Living in the New York suburbs, I will take any opportunity I can get to getaway to the Caribbean for a family vacation. Every year in March, I plan a family vacation to the Caribbean. It is a much needed break from the cold plus I love that the Caribbean islands are a quick plane ride from NYC. Aruba is a safe choice if you are looking for a Caribbean island with predictable weather that is out of the hurricane zone. During our family vacation in Aruba, we stayed at the Ritz Carlton Aruba. Here is my review of my stay at the Ritz Carlton Aruba. Note: This is not a sponsored post. I truly enjoyed staying there that is why I’m writing about it. In fact, I’m already planning our next family vacation at the Ritz Carlton Aruba!
Kid-Friendly Beach at the Ritz Carlton Aruba
When I was planning our Aruba family vacation, it was important to have a kid-friendly beach. I did not want a beach filled with seaweed or a beach where the water is rough. The Ritz Carlton Aruba is located on a beautiful beachfront property with very kid-friendly beach conditions. The water is calm and shallow. The sand is perfect- very fine and white. So perfect that I actually let my 7 and 10 year old ride a kayak on their own without an adult riding with them! Trust me, as a mom, I usually err on the side of caution but because of the kid-friendly beach conditions, I was OK with letting my kids kayak on their own. If kid-friendly beach conditions is important for you, then you will like the beach at the Ritz Carlton Aruba.
Tip: Aruba is very hot and really windy. You will definitely feel the intense heat from the sun being so close to the equator. Protect your skin, be vigilant and reapply sunblock. It’s worth getting the highest SPF sunblock you can find. Don’t forget to bring hats especially for your kids. It can get very windy in Aruba, make sure to bring hats with chin straps so you are not chasing after hats. Don’t worry, even though it is very hot in Aruba, there is always a breeze to cool your down.
Complimentary Non-Motorized Water Sports at Ritz Carlton Aruba
I love that the guests of Ritz Carlton Aruba have unlimited use of non-motorized water sports equipment. My kids took advantage of this perk every day. We used the kayaks, stand up paddleboards, paddle boats, and Zayaks (a flotation device with a viewing window). Snorkeling gear was also available for guests. Although for safety and hygiene, I suggest bringing your own snorkeling gear (love the full face snorkel mask).
Love that the Ritz Carlton is the Last Beach on the Strip
Almost all the resorts in Aruba are located on one strip. The Ritz Carlton Aruba is the last resort on the strip so the beach is less busy and more private. Since beaches in Aruba are public, being located at the end of the strip is a big plus.
Service on the Beach
I love going on vacation and eating on the beach! However, sometimes, the problem is it is hard to track down a server. At the Ritz Carlton Aruba, the servers on the beach are on Segways so you will often find one zooming by your lounge chair ready to serve.
Easy Walk to Restaurants and Shops
Even though the Ritz Carlton Aruba is at the end of the strip, it is within a 10-minute walk to a nearby outdoor mall. The mall has many restaurants and shops. Plus it is a scenic walk because you are walking on a path along the beach.
Exceptional Club Level Service at the Ritz Carlton Aruba
I’ve been to many Ritz Carlton club lounges and I’d say this is one of the best ones ever. The service at the Ritz Carlton Aruba Club Lounge is exceptional. When they found out my son has a nut allergy, not only did they make sure to prepare nut-free dishes for him but they had them ready for him the moment we walked in! And what I like is there is always a kid-friendly dish so I don’t have to order off the room service menu for the kids.
The Spa at the Ritz Carlton Aruba is Amazing
The spa at the Ritz Carlton Aruba is amazing. As a hotel guest, you have unlimited access to the jacuzzi, relaxation lounge and saunas. I love the outdoor jacuzzi, it was such a treat and it made me feel like I got away. There were thoughtful touches that I liked such as complimentary sugar scrubs and complimentary snacks and drinks in the relaxation lounge. Plus it was never crowded, in fact, the few times I went it was almost always empty. It was such a treat to have the jacuzzi all to myself!
The Hiccups
Don’t get me wrong, we did experience a few hiccups during our stay. I’m not crazy about the housekeeping as there was one incident where our room was not cleaned early enough in the day. Coming back to dirty towels and unmade beds after a day at the beach is never fun! However, they did make up for it and housekeeping really improved the rest of our stay. We also had some issues with beachside food and beverage service. But I feel these are little hiccups that can be overlooked. We truly enjoyed our family vacation at the Ritz Carlton Aruba. I’m already planning our next family vacation to the Ritz Carlton Aruba!
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More Photos from Our Family Vacation at the Ritz Carlton Aruba
Other Places to Stay in Aruba
Aside from the Ritz Carlton Aruba, there are many family friendly accommodations in Aruba. If you want less expensive accommodation options in Aruba, check out the Aruba Marriott and Holiday Inn Aruba. When we walked to town, we always walked by the Aruba Marriott and Holiday Inn Aruba. Both are beautiful beachfront properties! We booked our Ritz Carlton hotel stay through Hotels.com. I can usually get great deals from Hotels.com. Click on button below to do a hotel search for your Aruba family vacation.
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