●○○○#17 of 19 things to do in Palm - Eagle Beach

Excelsior Casino Aruba

Name: Excelsior Casino Aruba
Rating: 2.8

★★½☆☆2.8 out of 5 · 321 reviews

nightlife

Age 18+

indoor

Photo: © Management via TripAdvisor

Excelsior Casino Aruba is a nightlife experience rated 2.8/5 by 321 TripAdvisor reviewers; lasts 2 hours; minimum age 18.

About

The Excelsior Casino sits inside the Holiday Inn on the mid-rise stretch of Palm Beach, which means it's convenient if you're already staying in the area. It's a modest floor — slot machines and a handful of table games, nothing sprawling. The 2.8 rating out of 321 reviews puts it near the bottom of casino options on the island, so expectations should stay low. Most visitors mention tired décor and a quiet atmosphere compared to bigger casinos like Stellaris or the Marriott's. If you're looking for serious action or a scene, you'll likely leave disappointed. But if you want to kill an hour or two without driving anywhere, it does the job. Entry is free, as it is at every casino on Aruba — they make their money at the tables and machines, not the door. Minimum bets skew budget-friendly. It's 18-plus, and the air conditioning works. That's about the sum of what consistently shows up in the feedback.

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At a glance

Category: nightlife
Duration: 2 hours
Price: $0
Minimum age: 18+
Intensity: ●○○○○
Setting: indoor
Booking partner: direct
Product ID: —

Photos

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Visiting in October?

You're visiting during shoulder season when crowds are moderate and construction is common at several resorts. Weather is warm and humid, with occasional rain showers, but beaches remain beautiful. October sees returning visitors enjoying quieter beaches and Eagle Beach's exceptional calm waters.

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More activities

Palm Pleasure Sailing and Snorkeling trips

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De Palm Tours

De Palm Tours runs a private beach club on the west coast near Oranjestad, and it's built around water activities — think slides, banana boats, snorkeling gear, and a roped-off swimming area. The #5 ranking among Oranjestad transportation reflects that this isn't just a shuttle service; most visitors book the half-day beach package that includes cabanas, towels, and food service. The back-to-back Travelers Choice awards suggest consistency, and the 4.8 rating across 26,000+ reviews backs that up. The setup skews family-friendly. Kids get underwater activities in shallow zones, parents get palapas with shade and beverage service. It's beach entertainment, not wilderness — no natural pools or cave hikes like the UTV tours that head into Arikok. Duration runs around four hours, which is enough for the slides and a meal without burning the whole day. Note that the flamingo interactions cost extra, and cabana rentals are mandatory with the package. If you want inland exploration, this isn't it. If you want a contained beach day with activities included, it does the job.

water

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RockaBeach Tours

RockaBeach Tours runs out of Oranjestad and consistently pulls top marks — #7 among all outdoor activities in the area, with back-to-back Travelers Choice awards and a 4.9 from nearly 10,000 reviews. That's not a fluke. The four-hour water tour format gives you enough time to move around the coast without burning a whole day, and the intensity level lands somewhere in the middle — expect some sun and activity, but it's not an expedition. The price sits around $75, which is competitive for a half-day boat experience in Aruba. Most routes hit snorkeling spots and coastal sights that bigger operators skip, and the crew tends to keep group sizes manageable. Direct booking is available, so you skip the markup. If you want a water day that's more structured than renting gear on your own but less anonymous than the cruise-ship charters, this is the window.

water

Our Jeeps are ready to take you on an adventure!

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Fofoti Tours & Transfers

Fofoti Tours & Transfers holds the #1 spot among Oranjestad outdoor activities, and the nearly 6,300 reviews at 4.9 stars back that up. This is a land-based tour — expect a four-hour ride through Aruba's rougher terrain at a moderate intensity level. The operation earned Travelers Choice for 2025, which tracks with the consensus that the guides know the island and handle groups well. Most tours in this format cover the national park side or interior desert stretches where rental sedans can't go. At around $75, it's priced in the middle of the island's UTV and safari offerings, which means it's not the budget slog but also not padded with upsells. The reviews suggest punctuality and vehicle condition are both solid. If you want off-road access without planning the logistics yourself, this is the reliable pick.

