Stay & Play
JOIA Aruba by Iberostar – New Upscale Luxury on Eagle Beach
by Susan Canpbell, photos: JOIA Aruba
Irecently had the opportunity to enjoy a short, but very sweet, stay at this brand-new property on award-winning Eagle Beach. (Often ranked among the top three beaches in the world!) I knew that Aruba would be the location of the flagship of Iberostar’s new JOIA brand, but the speed of its build and opening took me by surprise. So, when I arrived over the Christmas holidays this year and discovered it was about to open in January, I made it my business to get the lowdown in person. And though it was not finished during my stay, construction of the new casino, a massive conference hall, a steakhouse/grill, a chef’s table nook, and kid’s club were still underway, what was completed was absolutely delightful.
The design of the three-story multi-level hotel is elegant and sophisticated, and unlike some newer hotels, it seamlessly fits into the local area. This stretch of the island’s tourist beach scene is known as the low-rise region, harkening back to the days when hotels were not to be built any higher than a palm tree. (Palm Beach next door is all high-rise resorts.) The gentle rise of the levels there and the soft, muted tones blend in beautifully with the alabaster sands and cerulean seas of this famous beach area allowing the natural scenes to be the star. And I was especially impressed with the obvious effort to pay tribute to Aruba’s distinctive flora, fauna and underwater treasures as their colorful interior accents in the grand lobby- all created by local artists.
Standout exterior features include a gorgeous adults-only rooftop infinity pool with a lounge area and a bar area cresting ‘Spa Sensation’, with a gorgeous glassed-in sea view water circuit on the top level. The ground level expanse sports two pools, one adults-only exclusively for members of the Star Prestige Club, and the other the family-friendly oasis replete with a swim-up bar.
The beach, though across the street, is a very short walk to their dedicated lounges and umbrellas where guests enjoy food and beverages served by staff riding Segways. (So much fun to watch; they are very skilled!)
Accommodation-wise, there are 240 suites of various class distinctions, some include butler service, and all boast 24-hour room service. There are also ten very special second level suites with their own swim-out channels and all other rooms have either an interior whirlpool or one on the balcony.
We thoroughly enjoyed the Star Café and the lobby bar, but it was our dinner at their new Marea Caribbean fusion restaurant that seriously impressed. We dined outside to catch the sunset over the sea in the near distance. I didn’t get a chance to try their signature restaurant the Bucatini Market & Cucina for breakfast or for upscale Italian at night, but I can’t wait to return and experience all the new amenities that were in the works. The vibe is lovely, and it really is a welcome addition to the island’s accommodation offerings.
They have also taken over ownership of the Tierra del Sol Golf Course a few miles away and offer special rates to hotel guests.
