Double recognition for Aruban boutique hotel

Privacy, comfort, sustainability, local experience and warm hospitality are rewarded

Michelin recently handed out hotel keys to top hotels for the first time. The award was given to 17 hotels in the Netherlands. The Boardwalk Boutique Hotel is the only hotel on the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao) to receive 2 keys.

Palm Beach in Aruba is characterised by its wide, snow-white sandy beach and its many large, high-rise hotels. One of these stands out for its small scale and intimate atmosphere, the Boardwalk Boutique Hotel. When Aruba-born sisters Kimberly and Stephanie Rooijakkers took over a small-scale surfers“ retreat after studying in the Netherlands, they could not have guessed in 2011 what would set them apart in 2025. The colourful adults-only boutique hotel, surrounded by the tropical gardens of a former coconut plantation, meets the five universal criteria for awarding Keys, according to the judges. ”This recognition from such a prestigious organisation is a great honour,“ says Kimberly Rooijakkers, co-owner of Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba. ”It is an affirmation of the hard work, passion and positive energy of our entire team, who work every day to provide guests with the best possible holiday experience in Aruba."

An exceptional stay

As soon as you enter the grounds of Boardwalk Boutique Hotel, a serene calm falls over you. The big hotels, bustling shopping malls and familiar American fast-food chains that are common in the so-called ‘high-rise’ part of Aruba suddenly seem to belong to another world. A place where a young team, with a deep connection to the island, makes the most of themselves and the hotel every day to ensure high quality to the guest.   

Lush garden

Through the cosy lobby, which has space for regional produce, you step into a lush garden full of greenery and life. A hummingbird nest among the plants or an iguana on the lawn, it is quite normal here. Nature is treated with love, even for unwanted guests, read mosquitoes, the hotel has an eco-friendly solution. Amid the tropical vegetation, 49 stylish casitas are located, each with its own character, decorated with local art. You feel like you are in your “own home on holiday” instead of staying in a hotel room. The thick walls keep cool air in and hot temperatures out, minimising the need for air conditioning. The water is purified a so-called ‘reverse osmosis system’. Moreover, each casita has a compost jar for kitchen and garden waste ready to be used to fertilise the garden, and should guests have any unopened groceries left over after their stay, these are donated to the local food bank. 

Those who want to go out during their stay will receive a ‘treasure map’ at reception instead of a standard map from a car hire company. On it, the hotel tips out special local places and experiences, so that as a guest you create a bond with the island. 

In the coming period, the hotel is going to focus on catering. The menu will be taken to the next level and the choice, as per guests' wishes, will be further expanded. Turning guests' wishes into concrete service is what it's all about.  

Boardwalk Boutique Hotel, a place where privacy and comfort and barefoot luxury, within walking distance of the beach, go hand in hand with sustainability, local experience and warm hospitality.  

Criteria for granting Keys

√ Excellence in architecture and interiors

√ Quality and consistency of service

√ Personality and general character

√ Price-performance ratio

√ Significant contribution to the neighbourhood or the environment