The way I see it, there are two types of vacations: those where you're committed to seeing everything a destination has to offer, and those where you're committed to being as big of a blob as physiologically possible. I tend to stray towards the former when I set my PTO (I come from an architectural boat tour family, not an all-inclusive family, you know what I'm saying?), but I certainly see the value in both kinds of trips. And after spending three days horizontal by the water in Aruba this past month (save for when I had to sit up to sip my piña colada), I may be changed forever.
I jetted off to the island nation with my best friend Taylor in tow to check out Joia Aruba by Iberostar, a 240-room IHG property that opened its doors this past December. And in addition to being brand-spankin'-new, the hotel ended up being everything we needed for a rejuvenating and indulgent long weekend away from *gestures broadly at the news.* Here's a full resort review based on our experience, in case you're in the market for a similar sort of "oh my god, I'm actually relaxed" getaway.
THE QUICK HITS: JOIA ARUBA EDITION
- Name: Joia Aruba
- Location: Noord, Aruba
- Cost Per Night: Starting at $560
- Best For: People who want to chill hard on vacation
- While You’re Here, Visit: Sin Nicolas, a nearby city with gorgeous street art
- One-Word Vibe Check: Relaxing
- Most Iconic Photo Spot: In front of the infinity pool overlooking the ocean
- Don’t Leave Without: Trying the Aloe Gem mocktail from the lobby bar (I, for one, had at least six)
THE FIRST IMPRESSIONS
If you've ever gotten off a long flight and had to drive hours to get to your hotel, you'll appreciate that Joia Aruba is less than 25 minutes by car from Queen Beatrix International Airport. That means in under half an hour, you can be wiping off your day of travel with one of the cold towels they offer as soon as you pull up to the front door, and slurping down an icy welcome cocktail from the lobby bar.
Speaking of the lobby, it's a super elegant space with a design style that can only be described as Aruban (think Caribbean-cool meets elegant and colorful). I took a million pictures of the rattan-and-linen seating, seashell-inspired chandeliers, and massive palm planters before we checked in and headed up to our room.
THE ROOMS
Is there anything better than waking up to a view of the water? I'm not even going to honor that question with a response. We stayed in one of Joia Aruba's King Suite Pool View rooms, which had a massive bed plunked right in front of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the resort's three pools, with the ocean in the distance. Neither Taylor nor I self-identify as "morning people," but it's hard not to spring out of bed when you can literally see a lazy day at the pool bar in your future, I'll tell you that.
The suite also featured a small living room space with a loveseat and vanity, a spacious bathroom with a rain shower and double sinks, and a balcony with a lounger and outdoor bathtub (with bath salts at the ready!). In true Aruban fashion, there were plenty of turquoise accents throughout the space, and the white walls were painted with illustrations of parrotfish, the coral-eating blue fish responsible for keeping Aruba's sand so fine and white.
Our room was perfect for us, but if you want to ball out a little more, you can splurge on a swim-out suite, an ocean-view suite, a suite with butler service, or even the bridal suite (because, yes, they host a lot of weddings).
THE AMENITIES
If you wind up feeling bored at Joia Aruba, it's your own fault. A day at the resort can look like splashing around in one of the three pools, lounging on Joia's slice of Eagle Beach (right across the street from the hotel, with chairs, umbrellas, and drink service), hitting balls at nearby Tierra del Sol golf course, swaying to live music at the rooftop bar, sipping something strong (or not) at the swim-up bar, or clocking in some R&R at the spa.
As is typical for me, the spa stole my heart as soon as I stepped in the door. There's a full-service salon, a gorgeous indoor pool with a water circuit, and a cold plunge surrounded by chic loungers and greenery. I stopped by and dipped my toes in before getting a massage in a treatment room with a private shower, which is always a lovely little luxury. The sauna and steam room were under renovation when I visited, but I'm sure they'd be the cherry on top of a day at the spa.
THE FOOD AND BEV
There are plenty of fun places to go out to eat on the island, but if you're the kind of person who doesn't like to leave the resort, Joia Aruba's got you covered. There are three main eateries on the property: Bucatini, Marea, and Zima.
Bucatini is the spot for breakfast in the mornings (it has one of the largest buffets in all of Aruba, with a mimosa and Bloody Mary bar to boot) and hearty Italian feasts in the evenings. Marea was my favorite restaurant of the three, with breezy seating and Caribbean fare, plus some classic American dishes (I got fish tacos and a baked potato for lunch one day, and I don't feel bad about it). And Zima is the rooftop bar overlooking the infinity pool, offering yummy tapas alongside an extensive cocktail list (no really, I strayed from an Aperol Spritz so you know the options were good).
In addition to Zima, you can grab drinks at the aforementioned swim-up and lobby bars, or get caffeinated at Star Café, where I crushed many an afternoon cappuccino. I also saw work being done on a new restaurant, called Bon Fire Grill House, which will be opening this fall with an elevated menu revolving around grilled fish and meats. The hotel is also planning on opening an omakase-style chef's table experience in early 2026. Guess I'll have to go back!!!
THE BOTTOM LINE
Between all the eating, drinking, beaching, and pampering, I didn't even have time to worry about anything going on back home for an entire long weekend. And that's a feat, because I came out of the womb worried.
Indeed, Joia Aruba was the perfect place to chill out—and pig out—with my bestie by my side, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a vacation where they can spend the majority of their time in a bathing suit. We all deserve a little escapism, and I'd escape back to this resort any day, especially for more beachside baked potatoes.
