Why the brand new Embassy Suites in Aruba is an surprising knockout

I can’t be alone once I say the Embassy Suites model conjures a sure kind of picture: inexpensive stays for enterprise vacationers who want the conveniences of dwelling (a sizzling breakfast, area to unfold out) even on the highway.

For instance, I not too long ago spent two nights on the Embassy Suites close to Denver’s downtown conference heart throughout a piece journey. It might not have been town’s chicest lodge, however it’s onerous to argue with the room charges, significantly when you think about the complimentary facilities (free made-to-order omelets and blissful hour drinks, to say nothing of the spacious suite-style layouts for all visitors).

Still, the model has come a good distance from chlorine-scented atriums and unmemorable, neutral-hued rooms designed for weary enterprise vacationers. And there are few higher examples of Embassy Suites’ evolution than its brand-new Aruba resort.

Typically, although not all the time, you’ll discover an Embassy Suites throughout the road from a conference heart or in a metropolis’s bustling monetary district. But the model has been increasing its attain to farther-flung worldwide addresses and, in some instances, cropping up alongside well-liked resort redoubts. And it is apparent the Embassy Suites guarantees to vary the worth proposition for Aruba-bound vacationers, who usually pay premium charges for a single room — after which need to preserve spending on the resort all through their keep.

Snapshot

On Feb. 1, Embassy Suites formally dropped its flag on a quiet stretch of Aruba between the principle tract of Eagle Beach and the crowded, albeit vibrant, resort-peppered Palm Beach. The latter has lengthy been dwelling to a Ritz-Carlton, a Marriott, a Hyatt Regency and a Hilton, to call a couple of. The Embassy Suites Aruba is a fast 15-minute drive to the island’s important airport, Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA).

My rapid impression of the property is that it will likely be good for households: Though there was such a shocking smattering of vacationers, it may be a sweeping generalization. There was a bunch of camo-clad members of the navy, dad and mom with younger kids and teams of mates.

But what stood out most in regards to the property, in comparison with different Embassy Suites, was that its aesthetic embodied a definite sense of place. Instead of washes of grey and brown, this Aruba resort featured pops of turquoise and coral — a nod to the ocean simply outdoors. There was additionally pure wooden all through the property, together with a wall function within the foyer etched with the long-lasting fofoti bushes that emerge from the sand and stretch southwest, their twisted branches echoing the patterns of the commerce winds.

What you will love in regards to the Embassy Suites Aruba

An unbeatable worth

When I booked a one-night keep on the Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort final month, my entry-level two-room suite (earlier than taxes and costs) price $465. The sunrise-view room got here with a balcony, a moist bar, a small lounge and a separate bed room and toilet. The worth was about half what may very well be discovered up the highway at Palm Beach, the place entry-level rooms with single king beds or two queens at a lot of the lodges there have been demanding double throughout the busy spring break interval.

Travelers ought to notice that an extra 15% service cost was added to my folio — a nightly resort price that included web entry, every day resort actions and health courses (although I did not hear something about these throughout my keep); use of seashore towels and bicycle excursions, amongst different inclusions. For my journey, that price $69.75, however the price will fluctuate relying on the value you pay per evening.

But the Embassy Suites will not be an outlier — it is best to count on a resort price at most properties in Aruba, and few different lodges on the island can boast free made-to-order omelets at breakfast, complimentary blissful hour cocktails, free on-site parking and entry to a quasi-private stretch of the seashore by means of an underground tunnel.

Of course, vacationers with a stash of Hilton factors can even redeem factors for his or her keep. Rooms on the Embassy Suites in Aruba price between 71,000 and 89,000 factors per evening.

Occasionally, vacationers may discover a extra inexpensive money charge on the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino on Palm Beach, however factors charges right here can attain astronomical heights, starting from 80,000 to 331,000 factors per evening throughout peak intervals.

Best of all, vacationers who use factors will not need to pay the resort price — a perk of utilizing Hilton factors usually.

