Talk of the Town Hotel & Beach Club

Description:

• Between the airport and downtown Oranjestad, this unassuming hotel is Aruba's oldest operating resort. It books mostly Europeans, especially 20-somethings, and Dutch families. An outdoor restaurant and bar border one side of the good-size pool and deck area; palms and rooms line the other three sides. Parallel to a busy road, the standard rooms are the least desirable except during Carnival, when they offer prime parade views. The nicer and quieter superior rooms face the pool, are tropically decorated, and feature a refrigerator, microwave, and coffeemaker. All rooms have two doubles or one king-size bed; superior rooms also have a sofa bed. Apartments in the back have been converted to classrooms for the island's hotel school. The "beach club," across the street, features a small strand, towels, chairs, palapas (shade huts), a small pool, and a snack bar. This hotel offers Wi-Fi throughout the rooms and lobby. If you would rather travel light, the hotel also offers complimentary use of an in-house computer.

• © Frommer's 2012