One Happy Island is in full swing this October. This week: The Points Guy names Aruba one of the best places to travel right now, the Autentico Culinary Festival wraps its big week with a street-party finale, a new dining guide maps the island’s food scene, the Aruba Marriott teases adults-only plunge pool rooms, a first-timer weighs in on De Palm Island, and summer visitor nights topped two million. Here’s what caught our eye.
1. The Points Guy Names Aruba One of the 10 Best Places to Travel in October
Aruba made The Points Guy’s October 2026 shortlist thanks to dependable sunshine, low-season pricing, and a packed events calendar. Their rundown flags the Autentico Aruba Culinary Festival (October 3–11), the inaugural Leyenda del Dorado international mountain bike race (October 9–11), and the Interpaso Paso Fino horse competition (October 31–November 1) — plus a tip to grab Aruba Aloe skincare before heading home.
Read the full article at The Points Guy →
2. Autentico Culinary Festival: The Caribbean’s Best-Kept Culinary Secret?
Caribbean Journal argues Aruba’s nine-day Autentico festival — Restaurant Week, limited-seat chef-led Bucket List Experiences, and the two-night Pavilion street festival in downtown Oranjestad — makes a compelling case for booking a trip around the food rather than just the beaches. The Pavilion ran October 10–11 this year, with evening hours, live demonstrations, and a low-cost day pass that included a food-and-beverage credit.
Read the full article at Caribbean Journal →
3. A Fresh Guide to Aruba’s Dining Scene, From Fish Pier to Chef’s Counter
A new overview of Aruba dining traces the island’s range: Zeerover’s uncomplicated fresh-catch wharf in Savaneta, chef Urvin Croes’s eight-course chef’s-counter experience at Infini, and Michelin-starred Jeremy Ford’s seasonal cooking at Terra inside Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort. The takeaway is breadth — Indonesian, Peruvian, Japanese, Dutch, Caribbean, and Latin American influences all sit comfortably in the island’s food picture.
Read the full guide at Foodism →
4. Aruba Marriott Previews Adults-Only Plunge Pool Accommodations
The Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino is preparing a new premium, adults-only room category with private plunge pools, landscaped outdoor living areas, retractable shade canopies, gated privacy, and direct beach and pool access. The rooms also include access to the resort’s Tradewinds Club experience — one to watch for couples planning 2027 trips, though no opening date was announced.
Read the full update at Drift Travel →
5. De Palm Island: Is the All-Inclusive Day Trip Worth It?
Canadian travel writer Nadine Sykora of Globe Guide gives a hands-on review of De Palm Island, the all-inclusive day-trip island off Aruba’s west coast. Her verdict covers what to expect — beaches, water sports, food and drinks included — and notes the island’s resident flock of about a dozen Chilean flamingos along the shoreline, a nice bonus for families who want the flamingo experience without a Renaissance Island booking.
Read the full review at Globe Guide →
6. Two Million Visitor Nights: Aruba’s Summer by the Numbers
Aruba logged roughly 1.07 million visitor nights in July and another 967,000 in August 2026 — more than two million across the two months, with visitors staying an average of 6.7 and 6.6 nights respectively. The numbers underline the island’s shift toward longer stays and steady summer demand, welcome news for the island’s hotels, restaurants, and rental businesses.
Read the full article at Travel and Tour World →
That’s this week’s roundup. Check back every Monday for fresh Aruba travel headlines — and start planning your trip to One Happy Island.