Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort
An Elevated Stay Away from The Fray
by Susan Campbell
There’s a lot to love about this multifaceted resort on Aruba's famous Palm Beach. But one thing I love most is that unlike all the other high-rise hotels lining the island’s liveliest oceanfront region, this complex isn’t fronted by throngs of sun worshippers sardined among a multitude of watersport activities. Instead, it looks down upon its own pristine cove of ivory sand flanked by rock pier breakwaters that obstruct noisy motorized water vehicles from entering. (But when you ARE seeking active water pursuits, there are scads of options along the two-mile stretch right next door.)
The spark of my first love affair with Divi
Phoenix alighted over 15 years ago when I was one of the first guests to stay in the luxurious penthouse of the new Beach Tower addition. (The original 14-story tower was built in 1996.) It was so new I could smell paint drying. And also new to me then was an en-suite Jacuzzi tub with LED rainbow lights in my room. I’d never experienced that, and I never wanted to leave it. Today, there are now 240 rooms, all suites, and many with those whirlpool tubs within them, too.
Over the years, I've stayed in every style of room including the smart studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom split-level suites,
plus the penthouse. All have fully equipped kitchens, dining areas, and some have sofa hide-a beds, too. But it was my most recent visit in late 2025 when I witnessed the finalization of an entire topto-bottom resort renovation and refreshment. And again, there was the smell of fresh paint.
Among the many improvements I enjoyed was a funky new beach bar called Wave Shack that also has cocktail making and pizza making classes. I also appreciated the new adults-only ‘Zen Terrace’ deck with private palapas and wait service. I don't typically travel with children, but if you do, they also have a new kids’ club Divi Little Explorers with cool activities for ages 4-12. And the hotel is located directly across the street from The Butterfly Farm, also an excellent diversion for families. (Keep your admission ticket; it’s good for repeat visits!)
They’ve also updated their dining outlets, ‘purebeach,’ ‘puredeli’ and ‘pureocean,’ However, I almost hate to share my love for ‘pureocean’ in case it becomes too difficult to get a reservation. It’s such a lovely offradar seaside sanctuary for romantic toesin-the-sand dining and next-level cuisine.
Another major improvement was a comprehensive enhancement of their Pure Indulgence Spa, which was always first-rate to begin with. But now they offer a deluxe spa food menu and event space. But one thing that hasn't changed is the vibe. And that's a good thing.
Being a hybrid timeshare/hotel, you'll often find repeat guests gathering like a big happy reunion there since they share the same annual dates. And I’ve always found them to be very welcoming to outsiders, and since I’m often a solo traveler, I really appreciate that. They are happy to share the oversized seafront jacuzzi, welcome you to gather at the communal BBQ to grill dinner, or swap stories at happy-hour with you around the swim-up bar. It really has a home-awayfrom-home vibe, even if you don't own a unit. I really love that, too.
www.diviresorts.com
