Category Archives: Divi Dutch

Divi Resorts Gives a Hats Off & Discount to Our Military

Did you know that Divi Resorts provides a 20% discount off its best-published nightly rates for the US, UK and Canadian military?  You bet.  We urge you to tell any veteran, disabled, reservist or active military person.  Our military personnel deserve our special consideration, along with a little rest and relaxation in the beautiful Caribbean.  The discount is available all year long at eight Divi Resorts, including those on Barbados, Bonaire, St. Croix, St. Maarten and select properties on Aruba.

While feasting at a BBQ this weekend or getting together with friends at a beach “up north,” spread the word.  Wouldn’t this be another good way to say “thank you?” Share the link for the Divi Military Special.  The discount can be booked anytime!

And, if you have the chance, join in a parade.  But wherever you are, when the clock strikes 3pm, observe the National Moment of Remembrance in silence and reflection for those who have perished during military service.

If you live near St. Louis, you can attend the 63rd annual “Good Turn,” at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, where local Boys Scouts and Cub Scouts decorate 189,000 grave-sites.  What a proud tradition, now in its 63rd year.  The cemetery has served as a burial landscape for soldiers since the Civil War.

And, is there a more stirring sight than seeing Arlington National Cemetery decorated with American flags at 250,000 grave-sites?  The flags are planted there by the 3rd U.S. Infantry, which also maintains a vigil to ensure each flag remains standing throughout the weekend.

Decoration Day is the original name of this day of tribute, when people used flowers to decorate the graves of those who fought and died in the Civil War.  A surviving general of this “rebellion,” as the general himself, John A. Logan, referred to the war, suggested back in 1868, that May 30th be a day of honor.   More than a century and many world conflicts later, the tribute has expanded to include all men and women who served in the US military.

The day of honor evolved to be called Memorial Day and as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1971, Memorial Day became a federal holiday as well as a three-day weekend.

It’s worth noting that the late senator of Hawaii, Daniel Inouye, introduced a bill in 1989 to move the holiday back to the fixed date as a way to stress the true meaning of the day.  He reintroduced the bill in every Congress until his death last year.

Let’s be thankful for our three-day weekends, holiday BBQs and Caribbean vacations and remember on this Memorial Day those who have perished in service to their country.

A Caribbean vacation in summer? Yes, let’s go!

Did you know there are over 7000 individual islands in the Caribbean?  Who’s ready to spend a few days on one this summer? The Caribbean in summer?  Yes!  It’s when the best deals are.  Especially after April 1, when kids eat and stay free at Divi Resorts.  June is when most Divi Resorts offer the lowest rates, but there are deals all summer long.  Vacation dollars go further, spacious suites are available and there are plenty of palapas for a quiet snooze on the beach.  There are also as many activities in summer as in season.  This is sounding like a vacation made in heaven.  But, it’s the Caribbean.

So, just where should you go for a Caribbean beach vacation?  I’m giving an “A” to Aruba.   First of all, there are few worries about hurricanes.  Aruba is technically out of the hurricane zone.  The temperature is only slighted elevated in the summer months due to the ever-present trade winds.

Aruba has too many temptations to list.  But, just consider these:

Divi Village, Divi Aruba Phoenix and Divi Dutch Village offer all-suite accommodations, an ideal set-up for families.   Not only are the suites spacious with modern amenities, but also they feature fully equipped kitchens. That’s handy for keeping kids satisfied with a little snacking and refreshment throughout the day, and an excellent way to stretch the family’s vacation dollars.   ‘Because you will want to do this vacation again next year.

If the brood is just too tired to go out at night, it couldn’t be easier to settle in for a night at home.  Slide open the balcony doors, plop onto a comfy couch and hit the remote for the flat-screen TV.  You can also gather ‘round the dining room table for board games.

Staying in won’t feel like a letdown after all there is to do during the day.  If you opt for the Druif Beach area, you’ll have your pick of multiple pools (enough to choose a different one just about every day), lighted tennis courts (weekly tennis clinics, too), poolside games and beach walks every afternoon, a water sports center with enough free activities to keep families entertained no matter how long the stay.   Aruba’s only 30-foot rock climbing wall is located on the Divi beach.

There are more than a dozen restaurant choices for the entire family when you do feel like dining out together.   (Remember:  kids eat free April 1 through December 21st.) Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort also has a nine-hole golf course and pro shop.  Parents might also like an evening at the Alhambra casino, which can be reached by a free shuttle bus from the resort.