A non-public tunnel to an (virtually) secret seashore

Many resorts on this fringe of Aruba boast beachfront places, the place visitors can amble straight from the property onto the island’s mushy sands and into the nice and cozy waters of the southern Caribbean. Not so on the Embassy Suites, which is severed from the seashore by a busy stretch of highway (by Aruba’s requirements).

Fortunately, builders gave this some severe thought and constructed a tunnel that begins at the back of the lodge’s property, behind the principle out of doors pool, and crosses beneath the highway earlier than popping up aboveground, simply earlier than the seashore. It’s well-lit at evening and utterly accessible, which means vacationers with strollers, wheelchairs or seashore wagons will not have any bother utilizing this amenity.

After having simply spent two days on the resort-stuffed Palm Beach, the place the strand was suffering from cigarette butts and I used to be by no means greater than an arm’s size away from a sweaty, sunburned stranger, this was an amazing improve. I’d gladly sit with my naked backside within the sand, no cocktail service in sight, if it meant recent air and clear sand and a view unimpeded by a herd of Banana Boat-slick kids screaming after a sandcastle is stomped on.

That’s as a result of regardless that it is easy sufficient to get to the seashore, there is no seashore service offered right here as you may discover at neighboring properties. So, put together to pack a picnic and haul your personal seashore towels together with you.

Plenty of area to splash out

Perhaps my impression of the Embassy Suites can be completely different if it had been bought out, each suite full of a household of 4 that clambered for pool chairs and hogged the omelet station. Because it was so new, although, doubtless lower than half capability, I had my decide of breakfast tables and poolside loungers. Only at blissful hour, when everybody elbowed as much as the bar and chucked their free drink coupons at a pleasant however overwhelmed bartender, did I ever have to attend.

But even when the property picks up in recognition, I think spaciousness will nonetheless be a prime promoting level.

There’s a sprawling important out of doors pool, a kids-only pool, a playground and loads of open garden area for teenagers to run round.

But it is the area visitors will get pleasure from of their assured 470-square-foot two-room suites that is certain to go far in conserving households and teams blissful.

I walked into my eighth-floor suite to discover a smooth moist bar (full with a microwave, minifridge and Cuisinart espresso maker), a eating space for 4 and a lounge with a pullout couch and flatscreen tv. There was a separate bed room, which had a king-size mattress, a second tv and a closet, related to the principle dwelling area by a up to date, all-white rest room stocked with full-size Zero/0 pure tub merchandise.

The two rooms have been additionally related by a furnished patio overlooking the pool and the ocean past; a small sitting space was tucked away within the nook.

Why you may not love the Embassy Suites Aruba

New lodge jitters

Upon check-in, the resort’s newness is apparent — throughout my one-night keep, virtually fixed development was underway on … properly, I’m unsure what. Some ornamental function within the foyer, if I needed to guess. And although your complete property felt new, clear and untouched, I additionally skilled a couple of idiosyncrasies that aren’t unusual when a lodge continues to be in its infancy.

My suite wasn’t prepared once I arrived within the morning, so I left my baggage with the entrance desk and got down to discover the property.

An enormous pool, surrounded by manicured grounds, was the important thing focus of the property, which was quiet even for a brand new resort. It was virtually eerie, a temper exacerbated by the massive variety of navy personnel who gave the impression to be staying on the lodge for an occasion or assembly of some kind.

When I walked as much as the al fresco Splash restaurant for lunch the afternoon I arrived, there was nobody round to seat visitors (not that there have been any visitors to talk of), so I switched gears and walked over to the equally named Splash pool bar, the place a minimum of somebody was helming the bar.

There was additionally plenty of inconsistency surrounding working hours. During my keep, I obtained complimentary beverage coupons for that evening’s blissful hour, which was purported to run till 7 p.m. But once I acquired there, they stated they have been going to vary the blissful hour in order that it ended earlier shifting ahead. I additionally requested in regards to the grab-and-go market’s working hours and was informed it will open at 7 a.m. When I strolled previous round that point, the outlet was nonetheless shuttered.

