s

Category Archives: Divi Aruba Phoenix

Activities, Aruba, Caribbean, Divi Aruba Phoenix, Divi Dutch, Divi Village, To Do

Aruba & Jazz; What Could Be Better?

Many of the songs made famous by George Benson seem like they were written for Aruba. “Breezin’,” his signature jazz guitar hit could be the national anthem. If you’re creating a playlist for your Aruba vacation, there’s plenty of George Benson to suit any vacation mood. No matter how good your headphones, seeing the master, the legend, the jazz icon in person – in Aruba is better.  Benson is headlining the Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival there, October 4th and 5th.

Benson’s fluid guitar work, masterful arrangements and velvet voice have created a string of timeless hits and made him a jazz favorite for over forty years. “Breezin’,” released in 1976 and a multiple Grammy winner, soared to the top of the charts.  All three:  pop, jazz and R&B. It is a standard on smooth jazz radio still.

Come to think of all the George Benson songs, I can’t imagine a better soundtrack for an Aruba honeymoon.  “Give Me the Night,” “Turn Your Love Around,” “Kisses in the Moonlight,” “Lady Love Me (One More Time).” If the spirit and the songs move you, there are wedding and honeymoon specials on the Divi Resorts website.

Divi Dutch and Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort put you closest to the George Benson concert venue on Saturday, October 5th.  Then, you can easily get breezin’ on back to the resort.  Or keep breezin’ on down the road to the Phoenix.

If you want a little musical preview of the Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival, you can listen to George.

Activities, Aruba, Caribbean, Divi Aruba Phoenix, Divi Dutch, Divi Village, To Do

Who’s Up For Some Beach Tennis?

It was so much fun, Divi decided to do it again!  This year, from November 12 through the 17th, there will be another big International beach tennis tournament in Aruba.  Called the Divi Resorts Aruba International Beach Tennis Event, it is already one of the most popular tournaments on the calendar of the ITF, the International Tennis Federation, which happens to be the same governing body of tennis, as most of us know it.  You might think beach tennis sounds a bit crazy, but this combination of tennis and volleyball is indeed an official sport and coming on strong all over the world.

There will be more than 1000 players serving, volleying, acing, spiking and diving in the sand of Eagle Beach come November.  The number of participants, a combination of professionals and amateurs, is an increase over last year’s event.  Players hail from Aruba, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Columbia, France, Germany, Italy, St. Martin, Martinique, Mexico, The Netherlands, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the US.  The prize money is $25,000, another indicator that the sport is growing.

Beach Tennis Aruba, the local organizer of the event, promises a festival of fun.  As the host, Divi Resorts promises lots of excitement and special rates at three different Divi hotels:  Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach, Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort and Divi Dutch Village. All resorts are within walking distance of the event venue.

Beach tennis combines the fun and social nature of volleyball with the fast pace of tennis, according to Beach Tennis USA.  Check out their website for more background on the sport. By the way, Beach Tennis USA is working closely with the ITF to get beach tennis into the Olympics.   So, you might say you saw it first in Aruba.

Aruba, Caribbean, Divi Aruba Phoenix

Divi Owners Charles and Marilyn Flynn

This month, we shine our Owner Spotlight on Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort owners Charles and Marilyn Flynn.

Soon we will see the Flynn’s around Aruba. When they’re in residence on the island, they are out and about day and night, enjoying all that Aruba has to offer from jet skiing on the Caribbean Sea to world-class restaurants and golf.  It is no surprise they describe themselves as “up for anything.”

Every fall for the last six years, they have left Massachusetts and traveled to Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort, their home away from home. Even though their stay is only two weeks, Charles and Marilyn make the most of 14 days.

They relax by sitting on the beach with their toes in the soft white sand reading a good book.   Their idea of a good time is playing golf at the Links at Divi Village and dining out.  They love the restaurants on Aruba, including Windows on Aruba and dining under the stars at Pure Ocean. Charles enjoys the romantic outings and dinners with his wife, but the smile on his wife’s face vacationing in Aruba is yet the most romantic thing he recalls.

When they’re on Aruba, they feel the warmth of the local people welcoming them back year after year.  Plus, they always feel very safe. They offer high praise for the efficiency and friendliness of the staff at the hotel and the cleanliness of the resort. Over at the Links at Divi, “The golf staff, plus everyone in the Pro Shop are the best,” Charles said.

Thank you, Charles and Marilyn for being loyal Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort owners. We wish you many years of vacations in paradise.

 

Activities, Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, Caribbean, Divi Aruba Phoenix, Divi Dutch, Divi Flamingo, Divi Little Bay, Divi Southwinds, Divi Village, Resorts, St. Maarten

Divi Does More for Kids!

Divi Resorts is expanding its children’s activities at six of its Caribbean resorts starting July 22nd.  The weekly schedule of free family events, called Treasures of the Caribbean, includes a treasure hunt, sandcastle building and movie night.

Every Monday morning starting July 22nd, children and their parents will follow clues (and the resort’s activities staff) around the Divi Resort property to amass a stash of keepsakes.  The real treasure at the end is a T-shirt, one that does special things:  It turns every kid into a member of Divi’s Pirate Crew.  And those crewmembers enjoy free refreshments – beverages and ice cream – throughout their stay at Divi.  It also earns them a salute from Divi staff each and every time they wear the shirt.

On Wednesdays, the big event is sandcastle building; souvenir bucket, shovel and great sand and ocean are supplied.

