Aruba’s biggest party is scheduled for the 28th of November when the Renaissance shopping malls in Oranjestad pull all the stops for an all-day, all night fun happening, concluding their 39-day Island Extravaganza campaign. And Renaissance is inviting you to participate, who knows, you might drive away in a fully loaded Ford Mustang convertible at the end of that day.

To participate, locals and visitors are invited to shop, dine and play in the heart of town at the Renaissance complex, and bring their receipts to the Player Center at either the Crystal or the Seaport Casino where they will receive a raffle ticket for each Awg 25 spent. Having filled out your name and address appropriately and having deposited the raffle ticket in the designated drum, you are guaranteed a chance at winning. Casino players are rewarded with raffle tickets for each 25 points they accumulate while playing.

On November 28th, a twelve hour party is planned to celebrate the conclusion of the campaign with folkloric dances, live musical entertainment, a car show, a fashion show, and a slew of other family oriented activities capped by a spectacular fireworks display at 10 p.m. The drum will spin at 7 p.m. that night, in plain public view, selecting the lucky man or women, winners of a new 2009 Ford Mustang Convertible!

How to get there:
Island visitors are invited to hop on the special Free Transportation bus. Get on the bus at any of the island hotels, for trips into town starting at 10 am.

Entertainment:
There will be three entertainment areas: in the Renaissance Marketplace, the Renaissance Mall and on the Boulevard.
The Renaissance Marketplace will feature kids activities such as Dino Jump, Wall Painting, Arts & Crafts, and in the spirit of the season Sinterklaas and his Swarte Piets, will also be present. A DJ and Steel Band Music are the opening act, while Tsunami, and Grupo Di Betico are the main event, as they will be dishing out their fantastic music from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Renaissance Mall stores will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and shoppers will be treated to an Opera Show, a wine & cheese station, besides strolling Disney characters and the services of a massage therapist offering neck and back chair massages. A stylish fashion show will strut the styles of Ermenegildo Zegna, Colombian Emeralds, Eva Boutique, Entre Nous, Facconable, BCBG, Gimmick, Red Sail Sports & Sun Specs on a runway in the middle of the mall.

The Boulevard will feature a classic car show, a cultural dance show, the finals of the Top Dog Contest and a Carnival Parade beginning at the Plaza Café and concluding next to the Louis Vuitton boutique. The Boulevard will also offer a variety of food choices from BBQ to hotdogs, Popcorn and Cotton Candy and a Balashi Beer tent.

Special Offers Renaissance Mall:
The elegant stores at the Renaissance Mall are offering tremendous specials during the Island Extravaganza conclusion happening, with a pre-Christmas sale at Ralph Laurent and discounts ranging from 10% to 30% at Furla, Gimmick, Sunspecs, Ermenengildo Zegna, and Colombian Emeralds.  Okeanos Spa will deliver a 25-minute Swedish massage combined with a 25-minute facial for just $75 or the Aruban Spicy wrap for $50. Aquarius Restaurant is granting a 15% discount on food that day, and Maggie’s Salon is featuring a free extra treatment with any paid for hair, hand & feet service, also a free hair analysis station.

Special Offers Renaissance Marketplace:
All of the Renaissance Marketplace hip and trendy eateries, Cilo, Scandals, Subway, Café the Plaza, the Pancake House & Dunkin Donuts advertise attractive specials for the day, including Balashi beer for Awg 4 at the Grand Café Tropical. Rage Silver is conducting an exciting sale and the Surf Shop is offering two trendy pairs of sun glasses for the price of one.

November 28th, will be a very exciting day as the Renaissance Resorts in both Aruba and Curacao, concluding the inter-island, year-end Island Extravaganza promotion, designed to award a Ford Mustang convertible on both islands simultaneously, to two lucky winners on the same day, televised and streamed live to the Renaissance Mall. Check out the car on display street side, and start dreaming  . . .

The campaign is offered by: Renaissance Mall & Marketplace and Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino.

