Pros

  • Ideal waterfront location on Surfside Beach
  • Within walking distance of various beachfront restaurants, including adjacent Pincho's
  • Downtown Oranjestad is a 15-minute walk from the hotel
  • Rooms are spacious and modern, with ocean views and flat-screen TVs
  • Kitchenettes with ful-size refirgerators and microwaves in all rooms
  • Breakfast is delivered daily to private balconies
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel
  • Meeting room accommodates up to 120 people
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Cons

  • Quiet vibe and lack of amenities might feel boring to some
  • Some occasional noise from main street and nearby airport
  • No pool
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Bottom Line

The family-owned, three-pearl Surfside Marina is a beachside boutique hotel that's a welcome alternative to the bustling megaresorts fighting for space on Aruba’s jam-packed beaches. With only six suites, it’s a tiny place, but there's enough to like to make this one of the area's nicest mid-range hotels -- guests get abundant breakfasts delivered daily to their private balconies, which feature views of Surfside Marina and the beach. The rooms are modern and homey, with a mix of hardwood furniture and bright accent colors keeping them cheerful. Flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi all come standard, and it's a 15-minute walk to the center of Oranjestad. Compare this hidden gem with Talk of the Town Hotel Beach Club just across the street, which has and on-site pool and only slightly higher rates.

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Oyster Hotel Review

Aruba Surfside Marina

Scene

Low-profile boutique hotel sits right on the beach

Surfside Marina’s low-profile setting on one of Aruba’s quieter beaches is a fitting place for the charming, family-owned boutique hotel: it’s on the outskirts of downtown Oranjested, just close enough to walk to the lively downtown area (or far enough to escape the crowds). The low-slung red-and-yellow building has a pristine interior courtyard, which seems to remain both immaculately clean and totally empty most of the time. If it weren’t for the massive palm trees that dot the property, it would feel almost like being in a small-town square in Europe on a Sunday.

The vibe is beyond quiet: there’s almost nobody here all day, despite a massive gazebo and some rocking chairs set occasionally throughout the grounds. It might seem boring to some, but the independent travelers who arrive at this six-suite hotel are typically looking for just that -- a very private, subdued atmosphere that’s still surprisingly luxurious. There’s little in the area besides the quiet Surfside Marina, a beach that’s more popular with locals than tourists, which also means it stays pretty empty during the work week. The open-air courtyard, beach, and pleasing architecture are lovely enough to attract honeymooners and young North and South American couples.  

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Location

On the beach, a 15-minute walk to downtown Oranjested

The hotel is in Oranjested, right on Surfside Beach, a quiet stretch of sand that's mostly visited by local Arubans. Pincho’s Grill and Barefoot Restaurant are the most popular spots within a five-minute walk -- both are good choices for sit-down dinners, though there are also a few shacks along the water for casual snacks and drinks. When it gets late there’s even a beachy nightclub vibe at one of them (complete with top 40 dance hits and flowing alcohol). Otherwise downtown is a 15-minute walk from the hotel, and is home to several casinos, restaurants, stores, and bars. Both Palm and Eagle Beaches are both a 15-minute drive away, and Queen Beatrix International Airport is just at the end of Surfside Beach, a five-minute drive from the hotel.

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Rooms

Modern, homey suites with kitchenettes, flat-screen TVs, and private balconies

Guests are greeted with a bottle of wine when they enter these spacious, sun-drenched suites. The theme is tropical-chic, and the look is modern and cheerful, with clean tile floors and vintage tropical prints hung on the bright yellow or white walls. Flowery curtains and a combination of hardwood and dark wicker furniture combine to create homey spaces that are a step above most in this category on Aruba. Details like carved bed frames add a sharp, classic touch. All six rooms are on the second floor and have small private balconies -- just big enough for breakfast, and to sit and admire the ocean views. They also feature kitchenettes with modern fixtures and amenities like full-sized fridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers. There’s plenty of closet space, helpful for the many guests who stay here a week or longer, and suites with separate bedrooms are available. Bathrooms are bright and medium-sized, but a bit basic looking, with decent toiletries, generous counter space, and shower/tub combos. There are the rare complaints of street noise from the main road and nearby airport, but generally these rooms offer a quiet and restful night’s sleep. 

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Features

Beach, popular adjacent restaurant, free breakfast, and free Wi-Fi

The hotel is small so amenities are understandably limited, yet the property is surprisingly expansive, especially if you count the beach. Surfside Beach is long, with a relatively narrow strip of sand running along the shore, along with various restaurants and lots of shady palm trees. The beach is maybe less picturesque and lacks some of the family-friendly activities to be found at Eagle and Palm Beaches, but it’s calm, swimmable, and best of all remains gloriously empty. 

