Savaneta●○○○#4 of 5 B&Bs / Inns in Savaneta

Driftwood Gardens

★★★★★5.0 out of 5 · 6 reviews

5★

Photo: © TLB0707 via TripAdvisor

Driftwood Gardens is a 5-star resort in Savaneta with 100 rooms rated 5.0/5 by 6 TripAdvisor reviewers; typical rates from about $200 a night.

About

Driftwood Gardens is a small B&B in Savaneta, the fishing village on Aruba's quieter south coast. It ranks #4 among the five inns in the area, but the subratings tell a different story—perfect scores for rooms, cleanliness, and value, with service close behind. Six reviews isn't a massive sample, but when everyone agrees on 5/5 overall, that consistency means something. The price level is budget-tier, which checks out at around $200 a night for what's listed as a hundred-room property (likely a data quirk—Savaneta B&Bs tend to be much smaller). No beach out front, but they run a shuttle. No casino, no swim-up bar, no kids' club—this isn't a resort complex. The vibe is intimate and quaint, the kind of place where you're staying in a neighborhood instead of a tourist corridor. Walkability is limited, so plan on a rental car or being comfortable with taxis.

At a glance

Area: Savaneta
Star rating: ★★★★★
Typical nightly: $200
Beach access: shuttle
Kid-friendly: ●●●○○
Party score: ●●○○○
Walkability: ●●○○○
Rooms: 100
Casino: –
Swim-up: –
Kids' club: –
All inclusive: –
Vibe: budget
quaint
intimate

Sargassum: seasonal (May–Oct)

South-coast location; occasional seasonal sargassum May–October, though Savaneta sees less than windward beaches.

Photos

Aruba Bob's snorkel tours are part of the property

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Similar resorts

Savaneta●●○○© Cityman63 via TripAdvisor

Casa Chiquito

Casa Chiquito is a small lodging operation in Pos Chiquito, the residential stretch just north of Savaneta's fishing village. With only eight reviews, it's not widely tracked, but those scores are all perfect fives—sleep quality, rooms, service, value, cleanliness. That kind of sweep usually means someone is running a tight ship at small scale. The mid-range price tier puts it below the resorts but above the budget crash pads, which makes sense for Savaneta. You're on the quieter southern coast here, a ten-minute drive from the airport, away from the Palm Beach cluster. Zeerovers and the local pier are close if you want to eat where the locals do. It ranks fourth out of four specialty lodgings in Savaneta, but that's more about sample size than quality—there just aren't many options in this category down here. If you want something low-key and the subratings matter more to you than review volume, it's worth a look.

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Magical Garden

Magical Garden is a small inn on the quiet south coast in Savaneta, a fishing village well removed from the high-rise hotel zone. It ranks #3 among B&Bs in the area, which matters less than the subratings: guests give location, service, and value all perfect scores. That consistency at the budget price tier suggests someone is paying close attention to the details. The overall 4.7 rating comes from only three reviews, so the sample is thin, but what's there points to a clean, well-run spot where you're not paying for amenities you won't use. Savaneta itself is the draw here — it's where locals still fish, where the restaurants are shacks with plastic chairs, and where you're more likely to hear Papiamento than English. If you want proximity to the beach without the Palm Beach crowds, this is the part of the island to consider.

intimate

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EVA Resort Aruba

EVA Resort sits on the quieter south coast in Savaneta, away from the high-rise strip. It's a small property — #2 among B&Bs and inns in the area — but the 40 reviews land it at a perfect 5.0, with service and cleanliness both maxed out. That's the kind of consistency you get when a place is small enough to actually care. The subratings tell the story: location, sleep quality, and rooms all sit at 4.9, with service hitting perfect marks. Value comes in at 4.9 too, which suggests you're paying for the attention and not inflated resort fees. Savaneta itself is a fishing village with a few local spots and easy access to the less-trampled beaches on this side of the island. If you want something intimate and well-run without the Palm Beach scene, this is the direction to look. Just know it's small-scale by design — don't expect a sprawling pool complex or nightly entertainment.

Adults only

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Restaurants nearby

Savaneta

The Flying Fishbone

The Flying Fishbone is on the beach in Savaneta, and the setup is adults-only French-Caribbean fusion with tables literally in the water at high tide. That #2 ranking among Savaneta restaurants comes with the second-highest review count in the area, and the 4.9 atmosphere score reflects the whole point of coming here — it's romantic in a way that feels less engineered than the high-rise strip options. The food is seafood-forward, competently done, though the 4.3 value score tells you what you need to know: people debate whether the setting justifies the tier-4 pricing. Service scores well, the French influence shows up in the preparations, and the Caribbean ingredients keep it from feeling like imported fine dining. Reservations are required. If you're booking sunset, know that earlier seatings before 7pm can mean harsh direct light — the magic hour matters here more than at indoor spots.

Savaneta

Zeerovers

Zeerovers is a fisherman's shack on the water in Savaneta, and it's about as straightforward as eating gets. You order fried fish by the pound from whatever came off the boat that morning, grab a picnic table on the pier, and eat. The 4.6 value rating makes sense — prices are low, portions are generous, and the seafood is fresh because the boats are right there. The #4 ranking in Savaneta and the 2025 Travelers' Choice award reflect consistent execution more than anything fancy. The atmosphere is open-air Caribbean casual, which means plastic chairs, ceiling fans, and pelicans circling overhead. Service is quick once your order's up, though weekends can stretch the wait. Families do fine here — it's loud, relaxed, and kids can watch the fishing boats come in. Bring cash if you can. The line moves, but it moves at island speed. If you want tablecloths or a wine list, this isn't it. If you want good fried fish without the markup, it is.

Savaneta

Battata Beach Bar & Food

Battata sits right on Cura Cabay Beach in Savaneta, the kind of spot where your table is practically on the sand. It's the top-ranked place to eat in town, and that 4.9 rating across atmosphere, service, value, and a 4.8 on food backs it up—486 reviews and a 2025 Travelers Choice award mean it's doing something consistently right. The menu runs seafood, steaks, and Caribbean plates, leaning into whatever plays well with beachfront dining. Pricing lands mid-range, and it's kid-friendly without making a big deal about it. The subratings tell you what matters: people come for the setting and stay because the execution holds. Service is attentive without hovering. No reservation required, which is rare for a place this popular. If you're staying south or visiting nearby spots like Zeerovers, it's worth the stop—especially late afternoon when the light hits the water and the kitchen is fully warmed up.

Beaches nearby

Savaneta

Mangel Halto Beach

Mangel Halto sits on the southeast coast near Savaneta, away from the resort strips. The #2 ranking among things to do in Savaneta lines up with what you get: calm inner reef waters and natural tree shade right at the waterline, which matters when the sun is overhead. No facilities, no rentals, no food trucks—just park and walk in. The snorkeling here works because of the protected reef. The water stays calm, and you're in quickly without wading through shallow flats. It's not Baby Beach's channel-level marine life, but it's enough if you're looking for reef fish without the crowds that pack Palm Beach. The tree cover is the real differentiator—Eagle Beach has better sand, but you're baking unless you're under a palapa you paid for. Bring what you need. Cash for parking. Water. Snorkel gear if you have it. The quiet is the point.

Source: TripAdvisor · view on TripAdvisor →

Photos by individual contributors as credited above.

Review summaries are AI-paraphrased from public traveler reviews.