Karin

The only 5 star property on Aruba is the Tierra del Sol golf community. Their website is tierradelsol.com. The accommodations are condos or villas, and therefore it is not a hotel. There is a lovely restaurant, with an incredibly romantic setting for outdoor dining. It is not, however, on the beach and so would require a rental car to go to the beach and casinos. We stayed at the Radisson (a 4 star) and ended up at the Tierra del Sol property more than once. The only reason to go to Aruba is the guaranteed good weather. The water is lovely, too.

Jeff

What is the proper definition of "5 star" and "4 star"?<BR>According to whom?

Anita

Hi Karin. Thanks for that link. Tierra Del Sol looks very nice. I couldn't tell from your post whether you stayed there or not, or just visited for lunch or dinner. What was your experience there?<BR><BR>Thanks!

Meg

Does Tierra del Sol have beach access?<BR>If so, what's the beach like there?<BR><BR>I'm surprised that most of the pictures don't really show any beach, just dostant views of the water.

Denise

Tierra del Sol is very pretty. However, it is not on the beach nor is it close to the beach. Great for golf and dinner! We have been very satisfied with the accomodations at the Radisson.

Karin

Jeff, in my opinion, a five star hotel would have to be at the level of a Four Seasons or Ritz. In Aruba, we stayed at the Radisson, on the Concierge (top) level of the Aruba tower, and had an incredible, gorgeous view of the beach and the island all the way to town. We were there last August for 12 nights and very much liked the Radisson -- although, sadly, it was already starting to show neglect and wear following its major renovation a year or so prior. However, as much as we liked it, it is not a five star. No, Anita, we did not stay at Tierra del Sol, so unfortunately I cannot give you first-hand info on the accommodations. We went there twice to eat -- if you dine outside, which we thought was prettier even than the restaurant, you can watch the sunset -- and drove all around the property, including the section where some lovely private homes are being built. Just remembered that dinner was accompanied by a saxophonist playing soft jazz, which added wonderfully to the romantic atmosphere. I would go back to Aruba just to repeat that evening. Anyway, it's an easy ten minute drive from the Radisson, whose beach and water was the nicest we found. Arubabound.com is loaded with info on Aruba, with multiple links to bulletin boards and other resources, and you may want to search there to get first-hand reports on the accommodations at Tierra del Sol. Also, if you want to "escape back into a quiet little enclave somewhere," you should consider that the Radisson and Hyatt have loud live music outside in the evenings until 10 pm, I believe. If you must be on the beach, the Hyatt would be the next most luxurious, although I understand that the rooms are small, and we didn't care for the pool area or beach (very shady and cramped). We were glad we had switched our reservation from the Hyatt to the Radisson. But many people love the Hyatt. Whatever you decide, hope you enjoy.

barbara sommers

Anita: After reading the replies, I would recommend the Ritz Carlton in St. Thomas. We've stayed there twice and the property is magnificient. It's quiet there yet if you rent a car, you can travel all over and even island hop. We've been to many luxury resorts in the Caribbean and in Hawaii and we'd go back in a heartbeat. The resort is not your typical Ritz highrise, but a 3 story pale pink villa paradise. Check it out.

gracie

Anita, why don't you check out Costa Linda Beach Resort? I think they have a web site: costalinda.com<BR>I stay there every year and this resort's beach is unquestionably the best beach in Aruba. It is said to be the widest beach in the caribbean. Lovely white sand, lots of huts to protect yourself from the sun but conveniently spaced apart so you don't feel like you can hear you neighbor's breathing. The pool is quite beautiful, the service is excelent and the rooms are great. I stay at the resort wing so the rooms have full kitchens and a very nice balcony in which to have breakfast and watch the sunset.<BR>The great thing about this resort is that it never looks full, they don't torment you with music (just a steel band in the afternoons) and you can take long walks through the beach.<BR>The alhambra casino is right next door so you can walk there very easily or also rent a car and drive to the hyatt's casino which is pretty nice.<BR>Tell me what you think..!<BR>Gracie.

