Is the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino Still Worth It in 2026? An Honest Review

The author stayed as an invited guest of the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino in both 2024 and 2026. All opinions are the author’s own, and neither Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino nor its parent company had input in this review.

I originally visited the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino in 2024. Since then, all of the guest rooms and the spa have been renovated, so I revisited in August 2026 to see what was new. This time, I brought my mom along.

I loved the bright, refreshed rooms, beachfront location, and ease of getting coffee in the morning (the island’s largest Starbucks is in the lobby). This updated 2026 review covers the resort’s amenities, renovated guest rooms, dining, and how to book the Aruba Marriott Resort with points.

Aruba Marriott Resort Video Review

Check out my review of the Aruba Marriott Resort on episode 75 of “The Upgraded Points Podcast”.

How To Book the Aruba Marriott Resort With Points

Cash prices at the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino vary throughout the year but generally start around $600 per night for a base-level room. Marriott Bonvoy award rates also vary. I found a few dates starting at 75,000 points, but most nights were over 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Don’t forget Marriott’s fifth-night-free benefit. Members who book 5-night stays entirely with points only pay for 4 nights. This is a great way to make your points go farther.

Resort Fee

The Aruba Marriott Resort charges a $69-per-night resort fee, which includes the following:

• 1 fitness class per day
• 1 hour per day of nonmotorized watersports, including paddleboard, flat floats, kayaks, floating rafts, and snorkeling gear
• 3 bottles of water daily
• 60 minutes of local calls and 30 minutes of international calls
• Enhanced high-speed internet
• Welcome drink
• E-reader

The resort fee applies even if you’re using Marriott Bonvoy points.

Hot Tip:

The best time to visit Aruba depends on what activities you’re interested in and your schedule. It’s a popular year-round destination. Aruba is below the hurricane belt, so direct hurricane hits are less common than other Caribbean islands.

Aruba Marriott Resort Location

Aruba is a popular vacation spot for good reason. It has excellent beaches, plenty of things to do, and is outside the hurricane belt.

In the Southern Caribbean, Aruba is one of the 3 ABC Islands, which also include neighboring islands Bonaire and Curaçao. The Aruba Marriott Resort is on Palm Beach on Aruba’s northwest coast, next to The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba, and 2 Marriott Vacation Club properties: Marriott’s Aruba Ocean Club and Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club.

The hotel is a 15-minute drive from downtown Oranjestad, Aruba, and a 20-minute drive from Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA).

Hot Tip:

There are 7 Marriott properties on the small island of Aruba, so it’s a great vacation spot if you have Marriott Bonvoy points to redeem.

Lobby and Check-In

The atrium-style lobby of the Aruba Marriott Resort was a bright and lively space with shops, dining, and workspaces.

The hotel’s check-in is at 4 p.m., and my room wasn’t ready until then. If you plan to arrive earlier than that, you can leave your bags with the front desk while you enjoy the pool and beach, or grab a bite at any of the resort’s restaurants. I was given a confirmation number so I could charge to my room before check-in.

The person who checked me in explained everything that was included in the resort fee and let me know that Marriott Bonvoy elite members get 10% off at most shops and restaurants in the hotel (except Starbucks and Gelato & Co.).

I have Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status from the Platinum Card^® from American Express (enrollment required), so I was able to use the discount.

Renovated 2 Queen Ocean View Room

When I stayed at this hotel in 2024, I had a King Room with a Partial Ocean View. This time, I stayed in a 2 Queen Ocean View Room.

Both rooms had the same 400-square-foot footprint, which was plenty of space. They also had spacious balconies.

My renovated room was bright and modern. Light wood furniture, wood floors, modern lighting, and bright white walls gave the room a refreshed, neutral vibe. The bed was comfortable, and there were plenty of outlets and USB ports on the nightstand. There was a long set of drawers across from the bed that provided plenty of storage and a workspace.

The walk-in closet was in the bathroom. It had lots of hanging space, 2 Marriott-branded robes, an iron and ironing board, and a luggage rack.

A minifridge and a coffee maker were near the room entrance. As part of the resort fee, 3 bottles of water were restocked daily.

Bathroom

My bathroom was spacious, with 2 sinks, a large counter space, a walk-in shower, and a walk-in closet. Fluffy towels were restocked daily, and there were This Works products in the shower.

Balcony

One of the best parts of my room was the large balcony. I stayed in room 753, which was on the north wing of the hotel. I had a nice view of the main pool and the ocean. The location was ideal for me since it was shady most of the day. My room in 2024 was at the back of the hotel and experienced full sun at least part of the day.

Hot Tip:

All guest room renovations at the Aruba Marriott Resort were completed in December 2025.

Hotel Amenities

Pools

The hotel has 2 pools: the main pool and the H2Oasis adults-only pool. The main pool in the center of the resort features a waterfall, a swim-up bar, and a hot tub.

