We recently stayed at the Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive Resort, which is part of the Divi Aruba Resort Family. If you’ve ever traveled with small children, you know that can present some challenges. Thankfully the Tamarijn Resort is set up to make your Caribbean vacy a success for everyone (mom, dad, and kids). First off, kids under 12 stay free, and eat free. I don’t know about you, but a big part of the travel bill is eating out, and kids tend to waste a lot of food (grrrr). No worries here though. 

There are also tons of kid-friendly activities on the resort, including new things your children may not do so much at home, like snorkeling, rock-climbing, and kite-making. And, of course there is also the beach for typical vacay activities like sand castle building and splashing around in the shallows (I recommend water wings for young children). If you need a little break from the kids, you can shuffle them off to the Sea Turtle Club. They have COVID measures in place like limited capacity and plexiglass shields at the activity tables.

If you’ve got some alone time or couple time, you can explore all the entertaining stuff at Tamarijn, hang out at the beach, or even access the nearby Divi. If you like golf, there is a nine hole golf course at the Divi Village Golf, and if you need a spa treatment, there is the Indulgence Spa. Of course, you can also just enjoy hanging out at the pool or the beach: because of its location, Aruba has some of the best weather in Caribbean, all year round. Grab a drink! Or two…

Tamarijn also has a great selection of ten different restaurants. That’s one reason I almost always like to recommend all-inclusive resorts; you don’t have to wander off the property in search of food. The Palm Grill has standard continental fare, but also interactive hibachi tables—and some colorful 3D murals by Leon Keer. If buffet style with live cooking shows sounds exciting, there’s Cunucu Terrace and Pelican Terrace. Craving Italing? Paparazzi (no, there is nobody there taking unwanted pictures of your celebrity family). Asian fusion? Ginger. Mexican? Pure Lime. Windows on Aruba and Fusions Tapa Bar (and Steakhouse) are great upscale options, and Fusions also becomes a piano bar at night.

Of course, vacation is not all about eating…it’s also about drinking and gambling! Just kidding. However, there is the Alhambra Casino (and shops) on site, and eight different bars, most of which offer ocean views and nightly entertainment. Speaking of entertainment, Tamarijn has lots of cool stuff going on at night: live music, movies, themed nights, salsa dance lessons, and even an enchanting acrobatic show with fire eating (guests are not invited to participate in that part). 

If you like to get some healthy activities worked into your vacay schedule, there is a brand new fitness center with incredible ocean views; it’s open from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM and you need to reserve a time. Best place with the best views for a workout! Just ask baby Nikola! There are classes for yoga, pilates, and zumba. There are staff fun makers to facilitate games like volleyball in the pool. And, of course, with the ocean right there you can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, and windsurfing. 

Almost forgot to mention one of the best parts: the rooms at the Tamarijn are getting fully renovated. Every room has a balcony or patio with an ocean view (you read that right, every room). The buildings are low-rise so you don’t need to take a long elevator ride down to the beach or pool…you can pretty much just walk out of your room. 

Here is a little bit of information about the COVID regulations and restrictions for most people worried about traveling. You’ll have to complete an online embarkation/disembarkation card before arriving in Aruba; that includes submitting a negative COVID-19 test result that must have been taken between 12-72 hours before traveling. If you can’t take one before you arrive, you’ve got to take one there for $75 and quarantine in your room until you get the test results. We chose to get tested upon arrival and stayed in our room at the Tamarijn until our negative test results became available on the Aruba Health app. Results were uploaded in 7 hours and in the meantime we took advantage of the delicious food offered as a room service for those quarantining at the Tamarijn resort. The resort also helps you locate the nearby testing locations for your return flight back to the US. As of Jan 26th, all travelers to the US are required to have a negative test prior to boarding the plane. There are several testing locations on the island within walking distance from the Divi & Tamarijn Aruba resorts. Results are once again uploaded on the Aruba Health app and typically available within 6-8 hours. You can learn more about all that here.

As long as you’re able to get tested and agree to follow local health mandates, you won’t have to hold back on traveling to Aruba. If you’re concerned about how the hotel handles COVID issues, they are definitely on top of it, sanitizing everything, offering touchless check-in, and requiring reservations for restaurants and amenities that are typically walk-in venues (like the gym). Masks like everywhere else of course are mandatory in all indoor spaces or while interacting with the staff.

If you want to adventure off the resort property, you can bike up and down the boardwalk or talk to the concierge about recommended tours and things to do in nearby Oranjestad. If one of your favorite things to do in the Caribbean is admire the colorful buildings, you won’t be bored in Aruba’s beautiful colonial capital. There is also a butterfly farm nearby, an ostrich farm, and a donkey sanctuary (bring some apples and carrots, because these donkeys love to eat). De Palm Island has a waterpark, snorkeling, and banana boat rides, all just five minutes away by ferry.

I really recommend the Divi & Tamarijn resorts as a great all-inclusive vacation, whether or not you have kids—and if you are traveling with young ones, those properties are definitely set up to make your vacay more successful and most enjoyable! 

Have you been to Aruba? Have you stayed at the Divi & Tamarijn Aruba? What part of the resorts was your favorite? Comment below!