Cool Hotels

Talk of the Town

The Talk of the Town has a long history in Aruba. The old-fashioned, low-rise "beach club" hotel was built before the explosive development along Eagle and Palm Beaches, and the modest property was once the place for business travelers and tourists alike. Now, it feels a bit like a relic from the days when there were no Burger Kings, no satellite television and Aruba was truly out-of-the-way. The hotel is located in Oranjestad across the road from Surfside Beach and remains a popular choice among the Europeans and in-the-know American travelers who understand that Aruba is not a island where you stay cloistered in a resort. The property may be older, but it’s immaculate, friendly and chocked full of beach house decor. It makes an ideal base for exploring the off-the-tourist-track beaches, the national park and the European style shopping of Oranjestad.

Club Peace & Plenty

Far flung Exuma, part of the Bahamian Out Islands, not only seems a million miles away from the mainland; it seems a million miles away from the populous and commercial islands of Grand Bahama and Nassau.  And no resort takes better advantage of the beauty and isolation of Exuma than Peace & Plenty. White sand, blue water and just enough amenities make it a near perfect escape from the cacophony of modern life.

Built in the  1958, the bright pink resort (note: the pictures my appear yellow but it is pink)  itself suggests a roadside motel that somehow perched itself above a tropical lagoon, and since the many of the guests arrive by boat, there’s a dock especially for that purpose. The land itself has a long history going back to the days of English Colonialism and the exodus of American loyalists after the Revolutionary War. The décor reflects a decidedly British influence, albeit one infused with tropical color and drained of stuffiness.

Best of all, Exuma isn’t easy to get to and that filters out most anyone who isn't committed to true isolation. The crowd is made up of serious yacht people or adventurous souls willing to take the puddle jumpers from the big island. The faint of heart and those who can’t live without their blackberries won’t make it, and I promise you that you won’t miss them. Sure, some of the retired stock brokers might be a little inclined to the Jimmy Buffet, but is that really a crime?

Oh, and I do love their  website's attempt to convince people it is kind of  easy to get there - just take your private boat, one of these tiny airlines you have never heard of or the mail boat. I think they should just step up and say "It's so hard to get here that there are very few idiots. You'll love it."

The Mill Resort & Suites

The problem with overdeveloped islands like Aruba, which I love visiting, is that there are very few cool hotels.  I suppose when people go on a beach vacation, they want air conditioning, towels and comfy beds. They don't worry about character the same way they would if they were visiting, say, Scotland or Napa. Heck, the island's time-share Marriott resort is growing so fast it threatens to swallow the entire northern tip of the island whole. But the sad thing is, Caribbean islands are chocked full of eccentricity and if you look hard enough, you'll find places like The Mill Resort & Suites.

One of the best things about the low-rise  Mill Resort in is the literalness of its name. Unlike most hotels, named after some nearby or abstract cultural landmark or artifact (see The Alamo Hotel, San Antonio), The Mill Resort actually has a  full-sized windmill, brought over from the Netherlands, sitting in its courtyard. And given how the trade winds constantly pound at the little desert island, well, it makes perfect sense that some enterprising Dutchman would buy a windmill and ship it over.

But beyond the windmill, the Mill Resort offers a terrific alternative to plastic chains without one having to give up on that towels, a/c and comfy beds. The courtyard has tropical gardens and a pool that feel miles away from the casinos, shops and popular beaches that are in fact just a few hundred yards  away. Every room is different, giving a distinct "This is my friend's beach house" vibe. 

Best of all, the Mill Resort  attracts some of Aruba's most interesting visitors. Lots of Europeans choose to stay there as well as some of the islands kiteboarding/windsurfing community.