Location. Set amid tropical palm trees, fine white sand beaches and the crystalline waters of the Caribbean Sea is the Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino in Oranjestad, Aruba. Guests are adjacent to shopping, dining and nightlife available in downtown Oranjestad, five and one-half kilometers from the Bubali Bird Sancturary and six kilometers from Casibari Rock Formations. Queen Beatrix International Airport is within five kilometers of the property.
Hotel Features. The Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino features two distinctive lodging options. A complimentary golf-cart shuttle service ferries guests between both areas. The Renaissance Ocean Suites boast family-friendly accommodations, a casual casino and the outdoor Seaport Market Place. Across the marina, nightlife and the 15,000 square-foot Crystal Casino with 24-hour gaming action are featured at the adults-only Renaissance Marina Hotel. The property additionally hosts Aruba's only private beaches, located on the resort's 40-acre Renaissance Island. Landscaped pools feature a swim-up bar and a private lagoon area. Overlooking the marina is the martini bar BLUE, serving tropical concoctions and Spanish- style tapas during evenings. The property additionally presents 24-hour dining options, a fitness center and 22,000 square-feet of meeting and function space. Massages are available at the exclusive Spa Cove.
Guestrooms. Newly renovated in 2006, the Renaissance Aruba Resort's 559 guestrooms and suites feature mixed wood furnishings, balconies or patios and décor in rich shades of blue, claret and pale yellow. Premium bedding is provided, including down comforters, custom duvets and cotton- rich linens. Amenities include cable televisions with premium movie channels, high-speed Internet access, a wet bar and mini- refrigerators.
Expert Tip. Located adjacent to the property, Atlantis Submarines can ferry guests 150 feet below the Caribbean to view shipwreck remains and vibrant sea life. All-Inclusive Rate Plan: All-inclusive amenities and resort fees are determined by the property and are subject to change. Plan Includes:
Daily a la carte or buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner in participating restaurants
One show-menu dinner at L.G. Smith's Steak & Chop House followed by "Let's Go Latin" show at Crystal Theater
Unlimited domestic- and international-brand drinks in participating bars and restaurants
Up to two alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages during dinner at "independent" restaurants
Taxes and gratuities for all plan inclusions
Non-motorized water sports, excluding snorkeling and scuba excursions
Access to the Patamingo Kids Club with supervised activities for children ages 5-12 during daytime and Friday and Saturday evening
Resort fitness and recreational facilities
Plan Does Not Include:
Airport transfers
Room service and in-room minibar
Casino beverages
Wine by the bottle
Champagne, certain premium beverages and cordials
Optional or outside tours and excursions
Scuba instruction/certification
Scuba and snorkeling excursions
Incidental purchases
Telephone, fax and Internet access charges
Medical services
Laundry and dry cleaning
Childcare outside of Children's Club hours
Spa and beauty products, treatments, services
Present facilities
Children Stay Free
Sauna
Tennis court
Bar/Lounge
Fitness Equipment
Elevator/lift
Swimming pool - outdoor
Concierge desk
Gift shop or newsstand
Security guard
Babysitting or child care
Parking (valet)
Room service (24 hours)
Full-service health spa
Massage-treatment room
Translation services
Conference room(s)
Nightclub
Internet public area - surcharge
Private beach
Event catering
Business services
Wedding services
Poolside bar
Swim-up bar
Laundry service
Self parking
Kids' activities
Health club
Supervised child care/activities
Hair salon
Shopping on site
Spa services on site
Marina on site
Casino
Restaurant(s) - 24 dining options
Internet public area - high-speed
Dry cleaning service
Attractions in the surroundings
Downtown Oranjestad - Adjacent Atlantis Submarine - Adjacent Adventure Golf - 4.0 Kilometers/2.5 Miles Bubali Bird Sanctuary - 5.5 Kilometers/3.5 Miles Butterfly Farm - 6.0 Kilometers/3.75 Miles Casibari Rock Formations - 6.0 Kilometers/3.75 Miles Ayo Rock Formations - 9.0 Kilometers/5.75 Miles Arikok National Park Entrance - 15.0 Kilometers/9.5 Miles
Route description
From Queen Beatrix International Airport: Go West On The Main Road. Continue Into The Downtown Area. Resort Appears On The Right.