Sheila

We stayed at the Sonesta Resort in Aruba and it has everything you are looking for. There is a 24 hour casino at the hotel plus one right across the street. It has the best shopping I have ever seen. There are shops there for the extremely rich (it was great to pretend for 2 weeks) as well as gift shops for some of us less fortunate. The Sonesta owns a 40 acre private island that is very quite and lush and tropical. There is a boat that comes right into the lobby to take you out to the island. I am finding that all the replies about Aruba seem to miss this fabulous hotel. It is away from all the high rises and public so it is a lot quieter and all the shopping was right there.<BR>What I really liked is that you could go to the beach for a few hours then go look at hundred thousand dollar necklaces (and 10 dollar ones too) for a bit, over to Sbarros for lunch and back to the beach before noon. We were never bored.

Noway

she is looking for high-end luxury not a Sonesta property although it may be a great property. Doubt many who are seeking luxury would wind up dining at a Sbarro pizza outlet but you never know. It probably is a fine modest property but there is nothing on Aruba that even comes clse to Cap Juluca or a fine botique hotel or other luxury resorts.

john

We stayed at the Hyatt and had a wonderful time except that the rooms were small and with a balcony the size of your shoe. Other than that we thought it had the best beach anywhere in aruba and the best casino. Excellent service also. The beach was as calm as a lake. We thought we were in a pool. Best beach Ive seen. Except for the Islands of Greece. Which were tops for me.

sheila

Noway, I guess you were right. I just thought that a hotel that housed the extremely rich from Switzerland as well as superstars would be sufficient. But I guess I was wrong. However, we liked it and met some "interesting" people I will never forget. Sorry, I will stick to reading from now on.

Bud

Anita, the best resort I have found in the Caribbean, so far, is Cap Juluca on Anguilla. Of the "chain" resorts, the Four Seasons on Nevis would be the highest rated.

Noway

Sheila, don't pack up your beach bag and go away and pout but just check the top 20 of any known list and see if you see an Aruba property if you don't want to accept my assessment. The Soneta might be a great property especially since now it's a Marriott but taking a shuttle launch to the beach on a schedule in the Caribbean is not an ideal for many. I really have never inquired how large the pocketbook is of other guests where I stay nor do I care nor do I list the celebrities I've broken bread with on my travels. Most of the time I don't even recognize them. <BR>So tell us, dear, who are the celebs who hang at the Sonesta? <BR>And don't take this as a personal attack of your likes and dislikes. It is what it is and if it's perfect for you, that's all that matters.

Anita

Hey Noway, you completely get where I was going with my question. There are some very expensive upscale resorts out there, but I'm not looking for 1000 amenities like water slides and dolphin swims, etc. And I'm definitely not looking to get on a resort jitney to get around. I'm looking for understated elegance and superb service at a small establishment. Atleast for this trip.<BR><BR>And Sheila, don't take Noway's message personally. I'm happy whenever someone has a great vacation such as you did at Sonesta. While my husband and I have have stayed at such resorts as Cap Juluca, we have also had a blast going to Wildwood Crest at the Jersey shore and staying at what is truly a spiffied up motel.<BR><BR>I just find it odd that the boutique concept hasn't taken hold anywhere in Aruba. We're now thinking of doing a villa rental on St. Barts. We can have the privacy and luxury and also have terrific dining options. Darn, just no room service.

Ben

<BR>The Mill Resort was recently decleared a boutique hotel. There are planning to build two low rise resorts at Baby Beach, a 260 room five star resort and a 60 room five star boutique hotel. Construction price of both properties is estimated to be over 100 million U.S. dollars. The government will develop the area into Aruba's second resort district, it will be an extreme luxury district.

Jeff

Unfortunately the term "5 star" has been so battered and bastardized that it has virtually no meaning any more.<BR><BR>Some of the hotels I've seen declare themselves 5 star, and on Priceline, are 3.5 at best.<BR><BR>Sorry, but there are only a very few 5 star resorts in the Caribbean, and none of them are in Aruba or Cayman.<BR>I'll wait to see about the Mill resort area, but I'd bet heavily this won't end up being better than the other resorts on Aruba.<BR>But I'd be thrilled to be wrong.

Ben

2 five star resorts will be constructed in Aruba so they will be far better than those presently found on the island. Two resorts of 280 rooms all together priced at over 100 million U.S. dollars, thats got to be luxury coming. Names like Ritz Carlton were mentioned as potential operators. Papers and contracts will be made official in November 2002.

Kathy

No - have been to Anguila and you will never find anything like it in Aruba - Royal Hideaway in Playa del Carmen good be a thought - it is 45 minutes from cancun and i believe they have casinos