The Mill Resort & Suites Aruba

The Mill Resort & Suites Aruba feels like a best-kept secret tucked in among high-rises and casinos along the Palm Beach strip. Once everyone has been slathered head-to-toe in sunscreen, head to the two saltwater pools. Work on your backstroke or lounge with a refreshing cocktail from the poolside bar and keep an eye on the kids in the children’s pool. Grab lunch at the on-site restaurant before hitting the beach. A free shuttle awaits to whisk you to the beach, where an attendant promptly reports for duty when you appear, eager to find you the perfect spot on the sand. Get your tan on while the little ones show off their sandcastle-building skills. Back at the resort, drop the kids off at the on-site kids club and get in a workout at the 24-hour fitness center.

Air-conditioned condos at the Mill Resort sleep two to eight guests. Junior, deluxe junior and deluxe studio condos have kitchenettes to prepare basic meals or heat up leftovers. Studio, one- and two-bedroom condos have full kitchens giving you more freedom. For groceries, there’s an on-site convenience store or a Super Food grocery store nearby. Take a mental inventory of your kitchen contents before making the call on dinner. Taco night in? Or theme dinner out? (The resort-hosted all-you-can-eat BBQ wins.) After dinner, make a pit-stop at the on-site laundry facility to take care of those bbq sauce stains before returning to your condo for the evening. Break out the board games or see if you can get a majority vote on what to watch on the flat screen TV; it has premium cable. Then, it’s semi-early to bed – you want your crew sharp for morning tennis lessons. (Promise pancakes first.)

Surprise the kids with a trip to Aruba’s Butterfly Farm, just a short walk from the resort. It features hundreds of exotic butterflies that will fly around you as you walk through a mesh enclosure. Guides can even show you how to handle the butterflies and caterpillars. Ready for some hardcore shopping? You’re in luck! Paseo Herencia Shopping Mall is a short drive from The Mill Resort. Grab a mocha at Starbucks before checking out the jewelry at Pandora and Pearl Gems. If you’re looking for apparel, there’s United Colors of Benetton, DLG and Tommy Hilfiger. When the kids get hungry, head to TGI Fridays for lunch. Evening activities at Paseo Herencia include a kiddie train, pony rides, bumper cars and a carousel. Eager to see more of Aruba? There’s a tour desk right onsite for booking excursions and other island adventures.