Noord●●●●#9 of 17 B&Bs / Inns in Noord

Merlot Villas Aruba

★★★★★5.0 out of 5 · 2 reviews

5★

Photo: © brookm787 via TripAdvisor

Merlot Villas Aruba is a 5-star resort in Noord with 100 rooms rated 5.0/5 by 2 TripAdvisor reviewers; typical rates from about $900 a night.

About

Merlot Villas sits in Noord, inland from the high-rise strip, and it's one of those small-scale operations that plays in a different category than the big resorts. Two reviews at a perfect five means the sample is tiny, but the #9 spot among Noord's B&Bs and the $$$$ price tier suggest private villas with full kitchens and space to spread out. You're trading beachfront access for room to breathe — Noord puts you close enough to Palm Beach and Eagle Beach without the foot traffic. The villa format works if you're staying longer or traveling with family and don't need daily housekeeping or a lobby bar. Four dollar signs at this property type usually means upscale finishes and amenities, though you'll want to confirm what's included. Noord is quiet at night, and you're a short drive from groceries and restaurants if you plan to cook.

At a glance

Area: Noord
Star rating: ★★★★★
Typical nightly: $900
Beach access: shuttle
Kid-friendly: ●●●○○
Party score: ●●●○○
Walkability: ●●○○○
Rooms: 100
Casino: –
Swim-up: –
Kids' club: –
All inclusive: –
Vibe: luxury
intimate
boutique

Sargassum: rarely

Shuttle to leeward Palm/Eagle beaches; Aruba's west coast rarely affected by sargassum even in season.

Photos

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Similar resorts

"The apartments are located in a quiet ,safe center part of the island within a 12 minute drive to everything.
We Love, Love,Love !! this place. We will return again and again."

Noord●●●○© Management via TripAdvisor

Aruba Boutique Apartments - Adults Only

Aruba Boutique Apartments sits in Noord, a short drive inland from the high-rise strip at Palm Beach. The adults-only policy keeps things calm, and the #1 ranking among Noord specialty lodging tracks with those perfect 5.0s in sleep quality and value — guests aren't paying resort prices but they're getting apartment-style space and kitchen setups that make longer stays easier. Back-to-back Travelers Choice awards in 2025 and 2026 point to consistency. The subratings are tight across the board: 4.9 for rooms and cleanliness, 4.8 for location (inland means quieter but you'll want a car), and 4.9 for service. The 170 reviews suggest steady traffic from people who wanted something off the beach but still polished. If you're looking for a pool bar and nightly entertainment, this isn't it. If you want a clean apartment with good AC and helpful hosts in a residential part of Noord, it does what it says.

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Aruba Palms Escape Suites

Aruba Palms Escape Suites is in Noord, a few blocks inland from the high-rise strip, which keeps it quieter without putting you far from the beaches. The #3 ranking among Noord's specialty lodging tracks with what the numbers say: service and cleanliness both hit 4.8, and rooms score 4.7. That combination doesn't happen by accident at the mid-to-upper price tier. The sleep quality and value subratings suggest they're doing more than the basics — likely full kitchens, separate living areas, the kind of setup that matters if you're staying more than a few nights. The location score sits at 4.2, which is fair for Noord: you're not on the sand, but you're close to both Palm Beach and the restaurants along the main road. Service consistently shows up as the standout here. If you want a small property that runs tight and doesn't feel like a chain, this one delivers.

family

Noord●●●○© Management via TripAdvisor

Sasaki Apartments

Sasaki Apartments sits in Noord, away from the high-rise strip, with a shuttle to get you to the beach. The #7 ranking among Noord specialty lodging reflects what the subratings show: solid cleanliness (4.6), strong value and location marks, and consistent service. It's a 4.5-star property with around 100 rooms, and the vibe leans quiet and family-friendly without being a resort complex—no casino, no kids' club, no swim-up bars. The party score is low, which is the appeal if you want space to settle in rather than poolside DJs. The price sits at mid-range for Aruba, and guests seem to appreciate what they get for it. Walkability is limited, so plan on renting a car or using the shuttle. It's not all-inclusive, so you're on your own for meals, but that opens up the island. If you're after a calm base with apartment-style space and don't need to be on the sand, this works.