To kick-off the new Treasures of the Caribbean program Divi is hosting a contest to decide who can build the best sandcastle this summer at a Divi resort.  Pictures of the sandcastles will be showcased on Divi’s Facebook page (Divi does the posting and all the picture taking) and Divi will invite its Facebook followers to decide the best one.  The winning family gets another vacation, but this time it’s a FREE one.  (The contest gives new meaning to the term “vacation home,” wouldn’t you say?)    The winner can select any of the participating resorts for their free stay.

So let the fun begin! Join Divi’s Pirate Crew.  Hunt for treasure.  Build a castle.  Enjoy a movie on Friday night.

Need a little inspiration for the sandcastle you’re going to build?  Redbook Magazine gives a step-by-step on the basics.

Want to step up your game a bit?  Check out these architecturally awesome sandcastles collected by the folks at Popular Mechanics.

Get more details about the Treasures of the Caribbean, including participating Divi resorts, complimentary family photos, contest deadline and more here!

Activities, Aruba, Divi Aruba Phoenix, Divi Dutch, Divi Village, To Do

The Aruba Nightlife

No wonder Aruba is such a happy island.  Day or night, there is no shortage of things to do while in Aruba.  So many travelers who return to Aruba again and again have a list of favorite things about Aruba, be it a pool to languish by, a beach for savoring a sunset or a certain shop.  And, yet, it’s always fun to discover something new.  If you haven’t yet had a night out at Fusion, make a note.  Since opening last season, this one-of-a-kind establishment has – in less than a year – become a go-to place for those on their Aruba vacation as well as locals out for a nice evening.

The full name is Fusion Wine & Piano Bar and it is situated in the newly revamped Alhambra Plaza.  And, to borrow from the vernacular of the day, it is what it is:  that is to say, a fusion, in just about every way.  It is restaurant and lounge, dinner and tapas, cocktails and wine, live music and cigar bar.  It’s also a mix of inside and outside, with a bright lights/big city circular bar plus table seating inside and a cozy living room-like arrangement out under the stars where you can sink into comfy couches and let the music gently waft over the summer breeze.

Fusion is a place for doing your own thing.  Got a favorite wine?  The wine selection is the most extensive on the island and continues to expand.  Fusion also has Aruba’s most extensive cigar collection.  Live entertainment is offered six nights a week, and has variety, too, ranging from jazz, pop, soul and a little R&B.  Sunday night, Angelo Koolman (Love the name.) sings and plays guitar, Monday night Angelo Kock tickles the ivories and Tuesday, Mister Martens plays sax.  Fusion Wine & Piano Bar’s Facebook page posts the upcoming schedule: https://www.facebook.com/FusionAruba.

On the Facebook page, you will also find comments and reviews, like this one from Liliana Erasmus, writing for 10Best.com, “It’s here at Fusion, where laidback evenings are filled with the indulgence of the senses and where signature cocktails, a generous selection of global wines and premium cigars are complemented by French Executive chef Gerard Coste’s reinvented menu.”

EJ Schanfarber, CEO of Divi Resorts, says that Fusion is a nice place to relax at the end of the day. “It is a new concept for the island, and we’re so pleased that it has struck the right chord with our guests and locals alike.”

See you there!

Aruba, Caribbean, Divi Aruba Phoenix, Divi Dutch, Divi Village

Aruba Ariba!

Whether you see it printed on the menu or not, saunter up to any bar in Aruba, ask the bartender for an Aruba Ariba, and guaranteed, you’ll be obliged.  What makes the Aruba Ariba so ubiquitous?  It’s unique to Aruba.  And why?  Because every Aruba Ariba is made with coecoei, a liquor made from the sap of a local agave plant.  The deep red sap is then mixed with rum and cane sugar.  It not only adds a distinctive taste and color when used as an ingredient, coecoei also packs a punch with its 100-proof alcoholic content.

It surely must be a seductive cocktail because plenty of message boards evidence a search for coecoei by travelers once they return home from a trip to Aruba.   Sorry.  The only place to buy coecoei is Aruba.  So there you go:  another reason to go to Aruba.  (As if you needed another one besides sugary white beaches, blue skies, friendly people, endless activities or a beautiful place to do absolutely nothing while sitting under a palapa.)

Though the recipe varies a bit, the end result is universally described as delicious, refreshing and fruity – very apropos to the tropics.  A clear glass mug is recommended as an appropriate vessel in order to show off the rainbow of colors.  Make that a tall, clear glass mug to accommodate the liquors, liqueurs and juices.  Yes, you need all three to make a proper Aruba Ariba.

Here is the most often published recipe for the Aruba Ariba:

  • ½ ounce of vodka
  • ½ ounce of 151 proof rum
  • 1/8 ounce of coecoei
  • 1/8-ounce crème de bananes
  • ½ cup of orange juice
  • ½ cup of cranberry juice
  • ½ cup of pineapple juice

Directions: Pour into a glass.  Stir slightly. Splash with grenadine.  Top with Grand Marnier.  Garnish with a slice of orange.

I’ll have mine while enjoying the sunset from one of those cushy white couches at Pure Lounge over at Divi Phoenix Beach.

You can find other famous Aruba cocktails here at Visit Aruba.

Enjoy!

<< Back to Blog Home

divi hotels marketing, inc.

  • 6320 Quadrangle Drive Suite 210 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27517
  • phone: 1.800.367.3484 / 919.419.3484
    M-F, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET
  • comments@diviresorts.com

sign up to receive specials

Sign up with our email list to receive special offers and information about exciting information about our resorts.

Subscribe

connect with us

Also Part of The Divi Family

See Our Green Initiatives