The H2Oasis adults-only pool was closed during my stay in 2024, and closed for renovations during my 2026 visit. It will reopen in October 2026.

Palm Beach

One of the best parts of the Aruba Marriott Resort is the beach. The hotel is on Palm Beach (one of the best beaches in Aruba), which has possibly the calmest ocean water I’ve ever seen. There were virtually no waves, so it was a great stretch of beach to enjoy a drink and a conversation with friends.

You can reserve a complimentary palapa at the beach each day. Reservations open at 5 p.m. for the following day.

Stellaris Casino

Stellaris Casino, located at the Aruba Marriott Resort, features over 15,000 square feet of gaming space and is the largest casino in Aruba. It features slot machines, sports-betting kiosks, and 17 gaming tables, including poker, blackjack, and roulette. I’m not much of a gambler, but I had fun trying out some of the video poker and slot machines.

Tradewinds

Tradewinds is an adults-only hotel within the hotel with access to the Tradewinds Club, which served complimentary food throughout the day. There was also a private check-in area, a concierge, and a reserved section on the beach.

Look for Tradewinds access when you book your room.

Mandara Spa

I didn’t get a chance to visit the Mandara Spa during my 2024 visit, so I was sure to check it out this time. The space has been renovated, so it’s fresh and inviting, with a new outdoor relaxation area featuring a hot tub and cold plunge.

The treatment waiting area offered comfy seating and refreshments, including light snacks, coffee, and tea.

Fitness Center

The fitness center at Aruba Marriott Resort is a large, 2-story facility featuring cardio equipment and weights. It has lots of natural light and a nice view of the adults-only pool area from the second level. It was open 24 hours a day.

Food and Beverage

Atardi

Atardi operates every evening from 6 to 10 p.m., when the beach transforms into a dining area complete with sunset views and live entertainment. It’s an elegant yet casual restaurant where feet-in-the-sand dining is encouraged. There was even a shoe cubby for ditching shoes before stepping onto the sand.

Waves Bar & Grill

Waves Bar & Grill is the resort’s daytime beach restaurant. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Waves serves lunch, light bites, and cocktails with ocean views. I didn’t dine in at Waves on this trip, but I did order lunch from my beach palapa using a QR code.

Mercát

Mercát is the resort’s Mediterranean-inspired restaurant. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily and offered both indoor and outdoor dining. We had dinner here on our first night, and it was my favorite of the trip. I had a beet and fig salad with steak that was excellent.

We also tried the Sunday brunch. It was a fixed-price buffet that cost $72 per person and included unlimited mimosas. There wasn’t a nonalcoholic brunch rate, which was frustrating.

The breakfast buffet was substantial. It included hot dishes, such as eggs, waffles, and pancakes, as well as fruit, pastries, salad, pasta, and everything in between.

Hot Tip:

The Marriott Bonvoy Elite breakfast (for Platinum, Titanium, or Ambassador Elite members who choose breakfast as their welcome gift) is at Mercát and includes the continental breakfast portion of the buffet.

Gelato & Co.

Gelato & Co. is open for smoothies and light breakfast options daily from 7:30 a.m. to noon and for gelato from noon to midnight.

Lobby Sushi Bar

The lobby bar is open for cocktails and sushi from noon to midnight daily (food service until 11 p.m.)

It could get a little loud in the evenings, though the music and noise were always done by 10 p.m. If you’re traveling with children or like to go to sleep early, I suggest requesting a room on a high floor in one of the side buildings.

Starbucks

Aruba’s largest Starbucks is in the lobby of the Aruba Marriott Resort, and it’s open from 6 a.m. to midnight each day.

In the mornings, I enjoyed grabbing a coffee before going out for a beach walk.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Ruth’s Chris Steak House at the Aruba Marriott Resort is open daily from 5 to 10:30 p.m.

Hot Tip:

All restaurants at the resort are cashless, so be sure to charge to your room to earn lots of points. Using a Marriott credit card will help you earn 3 to 6 Marriott points per $1 spent (not including any elite-level bonuses). Alternatively, you can use a card that earns points at hotels or on travel, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® for 4x points on hotels or the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card, which earns 3x points on all travel up to $150,000 per year.

Service

The service I received at the Aruba Marriott Resort was top-notch in 2024 and just as good in 2026. From housekeeping to the restaurant staff and beach attendants, everyone I encountered was friendly and helpful.

Final Thoughts

I’ve stayed at the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino twice — once in 2024 and again in August 2026. It’s great if you want a casual atmosphere with a wonderful beach. Aruba is easy to navigate, so it’s not complicated to grab a taxi to go downtown or check out any of the island’s activities.

Aruba is a also great choice if you have Marriott Bonvoy points, with 7 properties on the island.