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The Talk of the Town is a very special, charming and intimate place with a rich history and is Aruba’s oldest operating hotel. The Talk of the Town has enjoyed a tradition of hospitality and casual atmosphere and holds many fond memories for its many guests over the years. We invite each of our guests to relax and enjoy their stay and encourage everyone to take the opportunity to explore Aruba and all Aruba has to offer. There is so much to see and do, not to mention all the great restaurants and fun places to eat and drink. Enjoy with style all the benefits and relax of the happy island with the best location in this inviting and vibrant boutique hotel distinguished by its Caribbean lounge atmosphere.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Family
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish, Dutch
Location
L.G. Smith Boulevard 2, Oranjestad Aruba
Talk of the Town Hotel & Beach Club
3.5 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Many good points and I would stay again however the hotel could be so much better . Good points - room was very clean , comfy bed , towels and hot water . Had a fridge Microwave and they brought me a kettle . Cleaning staff were all lovely , very pleasant and did a good job . Great WiFi all over the hotel Bad points - reception staff usually ok but sometimes quite snappy and could be rude .Bar staff the same , the guys who maintained the gardens were very pleasant and friendly . Worst staff were the dining room staff at breakfast . I was room only and on the first morning was made to feel a total inconvenience to them when I asked about buying the breakfast - in fact I did say am I allowed to buy breakfast or not as she was making such a carry on over it . It was not the best but was adequate nothing more . You could buy what you wanted separately and that was 10% service charge however have the buffet breakfast and you had to pay 20% service charge . I have no issue with a 10% service charge however for a buffet breakfast where you do all the work it was outrageous to be charged 20% service charge and no one could explain why - not in the restaurant or the front desk and never offered to find out either . Also every time I left my plate to get another coffee I would turn round to it being cleared half eaten or not and once she was even whipping my side plate away from me while I was still eating - not even asking if I had finished . Its service charge gone mad - I went to the bar one afternoon for a coke to be handed an unopened tin and a straw and charged 10% service charge - never been charged service charge at a bar !!! If you are charging service charges you need to offer SERVICE!! Also for 12 days the bar and kitchen were only open 11am to 6 pm so no drinks or food available on site after 6 pm . I ate at the bar a couple of lunch times but to be fair I was so annoyed with the service charge on drinks I walked to the beach instead most of the time had great service from very friendly wait staff - a lesson needs to be learned here . The pool needed cleaning badly it was starting to get very patchy looking the last week I was there but never saw anyone clean it the whole fortnight I was there or scoop the insects and leaves off the water either . On the last day I enquired about keeping my room a little longer - check out was 12 and wasn’t getting picked up until 3 pm - no they had a lot of guests coming in but it was very quiet the whole time I was there so would have had to have been a major influx . Ok so do you have a courtesy room - no . Anywhere I can get a shower - no - but they did store luggage for you . I do feel that you at least need to offer a courtesy room as a bare minimum . Service was sadly lacking in areas where it shouldn’t be and certainly not where you are charging service charge . Front facing staff could take a lesson from their cleaners and gardeners !!
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Eduardo Yanes, General Manager at Talk of the Town Hotel & Beach Club
Responded Oct 7, 2024
Dear Brent, Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback about your recent stay. We’re pleased to hear that you enjoyed the cleanliness of your room, the comfortable bed, and the excellent service from our cleaning staff. Your comments regarding the WiFi and garden maintenance are also appreciated. However, we sincerely apologize for the negative experiences you encountered, especially with our dining and bar staff. It’s concerning to hear that you felt treated as an inconvenience when inquiring about breakfast, and that the service charges were not communicated clearly. We value your insights, and we will certainly address these issues with our team to ensure better service in the future. We are also aware of the areas that need improvement, including the pool maintenance and the hours of operation for our bar and kitchen. Your feedback is invaluable, especially as we plan a full renovation in 2025. We hope to enhance all aspects of our guest experience, including service quality. Regarding your request for a courtesy room, we appreciate your suggestion and will take it into consideration as we work on improving our services. Thank you once again for your feedback. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future, where we can provide you with a much-improved experience.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I recently stayed at Talk of the Town Aruba for a week in September with friends, and our experience was a mixed bag.
Initially, we were assigned a room that opened directly onto the main road. Despite a high wall, the bars across the street made it nearly impossible to get any sleep. The room itself was quite run down and definitely in need of redecoration. When we checked in, the reception staff were unhelpful and refused to move us, leaving us to endure the discomfort.
Fortunately, the next morning we spoke to reception again and, after paying for an upgrade, we moved to a pool view room on the opposite side of the property. While it was a bit annoying to have to pay extra after our initial booking, the new room was a vast improvement and allowed us to enjoy a peaceful stay—definitely a necessary change.
The pool area was a highlight, providing a lovely oasis away from the beach heat. The renovated room was pleasant and quiet, which made a big difference. The staff were friendly, and we appreciated the small bar and restaurant on-site, as well as the convenience store for quick snacks.
