The Westerly at Hilton Aruba
When I heard Hilton Aruba was opening an entirely new luxury experience called The Westerly, I was curious. Aruba isn’t exactly hurting for beachfront resorts. Along Palm Beach alone, you’ll find plenty of places willing to hand you a frozen drink and a room key. So what makes The Westerly different?
After attending the grand opening and spending several days exploring the resort, eating my weight in tacos at Shore Club, and conducting extensive research from a pool chair, here’s everything travelers should know before booking.
Table of Contents
A Resort With Serious Aruba History
One thing that surprised me is just how much history is packed into this property. The original Hilton Aruba opened in 1959 as Aruba’s first luxury resort. At the time, Aruba’s economy was largely driven by the oil industry, and the government specifically chose this stretch of Palm Beach to launch tourism on the island.
In other words, before Palm Beach became lined with resorts, restaurants, and beach bars, this property helped put Aruba on the tourism map.
The resort has welcomed celebrities including Bob Hope over the years, and in 1963 the famous Aruba Ariba cocktail was invented here. If you’ve ever ordered Aruba’s signature rum punch, you can thank this resort.
Perhaps even more impressive, Hilton Aruba remains the only locally owned resort on Palm Beach. In a destination increasingly dominated by large international ownership groups, that’s a unique distinction.
What Exactly Is The Westerly?
The Westerly isn’t a separate resort. It’s a newly built luxury wing within Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino. The addition adds 161 rooms which expands the overall property to 520 rooms while creating a more elevated experience for guests who want upgraded accommodations and additional perks.
The design feels intentionally different from many modern luxury hotels. Instead of trying to be flashy or overly formal, The Westerly embraces Aruba’s laid-back personality.
The vibe is open, breezy, social, and connected to the energy of Palm Beach rather than isolated from it. The name itself references the east-west trade routes that helped shape Aruba’s history.
The Rooms
The Westerly rooms feel fresh, modern, and thoughtfully designed without crossing into “so trendy it will look dated in three years” territory. All the rooms have a patio, and I am pretty sure all of them have a view of the ocean as long as you are on the 2nd floor or higher. Don’t worry if you are on the 1st floor you’ll have a swim-out room.
One thing worth noting: these rooms do not include bathtubs. If soaking in a tub is an essential vacation activity for you, this may be disappointing. One of the other older Hilton towers has some rooms with bathtubs. Each room comes with a small sunscreen and a small aloe vera aftersun cream. In the bathroom is a full-size bar of soap, lotion, and hand soap all by Aruba Aloe. (You will love these products and can get them in the gift shop or across the street at the Aruba Aloe shop.)
For most travelers, though, the spacious showers and contemporary design are likely a worthwhile tradeoff. The shower features two shower heads and Aruba Aloe shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. The premium accommodations are among the nicest currently available at Hilton Aruba.
I prefer a softer mattress but still slept good. Maybe because of the Drowsy sleep kit. I loved the sleep mask they give you.
The Westerly Perks
One of the biggest advantages of staying in The Westerly is access to enhanced amenities.
Guests receive preferred pool seating, which may sound like a small perk until you’ve stayed at a busy Caribbean resort during peak season and found yourself playing Hunger Games: Pool Chair Edition before breakfast. (Granted, I never had an issue getting a pool chair anytime of day. So this may not be an issue here.)
The dedicated service includes coolers and upgraded poolside experiences that make it easier to spend an entire day relaxing.
The resort has also made sustainability efforts visible and convenient. Reusable water bottles are provided, and water filling stations are available on every floor. As someone who travels constantly and sees enough single-use plastic bottles to build a small island, I appreciated this detail.
Oh, and there’s room service!
Dining Highlights
Shore Club
If there’s one restaurant you’ll probably find yourself returning to repeatedly, it’s Shore Club. Located between the pool and Palm Beach, this open-air restaurant combines ocean views with fresh sushi, international dishes, craft cocktails, and a lively atmosphere. I visited multiple times during my stay, and it quickly became one of my favorite spots on the property.
It’s the kind of place where lunch casually turns into sunset cocktails, and somehow nobody objects. Upstairs is a bar with firepits if you decide you’d like to keep drinking.
Sunset Grille
The resort’s iconic steakhouse recently underwent renovations and continues to be one of Aruba’s better upscale dining experiences. The setting feels classic Aruba: excellent service and a menu built around premium steaks and seafood. Leave room for dessert; they are fantastic. I tried three of them: the chocolate budino, crรจme brรปlรฉe, and baked Alaska. I recommend splitting a few with your tablemates so you can try several.
One fun thing here is the roaming gin cart that goes table to table making delicious craft cocktails. In addition to great cocktails, they have an extensive wine list.
Laguna
Breakfast can make or break a resort stay, especially when you’re paying luxury prices. Fortunately, Laguna delivers with an upgraded buffet, made-to-order omelets, and ร la carte options that go beyond the standard hotel breakfast experience.
Activities Beyond the Beach
While Palm Beach itself is spectacular, the resort offers enough activities that you could easily fill several days without leaving the property.
During my stay, guests could participate in:
- Pool Pilates
- SUP Yoga
- Guided kayak excursions
- Sailing adventures
- Bike rentals
- Aloe scrub workshops
- Spa treatments at eforea Spa
- Gym
For travelers who like a balance between relaxation and activity, there are plenty of options. I did the kayak excursion, which was a great workout, and hit the spa for a hot stone massage. The spa is fantastic with a steam room, sauna, and cold plunge pool. I was really hoping to do the bike excursion but couldn’t work it into my schedule, and the day I went to try pool pilates they were setting up for the big grand opening so it got canceled. As a super active family, I loved that there were so many different activities included in the stay.
Terrace on 10
One of the most exciting additions is Terrace on 10, an adults-only rooftop retreat on the 10th floor of The Westerly. Although it had not officially opened during my visit, I had the opportunity to preview the space during the grand opening events.
The rooftop is designed as a wellness-focused escape with elevated views, a quieter atmosphere, and a more exclusive experience away from the main pool areas. They’ve got a restaurant and bar up there as well.
What Stands Out Most
Honestly, the thing that impressed me most wasn’t the new rooms or the upgraded amenities. It was the people. Many staff members have worked at Hilton Aruba for decades, with some celebrating more than 40 years at the resort. That kind of longevity is rare in hospitality and says a lot about both the ownership and the culture.
You can feel it throughout the property. Service feels genuine rather than scripted, and many employees seem genuinely invested in creating memorable experiences for guests.
Is The Westerly Worth It?
If you’re looking for an ultra-exclusive hideaway where you’ll never see another human being, The Westerly probably isn’t your resort. But if you want one of Aruba’s best beachfront locations, upgraded accommodations, excellent dining, thoughtful amenities, and direct access to the vibrant energy of Palm Beach, it’s an easy recommendation.
The Westerly successfully delivers a more elevated experience while preserving everything that has made Hilton Aruba a favorite for decades. And considering this property literally helped launch tourism in Aruba, it feels fitting that it’s once again helping shape the next chapter of hospitality on the island.