That stated, not like neighboring resorts, the place you have to prioritize making your declare on lounge chairs by the pool earlier than even enthusiastic about what you’d like for breakfast, the Embassy Suites — a minimum of, in the interim — feels extra like a non-public retreat. Even the cabanas can be found on a first-come, first-served foundation, whereas you usually must plan days prematurely and pay further to order them at extra established properties.

A love-it-or-leave-it location

One vital downside of the Embassy Suites is its aforementioned location. It’s not a real beachfront property since a two-lane highway separates the grounds from a beautiful, albeit small, stretch of sand. Thanks to the tunnel, visitors needn’t fear about racing throughout the road with little ones in tow.

But as talked about, there additionally aren’t rows of seashore chairs beneath umbrellas with doting attendants ready to put out towels. And you will not discover somebody circling all through the afternoon taking food and drinks orders. The result’s a stripped-down, quiet, utterly relaxed seashore vibe which will enchantment to many however not fulfill others.

Though it is not onerous to get to close by eating places and resorts from the Embassy Suites, it does really feel distinctly tucked away.

Food that is superb at finest

Since I had already spent two days sleeping by the pool of my first lodge and mountain climbing in Arikok National Park, I used to be exceptionally crispy (learn: sporting a humiliating sunburn) by the point the solar rose on my final day in Aruba.

So, I took my time at breakfast as an alternative of racing to the pool to absorb as a lot ultraviolet mild as attainable earlier than returning to a frosty New York City.

Embassy Suites is routinely hailed because the finest free lodge breakfast cash can’t purchase since practically each property has a made-to-order omelet station. I ordered an egg-white omelet with tomato, onion and bell pepper, and it was good. By that, I imply, I ordered a fairly bland omelet, so that is what I acquired. But it was cooked properly — not too dry, not too runny — and loads of cold and hot extras have been obtainable: crispy hash browns, bacon and sausage, platters of French toast, pancakes, recent fruit and pastries.

Brickstones Kitchen & Bar is the title of the foyer bar and restaurant, the area shifting all through the day to accommodate breakfast, blissful hour and dinner. I grabbed a desk outdoors for dinner and watched a spectacular sundown past the pool space whereas snacking on a hearty avocado wedge salad ($14) and a wonderfully ready fish of the day (market worth, $34) over roasted greens (particularly carrots, bell pepper and potatoes) with cilantro aioli.

Lunch at Splash was a little bit of a letdown — the massive chopped salad with greens, tomatoes, onions, cucumber, garbanzo beans, shaved purple onion and feta was recent and large for $14, however the ahi tuna tataki starter ($18.50) was severely overcooked; the skinny slices of tuna have been robust and the wakame salad jogged my memory of the prepackaged seaweed salads you get at grocery retailer sushi stands. The slices of jalapenos on prime (not even talked about within the menu itemizing) have been minimize virtually too thick to be eaten uncooked.

Alternatives

Compared to many islands within the Caribbean, Aruba has a profusion of factors properties.

Popular choices embody the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino, a very nice property for vacationers who wish to pay for Club-level rooms (or Globalist members) since there’s a superb lounge with free meals and drinks all through the day.

Marriott has six properties in Aruba, together with two trip golf equipment, a Ritz-Carlton and a Courtyard by Marriott.

Hilton loyalists can even keep on the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino, which generally prices even lower than the Embassy Suites and affords Club-level rooms and half a dozen eating places.

Accessibility

The Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort fortunately has many apparent accessibility options, together with an accessible swimming pool with a chair raise; the underground tunnel to the seashore that descends and ascends through ramps; and benches in lots of in-room showers.

There are, in fact, additionally a handful of accessible suites, together with rooms with roll-in showers, plus mobility and hearing-accessible suites with roll-in showers and numerous mattress configurations.

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