Renaissance Island: hotel with flamingo beach in Aruba

I spent my first four nights on the island of Aruba at the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, a hotel in Aruba with a private island, and not just any private island. The Renaissance Island is also known as the… flamingo island!

But let me introduce you first.

Renaissance Island and the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino: a review

The Renaissance Aruba is located in Oranjestad, Aruba's capital, right across from the water where it has its own little harbor. It has 556 rooms and suites to choose from and the one I got was very spacious, with a large double bed, a living room and a two-part bathroom.

When I looked through my window, I could see the adult-only outdoor pool where people were sipping drinks from the bar, getting a tan or taking a dip to refresh – something I always did at the end of the day.

The hotel has its own spa, casino, a shopping mall with restaurants, movie theater, and a 24/7 gym. And if there's still something you're looking for, personnel will gladly help you find it.

The Renaissance Aruba has a navigator and tour desk that are purely there to help guests plan the rest of their stay on Aruba. They don't only give you information, but also call for availability and to double check things – like that time me and some other Belgians were trying to find a bar that would broadcast the Red Devils football game.

But what I think was most special about this hotel, was the fact that it has – indeed – its own private island.

The Renaissance Aruba Private Island

Guests of the Renaissance Aruba can take a boat straight from the hotel lobby to the Renaissance Private Island, a 40-acre oasis with two beaches (one adult-only), a restaurant, a spa and a nature walk. On the beaches, you can get complimentary beach chairs and towels, but who pays attention to those when there are flamingos and iguanas running around?

That's right, if you're looking for Flamingo Beach Aruba hotels, this is thé hotel that has the flamingo beach.

Aside from the pinky elegant flamingos, there are also some massive iguanas at Renaissance Island. I kind of think they loved all the attention they were getting, as they willingly posed for photos.

How to get to Renaissance Island Aruba if you're not a hotel guest

The flamingo beach on Renaissance Island is a popular tourist attraction, but as the island is private, how do you get there?

If you're not a guest of the hotel, you can visit the Flamingo Beach Renaissance Private Island when booking a spa treatment there, or by purchasing a Renaissance Aruba Private Island day pass (check prices at the hotel lobby).

If you want the full experience, check here for availability, prices and more reviews.