Talk of the Town Hotel & Beach Club

Open since
the 1940s, Talk of the Town is one of the oldest hotels in Aruba. The building does
have an older feel, but it’s not unpleasant, and instead adds character to
what might otherwise be a relatively run-of-the-mill hotel. The lobby is airy but plain, with a few cushioned seating areas and a rack of brochures under a steep wooden staircase. The Gazebo Restaurant is plain, with tiled flooring and white plastic chairs. Large glass windows overlook the nearby courtyard. The Moonlight Bar and Grill has an airy interior with a bar and a pool-facing terrace plus pops of orange and brown in the decor.The atmosphere is quiet during the afternoon, with most
guests heading out to the beaches after breakfast. The One- and Two-Bedroom Suites with kitchenettes are ideal for families and groups, while the proximately to the airport also make this hotel a great fit for business travelers. Although couples could handily find more romantic hotels on the island, Talk of the Town appeals to travelers seeking central, affordable lodgings.

Talk of the Town is set on a lively street, surrounded by
restaurants, bars, and shops. It’s one
of the most buzzing areas on the island but also one of the most congested. The Royal Plaza Mall, the Archaeological Museum
of Aruba, and the Fort Zoutman Historical Museum can all be reached in about five minutes
on foot. The hotel is located across the street from the Tourism
Plaza, the main plaza of Aruba’s Linear Park. This long, manicured path runs
parallel to L.G. Smith Boulevard and features jogging and biking lanes as well as
scenic gardens. The plaza connects to the white, somewhat pebbly sands of
Surfside Beach. Queen Beatrix International Airport is less than a five-minute
drive away. 

Guest rooms at Talk of the Town Hotel are attractive and
bright, with orange accent walls and coordinated bed runners
and geometric throw pillows. Warm-toned monochromatic prints of palapas and
palm fronds complement the dark wood furniture. All rooms include flat-screen
TVs, mini-fridges, and microwaves, as well as desks or dining tables. Rooms
also feature balconies or terraces, most of which face toward the pool or small,
private courtyards. Some rooms also include sofa beds. Suites offer kitchenettes with cookware, as well as separate living and dining areas. Simple bathrooms feature above-the-counter sinks and walk-in showers
with toiletry dispensers. Two-Bedroom Suites also have two bathrooms.  

The hotel’s asymmetric outdoor pool is set at the center of a large courtyard bordered by palm trees, and there are two square hot tubs. Some lounge
chairs are set on elevated platforms, while a few others are submerged in the
pool waters. The pool is bordered by more lounge chairs with comfy cushions and dining tables, but the area offers minimal shade aside from beach umbrellas.Talk of the Town also provides lounge chairs across the street at
Surfside Beach. It’s not among Aruba’s most beautiful beaches, but it does
offer white sands and calm, shallow waters that are ideal for swimming. Planes
can often be spotted descending into the nearby airport. A free buffet breakfast is served daily in Gazebo Restaurant and includes a standard spread of fruit, cereal, pastries, and a few hot items such as eggs. The open-air Moonlight Bar & Grill offers lunch, dinner, and drinks. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and free
self-parking is offered across the street from the main entrance. There’s also
a small business center in the lobby.