Aruba offers a wide variety of resorts and timeshares in every price range. Some resorts on the island such as the Riu, Tamarijn and Divi are all inclusive only. Some resorts, including the Holiday Inn SunSpree, Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa, Amsterdam Manor,  Marriott Aruba Resort & Stellaris Casino, Divi Village, Divi Dutch Village and the Westin offer an all inclusive option. 

There are many highly rated 3- and 4- star resorts which do not offer an all inclusive package. 

Some resorts such as Bucuti, Radisson and Manchebo Beach offer (also) a breakfast plan. 

Most resorts have their own restaurants, as well as free-standing restaurants within walking distance. With a rental car or via taxi, you are able to eat at restaurants further from your resort. Aruba has one of the best selections of restaurants anywhere.  There are a variety of cuisines in every price range. 

If you check ads in the free English newspapers normally available in the hotel's lobby, and read menus in advance, you can keep to a reasonable resort budget and have an enjoyable dine-around experience while visiting Aruba.  Beside "early bird specials", some restaurants offer multiple-course dinner specials with a choice of entree, at a reduced price from the ala-carte pricing.  You may also want to check out various coupon/promotion programs, offering savings on food and drinks at selected restaurants.  These programs include those found at websites such as: ArubaDiscountCoupons.com, ArubaDining.com and VisitAruba.com/plus.

Pro's of All Inclusive:
1. You know how much money you will spend prior to your vacation, while still having the option of going out whenever you want to eat and explore. You are not confined to the hotel.
2. Drinks, alcoholic and non, available anytime during the day, usually from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. The RIU and Occidental have alcohol available 24 hours with limited alcohol supplied in your room. RIU has a 24 hour Sports Bar.
3. Unless you provide your own liquor, alcoholic beverages, including beer, tends to be quite expensive and adds up quickly over the course of a day.

4. No need to visit the grocery store or make any meals.

5. No need to bring a cooler with beer, alcohol, mixers, and glasses to the beach or pool.

6. No need to run to Happy Hours to get half priced drinks.

Con's of All Inclusive:
1. Dining choices are limited to those at your resort, as well as requiring reservations for ala carte restaurants with limited dining times. 
2. Venturing out on a small island such as Aruba is not only easy, but safe.
3. Many vacation activities will still not be included such as tours and excursions as well as motorized watersports and spa services.
4. If you are not big eaters or drinkers, all inclusive may be more expensive.

5. A shopping trip over lunch time means you may pay for a meal that duplicates what you have already paid for.  The same often holds true for tours.  If you usually do these activities, this extra cost should be factored in.

6. All Inclusive pricing is often based on guests who drink a more than water during the day. All-inclusive is for those who drink a few drinks and sodas per day. Drinks at restaurants, hotels, and bars range between $5.00 - $10.00 a piece.

7. Very few all inclusives serve truly gourmet food.

Food:  Food will consist of buffet and ala carte restaurants on property. A limited number of resort's all inclusive packages offer one night of "off property" dining at select restaurants.

Drinks:  Drinks include soda, Virgin frozen drinks and alcoholic frozen drinks. Some resorts include top shelf alcohol in their package, other resorts, charge extra fees. Beer is normally draft. The locally brewed Balashi is available, and some hotels, the Divi and Tamarijn, also have Miller Lite and Heineken.

Activities: Activities vary by hotel. Floats, snorkel equipment, kayaks, sunfish sailboats, windersurfers, a rock climbing wall and bicycles are available at the Divi and Tamarijn. None of these are available for free at the RIU.

Family Friendly: Tamarijn is a family friendly AI hotel offering a children's camp for 5 - 12 year olds. Children 17 years of age and younger stay and eat free at the Tamarijn. The Holiday Inn SunSpree also caters to families with their KidSpree Vacation Club and offers an optional AI package where children 11 and under stay, play and eat free.

Convenience: At an all inclusive there will be convenience of selection with a minute walk, but limited selection.  This should be balanced against the opportunity to sample island cuisine as well as available restaurants when dining around.

Rooms: Vary depending upon category of hotel.

Cost: Compare your all inclusive package pricing vs. non all inclusive pricing adding in meals and beverages.

Things to look for in a quality all inclusive package or resort:
Are top shelf brand liquors available?
Which non-motorized water sports are included with the package?
Is there an in room mini-bar?
Is 24 hour room service available?
Are there any surcharges for more expensive menu items such as shrimp or steak?