Inside The Westerly, Hilton Aruba’s New Luxury Tower

I’ve stayed at several upscale hotels in Aruba, but the personal service and incredible views from The Westerly at Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort made it one of my favorites. Private check-in and one of the warmest concierge teams I’ve encountered gave my stay the intimate feel of a boutique hotel with the amenities of a large resort.

Opened in May 2026, The Westerly is a 161-room luxury tower within the historic Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort and Casino on Palm Beach. Guests have access to the larger resort’s pools, restaurants and activities, plus perks such as complimentary use of the sauna and other wellness amenities at Eforea Spa. Cash rates start around $660 or 235,000 Hilton points per night. There are no standard rooms at The Westerly, so you won’t be able to use Hilton free night certificates for a stay.

For an additional fee, guests can access Terrace on 10, an adults-only rooftop club with meals, an open bar and sweeping Caribbean views.

I was invited to experience The Westerly during a three-night stay in September 2026. Although the hotel covered the cost of my room and food, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Location

The Westerly shares the Hilton Aruba Resort’s 15-acre beachfront property in Palm Beach’s high-rise hotel district. Dozens of restaurants, shops and nightlife venues are within walking distance.

The hotel is about a 15-minute drive from Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA). Rideshare services don’t operate in Aruba, and a taxi to the resort will cost $40. One of my favorite things about Aruba is the fixed prices for taxis across the island. Prices are set by the government, and you can look up the cost of a ride from one location to another at Taxi.aw.

If you rent a car, parking at the resort is included for registered hotel guests.

How to book The Westerly

Cash rates start around $660 per night for a garden-view room and $1,000 for a swim-up room. Oceanfront and swim-up suites start around $1,800. These rates include the $79 nightly resort fee, which is waived on stays booked entirely with Hilton Honors points.

Hilton doesn’t publish an award chart, and the number of points required for a free night varies but starts at 235,000 points per night. At that price, a comparable cash stay would need to cost $940 to match NerdWallet’s valuation of Hilton points at 0.4 cent each.

The Westerly’s rooms are currently categorized as Premium Room Rewards, making them ineligible for Hilton free night certificates, which require standard accommodations. If you want to stretch your points balance or use a free night certificate, check out the standard rooms at the Hilton Aruba Resort or the Embassy Suites Aruba Resort.

Rooms

The Westerly’s rooms and suites feature coastal colors, light wood accents and abundant natural light. The accommodations are larger, and the common areas feel brighter and more inviting than those in the resort’s other towers.

I stayed on the fourth floor in an oceanfront suite with a king bed. The room was massive, the bed was extremely comfortable and the bright colors and natural light were so inviting that I found myself not wanting to leave the room.

The views from the balcony were outstanding. It was such a peaceful place to watch the sunrise and get some work done.

All rooms feature a Lavazza coffee machine, a mini-bar and a wellness kit with a canvas bag and local Aruba Aloe products.

The Westerly also has the resort’s only swim-up rooms and suites, which are adults-only. They offer direct access to a shared pool, though choosing one means giving up the elevated views and greater privacy of an upper-floor balcony.

Terrace on 10

Guests at The Westerly can pay $150 per person per day for access to Terrace on 10, an adults-only rooftop club. The upgrade includes:

• A breakfast buffet with made-to-order omelets.

• Lunch from a rotating menu.

• An open bar and all-day coffee station.

• A sunset reception with entertainment and hors d’oeuvres.

The space features modern art, outdoor cabanas and lounge chairs overlooking Palm Beach and the Caribbean Sea. During my visits, it felt like a quiet retreat from the busier resort, with attentive service and few other guests.

I ate four meals at the club. While the breakfast selections were good and a step up from what you’ll find at Laguna (the resort’s breakfast spot), lunch was by far my favorite meal and included tomato carpaccio, spring rolls with peanut sauce, tuna crudo, roast beef sliders and a shrimp cocktail.  

The daily $150 per person fee is steep, but could make sense if you:

• Plan to wine and dine on-property for the duration of your stay.

