Baby Beach. It’s one of the most stunning stretches of beach in Aruba, far from the tourism hubs of Palm Beach and Eagle Beach, a lovely crescent of shallow turquoise beach just a short drive from San Nicolas, the island’s burgeoning cultural capital.
While San Nicolas has become one of the island’s emerging destinations in recent years for its vibrant street art and authenticity, what it hasn’t had is a true halo hotel — one that becomes a draw for the entire area.
This summer, though, that’s about to change, when the long-awaited Secrets Bay Beach opens its doors.
The newest addition to Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection is a major new addition to the Dutch Caribbean island, an adults-only property that will instantly become the island’s top all-inclusive option.
In all, there will be 304 suites, along with amenities like e spa, 13 different dining options and cool touches like Bali beds at the pool and even Crossfit as a fitness option.
There will also be a casino. Perhaps most importantly, particularly for Secrets devotees, there will be a Preferred Club, something we’ve enjoyed at other Secrets-branded resorts we’ve stayed at one that is usually worth the splurge, from special check-in to elevated in-room amenities and club levels.
But one of the most important amenities is its proximity to San Nicolas, a town that has been in the midst of a renaissance in recent years, with a buzzing cultural scene, a terrific annual Art Fair and a number of new local businesses opening their doors.
The opening of the new resort is part of the biggest year for new hotels in Aruba in decades: Secrets Baby Beach will be the third major resort to open its doors in less than a year, joining the already-opened Joia Beach by Iberostar and the St. Regis Aruba.
It’s the second Hyatt-portfoio resort on the Dutch Caribbean island, joining the popular Hyatt Regency Aruba (that resort is not all-inclusive).
So what about prices?
You can find rooms in June for $925 per night, according to Hyatt’s website; that gets you a junior suite king room. Preferred Club rooms start at $1,480 per night. The Preferred Club will include some swim-up rooms; those rooms start at $1,666 per night.
If you’re planning a getaway to Aruba in June, you can find flights from Miami for about $506 roundtrip on American Airlines and New York for $428 on both JetBlue and Delta.
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