Whether you're dreaming of leisurely days spent basking in the sunshine on pristine beaches or lounging by the pool in utter relaxation, Aruba offers the perfect backdrop. This enchanting island in the southern Caribbean is more than just a holiday destination; it's a haven for premium leisure travellers seeking tranquillity, beauty, and a touch of luxury. With guaranteed sunshine, crystal-clear waters, stunning architecture, and weekly flights from the UK, Aruba is a gem waiting to be discovered.
Of course, there’s plenty of scope for basking in the tropical sunshine on Aruba’s many uncrowded white-sand beaches or by your swimming pool. Peaceful Eagle Beach was named the best beach in the Caribbean and, depending on when you visit, you may get to see nesting and hatching sea turtles there.
Aruba is a brilliant destination for foodies; native cuisine is influenced by the Netherlands and South America and features lots of fresh local seafood.
Some restaurants offer super-personal chef’s table experiences where you can watch your gourmet meal being prepared and chat with the chef, including The Kitchen Table. You can also treat yourselves to a luxury pop-up picnic to savour beneath the trees beside Surfside Beach.
There’s more indulgence to be found in Aruba’s array of spas, most of which are found in its high-end hotels. For instance, the adults-only boutique retreat Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort on Eagle Beach offers massages in an ocean-view cabana. There’s also an oceanfront restaurant with a chef’s table experience, a beach bar, and movies under the stars.
The Caribbean’s first carbon-neutral hotel, it has won awards for its sustainability efforts, including beach cleans you can take part in.
Then there’s the Ritz-Carlton, where the sleek spa offers treatments like Awa Y Tera, incorporating a local coffee scrub, scalp massage, and mud mask, as well as science-driven skincare from ESPA and Eminence. Elsewhere in this elegant resort, you’ll find five restaurants, including Casa Nonna, Divi Sushi Bar & Lounge, and the classic bistro BLT Steak.
Meanwhile, the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, Spa, and Casino is a tempting option for its full-moon and aerial yoga, poolside Pilates, activity pool, and adults-only pool with private cabanas. Exceptional on-site dining includes seafood at Ruinas del Mar, built around the concept of gold-mill ruins, with a koi-filled lagoon, waterfall, and rooftop bougainvillea garden.
Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa is a boutique wellness resort offering customised wellbeing journeys, daily complimentary yoga and Pilates, and a unique spa with five Balinese-style private thatched cabanas perched above Eagle Beach. Its talented chefs draw on local ingredients as much as possible, including herbs from Manchebo’s kitchen garden, plus there’s a dedicated plant-based menu.
Adults-only from 2023, Boardwalk is another boutique hotel featuring just 49 casitas within lush tropical gardens filled with hammocks, tranquillity zones, two pools, and a cocktail bar. Mats are provided for yoga on your patio, or you can join mindfulness classes on an outdoor deck, plus enjoy therapies in a treatment room or your casita.
Aruba Ocean Villas is another serene adults-only escape with a spa and a beachfront restaurant offering the option of booking a private overwater dining cabana. Sundays feature BBQ lunches and for exploring, there are complimentary kayaks, snorkelling gear, paddleboards, and paddleboats.
There are weekly direct flights from the UK to Aruba with British Airways. To book your Aruba holiday, call your Travel Counsellor today.
Jumeirah Mallorca crowns the cliffs of Port de Sóller, perfectly balanced between the formidable Tramuntana Mountains and the deep blue of the Mediterranean Sea. On the unspoilt northwest coast of the island, this hotel brings a new standard of luxury to the region, creating a desirable location for an opulent Mediterranean getaway.
Antigua is famous for its beaches, and rightly so. But some of the island's most memorable experiences begin the moment you step away from the sun lounger. On a recent visit, our Travel Counsellors discovered an Antigua shaped not only by its coastline, but by rainforest trails, historic harbours, local flavours, lively traditions and the people who bring the island’s story to life. From off-road adventures and rum tasting to Caribbean cooking and sunset views, here’s how to spend seven days discovering another side of Antigua.
As the days become shorter and temperatures begin to drop, there's something incredibly tempting about swapping coats and scarves for sunshine and warm seas. But winter sun doesn't have to mean the same destinations year after year. Whether you're dreaming of tropical islands, unforgettable wildlife encounters, bustling cities, or beaches that stretch for miles, there are plenty of destinations that come into their own during the UK's winter months. If you're already thinking about your next escape, here are five winter sun destinations worth adding to your travel wish list.
Finding your match...