Casa Del Mar Beach Resort

Resort is not new, but very well kept. Everything seems to be functioning flawlessly. Lots of family activities on property. The on property restaurant (Matthew's) was very good, but a little pricey. Our room (1513, 2 bedroom) was well appointed and in very good shape. The living room furniture was very new and slightly uncomfortable. The balcony had an ocean view, but no sunrise/sunset view. Still very nice! The Master has I believe a king bed, the 2nd bedroom had 2 twins. Both not new, but yet comfortable. The bathrooms provided soap, but no shampoo. The kitchen was decently appointed: gas range, full size fridge but no ice maker, No dishwasher, only a small bottle of dish soap and a small sponge, and no other typical consumables we get elsewhere (no coffee or filters for the maker, no salt/pepper, etc) I guess most of the "minuses" are due to "cost savings". These are the things that make a resort "polished" and inviting.

My friend and I stayed at Casa del Mar from January 24–31, 2026. Unfortunately, our stay was marked by a very serious security failure. On our second night, while we were asleep in our first-floor suite, a man broke into our room and stole belongings that were on the kitchen table. We reported the incident to security and reviewed surveillance footage with them. The footage showed that during midnight rounds, security confirmed our sliding door was locked. However, at approximately 2:40 a.m., a man entered the property from the public beach access, attempted multiple first-floor sliding doors, and was eventually able to gain entry into ours. We went with the police to track our belongings and were fortunate that an arrest was made and some items were recovered, though not everything was returned. After the incident, the Head of Security, Maureen Blake, inspected our suite and determined that our sliding door lock was faulty. We did everything expected of guests to ensure our safety, including locking the doors. The issue was not guest negligence, but a defective lock that allowed someone to enter our room while we were sleeping. While the break-in itself was traumatic, the way management handled the situation was even more upsetting and concerning. The incident was repeatedly minimized and referred to as an “inconvenience.” We were told we should have kept all belongings in the safe — even though we were physically in the room asleep at the time. The response was dismissive and blame-shifting. We were made to wait until the day before we were scheduled to leave to meet with Bob Curtis the GM and Arthur Hayes Chairman of the Board. During the meeting senior management was condescending and defensive. There was no genuine concern shown for our safety or well-being. Instead of taking accountability for a faulty lock that allowed an intruder into an occupied room, the tone of the meeting suggested they believed the situation had been handled well and that we were overreacting. It was shocking and incredibly disappointing. We were told things such as "Too bad you're leaving tomorrow, you can't do anything once you leave the island" and "I understand emotional trauma, I served in Desert Storm". Even when we tried to provide positive feedback for the one security guard that was helpful and genuinely caring they followed up with "I'm not sure why he's not retired- his wife probably won't let him". Equally disappointing is the fact that an accurate incident report will only be provided to us if we sign a “hold harmless” statement waiving CDM of any liability. We have been informed in the month that this incident occurred that wood blocks have since been added to sliding doors and that there are plans to replace the doors entirely in the future. CDM recognizes the security flaw in their hotel but refuses to take accountability for what happened. It’s unfortunate that it took a serious security breach to occur for CDM to make necessary safety changes. Two senior staff members told us on separate occasions that the police had notified the resort of recent first floor break ins at nearby hotels. No guest should experience an unauthorized entry into their room while sleeping. While the beach CDM is on itself is beautiful, safety and accountability matter more than aesthetics. Based on this experience and the handling of it afterward, we cannot recommend staying here due to terrible management and very bad security/safety.

We went to the public beach in the area and used one of the palapas, not knowing that they belonged to the hotel. A security guard came over and treated us disrespectfully, telling us that we had to leave the area exactly as we found it, including the lounge chairs. The beach is completely public, and there is no clearly defined boundary indicating which area belongs to the hotel and which area is public beach. Then, for a second time, he approached us and spoke to us disrespectfully again, even though we had not moved or touched anything. He wanted us to leave a public area of the beach. Apparently, this is how they treat several other people as well. If they don't want people using certain areas of the public beach, they should put up a wall or clearly mark the hotel's private area. Absolutely ridiculous

Away from the high rises this place offers a relaxed atmosphere that allows a quick five minute trip in either direction to find yourself in the thick of the action. Two bedroom effeciency units have well equiped kitchens with a pullout sofa that can easily sleep six with ample storage in the main living room for those people as well. Price was extremely reasonable especially off-season. Friendly staff and decent amenities... The Alhambra Casino is steps away and offers $10 blackjack with 3-2 payout and slot machines seem to pay ok.

Best place on the island! From check in with bell captains Jonathan and Fer and hospitality staff Marta, Gregory, the security officer, and our other favorites on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Ambassador wing who keep the property clean, safe and friendly. Casa Del Mar has outshined other resorts for years thanks to this incredible staff who welcome us back yearly with the same work ethic and professionalism! Thank you. Mashe Danke Arubans