Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino: Crystal Casino

From the Dutch, meaning Orangetown, comes Aruba’s largest and capital city, Oranjestad. The town was first referred to as Paardenbaai, or Bay of Horses. Locals often call it Playa in the native Papiamento. Due to the high tourist trade, there’s plenty of hotels, boutiques, shopping centres, restaurants, bars and clubs. Swing by one of the area’s key historical attractions, Fort Zoutman and Willem III Tower as well as the Civil Registry. And of course, there’s always the resort and the casino. The Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casinos is actually located on its own island, with private beaches and all the amenities and services you need without ever having to head back to the mainland. If you choose to stay here, they’ve boutiques, bars and restaurants of their own, two casinos and plenty of planned activities.

Gaming

There are actually two casino here at the resort. One of two, the Crystal Casino, open 24 hours daily, has 425 of your favourite classic and video slot machines, 9 blackjack tables, 3 Caribbean stud, craps, 3 card and roulette. Light bites are served until 6 am. The choice for name becomes apparent when you see the elegant overhead Austrian crystal chandeliers.

Hotel/Accommodations

There are two distinct types of accommodations at the resort. Depending on whether or not you’re traveling with your family will pretty much determine where you’ll stay. The Renaissance Marina Hotel caters to adults only (18+) and has all the standard services and amenities you’d expect (wi-fi, cable tv etc). The Renaissance Ocean Suites are designed for the family in mind, so if you’re traveling with the kids, this would be the better option.

Dining

There are a total of 15 restaurants at the resort, across the private island, and in the hotels, as well as a multitude back on the mainland. If you’re in Oranjestad, you won’t be lacking for options. If you’re interested in steaks, try L.G. Smith’s Steak and & Chop House, serving up certified Angus beef. For casual fare, try Aquarius, with its burgers, steaks and shrimp. If you prefer to dine in the open-air, looking down and along the beach as you eat, try Papagayo Bar and Grill. Sole: more comfort-food menu items and a pool. Captain’s Corner: breakfast buffets at the Renaissance Ocean Suites. You can pretty much get everything you’re looking for at the resort. But if not choosing to stay there, back in town there’s a great many eateries to choose from, serving dishes ranging from American classics to authentic Caribbean cuisine.

Entertainment/Nightlife

If you’re bored, you simply aren’t taking advantage of everything there is to do. Whether back on the mainland with its white sand beaches (Palm and Eagle) or at the resort with its private beaches (Flamingo and Iguana), there’s a huge amount of water activities you can take part in, such as swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, parasailing, deep-sea fishing or sailing. You can rent kayaks or book glass-bottom boat tours. There’s boutiques on the island for shopping, and malls and marketplaces in town. There are historical landmarks (like Fort Zoutman) and colonial architecture to take in, museums and galleries to visit, and even the marina, docks and butterfly farm to check out. And of course, on the resort island, there’s not one, but two casinos to check out. A couple bars of interest are American, serving light meals and live entertainment until dawn, the Lounge, Midnight Grill and Blue with its drinks and famous blue martini.

Rewards/Deals

Find out about the casino’s Players Club and how to earn gifts. Ask about their free slots play. Be sure to see if the casino currently has any contests or promotions running during your stay.