Blue Residences

Opened in 2014, Blue Residences has a fresh-out-of-the-box look and feel. Everything about this property is modern and polished. As you might expect given the complex's name, blue shows up as an accent color in most common areas, often paired with white to create a pleasantly beachy appearance. The pools are set on the property’s meticulously landscaped lawn, which is dotted with colorful flowers and palm trees. Carefully placed bushes at the front of the property allow for a view of the ocean across the boulevard, while minimizing the sight of the road itself.The complex is composed of three towers which overlook the pools and the small restaurant complex. The fitness center, spa, and concierge desk are found within the main building, and the beach is across the boulevard. Blue Residences offers a fair range of features, yet the property is compact overall, fostering an intimate atmosphere. It’s not uncommon to find yourself completely alone by the pools or on the beach. Guests (which usually include both couples and families) seeking a lively on-site atmosphere, however, should look elsewhere.

Blue Residences is located on the southwest side of the island, on the outskirts of the High-Rise Hotel district. There are a variety of restaurants, casinos, shops, and bars located a 15-minute walk away, in and among the district’s strip of resorts.There’s a small patch of beach across the street from the hotel, and Palm and Eagles beaches can both be reached in less than 15 minutes on foot. California Lighthouse and the Tierra del Sol golf course are about a 17-minute drive away. It’s a 20-minute drive to downtown Oranjestad and Queen Beatrix International Airport. 

Guest rooms at Blue Residences are privately owned condos, which means the decor can vary from room-to-room based on the tastes of each owner. Most rooms feature white-on-white color schemes, with crisp white bed linens, white walls, and white furniture. Some rooms add contrast with wooden cabinetry or pops of multicolored nautical artwork, while others keep the design clean and minimalist. Most rooms offer wall-mounted flat-screen TVs, and large closets with plenty of storage space.Ranging in size from one to five bedrooms, condos offer large living areas, additional bathrooms, and full kitchens with ovens. Kitchens include a standard selection of cookware, along with thoughtful extras you might not expect like dishwashers, blenders, and electric mixers. Most living areas feature floor-to-ceiling windows along at least one wall to highlight the hotel’s wonderful views. And most include dining tables, sofas, soft chairs, and additional flat-screen TVs. Washer and dryer units are tucked away inside hallway closets.Streamlined bathrooms include showers with rainfall showerheads and simple bars of free soap. A certain number of rooms offer furnished balconies or patios with hotel or pool views. Ground-floor rooms feature patios with private jetted tubs.  

The hotel provides ample features to keep guests happy. The highlight are the two side-by-side pools with infinity edges, along with a third pool found just beyond the restaurant area. The pools are surrounded by wooden decks with lounge chairs, patio furniture with comfy blue cushions, and white beach umbrellas. Aside from the beach umbrellas, the decks offer zero shade. The hotel’s three dining venues are grouped together in a small building located between the pools. The low rooftop terrace is home to the Mirador Deck, which offers tapas and drinks. Steps leading down from the Mirador Deck curve around to open-air Frangipani Bar. Open for breakfast, lunch, and cocktails, the bar is furnished with metal tables and navy striped cushions that match those found up on the Mirador Deck.Doors lead inward from Frangipani Bar to the Kitchen Table by White Modern Cuisine. Headed by award-winning Chef Urvin Croes, the Kitchen Table attracts guests and non-guests alike with its Aruban-Caribbean cuisine. This intimate venue features a single long table with 16 seats that wraps around an open kitchen. Dinner here is a set seven or eight course menu with optional wine pairings.Across the street from the hotel sits a patch of white-sand beach. An off-shoot of neighboring Eagle Beach, this stretch of sand is so small it doesn’t have an official name. Lounge chairs and umbrellas are offered for guests.The hotel also features a little enclosed playground with swings, a slide, and a trampoline. There’s a offers a bright fitness center with large windows overlooking the grounds. The center is open 24 hours and includes a range of free weights and cardio equipment. A tiny mini-market near the hotel’s main entrance sells coffee, juice, alcohol, and a few basics.Intermezzo Day Spa is elegant with bold teal accent walls and silver details. The spa offers a variety of treatments, including nail and hair care, massages, scrubs, facials, and wraps. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and self-parking is offered on-site in a lot with gated access. A rental car agency and concierge desk are also found on-site.