Aruba Announces Over $350 Million in Tourism Investments Including Airport, Cruise & Hotel Developments By Aruba Tourism Authority
ORANJESTAD, Aruba – Aruba is enjoying significant developments throughout its tourism sector in 2007 with over $350 million in investments encompassing nearly every aspect of the travel industry.
The changes to the tourism infrastructure include noteworthy upgrades at Queen Beatrix International Airport, the opening of a brand-new private jet terminal, remarkable advancements at the island’s cruise facilities, impressive expansions and renovations at many hotels and resorts and more.
Below is a list of developments underway in Aruba:
o Aruba Airport Authority - Investments totaling over $35 million started at Queen Beatrix International Airport in 2006 and are underway through 2010. Improvements include: o The opening of the first-ever private jet terminal (FBO) happened in January 2007. Customs and immigrations are available. Coming soon are a cafeteria, duty free stores, hotel and car rental outlets and more. o Installation of four elevators. o New central security area. oExpanded runway and taxiway. o Cruise Terminal Facility and Marina o Renovations underway at one of the three cruise terminals. o Cargo and loading docks being moved from Oranjestad to Barcadera, Aruba. o Former cargo areas will undergo multi-million dollar waterfront redevelopment expected to begin late 2007. Area to be transformed into waterfront marina that will include residential, retail and commercial components.
o Hotels and Resorts – Aruba’s hotels and resorts are experiencing hundreds of millions in major investments. o Occidental Grand Aruba - Finalized $24 million in investments and reopened in May 2006 as the island’s first luxury all-inclusive product. o Westin Aruba Resort –Undertaking ten of millions in renovations and has been officially reflagged from the former Wyndham Aruba. o RIU Aruba Grand – The Spanish hotel chain purchased the Aruba Grand and closed it for a $120 million facelift and expansion. When completed the hotel will open with 451 rooms, nearly triple the original 171 rooms. o Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino opened its $5.2 million, 13,000-square-foot oceanfront Larimar Spa in November 2006. o Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino – After a $40 million upgrade, the resort will boast a new lobby, upgraded rooms and more. o Divi Resorts – Notable investments of well over $50 million are being made at Divi Resorts throughout Aruba. Changes include new rooms, villas, timeshare product and more. o Bushiri Beach Resort – Spanish resort giant, Sol Melia is finalizing the purchase of the 153-room resort and has plans to expand the property to approximately 450 rooms.
ORANJESTAD, Aruba — Aruba has opened a new airport terminal for private jets in a bid to attract more upscale travelers to the Dutch Caribbean island.
The new terminal, which officially opened Friday, replaces a makeshift terminal that Aruba Airport Authority N.V. installed to begin offering faster service for private planes in 2005.
The US$1.2 million (euro880,000) facility, which has its own customs and immigration counters, is operated by Houston, Texas-based Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. under an agreement with the airport authority.
Peter Steinmetz, managing director of the QueenBeatrixInternationalAirport, said the number of flights increased 21 percent in the first quarter of 2007 compared to the same period last year.
Tourism Minister Edison Briesen said last week that Aruba was recovering from the negative publicity surrounding the disappearance of American teenager Natalee Holloway in 2005 and is on track for a good tourism year.
Since the equator runs about 12 to south, the sun is strong, especially between 11 am and 3 pm, and visitors enjoy morning sunrises and evening sunsets at roughly the same times each day, regardless of the seasons.
From January to March, the trade winds provide ideal windsurfing conditions off the windward coast. Since the terrain is almost flat, these same winds sweep clouds quickly over the island without allowing moisture to build into rain showers. Therefore, the sea off the leeward coasts is rarely stirred up by a storm, and visitors may count on ideal conditions for scuba diving, snorkeling and swimming.
Aruba enjoys a very healthy climate, making it a year-round paradise for residents and visitors alike. The average temperature is 82?F (28?C), with cooling trade winds and the rarity of tropical storms and hurricanes. Aruba lies outside the hurricane belt therefore the rainfall is very moderate, averaging about 16.1" (408.9 mm) per year.
And just as comfortable in July as it is in January.
The difference between median day and night temperatures, and between summer and winter temperatures, is just 3.6?. The rainfall occurs mainly in short showers during November and December.
