Recently, my husband and I traveled to Aruba for a week of kid-free fun. While we spent the bulk of our trip at the Barcelo Aruba, we also spent at night at the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino near the airport.
While we only had a day at the property, we wanted to make the most of it. With that in mind, we booked a one-day VIP cabana experience on the resort's private island.
If you get the chance to do so, you should absolutely consider it. Not only is the property's "Paradise Island" amazing, but the cabana experience is more like an overwater bungalow experience than anything else.
Before we get to the private island, let's talk about the resort itself. The Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino is split into two buildings-one beachfront family building called Ocean Suites and an adults-only Marina building across the street.
My husband and I stayed in the Marina building, which meant we weren't oceanfront and had only a tiny sliver view of the water from our balcony. On the flip side, our room was spacious and clean and the adults-only tower was well-appointed. Not only did it have a Starbucks in the lobby, but it had a few restaurants and a shopping mall on-site.
The hotel itself is connected to a casino and there is another casino across the street. The Renaissance Aruba also boasts a really beautiful infinity-style pool that faces the water across the street. The Marina building is also where you board the small boat that takes you to the hotel's private island.
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While the hotel itself was nice, it wasn't too over-the-top. But, Paradise Island? It was amazing.
Paradise Island, which can only be accessed by boat, is known for its exclusivity and natural beauty. Oh and its gorgeous pink flamingoes whose existence only add to the tiny island's scenery.
The island itself is split into two major sections-one for kids and one for adults. They have a restaurant and a bar and plenty of hammocks and chairs for relaxing on both sides.
The cabana we rented was on the adults-only side. For $150 - $200 per day, you can book a four-person or six-person cabana with comfortable seating, included champagne, your own private butler and an overwater deck and hammock.
I have to say, the day we spent was nothing short of amazing-both due to the privacy we gained with our own cabana and because the atmosphere was superb.
Since snorkeling masks are provided with the cabana, it's easy to snorkel directly from your deck. My husband and I saw hundreds of tropical fish that ranged in size from tiny to the size of a small dog.
Your butler is there to get anything you need. We ordered a few buckets of Miller Lite and some appetizers throughout the day with our butler making the long trip to deliver them every time. We even had some of our drinks delivered directly into the water, which was a pretty sweet as well!
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If you're staying at the Renaissance Aruba and want some rest and relaxation with your own private cabana and butler, the $150-$200 you spend could be well worth it. While it's not necessarily a "frugal" way to spend your vacation funds, the cabana experience can be a lot of fun.
Also, remember that you can book your stay at the hotel itself for free. Since Renaissance is part of the Marriott brand, you can book a free night at this property for just 35,000 Marriott Rewards points per night.
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