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Tags: Holiday Hotels / Hotel Amenities / Aruba Hotels / → All Tags

'Billy Elliot' Star to Dance the Nutcracker at the Occidental Grand Aruba

Where: J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 83, Palm Beach, Aruba

Just because Aruba is a warm-weather holiday travel alternative doesn't mean you can't still partake in traditions while you're there. The Occidental Grand Aruba is really trying to get you in the spirit by offering Nutcracker performances at the resort starring Kiril Kulish, the Tony Award-winning actor who was one of the original boxer-turned-ballet-dancer title characters in Broadway's Billy Elliot.

Having the 15-year-old Broadway vet in the Aruba resort is rather random, but nonetheless pretty cool. You can see how his ballet chops have fared since he left the Great White Way at the all-inclusive resort on December 29. His free performance as the Nutcracker prince will be exclusively for hotel guests as part of a holiday package.

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Learn to Play Beach Tennis at Marriott Aruba (Jams Shorts Not Required)

Where: LG SMITH BLVD, Palm Beach, Aruba

Whether or not you’re a tennis fan, beach tennis — featuring tan, chiseled-chested men! — is the sort of spectator sport many of us can get behind. Throw in a trip to Aruba and, well, you’ve got the makings for a pretty fabulous vacation, if you ask us.

If you agree, consider the Aruba Marriott Resort’s Beach Tennis Tournament Package. Coinciding with Aruba’s 8th annual International Beach Tennis Event, to be held Nov. 13-15, the hotel is offering a four-night minimum stay that offers a $700 savings, which includes a free night’s stay and breakfast and other free goodies, like a one-hour beach tennis lesson from a beach tennis pro, use of the resort’s beach tennis court and paddles, and the chance to participate in the round robin tournament. The package also includes access to the opening night festivities, free drink and entertainment included, plus a beach tennis T-shirt and BBQ lunch.

Rates start at $339 a night (remember: the fourth night is free). To book the package, request promo code S3Q. Learn more about beach tennis at Arubabeachtennis.com.

Tags: Hotel Packages / Hotel Renovations / Aruba Hotels / Marriott Hotels / → All Tags

Aruba Marriott Celebrates Renovation with Slashed Rates

Where: L.G. Smith Boulevard # 101 , Palm Beach, Aruba

Even in the heat of summer, tropical Aruba always sounds like a nice spot for jet setting, if you ask us. Like-minded travelers might want to consider the Aruba Marriott Resort, which completed a $50 million renovation earlier this year and is celebrating pretty much all year with a Relaunch Rate that skims 30 percent off regular rates.

You can book rates starting at $188 a night through Dec. 18; just be sure to request promo code NEW.

The renovation included a total makeover of all 411 guest rooms, the addition of a Ruth’s Chris Steak House, redesign of La Vista restaurant, overhaul of the lobby and reception area, and the creation of Tradewinds Club, a “59-room hotel-within-a-hotel” on the resort’s eighth floor. Tradewinds Club has a 1,900-square-foot lounge with terrace and includes VIP perks like private check-in, upgraded amenities, preferred spa and resto reservations, secluded beach area, free Wi-Fi, free food service five times daily (with open bar), and more.

Guests can book Relaunch Rates for the Tradewinds Club too, with those rates starting at $338; or upgrade even more to the Tradewinds Indulgence package. The package starts at $469 per night but offers the fourth night free as well as a $100 resort credit. Book the package using promo code P51.

We’ll admit that the press kit photos are pretty to-die-for. Anyone out there have any first-hand experiences with the spiffied-up resort? Share in comments below.

Tags: Facebook / Hotel Deals / Beach Hotels / Aruba Hotels / → All Tags

Bucuti Resort : For the Couple That Shares One Facebook Account

Where: L.G. Smith Boulevard #55B, Eagle Beach, Aruba

Rated by Tripadvisor as one of the "Top Ten Least Family-Friendly Resorts," the 104-room Bucuti Beach Resort featuring Tara Beach Suites & Spa caters to a lovey dovey, couples-only clientele. Couples flock to Bucuti’s "Dream Beach of the World" to get hitched or to honeymoon, and, according to the hotel, they return year after year for anniversaries, special occasions and vow renewals. (Bucuti’s rock star wedding planner, Nashette Wouters, is a bit of a celeb after her face was splashed on advertisements within the New York Subway system and on major billboards across the U.S.)

Bucuti’s Facebook page has become an instant hit with the resort’s frequent repeat guests who actively use the social networking site to connect with locals and other guests, as well as post photos, comments and fave memories from their stay in Aruba.

