Gay Friendly Hotels Aruba

Guide to Gay Friendly Hotels in Aruba

Aruba’s a great destination for LGBT vacations because of the Aruban people’s cosmopolitan worldview; which is somewhat unique among the Caribbean islands and we will find plenty of gay friendly hotels Aruba.

Aruba is frequently referred to as one of the Caribbean’s most LGBT-friendly islands, with various venues, hotels and restaurants catering to LGBT clientele or otherwise advertising as “LGBT-friendly”. Several specific gay bars and clubs have opened in the capital city of Oranjestad.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Aruba, which is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity are legal in Aruba, but same-sex marriage is not legal. Same-sex couples with Dutch nationality must travel to the Netherlands or its special municipalities to get married and the legal protection of marriage is not unconditional. Since October 2016, registered partnerships have been available to both opposite-sex and same-sex couples.

Aruba is an island and a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the mid-south of the Caribbean Sea, about 29 kilometres north of the Venezuelan peninsula of Paraguaná and 80 kilometres northwest of Curaçao.

 Top attractions to visit in Aruba

 

 Best  Day Tours in Aruba

See all tours in Aruba on GetYourGuide.

 

 1. Bucuti & Tara Boutique Beach Resort – Adult Only 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Aruba

Bucuti & Tara Boutique Beach Resort
Bucuti & Tara Boutique Beach Resort

Set on the white sands of Eagle Beach, this adults-only (18+) boutique resort features an ocean-front restaurant with spectacular views and healthy dining options. Free breakfast and free WiFi are provided.

The rooms and suites at Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort Aruba offer style and comfort, with cable TV, air dehumidifiers, a microwave and a fridge.

The SandBar has a happy hour every evening, twice a week there is a free Movie Night on the beach, and Carte Blanche restaurant boasts gourmet-style cuisine at a chef’s table.

Romantic dining on the beach in a private palapa can be reserved. An air-conditioned fitness center has a beautiful view of the courtyard garden and nearby beach.

This adults-only, romance and wellness resort, located on Aruba’s spacious and beautiful Eagle Beach, is award-winning and owner-operated. The 4-star and 4-diamond resort receives high satisfaction ratings and recognition that includes #1 Hotel for Romance in the Caribbean 2017, Top 3 Beach Destinations in the World, Conde Nast Gold List, and Green Globe High Achievement Award. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort is eco-friendly and offers a tranquil boutique experience with friendly service. The intimate atmosphere is exclusive and relaxing to couples seeking tranquility and romantic experiences. No groups and no all-inclusive packages available. Two top restaurants available on property and romantic beach dining. Breakfast is free daily.

This area is considered the ‘low rise‘ area because there are no huge high rise hotels and so it’s considerably less crowded and things feel more open without a large hotel towering over you.

There is no casino inside B&T but there is a casino that is only a 5min walk away and a small shopping plaza. Also, the best coffee on the island can be found at Santos which is across from the shopping plaza.

Hotel food is usually ok, but I can honestly the quality of the B&T food was amazing and we ordered certain items over and over again during our stay because they were so good. Unlike other hotels B&T does not add an automatic 15% service charge on your bill and instead leave it to you to tip however you like. I really appreciated that and was happy to tip more for the great service.

Eagle Beach is phenomenal. Unlike Palm Beach where everyone is very packed in close, the beach at Bucuti is huge and the umbrella/lounger area is incredibly spaced out so you do not feel like people are sitting on top of you. Also, the loungers are padded and very comfortable and not the cheap patio furniture you get at some of the Palm Beach hotels. Each lounger has a red flag system attached so you can get beach service. The hotel wifi works great on the beach.

Bucuti’s location at the end of the Eagle beach is excellent. At first, I thought the beach would be too wide, but it was great – the ambiance and the view were fantastic. Now I feel that Palm Beach, where the high-rises are, is even a bit too narrow – we must just be spoiled by Bucuti’s beach. The water at Palm beach is quieter, but the waves at Eagle beach make the beach look more natural. As expected in Aruba, the water is clear, no rocks, no seaweed, just paradise.

The resort is built and is operated with a focus on just one thing – exceeding expectations of each guest. They had several higher-end rooms unbooked at the time of our stay, and they have upgraded us, and whomever they could, just because they wanted us to have the best stay. Of course, next time I don’t expect the same treatment (This resort is always booked up in regular times), but I appreciated it now. The Deluxe room is already really nice! Next time, I’ll ask for a room on the ground floor – you can come out from your patio as the door locks automatically. This is convenient and gives easy access to the beach!

Everything during our stay at Bucuti was fantastic. We have met people there that go back year after year, and I am not surprised. The staff is excellent! Thank you, guys, for all the great attention and kindness.