land

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Pairs well with

Fins & Feet Nature Tours

Fins & Feet runs boat-and-snorkel tours out of Noord, and the #2 ranking among Aruba's 200+ water sports operations says something about consistency. With 656 reviews holding a perfect rating and a 2025 Travelers Choice badge, they've clearly figured out the format. The tour lasts three hours, moderate intensity — expect some sun exposure and time in the water, but it's designed for mixed skill levels. Pricing sits at $75, which for Aruba snorkel outings is middle of the pack, and booking goes direct through them rather than a third-party platform. The north-side launch means you're likely hitting sites along the calm west coast — think Boca Catalina or the Antilla wreck — though specifics depend on conditions. If you want predictable quality and you're comfortable in open water, this is a safe bet.

Dirtlovers Atv Tours Aruba

Dirtlovers runs ATV tours out of Oranjestad, and the #8 ranking among outdoor activities tells you people come back pleased. A three-hour ride at intensity level 4 means you're actually working — this isn't a paved cruise. You'll cover backcountry terrain that rental sedans can't touch, likely hitting the north coast roughlands and inland trails where the vegetation thins out and the limestone shows through. The 5-out-of-5 average across nearly 600 reviews is unusual for an activity this physical, which suggests the guides know the routes and pace things so beginners don't panic while experienced riders still get their fix. Expect dust. The $100 price point is standard for guided ATV in Aruba, and direct booking keeps things simple. No stated age minimum, but check with them if you're bringing younger kids — the intensity rating implies this skews older.

Aruba Outdoor Adventures

Aruba Outdoor Adventures runs boat tours out of Balashi, just east of Oranjestad near the refinery ruins. The #3 ranking among water sports operators and back-to-back Travelers' Choice awards mean they're doing something consistently right—546 reviews at five stars is hard to fake. Most outings run three hours and lean active, so expect snorkeling stops, maybe some coastline exploration, not just a slow float. The price sits around $75, which is mid-range for guided water trips here. They handle bookings direct, which can make communication easier if weather shifts or you need to adjust a reservation. The location isn't fancy—it's industrial Balashi, not a resort dock—but that's also why they can move quickly and skip the high-rise crowd. If you want a boat trip that skips the upsell script and just gets you on the water, this is a solid pick.

Beaches nearby

Noord

Hadicurari Beach

Hadicurari sits between Palm Beach and Malmok on the northwest coast, where the hotel strip gives way to open sand and steady wind. Locals call it Fisherman's Huts — the low-rise pier and a handful of shacks are still here, though these days they mostly serve the windsurfers and kitesurfers who show up for the reliable cross-shore breeze. The #9 ranking in Noord reflects what it does well: space, fewer crowds than the high-rise beaches a quarter-mile south, and conditions that work whether you're on a board or just wading. The 4.3 rating holds across 68 reviews, which is decent for a beach that doesn't try to be everything. If you're not into wind sports, Hadicurari still works as a walk-and-watch spot — the kites are up most afternoons, and the water stays shallow for a long stretch. Parking is informal. Shade is limited. It's quieter than Palm Beach, busier than the wild northeastern coast.

Oranjestad

Governor's Bay Beach

Governor's Bay Beach sits along the waterfront boulevard in downtown Oranjestad, a quick walk from the cruise terminal and harbor shops. It's a small city beach — more local hangout than resort destination — with calm water and a narrow strip of sand backed by pavement and parking. The #35 ranking out of 61 attractions in Oranjestad puts it in the middle of the pack, and the 4.3 rating from a handful of reviews suggests it works fine for what it is: a convenient place to cool off if you're already in town. The appeal is access. No resort gatekeeping, no chairs-and-umbrellas upsell, just open waterfront. Families bring picnics, office workers stop by on lunch breaks, and cruise passengers sometimes duck in before boarding. The water is shallow and protected, though you're looking at the harbor and container ships rather than open horizon. If you're expecting powder-soft sand and turquoise perfection, head west to Eagle Beach. If you're in Oranjestad and want ten minutes in the water, this does the job.

Source: TripAdvisor · view on TripAdvisor →

Photos by individual contributors as credited above.

Review summaries are AI-paraphrased from public traveler reviews.