Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino

“Incredible Service and Clean Rooms, but Skip the Pool and Snorkeling”

HOTEL & ROOMS: We just returned from the Aruba Marriott Stellaris on Palm Beach. Even for a Canadian dealing with the USD exchange, the price is relatively good compared to luxury all-inclusives—you get far better value here than even the Kimpton Seafire in Grand Cayman. Safety is a huge plus; ther… more

HOTEL & ROOMS: We just returned from the Aruba Marriott Stellaris on Palm Beach. Even for a Canadian dealing with the USD exchange, the price is relatively good compared to luxury all-inclusives—you get far better value here than even the Kimpton Seafire in Grand Cayman. Safety is a huge plus; there are security guards all over the beach and the boardwalk. The paved path between hotels is incredible for evening walks—the atmosphere is "vibing" and you’ll want to stay out all night. *** It was gross to see adult men twice the age of the front desk girls constantly trying to pick them up and making them visibly uncomfortable. I wanted to step in and say something at least twice. These girls are professionals being nice because they have to be—some of these guests need to realize they’d never talk to you outside of that service counter! FOOD: Limitless options! The on-site ice cream store is a must. Before 12 PM, they make fresh vegan oat pancakes with fruit/Nutella. After 12 PM, you MUST try the Dubai Chocolate, Hazelnut, and Passionfruit ice cream. We really enjoyed Mercat. In the morning, they offer a great buffet for $35 with plenty of options. At night, the space becomes a more refined restaurant. The Greek salad was very good, the margarita pizza was excellent, and the zucchini pasta was well done. The cauliflower steak with marinated cauliflower, dates, almond, and couscous was a highlight. Also amazing handcrafted pizzas at neighbouring Hadicurari. SERVICE: The Palapa reservation system (5 PM or 8 AM) is genius—no "towel wars." The beach and towel hut staff handle "high personality" guests with total grace. A huge thank you to the men dragging the Palapas and setting up loungers every night; they do a great job. The Not so Good: * **The Pool:** It was very dirty and foggy. My family members who are experienced pool professionals took one look and said the water quality was not safe/clean, so we stayed out. * **The Beach:** The bottom is slimy/sludgy (likely from boat traffic) with an algae smell. We found a better patch by the Ritz Carlton where you can walk out far without the sludge. Don't bother with goggles; you can't see your feet in knee-deep water and there are no fish.

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