The rooms are really nicely set up, and the bed… well, high-quality Tempurpedic, was the most comfortable of any hotel I stayed at, and I am really picky when it comes to mattresses! The A/C worked really well, and there is no mildew smell whatsoever – they made a genius decision to install air purifiers in every room, and it keeps the air fresh.

The resort is quite romantic. There were many young (20’s & 30’s) couples at Bucuti, and I was a bit surprised – the ages of the guest were diverse, which created a pleasant atmosphere. We witness at least three proposals. Twice a week, they have outdoor movie nights – those were lovely and became highly anticipated by us. Such a great idea!

Gay Friendly Hotels Aruba
Gay Friendly Hotels Aruba

Honestly, there is not a single negative thing I can say about the resort. We cannot wait to go back, and we will now only stay at Bucuti. If you are considering staying here, don’t hesitate, you won’t regret it.

The beach experience is heavenly. Warm clear water. The service is outstanding. No rushing for chairs in the morning. Every detail is looked after. There is a culture of continuous improvement. It is high quality but not stuffy. Everyone is relaxed, cheerful, and makes you feel welcome. We are a gay couple and feel totally comfortable. It is low key and perfect for an adult holiday.

Rooms are well designed. Bucuti is close to anything you want to do and the concierge can arrange anything. We loved our massage on the beach and happy hours (afternoon and late night) at the beach bar catching up with friends.

RESORT – Relaxing! It had the intimate and boutique feel to me but with everything that one could possibly need. To name a few: there are 2 restaurants, a fun outdoor bar (I loved the parrot!), a well equipped fitness facility, spa and swimming pool. The food at Elements was top notch and we took advantage of a few happy hours. For those looking for a bit more action, a casino and small outdoor shopping mall were just a stroll away (fyi for gamblers – the craps table does not open until 7pm). Also for more variety, the restaurants at Manchebo were just a minute walk away. But Bucuti is where it’s at and where we wanted to always be! We loved it so much here that we stayed an additional night – we got VERY lucky because the hotel was at 100% occupancy, I felt like i won a prize.

ROOM – We were in a lower category room (Superior? facing the courtyard) on the ground floor for 5 nights and it had everything that we needed. The bed was so comfortable – I have never slept so good. It was so quiet – we never heard our neighbors next door or above! The room also came equipped with fridge, microwave, coffee maker and a large TV w/cable. We did have to switch rooms for that last night (again, hotel was 100% full) and I couldn’t believe how easy they made it. It took no effort on our part, it was almost like it didn’t happen. And we were SO happy about it as at that point, we could not imagine staying anywhere else.

GUESTS – The clientele at the resort is what I expected – mostly (but not all!) 35 years and older couples. I’m guessing mostly straight but I think there were at least 2 gay couples. At the beach, it appeared that most guests kept to themselves whereas at the Sand Bar, it was a bit more livelier. I absolutely loved this balance and the guests that I encountered were friendly and appeared appreciative of how awesome this place and staff were. I never encountered or observed an obnoxious guest here which was so refreshing (since it has happened many times at other resorts). You can tell that most are repeat guests and for good reason!

Gay Friendly Hotels Aruba
Gay Friendly Hotels Aruba

How much does a room costs at Bucuti & Tara Boutique Beach Resort ?

Prices start 650 $/night for Standard Double Room, King bed. The Tara Suite – Oceanfront with King Bed is  850$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples. double room features air conditioning.

This double room has a balcony or patio, microwave, mini fridge and minibar. Bed configurations to be confirmed upon check in depending on availability. It can either have one king-size bed or 2 XL Twin beds. Max occupancy: 2 guests.

Where to book onlineBucuti & Tara Boutique Beach Resort – Adult Only – Gay Friendly Hotels Aruba you can find the best hotels deals in Aruba during Aruba Soul Beach Music Festival  which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Aruba on Booking.com  or  Expedia.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

2. Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa 5* – LGBT Friendly Hotels Aruba

Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa
Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa

Ideally situated on Manchebo Beach along the Caribbean Sea, this Aruba luxury resort boasts an outdoor spa, 3 restaurants with live entertainment and spacious rooms with a private balcony and it’s gay friendly hotels Aruba.

The elegant rooms at Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa are styled with Caribbean colors and dark wood furniture. Each is equipped with a microwave and refrigerator. A 32-inch LCD TV, iPod docking station and free WiFi are also included.

Spa del Sol has a steam room and massages and nail services are offered in the tropical outdoor gazebos. Guests can also relax by the outdoor pool or workout in the gym.

Manchebo Beach Resort offers concierge services as well as on-site car rental. Multiple beach cabanas including lounge chairs and towels are available. This property is a yoga retreat destination.

