Barceló Aruba - All Inclusive

Location of this hotel was our most favorable part of staying at this hotel. A lot of good restaurants and bars are right across the street which will be something you will want if you want quality food and drinks during your stay. We upgraded to the Royal Level and have to say, it was a waste of money. The only dinner we had was at the Royal Level Restaurant and while the staff were attentive, the food quality was mediocre at best. Since this is considered their best restaurant, we didn’t bother eating at any other restaurants on site and did not return to this one. We ate breakfast and lunch at the buffets and the best description is that both locations are bad cafeteria food. We ate dinner out every night at local restaurants which was incredible. In regards to the drinks, the beach bar for Royal Level members was mediocre as well. They were never made the same between different bar tenders and always seemed very watered down. I am pretty sure the waitress on the beach was having our drinks filled at the pool bar and not the Beach Bar which is what we paid extra for. I would save your money and not upgrade to the Royal Level. The beach was great but not much shaded areas available if you don’t get out first thing. The most frustrating part was several other people staying at the hotel smoking weed on the beach and having to smell it. The same individuals would also blare completely inappropriate rap music which made it very frustrating and not relaxing to be on the beach. If you plan to bring kids, I would watch who you sit by or who plants themselves near you. Some people have zero respect or consideration for others. This is a driving factor as to why I will never return to this hotel among everything else. Our room was surface cleaned at best. The ceiling fan was covered in dust, bathroom hardware not cleaned well, floor covered in sand, stains on the ceiling and the couch was disgusting to sit on. Quality cleaning would go a long way. All-in-all, I will say the saying “you get what you pay for” is very true for this hotel. If you have a large group with you, and you don’t mind mediocre food, it may be worth staying here to keep cost down. For us, we will lay more for a higher quality hotel in the future.

This resort is gorgeous. First day here, so will definitely come back and update. So far I’ve had a great experience. Michael at the Arabian Seafood Restaurant is extremely pleasant and a great waiter. He made sure I had the best experience. Thank you!

This was our second family trip here. It was an enjoyable experience overall. The food was good for an all-inclusive, with the sit-down restaurants having better food than the buffet. Make sure to make reservations for dinners as soon as you arrive as it can be difficult to get reservations, especially as a larger group. The rooms are clean but nothing special. Getting pool chairs can be a challenge, but the pool space is nice and fun to spend time in.

Barcelo Aruba did not meet my expectations. From the moment we checked in the front desk staff seemed too busy talking to each other and not making us feel welcomed. Walking through the resort i felt it was very outdated. When i got my room at first glance it seemed okay just standard. However the bed was very uncomfortable, the room wasn't very clean and we had a view of a parking lot. I went back to the front desk to request another room and they weren't very helpful at all and got turned away. The staff in the restaurants however were very friendly and accommodating. The breakfast buffet was mediocre and somethings were very dry and hard like the hash browns and plantains. The spa services were incredible. Definitely recommend. Also the location was great as its close to many shops, restaurants, and bars. The best part of this resort was the beach well maintained and the water was calm and not a lot of seaweed and not rocky.

We love staying at the Barcelo Hotel & Resort! The staff are so friendly, location is great, and the resort is clean! This hotel is family friendly and provides games/activities for the children throughout your stay. They have something different for the kids each day which was nice. Marilyn was amazing with our children and would talk to them outside of the daily activities. She took the time to learn their names and build a bond with them so they were comfortable participating in her activities. The bar staff at the swim up bar were amazing! Diego or "Eggo" as my 2 year old daughter would call him was the BEST! He was so kind and patient with my children. My 2 year old really took to him during our stay. He also makes delicious drinks for the adults! We can't wait for our next visit!!

George, Joyce, Nash’s and the rest of the dinner team, treated my wife and I like we were royalty. The service was white glove. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was classy. I felt like we have been coming here ever, and everyone knew our name.

I ate at the seafood restaurant. Carmen was the most amazing waitress. She was so accommodating and made all of us feel special. I didn’t know what I wanted so she brought me an assortment of dinners so I can try them all. The food was absolutely amazing. Hands down definitely a place you must stop and eat at!

The staff was so nice. There's lots of choices at the buffets, the quality can be a little variable - you can usually find something you like (especially if made to order). Restaurants on property were really good. Pool is nice, but can get crowded. Beach is nice with a small roped off area in water for wading, floating and limited swimming due to number of water crafts.