Recently, Marriott’s Stellaris Casino closed the month of October with many satisfied casino guests. The casino ended the Super Cool Car Give-away promotion on October 30th. The casino allured a large crowd of anxious guests waiting to hear who would be the lucky winner of a brand new KIA Soul car valued over Afl. 50,000.00. At 11:00 PM it was time to announce the winner. Loyal local casino guest Mr. Eric Croes’ name was called out of all the raffles in the big tombola. Casino Marketing Manager Adolf Everon and Casino Shift Manager Rouel Starke had the honors to hand over the key of Mr. Croes’ brand new KIA Soul.

Throughout the evening other guests were hand picked from the tombola for other great cash prizes. Amidst these lucky guests were Shamin Schaap, Alexandra Polyzos, Isabella Sapuana and Candida Lamp who received Afl. 250.00 each. Winners of Afl. 500.00 were Janet Falcone, Alexandra Polyzos, Aura Martinus and Geeta Ramdas-Jagias. Both Altagracia Maduro and Marisa Tromp were the lucky winners receiving Afl.1, 000.00 each.

During the weekend bingo events, Aruba’s largest casino announced the Bingo Hot Shot of the month. Stellaris management picked Mrs. Marion Tromp – Antersijn’s name from the raffle drum and crowned her as the Bingo Hot Shot of October.  This entitled her to $500 in cash, a dinner for two at Marriott’s Champions Sports Bar & Restaurant and two free bingo cards for the month of November.

Another lucky winner was announced the same weekend as winner of the international ISI Sports Contest. Local customer Mr. Lakie Paul Richards placed his bet on the sport machines, where he made chance to win $500. This promotion is an ongoing promotion worldwide, where everyone can participate to predict the winners of the sports games and win $500. Internationally, locals can participate for free, while tourists pay $1 to place a bet once. Every week, a winner is announced. After placing the bets for his favorite teams, Mr. Richards awaited to hear from the ISI Sports Kiosk he was the only international winner of that week.

Stellaris Casino new campaign “Take the Plane to Spain” started on November 4th. Guests have a chance to win a trip for two to Spain valued at Afl. 10,000.00 plus an additional Afl. 1,750.00 pocket money. This trip entitles you to stay 3 nights in Madrid and 3 nights in Barcelona. To participate in this promotion, guests have to earn 20 points for each free raffle ticket. This can be done by playing the many coinless slot machines in the Stellaris Casino.

The final drawing for this amazing promotion is on December 4th, 2009. More information on Aruba’s largest casino and events can be found on www.stellariscasino.com.

To obtain more information call the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino at 888-PARADISE or visit www.arubamarriott.com.

Top: Mr. Eric Croes receives keys to his KIA Soul from Casino Marketing Mgr. Adolf Everon and Casino Shift Mgr. Rouel Starke
Bottom left: Winner ISI Sports contest Mr. Lakie Paul Richards with Casino VIP host Yazira Feliciana
Bottom right: Bingo Hot Shot of November Mrs. Marion Tromp-Antersijn

Stations like “Oranjestad” shared Holland’s influence on cuisine with Dutch pea shooters, sweet and savory Dutch pancakes, croquettes, and assorted Dutch cheese and sausages.  Walking over to the station representing the seaside town of Savaneta, seafood lovers enjoyed snapper and conch ceviches, grouper fingers, grilled wahoo, steamed shrimp, spicy tuna rolls, and the island’s own Balashi Beer. A trip to the California Lighthouse station was a sweet treat with tropical temptations like mango tarts, coconut bars, as well as homemade cookies, espresso mousse, truffles, and more. On Friday morning conference guests arose to a “Wake up in Paradise” breakfast at the resort’s beachfront Palms restaurant, followed by a Hyatt Resorts trade show in the freshly-renovated ballroom and conference area. Afterwards, guests were able to partake in various island activities coordinated just for them, including a sunset sail. The event’s farewell dinner and awards presentation was themed “Brushstrokes at Sunset,” and was a toes-in-the-sand affair on the shores of the resort. A local 13-year old artist joined the group on the beach to paint the gorgeous Caribbean sunset, which was then awarded to the travel agent of the year by General Manager Susan Santiago. The conference was a great success, with these valuable travel professionals now having first-hand knowledge and experiences of the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and the island of Aruba to share with and recommend to their clientele.

