Aruba’s oldest hotel gets a $30 million makeover

Aruba’s oldest hotel, the award-winning Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa, has now completed an extensive, US$30 million renovation of its three towers. Built in the 1950s, Radisson Aruba was the very first high-rise hotel to open on the island. The renovation took nearly two years and included refurbishing all 355 guest rooms and suites of the resort, as well as its open-air lobby and reception area, meeting facilities and casino. Capitalising on its distinctive design, originally masterminded by the renowned Neo-baroque architect Morris Lapidus, Radisson’s new furniture, fixtures and facing aim to recapture the retro period from its inception. All rooms have a brand new look with new furnishings and amenities including luxury EverNu mattresses, 42-inch plasma TVs, climate control and new bedding and linen. The hotel’s trademark Colonial West Indian four-poster, mahogany beds were also upgraded, serving as inviting centrepieces for each room and suite, with tropical-inspired art adorning the freshly painted walls. The flagship Sunset Grille restaurant has also had an overhaul with a fresh colour scheme and furnishings. Guests can also enjoy a brand new look to the open-air Mira Solo Martini Bar, a modern, chic space that overlooks the cascading waterfall, where you can listen to the live entertainment or sample one of the 52 varieties of Martini. Set on 15 acres with 1,500 feet of white sand beachfront, Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa is located on the island’s most famous strip, the idyllic Palm Beach, which was voted last year as No3 ‘Best beach in the world’ by TripAdvisor’s users, the world’s largest travel review site. The resort is renowned for its lush, tropical landscaping, which has been given a freshenup along with an expanded interactive aviary programme that allows guests to visit nine tropical birds living on-site (including Macaws, a Sulfur-Crested Cockatoo, African Grey Parrots, a Cuban Amazon Parrot and a Brazilian Toucan).