The hotel is conveniently located just a five-minute drive from the airport, making it a great option after a long flight. However, it is a bit out of the way; it took us about 20 minutes to walk into Oranjestad for shopping and dining. There are a few restaurants and bars across the road that are worth checking out, but if you're looking to be in the heart of the action, this might not be the best spot for you.
In summary, Talk of the Town Aruba has its strengths, particularly the friendly staff and pleasant pool area, but we encountered some initial frustrations with our room. If you're looking for a budget-friendly stay and don’t mind a bit of a walk to the main attractions, it could be a decent option.
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Eduardo Yanes, General Manager at Talk of the Town Hotel & Beach Club
Responded Dec 16, 2024
Dear Laura, Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback. I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed aspects of your stay, such as the pool area, friendly staff, and convenient on-site amenities. However, I’m truly sorry for the challenges you faced upon arrival, particularly with the room location and initial reception experience. Your comfort is extremely important to us, and I apologize that we did not meet your expectations right away. We understand how noise from the street can impact a good night’s sleep, and we are currently working with local authorities, AHATA, and ATA to find solutions to minimize this issue for our guests. Additionally, I’m pleased to share that we have a full renovation planned for 2025. This project will include upgrades to our rooms, pool, restaurant, and all common areas, ensuring a greatly improved experience for all visitors. For future stays, I recommend considering our superior rooms, which are larger, quieter, and located away from the street, offering a more comfortable and peaceful option. Your feedback is invaluable as we strive to improve our guests’ experiences. I hope you will consider staying with us again in the future to see all the exciting enhancements we have planned. Thank you for your patience and understanding, and for choosing Talk of the Town Aruba. Warm regards
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These reviews are machine translated from their original language. Show machine translations?
Talk of the Town hotel is one of the older hotels in Aruba. It is located near a very busy road and opposite a number of beach bars where it can be noisy on Friday evenings. So choose an interior room. My room was spacious and equipped with a modern bathroom. An extremely pleasant bonus was the insulation. You could set the air conditioning to 24 degrees at about 7 o'clock in the evening and turn it off again when you went to sleep. There was a propeller hanging from the ceiling that provided enough coolness to sleep without air conditioning. Even in the morning it was not really warm in the room. The beds are quite hard but not uncomfortable. The room was clean. Actually, it only had one drawback: it was quite dark. The hotel has a small swimming pool with shower and an excellent restaurant with simple meals, but large portions at a reasonable price. You can walk to the stand in a few minutes. The only downside was the somewhat limited breakfast. And of course you don't have a sea view.
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled on business
Room Tip:Â boek een binnenkamer
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We booked this hotel for 2 weeks, and it's true unfortunately not so nice. On arrival we were greeted friendly, but after 2min true the friendliness already over. We were not informed about the times of morning dinner or where it takes place. Also the rooms we had to look for good luck ourselves because the 3 receptionists were not exactly motivated to do something. (this has not changed the whole 2 weeks) The rooms we had (306/307) are very spacious with large beds and a good bathroom. Unfortunately, the rooms are quite old and had various water damage and smeared walls. Even with the cleanliness during cleaning was not so attentive. The curtains had stains, and there's plenty of hair strewn all over the floor.
To the outside and pool area. There are true cleaners present, but the interest in cleanliness true unfortunately not present. There was feces from cats everywhere, and the trash cans are mostly full to the top.
The morning buffet. Absolutely not recommended. Small selection of meat, usually always the 3 same hot dishes and daily only toasted bread.
The bar. The barmaids struggled but unfortunately the drinks are different every day. But the menus from the kitchen are good.
Outside area in front of the hotel. Opposite there are 4 bars that play extremely loud music from 6 pm - 12:30 am. (the bass can be heard extremely strongly in our rooms) In addition, there are races and burnouts in the parking lot every day.
Just because of the noise I would not book this hotel anymore.
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Automatically translated
Date of stay: January 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
What a wonderful hotel. It is one of the oldest hotels in Aruba. The staff is very friendly, and very helpful. We had a wonderful holiday there from August 24 to September 4. They gave us many tips for things to do on the island, and because of those tips we went to places that we had not initially found on Google. We had only booked accommodation, because we had read that breakfast is way too expensive for what you get. And that is correct. They only have normal bread, boiled and fried eggs and some fruit and cornflakes. But having breakfast on the beach at Reflexxions or in Oranjestad at the Dutch pancake house is highly recommended. The rooms are clean and tidy, although a bit dated. And the only downside is the location on the street side. There is a lot of noise during the weekend, but it is finished at 1 o'clock at the latest. If we go back we will definitely go to this hotel again.
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Bij aankomst moet je een borg van Usd 250 betalen ivm eten of drinken evt. Die krijg je naderhand...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The hotel is very well located. Close to the airport, the surfside beach, the education centre. The hotel is large, has a pool. Located next to main road which is really noisy, although we knew that. Noise from the rooms is also very audible. Breakfast is good, although not varied. Even though I indicated my food sensitivities in advance, the reception did not pass them on to the kitchen. But it was sorted out when I did. We were during Carnival so the location was excellent. The city is a 15 minute walk, there are several car rental options within a 10 minute walk. Parking is available.
