Caribbean Palm Village Resort

Caribbean Palm Village is a slightly dated time-share property (thought it is going through some renovations) where most of the guests are owners who have stayed there many times before. This makes the atmosphere very familiar and friendly -- for these people. Newbies, also known as transients, may stick out like sore thumbs to the regulars. However, most people are welcoming, and there are only a few situations where you may feel like the new kid at school -- for example, if you want to take a dip in the hot tub and find it is full of long-time friends. But those things can happen anywhere.The property is divided into two sections, one with renovated rooms and one without. The western side of the property has a separate entrance from the road and is home to a waterfall pool, hot tub, large barbecue area, the member's lounge, and small spa. The main entrance to the resort is off of Palm Beach Road and gated with white wrought iron and light pink walls. From the moment you see the sign and pastel pink colors, it feels like you've transported back a few decades. The grounds and property have an overwhelming (and endearing) classic beach motel vibe, and though the style looks dated everything is in decent condition. The gym and restaurant feel the newest (aside from the renovated rooms) and renovated room or not, rooms are well-maintained and have retro appeal. 

Unlike the majority of properties off the two main roads, Caribbean Palm Village is not a beachfront property, nor is it near any of the tourist commotion. The resort is located off a busy street and is about a five- to 10-minute drive to popular tourist hot spots and the beach. There is a transportation shuttle that drops off and picks up guests to the beach and other areas (but not the airport). Queen Beatrix Airport is about 15 minutes by car, while downtown Oranjestad can be reached in about 10 -- assuming there's no traffic.

All 170 rooms at Caribbean Palm Village are spacious with tight bathroom spaces. About half of the rooms have been renovated with more contemporary furnishings, although even the furniture in the older rooms is in good condition and has a more retro than dated vibe. The entry-level room type is the Studio, where either two double beds or a king size bed share space with a sofa bed, basic kitchenette with microwave, mini-fridge, coffeemaker, sink, and dishes. Upgrading to the One-Bedroom Suites will get you much more space with a separate living area, bathroom, bedroom (with two doubles or a king) and outdoor space. These rooms also have full-size kitchens stocked with appliances from coffeemakers to dishwashers to ovens, and feature both an eat-in bar area and dining room table. Larger rooms also come with bigger refrigerators, bigger bathrooms (that are still snug), and mops and brooms. Beds and pillows are comfortable, but have very thin bedding to combat the crisp air-conditioning. Light sleepers may want to bring earplugs to cancel out the ambient noise from plumbing, neighbors, or the hall. 

The Caribbean Palm Village Spa is loaded with features, and guests tend to spend their days browning by one of the two pools, only occasionally taking dips into the hot tub or pools themselves. There's a fair amount of loungers and tables and chairs set up around the pools' perimeters, and the westside pool even has a small rock waterfall. In general, the west side of the complex is heaviest with features; this is where guess will find the large dual barbecue area, the quiet and air-conditioned Member Lounge, and the casual full-service spa and salon. The Member's Lounge has a few large leather couches, board game area, and business center with Internet-ready computers. There's not much pizazz in here, and it feels a bit like a meeting room, but it's a good respite from the sun and a place to pick up a book or DVD from the lending library. Off of the Member's Lounge is the spa and salon. The vibe is casual and the menu full-service. There's even a back changing room with a full-body massage shower. On the east side of the property there's a decent-size fitness room with modern equipment, free weights, a water cooler, and slightly moldy smell -- but you'll need to grab a special keycard from the front desk for access. To the back of the resort, behind Sweet Peppers Restaurant, there are a couple of tattered tennis courts looking for some action. Or you could just head to the restaurant bar for happy hour, karaoke, or all-you-can-eat nights. There's free Wi-Fi in public spaces, but not all rooms can receive the signal. Free parking is available in either lot.