The ultimate Caribbean vacation experience begins at our intimate, 2-story boutique resort located on the shores of majestic Eagle Beach, an ideal place for romantic and rejuvenating getaways. The Deluxe Ocean and Deluxe Garden View Rooms offer attention to details and amenities, including spa-like bathrooms offering a rain/waterfall shower. The wellness experience includes a beach-side exotic Caribbean-Balinese style spa offering a variety of massages, body treatments as well as yoga & Pilates classes and fitness room. Optional premium fully a-la-carte all-inclusive program available featuring Ike’s Bistro, The Chophouse and Omakase Sushi Bar.Among one of our most relaxing vacations.

From the staff constantly cleaning to the friendly front desk and every detail in between this has been one of the best hidden gems I’ve ever found. Perfect beach, gorgeous pool, food was good and drinks great. Traveling as a gay couple we were welcomed like anyone else and had a superb experience. Jason and Dyanell at Ike’s, as well as Libya and Fabian, Ronnie and Jip at Pega Pega and Seibel at Chophouse were standouts. Tamara knew our names and room number by day 2 and everyone made sure the trip was relaxing. Many guests had been here time and time again and I can certainly see why and we will definitely be back. Skip the hectic high rises, the beach and staff here are incredible and will make the trip worth it every time.

From our warm welcome upon arriving, to our sweet departure, (thanks for the snack bag! Did not see that coming!), we felt extremely well taken care of by the AMAZING staff at Manchebo Resort & Spa.
This is a true “wellness” resort with two gorgeous open air yoga/exercise studios located right on the beach (there is also a very nicely equipped gym). Many different opportunities to catch a class throughout the day, or simply utilize the spaces on your own schedule, for your personal routine. Our room (Deluxe Ocean View) opened up directly on the beach, which happens to be much much wider than any other properties that we passed on our shore walks. The beach chairs/lounges/umbrellas are set up so that even when most of the guests are on the beach, you are never actually close enough to anyone else that you hear their conversations or feel crowded. There is a super friendly guy, Josuel, who immediately approaches you to assist in your set-up.

Gay Friendly Hotels Aruba
Gay Friendly Hotels Aruba

And the food! While we are not actually Vegans, we were tempted to try some of the multiple vegan dishes available, in every venue for every meal, just because they sounded simply delicious; and they were. There are four different restaurants and the whole place just seems spread out and feels intimate despite being completely sold-out at the time of our visit.

Whether your intention is to have a healthy, clean food, yoga filled holiday, or a classic frozen drink/hamburgers/slothing around holiday, you will find the vacation you want at Manchebo.
It exceeded each and every one of our expectations, and we would not even consider trying another resort for our next visit. Beautiful sincerely caring staff, gorgeous swimming and fine dining. Highly recommend! And, as a gay couple, we were treated NOT with “tolerance”, but with an open acceptance of who we are, completely respected and welcomed by all involved. I feel it is important to point this out, as not every place is truly welcoming if you happen to live a life outside of the mainstream.

I’d like to mention how Aruba, and Manchebo, were welcoming and friendly to us as a gay couple. We stayed at Manchebo in Feb 2013 and returned again Feb 2015. Manchebo and Bucuti & Tara (next door) are both listed on IGLTA.org. Aruba (and Curacao) are also known to be the most gay friendly islands in the Caribbean, and rightfully so in our opinion. We were treated with the same courtesy, respect and friendliness the people of Aruba and staff at Manchebo extend to all their guests.

What also personally suited us was the mostly adult crowd at Manchebo (and Bucuti & Tara), a high number of friendly European tourists with us, and other gay couples at nearby hotels and timeshares. A note: we would have considered staying at Bucuti & Tara as well, however it is booked very far in advance, costs more, and one of their large buildings is set well back so that their rooms face the back of Manchebo and parking lots. The Manchebo ocean view rooms are truly looking at palm trees, sand beach and the ocean.

Gay Friendly Hotels Aruba
Gay Friendly Hotels Aruba

How much does a room costs at Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa ?

Prices start 370 $/night for Deluxe Double Room with Garden View. The Deluxe Double Room with Ocean View is  470$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples. double room features air conditioning.

Boasting views of the pristine beach and the glittering blue sea from the private balcony, this cosy room is complete with a seating area, a flat-screen cable TV and a tea/coffee maker. Its en suite bathroom is supplied with a shower, a hairdryer and free toiletries.

Where to book onlineManchebo Beach Resort and Spa – Gay Friendly Hotels Aruba you can find the best hotels deals in Aruba during Aruba Soul Beach Music Festival  which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Aruba on Booking.com  or  Expedia.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

3. Talk of the Town Hotel & Beach Club 3* – LGBT Friendly Hotels Aruba

Talk of the Town Beach Hotel & Beach Club
Talk of the Town Beach Hotel & Beach Club

This Aruba hotel features rooms with microwaves and refrigerators. The hotel is one kilometer from the Queen Beatrix International Airport and offers an outdoor pool and free WiFi in all areas.