Bucuti Beach Resort CEO, Ewald Biemans meets with Jenny Southan,
Editor of Business Traveler at World Travel Market in London to talk
about what’s new at the resort and on the island of Aruba.

Facebook Connect lets users share information from their aruba.com profile with their Facebook profile. The reviews, ratings and updates one posts on Aruba.com can be transferred to Facebook profiles, creating excitement about Aruba encouraging their network friends to join the unique online community on aruba.com. Facebook Connect allows Facebook users to read their friends’ first-hand feedback, learn about Aruba’s offerings and provides details about attractions and hotels.

“Adding the Facebook Connect application to Aruba.com heightens the effectiveness of our social networking activities, as new community of past visitors can share their first-hand experiences with the click of a button,” says Myrna Jansen, Director of Aruba Tourism Authority. “Friends are a major component of our marketing and advertising campaigns, so connecting with Facebook friends is a natural way to tout our island of perfect weather, pristine beaches and 90,000 friends you haven’t met yet.”

Aruba has been an innovator in using online sources for its visitors; just a few years ago it stepped up as the first provider of an online destination bridal registry which remains at the top of its game. Additionally, a re-invented website launched in March 2009 that melds social networking with the latest, most comprehensive island information combined with a dynamic commercial booking engine. Facebook Connect is a major step forward in creating a virtual community of friends of Aruba, the island of 90,000 friends you haven’t met yet.

To become a friend of Aruba online, visit www.aruba.com and click the Facebook Connect button on the home page to share information with your personal Facebook profile.

Thinking of getting away for the holidays? Think Aruba. This holiday season, the Caribbean island with 90,000 friends you haven’t met yet, is offering travellers a sun-filled vacation with special holiday packages and deals. Aruba is welcoming the winter season with perfect year-round temperatures, world class beaches and special hotel rates and packages that will keep travellers warm as the temperatures start to drop at home. With a multitude of activities available for every traveller, Aruba is the ideal destination to enjoy your favorite sport, embark on a new adventure, discover the island’s natural sights or simply relax on one of its marvelous beaches.

Aruba and its hotel partners are offering the following special travel packages and deals for the holiday season:

• Bucuti Beach Resort is offering travellers a special White Christmas Romance Package this holiday season, which includes a Gardenview room for five nights, full American daily breakfast and a special “White Christmas” candlelight dinner for two with a champagne toast on the white sands of Eagle Beach. Guests can take their picture in Santa hats in front of the Bucuti Christmas tree on the beach, and indulge in a sweet chocolate holiday gift. This package is valid for travel December 15 - 26, 2009, and rates start from $250 per night, per couple with a five-night minimum. For more information or to make reservations, visit www.bucuti.com or call 1-888-4-BUCUTI. When booking, mention reference code “Christmas Dinner Special.”

• The Holiday Inn Resort Aruba is giving guests the gift of savings this holiday season, offering a 30 percent discount on resort stays from December 18, 2009 to January 3, 2010. Savings are available in all room categories, except Lanai rooms and suites. A minimum four-night stay is required and promo code “130″ must be provided at the time of booking in order to receive savings. The booking window is between October 12 and December 30, 2009. For reservations and more information, please visit www.caribbeanhi.com/aruba or call 1-800-HOLIDAY.

• The Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino is helping vacation early birds save big with a special booking rate for the holidays, offering travellers 30 percent off room rates. Travel between now and December 20, 2009. For information and reservations, visit www.renaissancearuba.com or call 1-800-421-8188. Use promotional code MVA when booking.

• The Occidental Grand Aruba is offering all-inclusive rates of up to 20 percent off during the holidays, valid on stays between December 24, 2009 and January 3, 2010. Occidental Hotels & Resorts vacations include unlimited meals and snacks, free-flowing drinks and plenty of sports to choose from. Supervised Kids Club and daily entertainment are also part of the package, as well as nightly shows and live entertainment. For more information or to make reservations, visit www.occidentalhotels.com or call 1-800-858-2258.

