Sunway Aruba Apts is a great place. The apartments are very affordable, nice pool to refresh, and the owners/hosts are super nice people.

Santa Cruz●●○○#97 of 219 Specialty lodging in Aruba

Sunway Aruba Aparments

★★★★★5.0 out of 5 · 1 reviews

5★

Photo: © brian1bjp via TripAdvisor

About

Sunway Aruba Apartments sits inland in Santa Cruz, away from the beach zones — getting to the sand means using the shuttle. The 100-unit property holds the #97 spot among specialty lodging on the island, which puts it in the middle of the pack. The single review gives it a perfect score, but one data point doesn't tell you much. At $350 a night for the $$ price tier, you're paying for apartment-style space rather than resort polish. There's no casino, no all-inclusive package, no kids' club. The walkability score is low, which tracks for Santa Cruz — you'll want a car if you're staying here. The party score sits at a 3 out of 10, so don't expect a scene. This works if you want a quiet base with more room to spread out and you're planning to drive around the island anyway. Just know the beach isn't outside your door.

At a glance

Area: Santa Cruz
Star rating: ★★★★★
Typical nightly: $350
Beach access: shuttle
Kid-friendly: ●●●○○
Party score: ●●●○○
Walkability: ●●○○○
Rooms: 100
Casino: –
Swim-up: –
Kids' club: –
All inclusive: –
Vibe: —

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Santa Cruz●●○○© Management via TripAdvisor

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charming

Santa Cruz●●○○© TripAdvisor contributor via TripAdvisor

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intimate

Restaurants nearby

Oranjestad

Fish House Island Bar & Restaurant

Fish House Island Bar & Restaurant is on Bucutiweg in Oranjestad, a few minutes from the cruise terminal. It landed #21 out of 316 restaurants in the capital, and the subratings tell the story: atmosphere, food, service, and value all score near the top of the scale. This is a casual seafood and Caribbean spot that manages to feel relaxed without cutting corners. The kitchen focuses on what comes off the boats — grouper, snapper, mahi — and the bar side of the operation pulls its weight. The 4.8 for value at a mid-range price tier suggests portions that make sense and a bill that doesn't ambush you. It's also kid-friendly, which is harder to find in Oranjestad's dining scene than you'd think. The Travelers' Choice award and the consistency across ratings point to a place that works for both tourists coming off the ship and locals who know better options exist than the waterfront traps. Show up hungry.

Santa Cruz

Huchada

Huchada sits in Santa Cruz, the agricultural heart of the island, and it's the kind of local spot you drive past twice before you realize it's there. The #1 ranking among eateries in the area tells you it's not an accident — the food score of 4.6 backs that up, and the dollar-sign price means you're not paying tourist markups for it. It's Caribbean home cooking with a café setup, leaning casual and welcoming to families. The atmosphere rating matches the food, which usually means the space feels right even if it's simple. Service runs high too, so expect someone to actually check in on you. Santa Cruz isn't on most visitors' radar, but if you're heading to Arikok or the east coast beaches, this is the lunch stop that makes sense. Cash helps.

Santa Cruz

Bright Bakery

Bright Bakery sits in Paradera, a residential neighborhood inland from the coast, and it's the top-rated spot in the area — which tracks with the 4.6 food score. This is a straightforward bakery-cafe where the price point (solidly budget) and the value rating line up: pastries, sandwiches, coffee, the kind of setup that works for breakfast or a quick midday stop. The atmosphere score is lower than the others, so don't expect polish or lingering ambiance. It's casual, probably a few tables, maybe a counter. The draw is what comes out of the oven, not the decor. Families come through regularly — it's an easy, low-pressure option if you're traveling with kids and need something simple that won't blow the day's budget. Santa Cruz is nearby, so if you're headed toward Arikok or looping through the center of the island, it's a practical pit stop.

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