Hotels in Palm Beach (Aruba)

Not to be confused with Palm Beach in Florida, USA, the island-destination of Palm Beach is a premier resort town on the northern coast of Aruba, a constituent country of the Netherlands Located in the mid-south region of the Caribbean Sea, it enjoys calm waters and offers a stunning sandy beachfront stretching an impressive three kilometres. The town is superb to visit for tropical holidays and provides a diverse range of visitors' activities, from water sports to casino games. Only six kilometres from the island's capital city of Oranjestad, Palm Beach makes for a great base to stay and explore the charms of Aruba.

As a major resort in a beautiful location, visitors can expect a vast range of holiday accommodations in Palm Beach, everything from apartments and villas to cheap hotels and high-rise luxury hotels. Those with an ocean view or directly on the seafront are the prime locations.

Neighbourhoods in Palm Beach

The majority of the town stretches along the seafront. It's dominated by high-rise hotels and all of the typical trappings of a famous tourist town. The most notable areas are:

• The Promenade: It is the main thoroughfare and stretches across the entire length of the seafront, filled with hotel entrances, restaurants, bars and shops.
• Washington: The most built-up area in the town and home to many high-rise hotels. It's not too far from the popular resort of Eagle Beach.
• Kamay: A quieter area of town with more low-rise buildings, but it is still home to some of the largest luxury hotels.
• Palm Beach Plaza Mall: A shopping district close to the hotel complexes.

What to see and do in Palm Beach

Any holiday type will be enjoyable in Palm Beach. There are plenty of things to do to keep active, plus loads of attractions for those who love to immerse themselves in local history and culture. You'll find no shortage of ways to relax and rejuvenate. Some of the best attractions in Palm Beach are:

• The Beaches: With over three kilometres of sandy beaches, there are plenty of options to choose from for swimming, sunbathing and water sports. Some of the most popular include:
• — Hadicurari Beach, a great place for kiting.
• — Arashi Beach and Boca Catalina, both beaches are famous for snorkelling and diving.
• — Malmok Beach, a small sandy strip that runs up to the northern tip of Aruba.

• Other Attractions
• — The Bubali Bird Sanctuary: A luscious wetland reserve with over 80 unique bird species, including heron. It's an ideal place to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience bird-watching at its best.
• — The Butterfly Farm: This is a lush farm with a tropical maze-like garden. It features many broad-leaf plants and flowers, plus thousands of butterflies and a koi pond.
• — The Old Dutch Windmill: Originally built in Friesland in 1804, this mill was transported to Arubi from the Netherlands in 1961. It was then reassembled and turned into a museum and restaurant.
• — Casinos: There is a mini-version of Las Vegas comprised of eight casinos housed inside Palm Beach hotels. The largest is casino is Stellaris Casino, which is inside the Aruba Marriott Resort.

What to eat in Palm Beach

As a holiday hotspot, there are many international flavours available in Palm Beach. It's indeed worth seeking out some traditional 'comindo local' (local cuisine) to truly get a taste of island culture in one of its many restaurants and eateries. Favourites include:

• Stoba: Although Palm beach is a tropical island, stews are very popular. There are many recipes, and most are made with goat or beef. Conch stew is a great treat..
• Sopis: Hearty soup is an alternative to a hearty stew. Favourites include fish soup, tripe soup, pumpkin soup and Antillean-style Yamba gumbo.
• Pastechi: These are deep-fried, half-moon-shaped pastries with a range of savoury fillings, including cheese and even chop suey.
• Keshi Yena: Often cited as The National Dish of Aruba, this dish is made with leftover meat or seafood and baked in a hollowed-out rind of Edam cheese.
• Pisca Hasa: The island's most-favourable way to serve a wide variety of fish is deep-fried.
• Pan Bati: This smashed-up bread is often used to mop up soups and stews. It's also served deep-fried with butter and sometimes covered with melted cheese.

Typical events and festivals in Palm Beach

Most festive events and celebrations take place in Oranjestad. However, the capital city is just a 15-minute ride from Palm Beach, so it is easy to get involved. Popular events include:

• Summer Music Festival: Celebrated in June over two days, you can enjoy listing to Latin music in the nearby area of Oranjestad.
• Soul Beach Music Festival: This event host multiple soul music concerts, comedy shows and dance events. It is held in Palm Beach over Memorial Day weekend.
• International Film Festival: For one week in June, the global movie community moves into Oranjestad to enjoy a range of international films.

How to move around in Palm Beach

It is easy to navigate Palm Beach on foot, but bike rentals and taxis are available. Busses operate island-wide from Oranjestad, servicing all of the resort areas. A bus ride from Palm Beach to Oranjestad takes about 15 minutes and costs roughly US$2.

The climate in Palm Beach

With Palm Beach's tropical climate, you can count on the rain! The rainy season is usually from October to January, but the pay off is wonderful sunshine. The average daily temperature rarely falls below 30° C. September is the warmest month, the coldest is December, while November is the wettest month.