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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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Tags: Hyatt Hotels / Hyatt Regency / Aruba Hotels / Hotel Deals / Hotel Packages / → All Tags

Score Triple Bonuses At Hyatt Regency Aruba

Everyone knows the old superstition about bad things happening in threes. But Hyatt is turning that sad old tale around with a decidedly not bad set of three bonuses at the Hyatt Regency Aruba. Book your stay with code 34Free and Hyatt will begin heaping the rewards upon you.

Start with a fifth night free when you book four nights, then snag a complimentary one-category room upgrade and top it off with a full breakfast for two daily. Naturally, any deal this sweet won't last -- the promotion is good now through December 18, 2008 and isn't valid November 1 through 4 and November 10 through 13.

And there's more!

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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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