Your stay — Horizons Bar
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Oranjestad.
The Property — Horizons Bar
Horizons Bar is a straightforward three-star hotel in Oranjestad's hotel strip, offering clean, no-frills rooms with a small pool and a bar that overlooks the water. The lobby feels like a working holiday stop: tile floors, a front desk with a laminated guest info sheet, and a faint scent of sun cream. It suits budget-conscious travellers and day-trippers who want a bed near the beach without paying for resort amenities.
Chronicles of Oranjestad
Oranjestad was founded in 1796 when the Dutch built a fort on a natural harbour to protect shipping. The city's architecture is a mix of Dutch colonial gables, pastel stucco, and modern concrete towers, with a calm, car-oriented layout. Culturally, Oranjestad blends Aruban, Dutch, and Latin influences, visible in the ubiquitous Papiamento signs and the local passion for carnival. Today, it's a cruise-ship port with a small-town feel, where tourism drives the economy and the main street is a row of jewellery shops and casinos.
Best Time to Visit
Full Oranjestad guide →Best months
April and May offer the best balance: less rain than Jan-Mar, fewer tourists than peak winter, and calm seas for snorkelling.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak season for North American families, pushing hotel prices 30-50% above May levels, with Oranjestad's streets busiest during the Aruba Summer Music Festival and cruise ship arrivals.
Budget shoulder season
September and October are the cheapest, with 20-40% discounts on rooms, but also the highest humidity and chance of tropical waves passing.
Weather & packing
Aruba lies outside the hurricane belt, so rain is brief and winds are steady, but July heat and humidity are high. Pack light cotton clothes, a swimsuit, and a rain shell for sudden showers.
Live City Briefing — Oranjestad
- Oranjestad's L.G. Smith Boulevard has ongoing roadworks near the cruise terminal through 2026, causing one-lane traffic and longer waits for taxis.
- The island's main bus terminal at Koyari is closed for renovations until October 2026; buses now use a temporary stop two blocks south.
- A new sea-plane service from Curaçao to Oranjestad's harbour launched in May 2026, offering shorter transfers but higher fares than ferries.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Horizons Bar, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floor 4 or above. These floors are high enough to reduce street noise from Oranjestad's main roads, and the lift capacity is small, so fewer people will pass by your door.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floor 1 or 2. Floor 1 is closest to the bar and restaurant area, and floor 2 may catch noise from the main lobby and lift activity.
Best views
Rooms facing away from the main street may overlook the inner courtyard or pool area. If you prefer water views, request a higher floor on the north or east side, but don't expect a full ocean view from a 3-star property.
Quietest floors
Floors 4 to 7 (top floor) are the quietest, as they are furthest from the ground-level bar and street traffic.
🔊 Noise notes
Oranjestad has moderate street traffic during the day, and the bar (Horizons Bar) can produce low music and chatter until late evening. The single lift is slow, so rooms near it will hear dings and mechanical noise.
Insider tips
1) Check in early to secure a high floor room — the lift means little competition for quieter upper floors. 2) The bar closes around 11pm, so if you want total quiet, pick floor 5 or above and ask for a room at the end of the corridor.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Horizons Bar
check-in 15:00–22:00 (arrivals after 22:00 must notify in advance); baggage drop from 12:00 at front desk; late check-out until 14:00 costs $30
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 12.5% occupancy tax (on room rate plus service charge) per night; no separate tourist tax
Deposit & card hold: 100% of first night charged at booking; $100 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Super Food Plaza — 622 m · ~8 min walk
Parke Natural Cunucu Abao — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Aruba Bank — 576 m · ~7 min walk
Botica di Servicio Eagle — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
Wa Yang Food Mart — 799 m · ~10 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Aruban Florin, AWG
Use ATMs in town for the best rate; avoid airport kiosks and hotel front desks, which charge poor rates or high fees.
Visa and Mastercard accepted almost everywhere; Amex less common. Contactless works at most terminals. Cash still needed for small street vendors and some taxis.
10–15% at restaurants (check if service is included). Taxi drivers: round up or 10%. Hotel staff: $1–2 per bag for porters, $2–5 per day for housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A simple cup of black coffee from a local bakery or snack bar costs around 5–7 florins.
A filling roti or pastechi (savoury pastry) from a fast-food joint or street stall runs 15–25 florins.
A main course at a casual diner or local restaurant costs 30–50 florins.
Look for food trucks and stalls along the main streets and near the cruise port for pastechi, kibbeling (fried fish), and BBQ skewers.
Super Food and Ling & Sons are the main budget-friendly supermarket chains in Oranjestad.
The Renaissance Mall has upmarket brands. For cheaper clothes, try the stalls along Caya G.F. Betico Croes or the flea market near the port.