Over at Phoenix Beach, the curvaceous pools are a big hit with families, as is the cool and comfy Pure Beach restaurant.  For a convenient diversion, go across the street and roam the Butterfly Farm.  Buy one ticket and go multiple times.

It’s just a shame you have to go home at some point.  I guess that’s why it’s called a “vacation.” Be sure to check out Divi’s discounted Summer rates!

What are you doing for Memorial Day?

Pack your bags and your groove and hip hop on down to Aruba for the 13th annual Soul Beach Music Festival.  It’s five days of beach parties, nightclub events, big name concerts – and laughs, too.  Comedians Sinbad and Damon Williams, well known to Comedy Central audiences and beyond, entertain on Friday night.  And, Divi Resorts has sumptuous suites waiting.  Is there a better way to kick off summer?

The musical line-up for this year’s Soul Beach Music Festival will either stir your soul or soothe it – or both.  Elle Varner, D’Angelo and Tamia are among the music makers for the weekend along with Ne-Yo, who’s the big closer of the festival on Sunday night. Motown  artist, crooner and songwriter for his own recordings and others soulful stars – among them Queen B, otherwise known as Beyoncé – Ne-Yo’s songs win Grammys (three) and are huge crowd pleasers. If his Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself), has a certain ring to it, that’s because it has had a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for the last 28 weeks.

Of course, there is nothing like being there to really feel the beat. Enjoy amped up nightclub events, sizzling beach parties, warm temperatures, fun people and party after party after party.  And, travel deals, too.

Divi Resorts is a travel sponsor of the Soul Beach Music Festival, and is offering Soul Beach Music Festival special rates at Divi Dutch, Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort as well as Divi Phoenix Beach.  Studio suites start at $129; one-bedroom suites start at $149.

Whether or not Aruba is your Memorial Day weekend getaway, right now is the time to enter to win a seven-day stay at Divi Resorts in Aruba.  The prize is good for any time of year. Find out about the Divi Resorts specials and enter to win a seven-night stay!

Anyone up for some beach tennis…in Aruba?

Did you say beach tennis? Why, yes I did! What exactly is beach tennis you might ask? It’s anything, but your normal tennis of course! You know those bouncing balls, tennis racquets & hard courts you’re accustomed to in tennis? Well for starters, in beach tennis, there are no bouncing balls, they play with paddles instead of the average racquets and the game is played on a much softer court made out of, you guessed it, sand!

And, what about the attire in beach tennis? Well, it’s definitely skimpier than those tennis whites you normally see worn at Wimbledon.  Other than that, it’s pretty much the same ‘ole tennis. And, it’s an official sport like tennis is too!

Want to see what all the excitement’s about with beach tennis?  Come to Aruba and watch 200 of the World’s top players compete in the 2012 Aruba Divi Resorts International Beach Tennis event during November 14 through November 19, 2012.

Currently, the best beach tennis players in the sport are the Italian teams in both the men’s and women’s divisions.  For this Aruba tournament, the Italian teams will be joined by teams from Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Czech Republic, Brazil, Columbia, Venezuela, Mexico, Bermuda, St. Martin, the US, Puerto Rico and of course, Aruba, where beach tennis is now practically its national sport. Like tennis, beach tennis is predominantly played in singles and doubles match-ups. Over the course of the tournament, 600+ players, ages 6 up to 69 years old, will have taken to the courts as they vie for a purse of $15,000.

Spectators and players will also be able to enjoy a sport village that will be erected on the beautiful white sands of Eagle Beach in Aruba, just a short stroll from all five of the Divi Resorts in Aruba.  The village will include 20 beach tennis courts, a food court, bars, merchandise stands and entertainment stages for DJs and live bands.

After the tournament has concluded with its final match, the nets will all come down and all the energy and enthusiasm from the beach tennis tournament will burst out into an “after dance party” on the centre court! They’ll be celebrating until the wee hours of the morning and they want all of you there as Divi, BTA and Aruba will make this a “lifetime experience” for everyone!

Admission to the sport village and to all the beach tennis matches is free! Each of the Divi Resorts properties in Aruba are offering specially discounted rooms during this beach tennis tournament.  For reservations, call 888.367.3484 (if International, call 919-367-3484) or visit Divi Resorts to select your resort & travel dates for your stay. And to get our “special discount”, simply click on the “Corporate Rate” tab and enter the code “BTA”.

You never know, you just might be watching the next great Olympic sport! We look forward to your arrival!