Aruba’s New Resort-Within-a-Resort Has a Rooftop Terrace, Adults-Only Swim-Up Rooms, and an Opening Date

First, there was the new Iberostar. Then the new St. Regis. Next, the long-awaited Secrets Baby Beach. Now, Aruba is getting another new resort — within a resort.

It’s called The Westerly, it’s a major expansion of the Hilton Aruba resort, and now it has an opening date: Jan. 5, 2026.

The new-build property, which has 161 rooms and suites, is a new oceanfront tower at the Hilton on Palm Beach. 

The idea, hotel executives told Caribbean Journal, is for the experience of a boutique hotel with the amenities of an even larger resort, with guests getting access to everything at the Westerly and the existing Hilton. 

The hotel, designed by SB Architects and Jeffrey Beers, has what the property describes as indoor-outdoor room design, with large balconies and what Hilton calls a “refined fusion of modern elegance and Aruban charm.” 

So what’s in store? 

For starters, a private check-in area, a special concierge just for the tower, priority access to things like spa treatments and beach access and elevated amenities like sleep masks and pillow sprays. 

There’s also an adults-only enclave called Terrace on 10-, with cabanas, live music and a special menu in a rooftop setting. There’s even wellness programming, with pilates, breathwork and mindfulness exercises. 

The coolest component? The collection of adults-only swim-up rooms, a unique offering in Aruba. 

The Westerly is already taking bookings for stays staring Jan. 5, officials said. 

It’s a big addition for Aruba, which is quietly in the middle of its biggest hotel boom in decades, complementing an already-impressive hotel stock that includes favorites like the Boardwalk Boutique Hotel and the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, among others. 

It’s also a big change for a property that was the first major hotel to ever open in Aruba – one designed by legendary architect Morris Lapidus in 1959 and a property that remains one of the Caribbean’s signature hotel designs.

“From the moment guests arrive, every detail is designed to create an intimate, high-end retreat that’s both private and welcoming,” said General Manager Jerome Luciani, in a statement provided to Caribbean Journal. “With exclusive access, unrivaled hospitality, and state-of-the-art amenities, The Westerly will offer the perfect place to unwind, recharge, and experience the best of Aruba.”