The weekends are the only time this beach sees any action, and at night, when locals and tourists visit Pincho’s, the pricey seafood grill that stands literally on the water adjacent to the hotel. It’s not officially connected to the hotel, but it’s so close (visitors have to walk through the hotel’s grounds to get there) that it’s worth a mention. The food here is carefully prepared and the ocean view is truly unbeatable, especially at sunset. A free breakfast is delivered daily to guests’ private balconies at a pre-arranged time, and features a good variety of breads, pastries, cold meats, juice, and fruit.

Aside from free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, Surfside Marina also hosts business functions at their mid-size downstairs meeting room (about 2,000 square feet of space). They also stock it with up-to-date audio-visual equipment and dividers to accommodate smaller groups. The hotel is often a site for weddings too, because of the idyllic waterfront location and charming tropical garden.

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What to Wear in Aruba

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Oyster Hotel Review

Aruba Surfside Marina

Scene

Low-profile boutique hotel sits right on the beach

Surfside Marina’s low-profile setting on one of Aruba’s quieter beaches is a fitting place for the charming, family-owned boutique hotel: it’s on the outskirts of downtown Oranjested, just close enough to walk to the lively downtown area (or far enough to escape the crowds). The low-slung red-and-yellow building has a pristine interior courtyard, which seems to remain both immaculately clean and totally empty most of the time. If it weren’t for the massive palm trees that dot the property, it would feel almost like being in a small-town square in Europe on a Sunday.

The vibe is beyond quiet: there’s almost nobody here all day, despite a massive gazebo and some rocking chairs set occasionally throughout the grounds. It might seem boring to some, but the independent travelers who arrive at this six-suite hotel are typically looking for just that -- a very private, subdued atmosphere that’s still surprisingly luxurious. There’s little in the area besides the quiet Surfside Marina, a beach that’s more popular with locals than tourists, which also means it stays pretty empty during the work week. The open-air courtyard, beach, and pleasing architecture are lovely enough to attract honeymooners and young North and South American couples.  

See More Scene

Location

On the beach, a 15-minute walk to downtown Oranjested

The hotel is in Oranjested, right on Surfside Beach, a quiet stretch of sand that's mostly visited by local Arubans. Pincho’s Grill and Barefoot Restaurant are the most popular spots within a five-minute walk -- both are good choices for sit-down dinners, though there are also a few shacks along the water for casual snacks and drinks. When it gets late there’s even a beachy nightclub vibe at one of them (complete with top 40 dance hits and flowing alcohol). Otherwise downtown is a 15-minute walk from the hotel, and is home to several casinos, restaurants, stores, and bars. Both Palm and Eagle Beaches are both a 15-minute drive away, and Queen Beatrix International Airport is just at the end of Surfside Beach, a five-minute drive from the hotel.

See More Location

Rooms

Modern, homey suites with kitchenettes, flat-screen TVs, and private balconies

Guests are greeted with a bottle of wine when they enter these spacious, sun-drenched suites. The theme is tropical-chic, and the look is modern and cheerful, with clean tile floors and vintage tropical prints hung on the bright yellow or white walls. Flowery curtains and a combination of hardwood and dark wicker furniture combine to create homey spaces that are a step above most in this category on Aruba. Details like carved bed frames add a sharp, classic touch. All six rooms are on the second floor and have small private balconies -- just big enough for breakfast, and to sit and admire the ocean views. They also feature kitchenettes with modern fixtures and amenities like full-sized fridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers. There’s plenty of closet space, helpful for the many guests who stay here a week or longer, and suites with separate bedrooms are available. Bathrooms are bright and medium-sized, but a bit basic looking, with decent toiletries, generous counter space, and shower/tub combos. There are the rare complaints of street noise from the main road and nearby airport, but generally these rooms offer a quiet and restful night’s sleep. 

See More Rooms

Features

Beach, popular adjacent restaurant, free breakfast, and free Wi-Fi

The hotel is small so amenities are understandably limited, yet the property is surprisingly expansive, especially if you count the beach. Surfside Beach is long, with a relatively narrow strip of sand running along the shore, along with various restaurants and lots of shady palm trees. The beach is maybe less picturesque and lacks some of the family-friendly activities to be found at Eagle and Palm Beaches, but it’s calm, swimmable, and best of all remains gloriously empty. 

The weekends are the only time this beach sees any action, and at night, when locals and tourists visit Pincho’s, the pricey seafood grill that stands literally on the water adjacent to the hotel. It’s not officially connected to the hotel, but it’s so close (visitors have to walk through the hotel’s grounds to get there) that it’s worth a mention. The food here is carefully prepared and the ocean view is truly unbeatable, especially at sunset. A free breakfast is delivered daily to guests’ private balconies at a pre-arranged time, and features a good variety of breads, pastries, cold meats, juice, and fruit.

Aside from free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, Surfside Marina also hosts business functions at their mid-size downstairs meeting room (about 2,000 square feet of space). They also stock it with up-to-date audio-visual equipment and dividers to accommodate smaller groups. The hotel is often a site for weddings too, because of the idyllic waterfront location and charming tropical garden.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Beach

  • Cabanas

  • Cable

  • Cribs

  • Full Kitchen

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.