What is name of the oldest hotel on Palm Beach?

[cruiseapril]

Does anyone know which of the highrise hotels on Palm Beach is the oldest?

[Kibaima]

Does anyone know which of the highrise hotels on Palm Beach is the oldest?

 

Oldest highrise on the Palm Beach strip is the former Caribbean Beach Hotel. It changed owners a couple of times. It later became the Golden Tulip Hotel and changed names again several years ago, and is now the Radisson.

[cruiseapril]

Thanks K. -Did the hotel have separate cabanas? Did Harry Belafonte own it or one of the others? I had read something about this.

[Kibaima]

Thanks K. -Did the hotel have separate cabanas? Did Harry Belafonte own it or one of the others? I had read something about this.

 

The hotel you are referring to is the the Basi Ruti, and was indeed the first one on the island, only it wasn't a high rise hotel. It did have separate cabanas. I wouldn't call it the oldest though because it doesn't exist anymore, unlike the Carribean Beach Hotel which is still there but under another name.

 

The Basi Ruti was demolished, and the Playa Linda Beach Resort is now on that spot on the beach. The Playa Linda has some bar or cocktail lounge called the Basi Ruti in honor of the old hotel.

 

As I understand Harry Belafonte was a regular there way before Aruba was discovered as a tourist destination. I never knew he was an owner or co-owner though. But seeing the amount of time he used to spend here it is very well possible. By the way, it's incredibe that you found that information on the internet. I bet most Arubans, including myself, didn't know that.

[hcat]

We were just at this port recently. Playa Linda is really gorgeous--it's a time share- I think the Holiday Inn must be quite old--was there on a cruise with my parents in the 60's... not so many hotels back then...I think the casino was just about to open or had just opened....

[Kibaima]

We were just at this port recently. Playa Linda is really gorgeous--it's a time share- I think the Holiday Inn must be quite old--was there on a cruise with my parents in the 60's... not so many hotels back then...I think the casino was just about to open or had just opened....

 

The Holiday was the 3rd high rise hotel built on the strip (the first building, the second building was added much later, beginning of the 80's if I'm not mistaken). Aruba Caribbean Hotel was first, Aruba Sheraton Hotel was second (used to be blue in the 60's & 70's)

[Tania]

I've owned at Playa Linda since 1991...thanks for the tidbit about the Basi Ruti...a stay at the Holiday Inn convinced us to buy.

 

Our very first stays in Aruba were at the Talk of the Town. Great place with a baby as we could stay close during the afternoon naps. I wonder if the new owners will ever finish the rnovations?