Divi Resorts

For over 40 years, Divi Resorts has provided the idyllic Caribbean vacation and today offers nine premium properties sprinkled across six magnificent Caribbean Islands. With over 1,250 spacious vacation suites and hotel rooms to its well-established name – including the option for vacation ownership and condominium sales – the Divi collection of resorts is the largest hotel brand in the Caribbean. For Divi Resorts, the Caribbean isn’t one of many destinations offered, it is the destination.



Since its founding, Divi Resorts has offered exclusively Caribbean getaways, earning a halo of credibility with guests, wholesale partners, tourism associations and travel agents. Decades of diligent specialization has enabled the brand to create unmatched – and authentic – niche vacations, be it lively, secluded, comfortable or adventurous. And today, with properties having earned the prestigious AAA Three Diamond ratings and other accolades, Divi is widely regarded as the Caribbean aficionado. The Divi Resort collection – premium but unpretentious – touts everything from sugary beaches and indulgent spa services to world-class scuba diving and a true Vegas-style casino. Please see below for an update on a few Divi Resorts that I thought would be of interest:



Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort (www.diviarubaphoenix.com) is situated on Aruba's famed Palm Beach and is backed by a private wildlife sanctuary. Divi Aruba is literally a tropical paradise with clear aqua waves washing up on a beautiful wide beach dotted with thatched cabanas and inviting hammocks. Divi Aruba has been receiving an “extreme makeover” -- renovations have been moving forward with the fabulous results more evident than ever! The development project more than doubles the size of the 101-unit resort. An additional 140 suites in four eight-story buildings will offer studios, one-bedroom suites, and two- and three-bedroom penthouses. The official grand opening is scheduled for December 2008. For more information on the construction that includes a virtual reality video, please visit: http://www.diviresorts.com/DiviAruba/construction.html.



Guests of Divi Aruba Phoenix can also enjoy the amenities at its sister resorts, Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort and Divi Dutch Village Resort, where one can play nine-holes, splash in freshwater swimming pools, play on lit tennis courts, conquer a beach-side rock climbing wall, master a new adventure in one of the water sports center clinics, slip down a waterslide, exercise in an air-conditioned oceanfront fitness center or watch a movie under the stars. Further, guests can choose from 11 restaurants including Windows on Aruba (at Divi Village) – a stylish glass wrapped contemporary restaurant that offers ocean and golf course views. Windows boasts fine international cuisine, a stellar wine list and amazing desserts prepared by award-winning pastry chef, Geert van Mil, who won the best of the Caribbean competition in 2005. One can even hire a Windows chef to prepare a meal in their suite! In addition, Divi Village houses Indulgence by the Sea spa where guests can receive luxurious treatments such as a soothing wrap or scrub, facial and massage and rock therapy. Plus, Divi Village tees up **“Free Kids, Free Golf” until December 23, where kids stay and eat free, and adults get unlimited golf after 3 p.m. (cart included).



Divi Flamingo Beach Resort (www.diviflamingo.com) on Bonaire is colorful and charming and is situated on the leeward side of Bonaire, just steps from world-class diving (the famed Calabas Reef is just 20 yards off the resort’s shoreline). On premises is PADI five-star dive operation, Divi Dive Bonaire, (http://www.diviflamingo.com/DiviFlamingo/bonaire-scuba-diving-vacation.html), which offers dive boats, top-of-the-line gear and a seasoned dive crew. Also on premises is onsite camera shop, Capture Photo. Capture Photo professionals teach guests underwater photography, helping beginners get their feet wet and experienced shutterbugs perfect their shots. Classes are open to children and adults, snorkelers and divers. Capture Photo specializes in both personalized and group underwater photography courses. All classes include post-dive photo analysis and a CD of images taken. Guests at Divi Flamingo can also enjoy two open-air restaurants, a fitness room, water sports rental and a casino.



Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino (www.divicarina.com) on St. Croix is located along a gorgeous beach with crystal clear waters that are trademark of the US Virgin Islands. Hammocks under swaying palms invite guests to relax, while Divi Carina’s Vegas-style casino lures in the adventurous! Spacious oceanfront guestrooms and hillside suites are available at the resort and guests can also make use of the two oceanfront restaurants, two swimming pools, the water sports center, a PADI five-star dive center and dive shop, fitness room, tennis courts and surfside spa. Meeting space and banquet facilities are also available.



Divi Little Bay Beach Resort (http://www.divilittlebay.com) is located on a private peninsula between two beautiful bays in Dutch St. Maarten and is minutes away from the Caribbean’s best shopping and dining. The resort has been getting a “facelift” and construction is almost complete! First, to accommodate the growing demand for vacation ownership at Divi Little Bay, existing hillside units were converted into nine luxury one-bedroom suites, and one 1,900 square-foot, three-bedroom premium suite - the "Presidential Casita." Additionally, as of February 2008, 36 beachfront rooms were transformed into 12 one-bedroom and four two-bedroom oceanfront suites that now feature LCD flat screen TVs, iPod docking stations, granite countertops, hot tubs and more. By the end of 2008, all 210 deluxe oceanfront suites will be fully redesigned (to date, 150 are complete) with granite countertops, rich dark-wood furniture, tile flooring, new kitchen cabinets, top-of-the-line appliances and plush duvet bedding. Finally, Toucan's Restaurant - fronting one of the islands most scenic beaches - will be redesigned in fall 2008. Other amenities include three swimming pools, a sidewalk café, a shopping promenade, a full service spa, tennis courts, fitness center and a water sports center.



** Please note that the “Free Kids, Free Golf” promotion applies to all Divi Resorts. Kids 12 and under can stay and eat free from the children’s menu when accompanied by at least one paying adult. Limit is two children per room. (Booking window until 12/20/08 and travel window until 12/23/08.)



Another great promotion we have currently is The Divi Village All-Inclusive Suites 10 percent off with a minimum three-night stay. (Booking window until 12/20/08 and travel window until 12/23/08.)