Information:
Aruba is easily reached by daily non-stop flights from New York, Atlanta, Newark, Boston, Miami, and major cities in Europe and South America. All major hotels and resorts are located just minutes from Aruba's InternationalAirport. Moderately priced taxi service and major car rentals are available at the airport. And you'll find that the people here are fluent in English and Spanish as well as Dutch and German. So what are you waiting for? Make plans to take the perfect vacation today.
The Ocean, Aruba's Playground
As you explore, as you get to know Aruba, you'll soon begin to notice the smiling faces everywhere. Real smiles. Gracious smiles. Sheer-joy-of-living smiles. Aruba, as any traveler here will tell you, must surely be among the most welcoming places on Earth.
Maybe its the Dutch tradition of hospitality. Maybe its the long and prosperous history of the island. Maybe its the year-round warmth of the sunshine and the fresh breezes of the tradewinds. More than likely, its all those things and more. But whatever it is, its absolutely true: Aruba is a genuinely happy place to be. And the people who live here, in the cities, in the villages, in the countryside, are genuinely happy to be sharing it with you. "Welcome to Aruba your Winter Solution"
ARUBA Divi-Divi Tree Some postcards from Aruba show the divi-divi tree, permanently bent at a 45-degree angle by constant trade winds, springing from a stretch of pure white Caribbean sand. Others are photos of a l9th century windmill-turned-restaurant, symbol of the island's Dutch heritage. Still others star happy vacationers, showing off new tans during lazy afternoon sails or big nights at the casino.
The perfect clothing for an Aruba vacation is shorts and t-shirts. You'll probably be uncomfortable in anything more. Light colors are better than dark as they will reflect more of the sun away from you rather than absorb it.
Even at night, the temperature only drops a few degrees, so long pants, blouses, or jackets are not required unless you are going to one of the more elegant restaurants or night clubs. But even those are few and far between, and most places will welcome you in your shorts.
Women may want to bring along a hat or a clip for their hair. The trade winds are refreshing, but they make keeping long hair neat next to impossible.
One thing you do not want to forget to wear is sunscreen. The trade winds are so cool and refreshing that you will forget how strong the sun is. Luckily, I only got sunburned once while we were down there. It was my own fault. We had gone snorkeling and I was having so much fun I lost track of time and forgot to reapply sunscreen.
Bikinis and swim trunks are the norm on the beach, though you can expect to see a few topless sunbathers lounging or swimming on the resort beaches.
There are no nude or clothing optional beaches on Aruba. But if you are truly determined to go buff, there are plenty of isolated beaches on the other side of the island. Just be warned that the water is not exactly swimmer-friendly, and don't be surprised if a jeep or horseback tour comes along and spots you.
So to make a long story short, men should bring plenty of shorts, t-shirts, swim trunks, and maybe a pair of light slacks and shirt for the evening.
Women will need their bikini, a hat or hair clip, shorts and light blouses, and maybe some sun dresses or a sarong.
And everyone needs a healthy dose of sunscreen in addition to their clothing for their Aruba vacation!
Everyone can snorkel. However there are a few basic safety rules. The most important rule to remember is: Never touch coral! Good snorkeling spots include Arashi beach, Boca Grandi, Baby Beach and many more. The best gear can be rented at Red Sail Sports which have several tours that combine sailing and snorkeling.
How to Select A Snorkel Mask Fit is the most important criteria in selecting a mask. So how do you buy a mask that fits? It's easy. Here's How:
Fold the strap over the front of the mask so that it is out of the way.
Hold the mask against your face.
Make sure it fits comfortably around your eyes and nose.
Choose another size if necessary.
While the mask is against your face, inhale through your nose.
The vacuum created in the mask should hold it against your face when you take your hand away.
If the mask doesn't stay put, repeat the process until you find one that does.
Tips:
Don't settle for an ill-fitting mask.
If you find more than one mask that fits, compare the features before making your purchase or rental decision.
How to Clear Your Snorkel There's no doubt about it. Water will get into your snorkel, whether you submerse yourself intentionaly or a wave splashes water into it. It's an important scuba/snorkel skill you need to know. Here's How:
Allow yourself to sink below the water until you face is just under the water.
Take a deep breath through your snorkel.
Hold your breath.
Completeley submerse yourself and your snorkel in the water.
Rise to your original position.
Blow a sharp blast of air through your snorkel.