• The Westin Resort Aruba has added new á la carte dinner options to their Classic All-Inclusive Experience Package, which features accommodations; three meals a day; a $25 credit towards dining at Blossoms; wine, beer, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages by the glass; non-motorized water sports and access to the Westin WORKOUT fitness centre. Nightly rates start at $389 per room, based on double occupancy. Children ages four through 12 can be added to the room for an additional daily charge of $50, and teens ages 13 through 17 can be added for $75 per night. Rates are valid on travel now through December 18, 2009. For reservations or more information, visit www.westinaruba.com or call 1-877-782-0149.When booking, ask for rate plan “Classic.”

For more information about holiday travel to Aruba, please visit the official Aruba Tourism Authority Web site at www.aruba.com or call 1-800-TO-ARUBA.

For More Information: www.goldcoastaruba.com
T: 297-586-2200
F: 297-586-2201
E: rentals@goldcoastaruba.com

The Occidental Grand Aruba, an all-inclusive resort on Aruba’s Palm Beach, offers holiday travellers a plethora of festive activities, events and dinners, including a visit from Santa, a special performance of The Nutcracker, and the island’s only free beach party!  Holiday rates start at $357 per person (a savings of up to 20%) for travel December 23, 2009 through January 3, 2010.

Guests receive a holiday season booklet detailing each of the fun and festive activities below upon arrival and the best part is that Occidental vacations are all-inclusive, so all activities are included and travellers can keep their wallets in their pockets, and there are no surprises at check out.  Guests can also try their luck in the on-site casino, relax by the free-form rock pool or explore the island and its culture during their visit.

Occidental Grand Aruba Holiday Schedule:

Thursday, December 24

• The Kids Club staff helps children write letters to Santa Claus and then deliver them to a “special mailbox.”
• Christmas-themed buffet dinner and show at The Ballroom with Gaita performers singing Aruban carols.
• Christmas Eve dinner menu, in addition to the regular menu, at each of the resort’s six restaurants including
• Alaskan snow crabs, artisanal cheeses and cream of pumpkin soup.
• Sound Lounge Disco Bar Christmas party featuring a house DJ.

Friday, December 25

• Santa Claus arrives at the hotel by boat with gifts for each of the children.
• Spectacular CirCaribe show with acrobats, contortionists, dancers, fire spitting and live musical performances.
• Christmas brunch at The Palm restaurant with mimosas, a scrumptious buffet with carving stations and live Christmas-themed music.

Monday, December 28

• Aruban beach party with a live band and BBQ buffet under the stars.  This is the only beach party on the island
that is offered to resort guests at no additional cost!

Tuesday, December 29

• The Nutcracker at The Ballroom.  For the very first time in Aruba, a professional ballet company from New York,
along with young talents from the island, will present Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet.

Thursday, December 31

• Pagara Fireworks at the Beach. Aruban tradition to burn the bad luck of the past year.
• New Year’s Eve lobster buffet dinner at The Palm with endless lobster and live music.
• New Year’s Eve dinner menu at each of the five á la carte restaurants, in addition to the regular menus.
• Choose between Italian, Pan-Asian, Mexican and Caribbean fusion or lobster!
• 2009 farewell party on the pool deck with live entertainment, count down to midnight, champagne toast, and live band until 1:00 a.m.
• Free Bingo in the on-site Casino with up to $2,000 USD in prizes.
• New Year’s Eve after-party at Sound Lounge Disco Bar from 1:00 to 3:00 a.m.

Friday, January 1

• New Year’s Day brunch at The Palm including oysters on the half shell, a buffet with carving stations, made-to-order Belgian waffles, and more with live music.

For more information or to book an Occidental Grand Aruba vacation, call 800-858-2258 or visit www.occidentalhotels.com

Occidental Grand Aruba

Another set of stamps was also issued commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Biblioteca Nacional Aruba (Aruba National Library). The two stamps, one of 185 cents, show a child reading a book. The 300 cents stamp shows the same child reading a book in present time.

The new stamps are available at postal office locations in Oranjestad, San Nicolas, Santa Cruz and Port of Call. For more information please email at philatelic@postaruba.com or call (297) 582-1900. View the post office website at www.postaruba.com