The page is definitely geared more towards delivering useful information – such as media mentions in Body & Mind and Spa magazines, a guest’s latest deep sea fishing catch or updates on “Perry,” the resident Peregrine falcon – rather than wheeling and dealing hotel promotions. Couples who’ve connected on past trips frequently use the site to reconnect with island friends and other traveling twosomes for future trip dates. The cyber-savvy folks at Bucuti have managed to create a fairly meaningful sense of online community that outclasses the cheesy bulletin boards typically found on couples-only resort sites, such as, well, Couples Resorts.

As of post time, Bucuti Beach Resort had 555 fans and counting. The property also keeps island-hoppers up-to-date with its blog and via Twitter (@Bucuti).

Tags: Hotel Amenities / Aruba Hotels / Westin Hotels / → All Tags

Can't Hit the Beach? Order Up a Box of Sand

Where: J.E. Irausquin Boulevard 77, Palm beach, Aruba

Well, we've gotta hand it to the Westin Aruba: they deserve creativity points for this one.

Apparently, there's a sizable contingent of business travelers who are sent to exotic destinations like Aruba or someplace equally as beachy, and they're so busy with the work obligations and meetings that they don't have time to stick a toe in the ocean.

And then Westin Aruba's Sand on Demand program was born:

As one in five business trips are taken for the primary purpose of attending a convention, conference or seminar, many road warriors only see the beautiful scenery of the destination from a window as a result of back-to-back meetings and functions. By offering personal under-the-conference-table sand boxes, The Westin Resort, Aruba is encouraging travelers to experience a sense of the island by wiggling their bare toes in authentic Caribbean sand.

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Aruba Hotel Guide :: Inside the Marriott Aruba Surf Club

Where: 103 L G SMITH BLVD, Palm Beach, Aruba

While our brothers at Jaunted have been off stomping around Baltimore this week, we've jetted off on our own little field trip to Aruba. We'll be scoping out the hotel scene here and will be reporting our findings all week long.

We were super psyched to be staying at the Marriott Surf Club - part of the Marriott Aruba Resort complex - and following our rundown of our boozey pool experience yesterday, we're bringing you a full room review today.

Since the Surf Club is technically part of Marriott Vacation Club (timeshares), we had lots and lots of space and the room was more like a condo than a dinky little hotel room. The big living room, spacious, fully-equipped kitchen and gigantic balconies were huge bonuses since we usually just get a bathroom and a bed, but we were happy to have so much space to stretch out our sunburned legs.

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Tags: Aruba Hotel Guide / Aruba Hotels / Marriott Hotels / Marriott Vacation Club / Hotel Pools / → All Tags

Aruba Hotel Guide :: Marriott Aruba Resort Pool Report

Where: 103 L G SMITH BLVD, Palm Beach, Aruba

While our brothers at Jaunted have been off stomping around Baltimore this week, we've jetted off on our own little field trip to Aruba. We'll be scoping out the hotel scene here and will be reporting our findings all week long.

We spent yesterday hangin' by the pool at the Marriott Aruba Resort (we're staying at the Marriott Surf Club within the complex and we'll bring you a full room tour tomorrow). We were looking to get some reading done and spend a quiet afternoon poolside but, uh, no.

The scene at the pool on a summer Tuesday afternoon sort of reminded us of our crazy college Spring Breaking days. It was certainly no Hard Rock Sunday Rehab - but then, nothing is quite like that - but everyone seemed to be young and in full-force party mode thanks to the major facilities, organized drinking contests and tempting cocktail specials.

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Aruba Hotel Guide :: Hyatt Regency's New Look is Swanky but the Vibe is Still Chill

Where: Juan E Irausquin Blvd 85, Palm Beach, Aruba

While our brothers at Jaunted have been off stomping around Baltimore this week, we've jetted off on our own little field trip to Aruba. We'll be scoping out the hotel scene here and will be reporting our findings all week long.

We got to the island pretty late last night, so we roamed around a little bit looking for a good stiff drink to calm ourselves down after a long day of layovers.

We hit up the recently-remodeled Hyatt Regency Resort and Casino first and, since it was a Monday night, the scene wasn't too crowded or trendy or full of drunken 18-year-olds like we'd feared. The breezy, open lobby area reminded us a (teensy) bit of the Delano (flowy fabrics, high-backed chairs and the like), except without the loud music and intimidating people.

