, meat and vegetarian options at the edge of the Caribbean. It’s so good that I went back for a romantic dinner with my partner after I checked out from the resort.

The seabass, octopus and burrata were fantastic, but the only thing better than the actual sunset was the Atardi Sunset dessert — a devil’s food cake flambéed with rum and served with vanilla ice cream.

I haven’t been to many resorts with a sushi bar in the lobby, but it was good enough that I went back three times during my stay to grub out and watch the World Cup.

My favorites were the Rainbow Roll and the tuna tartare. In addition to sushi, the bar also serves a variety of other cuisine, including flatbreads, wings and salads.

Mercát offers both indoor and outdoor seating along the beach and is home to the property’s breakfast buffet and an upscale Mediterranean menu for lunch and dinner, in addition to weekend brunch. The restaurant also has a very cozy bar.

The breakfast selections were plentiful and included fresh pancakes, French toast and waffles, a juice bar, pastries and fresh fruit. But my favorites were the pastechis, which are Aruba’s equivalent to a Mexican empanada.

For dinner, I had lamb with roasted potatoes. I’m a bit of a lamb snob, and while the potatoes and veggies were great, the lamb was quite fatty and a bit overcooked.

Additionally, the resort offers these options:

While some nearby resorts are located across the street from the water, The Aruba Marriott Resort is located directly on the sand of Palm Beach. That makes it ideal for romantic strolls, morning beach runs and swimming in the Caribbean Sea. There are also dozens of palapas (tropical umbrellas) located along the water, which can be reserved for a fee (unreserved palapas are accessible on a first-come, first-served basis).

Next to the palapas is a stand where hotel guests can access paddle boards, snorkeling gear, floats and kayaks. These amenities are included in the nightly room rate. Additionally, motorized water sports including jet skis and boat excursions are bookable for a fee.

The resort has two pools. The family-friendly pool is located outside the lobby and includes a swim-up bar and limited dry seating. During the World Cup, the resort set up a TV by the pool, which created a super fun atmosphere while games were on.

The Stellaris Casino is accessible from the lobby and is the largest casino in Aruba, featuring more than 400 slot machines and 17 gaming tables, including blackjack, Caribbean stud poker and roulette. There’s also live music on the weekends and a sportsbook inside the casino’s bar.

The resort’s activity hut is located on the sand behind the palapas and offers a rotating list of events each day for both kids and adults, including sandcastle building, bingo and potato sack races. You can also find afternoon snacks at the hut, including popcorn and fruit. These come included with the cost of your stay.

In addition to the largest casino, the resort is home to the largest spa on the island. The recently renovated Mandara Spa is located in the adjacent Aruba Marriott Ocean Club, and if you purchase a spa session, you’ll gain access for the day to both dry and wet saunas and an outdoor hot tub and cold plunge pool.

NerdWallet rating

NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.

Yes. I loved most everything about this property. The food was good, the renovated rooms were calming and thoughtfully designed and the location really can’t be beat. There’s easy access to the beach and Caribbean Sea, and the casino was a great spot for some late-night fun.

With room rates as high as $1,500, using Marriott Bonvoy points or the free night certificate that comes with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a great way to keep more cash in your pocket for scuba diving, dining or any other adventures you can find in Aruba.

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About the author

Craig Joseph is a NerdWallet credit cards and travel rewards expert. He has degrees in geology from West Virginia University and oceanography from Oregon State University and has published in academic journals, newspapers and blogs. Craig is passionate about personal finance and wants to enhance the financial literacy of everyone he meets. He’ll probably also try to convince you why rocks are cool.