Just returned (10/15) from 12 days in gorgeous Aruba.
No lines at the airport for Delta (American Airlines had longer lines, I noticed). Breezed
through customs (no long lines). Great security upon leaving the island.
Weather was superb as always. Our resort, Divi's Aruba Phoenix, had
just a few no shows. Most of the hotels were at 75-80% occupancy. Some layoffs of staff
according to the local papers. There's a new pool/beach bar, more hammocks all over the
beach, a new outdoor dance floor/wood deck for the manager's party (outside the sales
office) and some of the the tables on the beach outside the Sunset Bistro are up on wood
deck platforms (for those who don't want their feet in the sand while they're eating).
There's a big screen TV in the Tower lobby. Rooms were newly painted in bright colors.
Best surprise of all is a new internet room off the lobby. $5.00 per half hour and
there was never a wait. No need to go to Oranjestad to the CyberCafe to check email.
The grounds were beautifully kept, the elevators
worked, the rooms were gorgeous and I can't say enough about the Phoenix. There's live
music at the pool about 3 or 4 days a week, and everything was delightful! Restaurants and
the bigger casinos like Alhambra & Royal Cabana were well attende and you'd never know
there was a war going on unless you turned on CNN. We were there when the bombing started
and the anthrax cases started to be reported, and nobody seemed to care. Everybody was on
vacation and having a great time.
Customs and Immigration upon leaving the island have
a long list of things that you cannot have in carryon lugguge so pack all your batteries
and cigarette lighters in your checked baggage or they will take them and throw them away.
Registered
with The Aruba Chamber of Commerce since 1997
MEMBER
OF The Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association (AHATA)
&
Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI)
Just returned (10/15) from 12 days in gorgeous Aruba.
No lines at the airport for Delta (American Airlines had longer lines, I noticed). Breezed
through customs (no long lines). Great security upon leaving the island. 
Our resort, Divi's Aruba Phoenix, had
just a few no shows. Most of the hotels were at 75-80% occupancy. Some layoffs of staff
according to the local papers. There's a new pool/beach bar, more hammocks all over the
beach, a new outdoor dance floor/wood deck for the manager's party (outside the sales
office) and some of the the tables on the beach outside the Sunset Bistro are up on wood
deck platforms (for those who don't want their feet in the sand while they're eating).
There's a big screen TV in the Tower lobby. Rooms were newly painted in bright colors.
Best surprise of all is a new internet room off the lobby. $5.00 per half hour and
there was never a wait. No need to go to Oranjestad to the CyberCafe to check email.
The grounds were beautifully kept, the elevators
worked, the rooms were gorgeous and I can't say enough about the Phoenix. There's live
music at the pool about 3 or 4 days a week, and everything was delightful! Restaurants and
the bigger casinos like Alhambra & Royal Cabana were well attende and you'd never know
there was a war going on unless you turned on CNN. We were there when the bombing started
and the anthrax cases started to be reported, and nobody seemed to care. Everybody was on
vacation and having a great time.
Customs and Immigration upon leaving the island have
a long list of things that you cannot have in carryon lugguge so pack all your batteries
and cigarette lighters in your checked baggage or they will take them and throw them away.