Slowly inhale to see if there is still water in it.
If there is still water in the snorkel, blow another short blast into it.
When the snorkel is clear, continue to breath normally through it.
Tips:
Try not to exhale all your air on the first blast.
When checking to see if the airway is clear don't suck in a huge gulp of air. Do it slowly.
Diving in Aruba is famous for the spectacular shipwrecks and interesting coral formations that dominate Aruba’s underwater realm. This includes the 400 foot Antilla wreck — the largest wreck in the Caribbean. Most of Aruba’s dive sites lie along the protected western and southern coasts, a short distance from the hotels on Palm Beach. Aruba’s waters are rich in exotic marine life, including stingrays, moray eels, manta rays, barracudas and yellow tail. A large, shallow sand plateau surrounds Aruba making boat travel the most convenient method of reaching the off-shore reefs. Interesting coral formations are found from shallow water depths of 20 to 100 feet, with little or no current and flat surface conditions. Over twenty more dive sites are shared by the dive operators on the island, and Red Sail Sports offers a weekly dive boat scheduled to the best of these sites.
Aruba Pro Dive's policy of small dive groups enables us to keep our schedules flexible and our dive trips unique. Unlike large group diving, our attention is focused on the individual. Our staff and our guests are happier as a result!
In addition to its live reefs, Aruba has a number of artificial reefs such as shipwrecks and airplane wrecks dating back to World War II. Some of the most beautiful shipwrecks in the Caribbean are located here. Each dive site contains hundred of species of tropical fish and coral.
Divers can expect to see Angelfish, Filefish, Trumpetfish, Coronetfish, Sergeant Majors, Grouper, Snapper, Goatfish, Cowfish, Parrotfish, Pufferfish, Barracuda, Moray Eels, Lobster and Octopus. Less frequently one might catch a glimpse of a Sea Turtle, a Stingray or a Manta Ray.
The reefs are home to Brain Coral, mountainous Star Coral, Soft Coral (Gorgonians), Sea Fans, Elkhorn Coral, and Staghorm Coral. Sea Anemones can be found nestled amongst the plentiful coral.
To enhance your dive adventure and maximize your comfort, our program includes:
We look forward to satisfying the dive expectations of the experienced diver as well as the newcomer with our customized dive program. See you in Aruba soon!
Any online reservation requests for recreational dives or lessons receive a FREE T-Shirt.
Atlantis Submarines Aruba is the proud recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Iguana Award for being "Aruba's most outstanding and supporting tourist attraction."
Atlantis VI, Aruba's only real submarine adventure offers you multiple dive sites through the living world of the Barcadera Reefs, the mysteriously sunken airplane or the graceful lady of the deep, the retired Mi Dushi, a 70 year old Danish fishing trawler.
All the dive sites have very intriguing stories which will keep you fascinated during the hour-long narration of the co-pilot, and all too soon the thrilling dive comes to an end and it is time to get back to reality. You will get lost in the world of color and abundance of exotic fish, spectacular sponge gardens, unusual marine creatures and fascinating formations which are unveiled through the crystal-clear viewports.
After completion of the dive, you will receive an official dive certificate as proof that you have been to the comfortable depths of 150 feet on the only real submarine adventure in Aruba!
Daily departures between 9 am and 2 pm every hour on the hour (reservations recommended)
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Aruba Pro Dive's policy of small dive groups enables us to keep our schedules flexible and our dive trips unique. Unlike large group diving, our attention is focused on the individual. Our staff and our guests are happier as a result!
Divers can expect to see Angelfish, Filefish, Trumpetfish, Coronetfish, Sergeant Majors, Grouper, Snapper, Goatfish, Cowfish, Parrotfish, Pufferfish, Barracuda, Moray Eels, Lobster and Octopus. Less frequently one might catch a glimpse of a Sea Turtle, a Stingray or a Manta Ray. 
We look forward to satisfying the dive expectations of the experienced diver as well as the newcomer with our 
All the dive sites have very intriguing stories which will keep you fascinated during the hour-long narration of the co-pilot, and all too soon the thrilling dive comes to an end and it is time to get back to reality. You will get lost in the world of color and abundance of exotic fish, spectacular sponge gardens, unusual marine creatures and fascinating formations which are unveiled through the crystal-clear viewports. 