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Tags: Music Festival Hotels / Aruba Hotel Reviews / Memorial Day Hotels / Occidental Hotels / → All Tags

Let Your Soul Glow at the Occidental for the Soul Beach Music Festival

Where: J.E. Irausquin Blvd 83, Palm Beach, Aruba

Coming up over the Memorial Day Weekend is the Soul Beach Music Festival, taking place from May 21 to 26 on Aruba. It's the eighth year that this festival's been run--and the fourth year that it's taken place in Aruba--and some of the singers this year include Erykah Badu, Sinbad, Wyclef Jean and Sean Kingston.

A bunch of hotels are acting as hosts for the festival, and one of these is the Occidental Grand Aruba on Palm Beach. It's an all-inclusive resort with almost 400 rooms and suites, plus six restaurants and five bars; plenty of space for fun and action, and probably the right kind of resort to chill in during a soul fest.

The Occidental Grand still has rooms left for the whole festival week, and a deluxe room for two (all-inclusive, of course), starts at $2,280 for five nights. Along with meals, this all-inclusive price also includes activities like sailing, snorkeling, kayaking and tennis, in case you run out of steam at the music festival. Personally we might hang too long at the concerts to make the most of that, but it's nice to have the option.

[Photo: ckd1216]

Tags: Aruba Hotel Reviews / Warm Weather Hotels / Warm-Weather-Hotels-Map / → All Tags

Warm Weather Hotels: Rejuvenate at Manchebo Beach, Aruba

Where: JE Irausquin Blvd 55, Oranjestad, Aruba

If the place you seek your sunshine is the island of Aruba, then the Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa is a nice place to spoil yourself. The main reason is that the beach here has the reputation of being the most beautiful, and the biggest, of the island. And a good beach is a very important part of a winter getaway.

Manchebo Beach Resort is a relatively small resort, with only two story buildings and just 71 rooms (recently renovated), along with a Caribbean-Balinese style spa; the spa fits well with the motto of the whole resort: "Where Rejuvenation is Our Passion".

Being situated in a quieter spot, between the downtown center and the town of Oranjestad, the Manchebo Beach Resort is probably not the place to be if you are keen on lots of nightlife and plenty of activities. But if your warm weather break idea involves a lot of lying around on the beach and being pampered at the spa, then it's definitely suitable.

Winter room rates range from $239 to $295, depending on the view, and drop back to $159 to $185 in summer. It's also quite a popular spot for weddings and honeymoons, and plenty of packages are available.

[Photo: suchaprincess]

Related Stories:
· Hotels in Aruba [HotelChatter]
· Aruba Travel Stories [Jaunted]

Tags: Hyatt Hotels / Caribbean Resorts / Hotel Renovations / → All Tags

Hyatt Regency Aruba Gets New Look and Social Conscience

Where: Juan E Irausquin Blvd 85, Palm Beach, Aruba

Down on Aruba the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino on Palm Beach has been busy this year doing a $20 million makeover. That $20 million adds up to 360 renovated rooms with modern designs, new colors and brand new bathrooms stocked with deluxe Portico products for your grooming pleasure. The official grand opening of the new look will take place in early 2008, but last week they held a "soft opening" for local attendees.

The local people were wowed not only with the new refurbishment but with a nice "think global, act local" kind of campaign that the Hyatt Regency Aruba is running. It's called the "You Can Do It Too" program and involves picking 10 inspiring young Arubans chances to use their talents and potential to the full. What's more, the hotel intends to continue the program in future years, too. Thumbs up for that.

Related Stories:
· Hyatt Regency Aruba Upgraded [Jetsetters]
· Hotels in Aruba [HotelChatter]
· Travel Stories in Aruba [Jaunted]

Tags: Aruba Hotel Reviews / Super Bowl Hotel Parties / → All Tags

Snapshot: How the Hyatt Aruba Celebrated the Super Bowl

Where: J.E. Irausquin Boulevard #85, Palm/Eagle Beach, Aruba

You didn't have to be front row at the 50-yard-line of Dolphins Stadium to enjoy Super Bowl XLI. In fact with Sunday's constant rain, we're not sure any seat in the stadium was worth the money. Well, maybe if you are a Colts fan.

Anyways, the people down at the Hyatt Aruba were able to partake in the resort's Super Bowl Bash and watch the game on an 18-by-8 feet screen which looks as if it's rising up from the ocean.

The resort, which just underwent at $20 million renovation, was serving "bottomless" beer buckets for guests sitting in the 300 lounge chairs provided. Plus, the resort set up additional TVs--tuned into the big game--along the water's edge for guests to watch. It's kinda like a beach-side sportsbook and you didn't have to go home to a $799 a night airport hotel in Miami.

(Thanks, Corey!)

Related Stories:
· Hyatt Aruba reviews [TripAdvisor]