• Want the best view I’ve found anywhere on Palm Beach.

• Crave a more exclusive, white-glove resort experience.

Restaurants and bars

The resort’s dining options include the renovated Sunset Grille steakhouse and Laguna breakfast restaurant, plus the new beachfront Shore Club.

Sunset Grille

Sunset Grille was my favorite dinner spot of the stay. The steakhouse offers indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the resort, and both the sea bass and scallops were excellent.

The tableside gin cart added a memorable touch: Staff brought it over and prepared our cocktails in front of us. The chocolate cake was another highlight — good enough that I returned for it a second time at the end of my stay.

Shore Club

Opened in 2026, Shore Club is a two-story, open-air restaurant and bar steps from Palm Beach. It’s accessible to both resort guests and the general public and serves craft tropical cocktails, sushi, ceviche and burgers.

The rooftop opens for dinner, with a DJ creating a lively setting for sunset drinks. I enjoyed the sushi and cocktails, but the staff made the strongest impression. Our server was personable and energetic, and the bartender spoke multiple times about how much he loved making cocktails.

Laguna

Laguna serves breakfast à la carte and from a buffet, with homemade pastries, fruit and made-to-order eggs and omelets.

Hilton Diamond members receive complimentary continental breakfast for up to two guests sharing a room, including fruit, pastries and cereal. During my stay, an upgrade to the full buffet and unlimited mimosas cost $14.

This was the one place where the resort felt crowded during my visit, as it’s the main breakfast spot at the resort. I enjoyed the breakfast burrito and the buffet’s fresh fruit, though the options and ambience at Terrace on 10 were superior.

Amenities and activities

Beach access

The Westerly offers direct access to Palm Beach, with white sand and calm water that make for great swimming. I spent each morning in the water and saw multiple turtles and lots of tropical fish. Restaurants, beach bars and water sports operators line the shore near the resort, putting plenty of activities within walking distance.

The resort offers lounge chairs beneath palapas (thatched shade structures), with food and drinks available to order from your seat. Beach seating can be reserved through The Westerly’s concierge or the resort’s online booking system (for an additional fee that varies based on demand).

Pools

Guests at The Westerly share two main pools with the rest of the Hilton Aruba Resort. Both had recently been resurfaced, and there was enough space to spread out so that neither felt overly crowded during my stay.

Eforea Spa

The Westerly’s guests receive complimentary access to amenities of the Eforea Spa throughout their stay, including the relaxation area, sauna, cold plunge pool and steam room. There are 10 treatment rooms for services including facials and individual and couples massages, a full-service salon and a spacious fitness center.

The Casino at Hilton Aruba

The property’s Las Vegas-style casino includes one of the island’s largest poker rooms, slot machines and table games including craps, roulette and blackjack. Guests at The Westerly receive a voucher for $25 of match play for both the tables and slot machines.

Activities center

There was no shortage of on-site activities throughout my stay, including a variety of fitness classes, yoga and morning paddleboarding in the Caribbean Sea. But my favorite was hanging out with the rescue birds at the property’s bird garden and sanctuary. There were around a dozen tropical birds, including macaws, parrots and a toucan. Staff open the sanctuary for visitors each afternoon, with an opportunity to feed and take photos with the birds.

Is The Westerly at Hilton Aruba worth it?

The Westerly is worth considering if you want personal service and modern accommodations with the amenities of a large beachfront resort. My oceanfront suite and the warm, attentive staff made it one of my favorite hotel stays in Aruba.

The main drawback is the price, as a room at The Westerly will cost a few hundred dollars more than one with a comparable view at the Hilton Aruba Resort. Guests in the Hilton’s other towers share many of the same facilities, so compare rates before paying more for The Westerly’s rooms and additional perks. High award prices also make it a less compelling choice for travelers trying to stretch their Hilton points.

Terrace on 10 adds excellent food, sweeping views and a quiet place to unwind, but it’s a separate splurge. Its value depends on how much of your vacation you plan to spend enjoying the club.