Aruba Beach Villas

Starting out in 1990 as a small guesthouse with room numbers
in the single digits, Aruba Beach Villas has grown into 31 units across three
buildings and includes an on-site windsurfing company, Sailboard Vacations.
The property feels part mid-century beach motel and part personal beach house,
giving a sense of privacy mixed with familiarity. The property may appear a
little dated, but that hasn’t stopped some guests from returning for years and
years -- the small patch of beach and windsurfing waves are the main draw.  As the only hotel in the residential area of Malmok, Aruba Beach Villas is
quiet and immediately surrounded by home properties and a stretch of wide open bush
at its back. However, more often than not, a local vendor parks his large “I 'Heart' Aruba” sign across the street, which makes for great pictures, but also brings in a
lot of stop, snap, and go traffic in the eye line of the horizon, but no one
seems to mind. While this isn’t a party hotel, the vibe is friendly, and
striking up short conversations with other guests or Phil at the front desk is
common -- although most people come to relax, grab some wind on the water, and experience the quiet side of Aruba.

Flanking L.G. Smith Boulevard with a 400-foot patch of
rustic beach in Malmok, Aruba Beach Villas has a quiet setting located under a five-minute drive north of the Aruba’s High Rise hotel area. It’s the last stop
before everything turns completely residential, but it's still within a few minutes drive from
restaurants, shopping, and attractions. Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International
Airport in Oranjestad is just 15 minutes away, and it's 10 minutes to downtown Aruba. Just a heads up, there’s no
street-side signage, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled after you pass the
last roundabout on the edge of the High Rise hotels.

Aruba Beach Villas has 31 self-catering rooms -- nearly half
face the ocean just across the road. They are individually decorated with tile
floors, typical Caribbean wicker furniture, and decor accents with a slightly
nautical nod. While high season
rates may seem pricey, studios can sleep up to four, one-bedrooms can fit up to
six, and two-bedrooms are priced at quad occupancy but can sleep almost twice
as many. Two-bedrooms can also be combined with adjoining studios for large
groups.All rooms come
with private patio or terrace, cool air-conditioning units in every room,
flat-screen TVs with cable, tropical motel-style comforters, and well-worn sofa
beds. Be sure to bring your own toiletries as the fairly dated bathrooms just
come with a bar of soap; hairdryers are available only on request. All rooms have individual
layouts and some amenities (such as deep soaking tubs or refrigerator size) vary,
so be sure to ask if you’d like something specific. At minimum, the fully equipped
kitchens come with a mini-fridge, two-burner electrical stovetop, microwave,
drip coffeemaker (but no coffee), and all utensils, plates, silverware, and
dish soap. Larger stoves, refrigerators, dining room tables, and even ice or
salt and pepper are available in some units. Thanks to fencing and landscaping, most ocean-view terraces
have more privacy than the open-plan patios and terraces of regular rooms. In general, rooms could benefit from a second sweep from the cleaners, although kitchens tend to be spotless.

The hotel has a small pool area with tiki-style table and
chairs, loungers, plastic furniture, and a small, bubbling hot tub that flows
into the main pool. Across the
street, the small beach is heavily covered in crunchy bits of shells and
coral, and spiny sea urchins are not uncommon under the water. Loungers are available
to take across the road, but cannot be left on the beach overnight. While there is no restaurant on-site, a moderately sized
wooden deck area with plastic tables and chairs is located in front of the
office and is a scenic spot for a self-catered bite or drink. Another quiet,
covered spot ideal for reading (perhaps a book from the lending library) or
hanging out is the now-defunct breakfast area with a small bar area
complete with a handful of stools and a set of tables and chairs. Free Wi-Fi
and parking are available, and there is a small selection of soft drinks and
postcards for purchase in the office, where guests can also grab a free
pre-filled (and very basic) cell phone.  

A big draw for guests at Aruba Beach Villas, particularly
windsurfing enthusiasts, is the boutique’s in-house sister company, Sailboard
Vacations, which gives guests direct access to boards and sails of all sizes,
lessons, and all the necessary equipment. Between January and April, guests
staying at the hotel can windsurf as much as they like -- for free. The hotel also gives guests free,
year-round access to kayaks and snorkel gear.