The intimate Aruba Boutique and Art Hotel, which has just opened its doors, is a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Palm Beach, complete with its own art gallery and a street-food restaurant. And, from December, the St Regis Aruba Palm Beach Resort, in the same location, offers the global brand’s visionary spirit, avant-garde style, and bespoke service, along with infinity pools complete with private cabanas, a spa, and a rooftop restaurant and bar with sunset views.

Each May, the Aruba Hi-Winds festival, the longest-running water sports event in the Caribbean, hosts competitions in kitesurfing, windsurfing, and kite cross, with both beginner and professional athletes showcasing their skills. And in late June comes the Aruba International Regatta, a three-day extravaganza on water, with yachts, catamarans, sunfish, kite surfers, and windsurfers competing in exciting events on Surfside Beach, along with music, beach parties, and dinners.

Food and drink in Aruba are a big draw too. Influenced by the Netherlands, South America, and the Caribbean, local cuisine includes lots of wahoo, red snapper, mahi-mahi, barracuda, and other fresh seafood. You can sample craft cocktails with master mixologists in charming bars all over the island, try out local restaurants, including adventurous La Mer with its vintage Caribbean charm and fine dining, revered chef’s-table restaurant Infini, the next-level steakhouse Azar, and Lima Bistro – to mention just a few of the amazing options.