family

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Restaurants nearby

Palm Beach

Gianni's Ristorante Italiano

Gianni's sits on the hotel strip in Palm Beach, an upscale Italian spot serving Neapolitan and Sicilian dishes. The #22 ranking among 155 Palm Beach restaurants puts it solidly mid-pack, and the ratings reflect that: 4.4 for food, 4.5 for atmosphere, 4.0 for value. It's a convenient walk from the high-rise hotels, takes reservations, and handles families without fuss. The upside is accessibility — if you're staying on Palm Beach and want Italian without getting in a car, it's there. The trade-off is that you're paying upper-mid pricing for food that doesn't always land as authentic. The atmosphere scores higher than the cooking, which tells you something about the experience. If you're traveling with kids who eat pasta and you need outdoor seating near your hotel, it works. If you're chasing the best Italian on the island or want your money to stretch further, you'll find stronger options in Savaneta or Eagle Beach.

Eagle Beach

Madame Janette

Madame Janette sits just inland from Eagle Beach on Cunucu Abao, and it's been a fixture in Aruba's upscale dining scene for years. The #33 ranking among Palm-Eagle Beach restaurants tells part of the story — the 4.5 food rating and 4.4 atmosphere score show it still has defenders, but the 4.1 value rating and volume of feedback suggest the experience doesn't always land. Travelers consistently mention two things: no air conditioning in a tropical climate, and bugs. The outdoor setting is part of the concept, but humidity and insects are real factors if you're sensitive to either. The international menu aims for special-occasion polish, and the restaurant handles large groups, which matters if you're planning a celebration dinner and need a guaranteed table. But standards have slipped enough that regulars now point to Passions On The Beach for romance on the sand or Barefoot for more consistent upscale cooking. Reservations required. Expect top-tier prices.

Eagle Beach

Passions On The Beach

Passions sits right on Eagle Beach, tables in the sand, waves at your feet. It's the #25 restaurant in Palm–Eagle Beach and holds a 2025 Travelers Choice, which tracks with the 4.9 atmosphere rating — sunset here is the main event. The kitchen does Caribbean, seafood, and international plates at the high end of the price range, and the 4.5 food score suggests they mostly deliver. Unlike The Flying Fishbone down the coast, Passions doesn't require reservations and welcomes kids, so it's looser and more forgiving if your timing shifts. Service scores well, value less so, which is expected when you're paying for the location. The trade-off is you're not getting Flying Fishbone's precision or exclusivity, but you also skip the booking stress and the adults-only rule. If you want toes-in-the-sand dining on Eagle Beach without the formality, this is the move. Arrive before sunset if the table matters.

Beaches nearby

Palm Beach

Palm Beach runs along the high-rise hotel strip on the northwest coast, and the location is the whole selling point. You're steps from restaurants, bars, and nightlife — Bugaloé Pier alone has rentals, food, and drinks without leaving the sand. The beach ranks #7 among Palm–Eagle Beach attractions and pulls a Travelers Choice Best of the Best nod, so the crowds show up. That means limited towel space and a lively atmosphere that skews resort-entertainment rather than quiet escape. The tradeoff: water quality takes a hit from watersport boat traffic. Reviewers flag visible fuel and oil in the shallows, and the ocean floor can look murky. If snorkeling or pristine swimming matters, Baby Beach or Eagle Beach will serve you better. Palm Beach makes sense if you want convenience — walk off the sand to dinner, catch July 4th fireworks from the high-rises, or grab a cocktail without moving your car. The wind stays calmer here than on other parts of the island, which helps for floating but doesn't fix the boat residue.

Noord

Malmok Beach

Malmok Beach sits on the northern tip of the island past the high-rise strip, and most people drive right by it on the way to the California Lighthouse. The #6 ranking among Palm-Eagle Beach attractions comes entirely from what's underwater — this is a snorkeling beach, not a lounging beach. The rocky shelf drops into calm water where several small wrecks sit close to shore, and the fish density is noticeably higher than anything you'll see off Eagle or Palm Beach. The entry requires water shoes; the sand quality doesn't compete with Eagle Beach a few miles south. There are no chair rentals, no shade structures, no beach bar. You park on the shoulder, walk over the rocks, and swim out. If you're renting a car and you care more about seeing parrotfish and sergeant majors than having a perfect sand day, Malmok delivers something the resort beaches can't. Baby Beach on the southern end offers easier wading and comparable marine life if the rocky bottom here is a problem.

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Review summaries are AI-paraphrased from public traveler reviews.