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.