Arubus runs central Oranjestad routes for 2.60 florins per ride. A day pass costs about 9 florins. From the airport, take bus line 10 to the city centre for 2.60 florins.
Eat at local lunch spots away from the cruise dock – prices drop by half. Use ATMs inside banks rather than standalone machines to avoid surcharges. Buy a bottle of tap water (perfectly safe) and refill instead of buying plastic bottles.
Emergency Contacts
OranjestadFor general emergencies, a single number covers all services. For non-urgent police matters, call +297 582 0400. The Oranjestad Tourist Assistance Office is at +297 582 6800, open 8am–6pm daily. Download the government 'Aruba Info' app for location-based alerts.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Oranjestad, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Horizons Bar
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Aruba Bank — 576 m · ~7 min walk — pharmacy · Botica di Servicio Eagle — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Montaña Plaza Hotel → Eagle Beach or Palm Beach
💡 Get the hotel’s taxi call number saved in your phone. For beach runs, agree the fare before getting in — fixed rates apply per destination zone. Prices quoted in USD or AWG; pay in local currency for slight saving on exchange.
Bubali bus stop (near hotel, 5-minute walk) → Downtown Oranjestad (bus terminal near Renaissance Mall)
💡 Get a reusable 'Bus Card' from the terminal for 2.50 AWG — it loads credit and saves coins. Route 10 runs along the coastal road; best to board heading south. Last bus leaves downtown around 11:30 PM; check the digital schedule board at the terminal.
Montaña Plaza Hotel (walk 3 mins to bus stop on L.G. Smith Blvd, opposite SuperFood) → San Nicolas (tourist market area) or back to Oranjestad
💡 Route 1 heads south along the coast past Baby Beach — good for a cheap day trip, but schedule is loose. Take a photo of the frequency poster at the stop. Bring small bills and a bottle of water; no A/C on older buses.
Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) → Montaña Plaza Hotel
💡 Use the official taxi dispatch desk just outside baggage claim. Fixed rates to downtown Oranjestad are posted on a board. No need to negotiate; they're regulated. Tip 10% if driver helps with bags.
About Oranjestad
Wikipedia ↗
Oranjestad (UK: orr-AN-yə-staht, US: or-AHN-, oh-RAHN-, Dutch: [oːˈrɑɲəstɑt]; literally "Orange City" in Dutch; Papiamento: Orañestat or colloquially Playa, lit. 'beach'), the capital and most populous of Aruba's eight regions, is located on the southwestern coast of the island. Administratively,...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Horizons Bar?
Request a room on floor 4 or above. These floors are high enough to reduce street noise from Oranjestad's main roads, and the lift capacity is small, so fewer people will pass by your door.
Which rooms should I avoid at Horizons Bar?
Avoid rooms on floor 1 or 2. Floor 1 is closest to the bar and restaurant area, and floor 2 may catch noise from the main lobby and lift activity.
Is Horizons Bar noisy?
Oranjestad has moderate street traffic during the day, and the bar (Horizons Bar) can produce low music and chatter until late evening. The single lift is slow, so rooms near it will hear dings and mechanical noise.
Which rooms have the best views at Horizons Bar?
Rooms facing away from the main street may overlook the inner courtyard or pool area. If you prefer water views, request a higher floor on the north or east side, but don't expect a full ocean view from a 3-star property.
What are insider tips for staying at Horizons Bar?
1) Check in early to secure a high floor room — the lift means little competition for quieter upper floors. 2) The bar closes around 11pm, so if you want total quiet, pick floor 5 or above and ask for a room at the end of the corridor.
What time is check-in at Horizons Bar?
Check-in at Horizons Bar is from null. Check-out is by null.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Horizons Bar?
12.5% occupancy tax (on room rate plus service charge) per night; no separate tourist tax
Where can I eat cheaply near Horizons Bar?
A filling roti or pastechi (savoury pastry) from a fast-food joint or street stall runs 15–25 florins.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Horizons Bar?
Arubus runs central Oranjestad routes for 2.60 florins per ride. A day pass costs about 9 florins. From the airport, take bus line 10 to the city centre for 2.60 florins.
When is the best time to visit Oranjestad?
April and May offer the best balance: less rain than Jan-Mar, fewer tourists than peak winter, and calm seas for snorkelling.
Top Attractions in Oranjestad
💡 Best photo light is just after sunrise (around 6:30am) when the street is quiet and the sun hits the pastel facades.
💡 Visit on Saturday morning for the liveliest atmosphere with local vendors and cooked street food.
💡 Bring bread or fruit pieces to feed the iguanas—they’re used to tourists and will come right up.
💡 Go early (before 9am) to avoid crowds and hotel guest priority. Non-guests can enter after 10am.
💡 Visit during the Bon Bini festival on Tuesday evenings for free live music and dancing in the courtyard.