St. Regis Aruba vs. Ritz Carlton Aruba! Part 2. Who wins the battle of the luxury resorts?

Описание: My family and I traveled to Aruba for a conference and split our stay between the The St. Regis Aruba Resort and the The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba. Here’s the real breakdown after experiencing both.

Both rooms are beautiful. The Ritz-Carlton is older and slightly more dated in design, while the St. Regis is brand new — everything feels fresh, modern, and elevated. One downside at the St. Regis: the elevated bed frame is hard to see at night and easy to bump into. For overall bed layout and practicality, I give that edge to the Ritz.

Pool scene:
The Ritz-Carlton has a dedicated adults-only pool section and a separate family pool with zero-entry, which is great for kids. The St. Regis does not have an adults-only section. While the St. Regis has multiple pools and a sleek design, I’d say the edge here depends on what you’re looking for. If adults-only space matters, Ritz wins. If you prefer a newer pool design and cooler deck materials underfoot, St. Regis feels more modern.

Important note: the red brick pool deck at the Ritz gets extremely hot — bring swim shoes. The St. Regis pool surfaces stay much cooler.

Beach & Property Size:
The Ritz-Carlton has a significantly larger property and a wider, more expansive beach. It feels more connected to the other upscale resorts along Palm Beach. The St. Regis beach area is smaller and more intimate but offers convenient access to the main strip.

Kids Clubs:
Both properties have kids clubs, and our children loved both experiences. When we visited, the St. Regis kids club was complimentary — possibly because the resort is so new. The Ritz-Carlton did charge for their kids club. Experience-wise, both delivered.

Watersports:
The Ritz-Carlton watersports operation was phenomenal. Very well run and easy to access (non-motorized). At the time of our stay, I don’t believe the St. Regis was offering watersports on property.

Casinos:
Both hotels have casinos, which is common along Palm Beach.

Nearby Tip:
The St. Regis is located near older properties like the Hotel Riu Palace Aruba and the Courtyard Aruba Resort. Pro tip: the Courtyard gift shop had some of the most affordable souvenirs we found — worth the short walk.

Overall:
The Ritz-Carlton wins on beach size, energy, watersports, and adults-only pool space. The St. Regis wins on freshness, modern design, and (during our visit) complimentary kids club. Interestingly, our kids slightly preferred the Ritz experience overall.

Bottom line — you really can’t go wrong. It just comes down to whether you want newer and quieter, or larger and more active.

Aerial footage by ‪@6NineDroneGuy‬

Music by: TravelGiant on SUNO