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TOTT recommended by a Local but very disappointing. The room was reasonable but both the microwave and the fridge date from the time of the Batavians. Breakfast for 18 usd pp is also very expensive for what you get. Hard bread, 2 kinds of toppings, a boiled egg, coffee and juice and some cookies, the same thing every day. The location is also not convenient because buses do not stop there. Daily 1300 meters walk to the bus or a taxi for 25 usd is the choice. The noise of cars and motorcycles relative to the hotel is bizarre. Sitting outside is also hell because of the planes taking off 1200 meters away. Only the staff stood out in a positive way. Friendly and helpful. This hotel will never be visited by me again.
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Automatically translated
Date of stay: December 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Neem goede loopschoenen mee en vergeet ook je oordopjes niet.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I was initially skeptical leading up to our stay however my worries were snuffed away as soon as we arrived. The accomodations were true to the pictures advertised on their site and the location itself was convenient to the airport, beach, and dining options. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful to all our needs/concerns which was quite appreciative. They currently have some modifications to their accomodations e.g. bar and restaurant however the hotel is conveniently located across the street from Sunset beach and Reflection Beach Bar which honor any previously purchased dining options and or discounted prices with stay. The Renaissance marketplace was within walking distance and or a quick cab ride to most locations was a phone call away. I enjoyed our time here and plan to book another stay here in future travel back to this Happy Island.
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Date of stay: November 2021
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â If you're looking for a quiet evening, suggest a room away from street facing.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A great boutique hotel. Staff was excellent! Tamara at the front desk helped me through most of the booking process and knew who I was before I told her!!! She’s a jewel! Esmeralda, our bartender, was so personable and made the best drinks! Our room was a one BR Superior, steps away from the pool. We have nothing negative to say about the hotel. Keep in mind that it is not a luxury hotel, but definitely clean, simple and quaint. In the evenings, we heard the music from across the street, but it was faint and didn’t bother us at all. We requested to have an inside room as opposed to street side. (RM 113). We were able to give a credit card at the front desk to have Reflexions Beach Club charge drinks, food and our umbrella($7 per day) to our room so we didn’t have to take too much cash to the beach. Loungers are included. Food and drinks were awesome and the service was excellent!! The staff there are so fun and friendly! Very crowded on cruise days and weekends! We reserved our spot everyday with no problem. The water was beautiful. No waves at all. The downside: The chairs and umbrellas are very close together. Only 2 can be shaded by 1 umbrella. Not a big deal but had to mention. The hotel has no control over that. We would definitely stay at TOTT again. It’s too bad it doesn’t get the credit it deserves. It is a great little hotel!
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Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Eduardo Yanes, General Manager at Talk of the Town Hotel & Beach Club
Responded Oct 7, 2024
Dear Kristi, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience at our boutique hotel. It’s fantastic to know that Tamara and Esmeralda made a lasting impression on your stay; we’re lucky to have such dedicated team members. We're delighted that you enjoyed your room and found it convenient to the pool, as well as that you had a great time at Reflexions Beach Club. Your feedback about the chair and umbrella setup is noted, and we appreciate your understanding that this is out of our control. Thank you for your kind words about our hotel. We truly value your support and hope to welcome you back to TOTT soon for another memorable stay! Best regards,
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We loved the small boutique hotel. The staff were helpful and polite. I would book an inside room next time because room on the street very extremely noisy.we switched rooms on 2nd day for a nominal fee. Location is a 1 mile walk to town which was great. Across from hotel is surfside beach with 3 good resturants. I would definitely stay again. One complaint is there should be a coffee urn in lobby for early riser and people going off on tours.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Multiple parking at hotel. Ihate big all inclusive properties as i like to explore the culture...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Eduardo Yanes, General Manager at Talk of the Town Hotel & Beach Club
Responded Dec 16, 2024
Dear Karen, Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had a great 9-day stay with us and enjoyed the charm of our boutique hotel, the helpful staff, and our convenient location near Surfside Beach and its great restaurants. I’m glad we could accommodate your room change to ensure a more peaceful experience. For future stays, booking one of our inside or pool-view rooms is definitely a great choice for added comfort and quiet. We also appreciate your suggestion about offering a coffee urn in the lobby for early risers and tour-goers—this is a fantastic idea, and we’ll certainly consider it as we look for ways to enhance our guest experience. I’m excited to share that we are planning a full renovation for 2025, which will bring modernized rooms and new amenities to our property. We can’t wait for you to return and enjoy the improvements firsthand! Thank you again for choosing Talk of the Town Hotel, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon.
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The beach at Surfside and Reflexions (which are beside each other) is not that big but not overly crowded. Water is lovely, people are super friendly and the nachos are excellent at Reflexions
There are more places to choose from in the Oranjestad area.
PRICE RANGE
C$212 - C$341 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
talk of the town hotel and beach club
LOCATION
CaribbeanArubaOranjestad
NUMBER OF ROOMS
69
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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