A cable TV and a private bathroom are standard to all rooms at the Talk of the Town & Beach Club by GH Hoteles. The rooms feature tropical décor and large airy windows.

Guests at the Talk of the Town can dine at the pool-side restaurant, which is open all day or get a drink at the lobby bar.

The hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Oranjestad, which features shopping and dining. The hotel is within a 10-minute drive of the Caribbean Sea.

The Talk of the Town is a very special, charming and intimate place with a rich history and is Aruba’s oldest operating hotel. The Talk of the Town has enjoyed a tradition of hospitality and casual atmosphere and holds many fond memories for its many guests over the years. We invite each of our guests to relax and enjoy their stay and encourage everyone to take the opportunity to explore Aruba and all Aruba has to offer.

There is so much to see and do, not to mention all the great restaurants and fun places to eat and drink. Enjoy with style all the benefits and relax of the happy island with the best location in this inviting and vibrant boutique hotel distinguished by its Caribbean lounge atmosphere.

Aruba is a great sun destination…it’s less likely to get hit by hurricanes than other Caribbean destinations, and there are many large high-rise resorts on the island. Many of these are all-inclusive and tend to be pricey.

We were looking for a decent place to stay, without breaking the bank. We had stayed here two years ago and thought it was just right for our needs and budget then, so we booked it again for this trip.

The good: the staff is very friendly and responsive. The hotel is clean and easy to get to as it is near the airport. (We rented a car so transportation was not an issue.) Food is served at a dining area off the pool area and we liked the quality of the food. They do offer a breakfast, either with the room, or separately at $15 per person, which we thought was high considering the limited selection of food.

Wi-fi service worked well. Cable TV service had many channels including U.S. networks. Digital alarm clock had USB and extra electric outlets built in.

Because the hotel is not as fancy as more expensive options, some things were lacking: no tissues or washcloths in the bathroom, shower control took awhile to figure out (the “warm” setting was hotter than the “hot” setting), furniture showed wear and age.

Refrigerator wasn’t cooling properly, and was promptly replaced. TV picture didn’t fill the screen, but after 30 minutes of adjusting with the other-brand remote control, I got that corrected. Air conditioner not easy to control, the thermostat is next to the air conditioner itself, high on the wall and you have to stand on a chair to adjust it. The controls are not very intuitive either. The two hot tubs didn’t get hot when turned on, and the water jets didn’t work well. One of the hot tubs was very noisy, sounded like it needed some repairs.

Our standard room had two double beds and would have otherwise been fine, but it was on the main street side of the building, and weekends there are bars across the street that play loud music past midnight and there is lots of car racing going on, or so it sounds.Unless you plan to join the party, you may want to grab a room further away from all the noise. The staff was helpful and relocated us to a quieter room.

Overall, we like Talk of the Town, and would stay there again. It’s a nice place to stay at a reasonable price.

This is a very cozy hotel. Some rates include a hot breakfast which is sufficient but nothing fancy. Scrambled eggs, potato, sausage or bacon daily. Yogurt, fruit, cheese, cereal, tea, coffee, juices. It was a nice start to the day since food is a little bit expensive in Aruba.
Our standard room had 2 queen beds, micro, and fridge.

There is one continuous balcony in front of the rooms. The beach is a short walk across one road. The hotel gives you vouchers for lounge chairs to use on the beach that is near a restaurant/bar. Happy hour was good. It’s a great calm beach to watch the sunset. Gorgeous.

The staff is very nice and helped us book a quad runner/atv tour which was amazing and so much fun!!!
The hotel is not far from the busier hotel/tourist area. It was about a 10-15 min very safe walk.
There are also green bikes that you can rent to ride all on the many bike paths. They are located across the street from the hotel. Can’t wait to go back to Aruba.

 

How much does a room costs at Talk of the Town Beach Hotel & Beach ?

Prices start 145 $/night for Standard Double Room. The One-Bedroom Suite is  430$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples. double room features air conditioning.

This apartment features a separate living room and kitchenette.

Where to book onlineTalk of the Town Beach Hotel & Beach – Gay Friendly Hotels Aruba you can find the best hotels deals in Aruba during Aruba Soul Beach Music Festival  which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Aruba on Booking.com  or  Expedia.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

by Sorin

Sorin is a freelance travel writer. He is an experienced travel writer and traveller. Since 2012 he explored more than 60 countries on 4 continents: Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. Currently is based in Romania after spending the last 7 years in Myanmar.