Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort Aruba review

I consider myself fortunate that my grandparents purchased one of Aruba’s first timeshares back in the 1980s. Every February, our home away from home provided a safe haven for us to escape the cold temperatures in Massachusetts. We traded our snow shovels and blizzards in for sand buckets, and beaches for beaches for two weeks. As I aged, my love for the country only grew. I started exploring other properties on the Island, swapping out our trusted timeshare for some more luxurious options.

I was on a trip that ironically took me to Aruba Just days after my grandmother’s death, I had a trip planned. Even though I was tempted to cancel, I thought of all the great memories I shared with my grandmother in Aruba. Playing penny slots in her favorite casino or stocking up on our favorite supermarket with gouda, I felt that visiting her favorite place was a great way to honor her memory and to feel closer to her during a difficult time.

Over the years, I’ve heard numerous visitors rave about the amazing cleanliness of their hotels. Bucuti & Tara It is the jewel in the crown of the island. The only adults-only resort on the island. Eagle Beach areaSince 1987, the resort has been in operation. The boutique resort has a charm that is unique to the island. It combines classic Aruban charm and luxurious amenities.

Aruba’s slogan is “One Happy Island” thanks to the consistently fantastic weather and kindness of its inhabitants. However, with the island continuing to rise in popularity, many resorts are facing challenges. To secure a lounge chair on the beach, for example, can be a difficult task. You may need to wake up before sunrise in order to get a good spot. Bucuti & Tara solves this issue by allowing guests to book their chairs the day before via an in-room tablet so they can take advantage of a little extra sleep.

While everyone has their own vision for how they would like to spend their vacation, some resorts are more party-centric than others. This can make it difficult to relax. Bucuti & Tara focuses on savoring the quiet moments by catering to couples and small parties rather than weddings and large groups. The property has a clear understanding that it can’t please everyone. Instead of expanding its amenities in order to satisfy every type of guest, it has opted to tailor its service to the needs of its guests.

People define hospitality in different ways, but to me, it’s about making people feel welcome, comfortable, and cared for—all things every member of the team at Bucuti & Tara showed me throughout my stay.

The Rooms

My penthouse had a fully equipped kitchen and dining area. There was also a spacious living room and bathroom, with a walk in shower and a tub. And an oversized patio with a bistro table and daybed. Each of the penthouse suites has a breathtaking view of Eagle Beach.

The private thatched palapa at the beach is worth the extra money, despite the views and the spacious accommodation. They come with two loungers, a small table, and chairs. No reservations are required and you can use the palapas as much as you like during your vacation. The 104 rooms include bungalows, garden and ocean view rooms, as well as oceanfront suites. The rooms have dark woods and the tiled flooring found in many classic Aruba hotels. All rooms have patios or balconies, some with full kitchens and others with a microwave and mini-fridge. Some rooms have an espresso maker, and organic tea is available at nightly turndown.

All rooms have a Tempur-Pedic Mattress, a pillow menu and Frette bedding. They also include an air purifier and a dehumidifier. Guests will also find a tablet in every room—this is how you make reservations for the palapas both on the beach and at the pool, as well as how you browse other excursions on the island and make in-room requests.

Food and Drink

All bookings are inclusive of a full, daily breakfast in the newly remodeled Elements Restaurant. The buffet includes a large selection of pastries and fruit, as well as hot dishes, and an omelet bar. Restaurant also serves lunches and dinners daily. Ingredients are sourced locally and sustainably, and there is a large selection of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes. You can also arrange a romantic five-course dinner on the beach in one of the four private palapas located in front of this resort. The resort is not all-inclusive, and guests are encouraged to explore the culinary scene on the island. Dine Around is a plan that includes a fixed-price dinner at several restaurants.

The bar program is one area in which the focus on sustainability of the property shines.  The SandBar’s cocktail menu uses ingredients which would otherwise be wasted, such as banana syrup made from discarded peels of bananas, Champagne foam created using unfinished bottles that were used to pour toasts at guests’ arrivals, and citrus juice with zero waste. These drinks—including the banana old-fashioned and the Negroni made with melon-infused Campari and a lemon-aloe spray—are a far cry from the generic, out-of-the-carton Coladas you’ll find at just about every other resort on the island. You can order a drink or snack from a server by raising the red flag of your lounge chair. Bucuti & Tara also focuses on nonalcoholic offerings, piloting a daily Healthy Hour, where guests can enjoy half-priced mocktails and smoothies, in addition to a complimentary Mocktail Masterclass hosted by director of food and beverage Nicolas Nemalceff.

Activities and Amenities

The hotel occupies a prime location on the waterfront. best stretches of beach In Aruba, you can’t beat the day spent bouncing from your chair to the ocean under an umbrella. Aruba’s beach is a major attraction, so it would be a waste not to take advantage of it. Aside from the beach, there is also a heated solar Jacuzzi and one pool. The resort also offers live music every night on the patio and weekly markets with local vendors. Movie nights are held on the beach. The pool is open all day, unlike most resorts. Given Bucuti & Tara’s strong emphasis on wellness, you can expect the option of a daily yoga, Pilates, or tai-chi class in the morning, as well as the fitness center.

The concierge can provide a list with carefully selected activities like catamaran sailing, paddleboarding and snorkeling. This includes some activities that are exclusive to Bucuti & Tara guests, including sunset sails, full moon yoga, and bird-watching tours. All tour partners selected by the property are based on their shared philosophy of sustainability and do not promote activities which harm the nature of the island like ATV and UTV excursions.

The Spa

It is important to note that the word “you” means “you”. Purun Spa The Aruba Aloe facial and Sacred Massage of Totomo are two of the signature treatments. The spa offers services both inside and on the beach, in an outdoor cabana.

Accessibility and sustainability

The property offers accessible parking, restrooms, and elevators. Elements Restaurant, SandBar and other areas are accessible by an entry-level ramp. In the Tara Wing of the resort, there is an ADA-compliant suite with an adjustable bed height and low handles. There are also wheelchair-high plugs in each room, as well as a level bathroom.

The property has been in the family since 2018. Caribbean’s first and only certified carbon-neutral hotel. In 2020, the United Nations honored Bucuti & Tara with a UN Global Climate Action Award and proclaimed the resort’s sustainability program “highly replicable and scalable.” The resort’s commitment to sustainability is evident throughout the entire property. From the menus that feature local fish instead of imported beef to the Eco Power machines that convert kinetic power into electricity in the fitness center, to the lowest electricity consumption per occupied room among all Aruba hotels, to the on-site solar panel system that heats water in guest rooms.

Location

The property is located in the low-rise district along Eagle Beach. The area around the property is much quieter, even though there are several attractions and restaurants nearby. It’s also a lot less crowded than the high-rise areas of Palm Beach or downtown Oranjestad which are about a 10-minute car ride away. There is no need to rent an automobile as there are several taxis on-site in case you require them. This is a great way to see the island at your own pace and parking comes with your booking. You can reserve both taxis and rental cars directly through the concierge of your hotel. One pro tip if you do choose to rent a car: Always use a locally owned car rental business—they’re much more reliable and competitively priced than the national chains on the island.

The Best Value for Your Stay 

The resort has an average occupancy rate of over 97 percent year-round, and a return guest rate exceeding 60 percent. The property is extremely popular. Due to this, it’s unlikely that you will find any discounts or specials. Aruba’s off-peak seasons are late spring and summer. This is when you can find the lowest rates.