ARUBA

Resort Info

The Divi Aruba Beach Resort is a low-rise beachfront all-inclusive resort located on a ½ mile stretch of Manchebo/Druif Beach, with the Casa Del Mar resort to its north and the Tamarijn resort to its south. The resort is made up of 203 air-conditioned rooms with terraces or balconies featuring ocean, pool or garden views. The resort consists of a number of different building types (outlined below), and room amenities consist of color satellite TV, telephone, ceiling fan, 1 or 2 beds, two night stands, a double dresser, and a table with two chairs.

The Divi and the Tamarijn Resort are sister resorts, run by the same company, and are next door to each other. The Divi offers use of all facilities and services of both the Divi Aruba and the Tamarijn resorts. Many consider the Divi to be the more upscale of the two.

There are 2 groups of Divi properties on the island, the timeshares (Dutch Village, Divi Village and Phoenix) and the resorts (Divi Aruba and Tamarijn Aruba). The resorts are all inclusive only and are under completely different management than the timeshare properties. The timeshares apparently offer an all inclusive plan along with their normal arrangement.

A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF THE DIVI ARUBA BEACH RESORT

As you stand in front of the Divi Aruba Beach resort facing south (towards the ocean) and starting at the far right end of the resort, you have the VISTA II building. This building is long and rectangular, with its short side pointing towards the ocean, but angled in such a way that its whole long left side faces the beach and the ocean (this is where the odd numbered rooms are located - 401-423 on ground floor, 501-523 on second floor; rooms 423 (bottom) and 523 (top) are closest to the beach, room 401 (botom) and 501(top) are farthest away from the beach. It is indicated that those 4 rooms (423, 523, 401, 501) are not just regular rooms, but are classified as "suites". The long right side of the building faces the garden area (this is where the even numbered rooms are located - 400-422 on ground floor, 500-522 on second floor). All of the rooms have either a terrace (ground level), or a balcony (second floor). This building has a common entrance located in the middle of the building at the end of the building farthest away from the beach. If you are staying in any of the rooms on the second floor on the left side of this building (501-523), you will enjoy one of the best views in the Divi resort - you can see the whole Divi resort from the beginning to its end and even the Tam at the end of the beach on the distance.

Next, to the left of the VISTA II building, you have a grassy area with palm trees, and next to that you have the VISTA I building. This building is also long and rectangular, with its short side pointing towards the ocean, but is not angled as much; consequently, the view from the left side of this building is not as good as the view from the left side of the VISTA II building. Again, its left side is where the odd numbered rooms are located (101-121 on ground floor, 201-221 on second floor - these are all oceanview rooms; 121 & 221 are closest to the beach, while rooms 101 & 201 are farthest away from the beach). Its right side is where the even numbered rooms are located (100-120 on ground floor, 200-220 on second floor - these are gardenview rooms with a partial view of the ocean). NOTE: Avoid rooms 100 & 200 because there is an air-conditioning unit right outside which makes a lot of noise. This building is basically the same idea as the VISTA II building, with terraces on first floor, balconies on second floor, and a common entrance in the middle of the building at the end farthest away from the beach.

Next, to the left of the VISTA I building you have the main swimming pool, next to that you have the Pelican Terrace buffet restaurant, next to that you have the Red Parrot restaurant (reservation only). In front of the Pelican Terrace and Red Parrot restaurant you have the Pelican Bar and terrace. Behind the the Pelican Terrace restaurant and the pool you have the main entrance and the lobby area which houses some souvenir stores and function rooms.

Next, to the left of the Red Parrot restaurant, you have the "Casita" buildings. This is a group of 1-storey buildings, each building has about 8 rooms. Every room has a separate entrance and a terrace which faces the beach, and each terrace is scaled back so that you have a small wall between one terrace and the next room's terrace. There is a grassy area with palm trees between each of the Casita buildings - this is the nicest area in the resort. The range of room numbers in this area is 311-376 as you move from right to left, room 311 being the closest one to the main lobby entrance. NOTE: avoid the first building where room 311 is located because it is too close to the left area of the main lobby entrance where there is a laundry room and a lot of traffic activity; there is a lot of noise in this area at different times of the day and night. In front of the building where room 376 is located, there is a small bar called the Sandpiper Bar.

Behind and parallel to the Casita buildings, are the "Veranda" buildings. This is a group of 3-storey buildings that are right next to each other with no space between them. Each room also has either a terrace or a balcony, from which you may have a partial view of the ocean, while other rooms have only a view of the landscaping. The range of room numbers is 7101-7317, room 7101 being the closest one to the lobby area and the laundry room. Avoid the first building where room 7101 is located, for the same reason as has already been explained above. Between the Veranda and the Casita buildings, there is an access road which is used by pedestrians and the shuttle car which travels between the Divi and the Tam. In the middle area of the Veranda buildings, there is a very nice small raised pool.

Next, to the left of the Casita buildings, you have the "Lanai" building. This is a 2-storey rectangular, long building with a common entrance, similar to the Vista buildings. However, the long side of the Lanai building is parallel to and faces the beach and the ocean; therefore all of the rooms are classified as oceanfront. The range of room numbers is 601-620, with room 601 being the closest one to the main lobby. If you were staying on a ground floor room in this building, all you had to do is step out of your terrace, and you would be within a few easy steps of the beach This is a favorite building of many people on the Aruba Bulletin Board.

Next, to the left of the Lanai building, you have a long stretch of beach with no buildings on it, just a long wide beach, and after that you have the Tamarijn resort. You can walk along the beach from the Divi to the Tam (about a 10 minute slow walk), or you can use the access paved road (more like a sidewalk) which is shared by the top covered, open shuttle (seats 6-8) which travels frequently between the Divi and the Tam.

Resort Map

For a live video look at the Divi property: Click here
(Must have ReadPlayer to view video & works better in Internet Explorer than Netscape)

Notes/Tips/Hints/Opinions

• The Divi is located 5 minutes from Oranjestad and 10 minutes from the airport.
• Starting in January, 1999, the Divi went strictly all-inclusive. Changes included adding a snack bar area near the lobby, doubling the bar size, and expanding the restaurant/buffet areas.
• Check-in time is 3 p.m., check-out time is 12 noon.
• The Divi has two freshwater pools, a fitness area, and tennis courts.
• There are two pools: the primary (more crowded) retangular pool is oceanfront (maybe 30' x 50') and is right next to the Pelican Terrace, with some dining tables poolside; the other is a "contoured" pool at the garden side units which goes virtually unused. Part of that pool also serves as the whirlpool (although it's not hot like a Jacuzzi).
• On the negative side, there are reports about old air conditioning, showers, ventilation, etc. and leaks or mechanical breakdowns at the Divi.
• Wristbands are used to distinguish Divi all-inclusive guests.
• You can rent a refridgerator for $5/day.
• Divi Winds watersports shop on property.
• Weekly manager's cocktail party
• Open-air lobby
• There are two areas of rocks on the beach in front of the Divi, just large enough to sit on and take a beautiful picture, but not enough to interfere with swimming. Lots of shells and worn down stones along the way for beachcombers.
• There are some stores for shopping, like a small drug store, "beachy" clothing store, gift store, etc., located in the middle of the complex next to everything else. There is a beauty/barber shop onsite also.
• The Pelican Bar has top shelf liquor, but the Sandpiper Bar doesn't.
• They have added an area between the pool and main bar which has a 24 hour soda machine, soft serve machine, coffee machine and a Pina Colada/Strawberry Daiquiri self serve machine (note: this may not be 24 hr).

Restarants/Bars/Lounges

Red Parrot

Breakfast: 7 am - 11 am
Lunch: 12 pm - 6 pm
Dinner: 6 pm - 10 pm
The Red Parrot restaurant at the Divi is a little more formal than the Pelican Terrace (dress is casual elegant, no t-shirts & shorts). The Red Parrot adjoins the Pelican Terrace.

Pelican Terrace

Hours: 11am - 12 am
This is the primary eating place; meals here are out on the terrace in a buffet style, plus a la carte meals.

The Pelican

Hours are 11 am - 1 am
The Pelican is the main bar located next to the pool/buffet area.

The Sandpiper

The Sandpiper is another smaller oceanfront bar located about 100 yards down the beach toward the Tam.

All-Inclusive Features

Mega Package

• All meals and snacks throughout the day at a choice of 5 restaurants and snack bar
• Unlimited beverages at 5 bars
• Non-motorized watersports including snorkeling and snorkeling lesson, sunfish sailing, waterbikes, canoes, beginners windsurfing equipment and "Learn to Windsurf" beach clinic
• Volleyball, tennis, bicycles
• Theme nights, entertainment nightly
• Tickets to Bon Bini Festival
• Match play casino chip for use at adjacent Alhambra Casino
• Taxes and gratuities

Other Services

• Car rentals
• 24-hour taxi service
• Laundry, dry cleaning
• Baby-sitting services
• Barber shop, beauty salon on premises

Children's Rates

From Dec. 19, 1998 thru Apr. 10, 1999

Up to age 11 years old: FREE All Inclusive
12 years and older: Adult rate

From Apr. 11, 1999 thru Dec. 25, 1999

Up to 18 years old: FREE All Inclusive

Additional children's room at $100 per room per night. Maximum 4 children per room.

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This site went online 1999.
Photos by Patti MacK copyrighted 1999 and may not be used without permission.

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