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Welcome to the
Visit Aruba Newsletter!
This section will be updated regularly, so keep coming back...
News
Briefs for February 1-29, 2000
Aruba opens 2000 with varied events and activities
Welcoming visitors to the island with more than friendly smiles, great weather, great
beaches, world-class cuisine, the Caribbean’s best diving and the numerous adventures
to be found in the shopping malls, on the sea and in our national park, the island will
play host to numerous events and
activities this year.
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Aruba’s 46th Carnival Celebration:
Aruba’s 2000 carnival is
starting to heat up with the tune “Soak on Somebody,” the recently proclaimed
Roadmarch Song of the island’s 46 island-wide celebration. Carnival activities
continue all this month and the beginning of next with highlights including:
- Cocoyoco Jam (Jump up), February 19
- Lighting Parade, February 26
- Children’s Grand Parade, February 27
- Carnival Queen Election, March 2
- Jouvert Morning (Jump up), March 4
- Aruba’s Grand Parade through Oranjestad, March 5
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Special Events for 2000:
Latin American Film Festival, May 24-27
- Hi-Winds
Windsurfing Championship, June 8-15
- International Paint Ball Competition, June 24,25
- Jazz and Latin Music Festival in June
- 2nd Festival de las Americas (music festival), October 6 - 7
- Monster Truck Show, October 28 - 29
- Aruba International Catamaran Regatta, November 10-18
- Seaport Yacht Races,
November 12- 16
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Year
round festivals:
- Bonbini folkloric festival, every Tuesday, at Fort Zoutman in
Oranjestad, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
- Watapana, a weekly arts, music and food fest, held every Wednesday
on the festival grounds between Allegro and Hyatt, 6:00 p.m.– 8:30 p.m., May 3
through October 25, 2000
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Sporting
Events:
The next event on the 2000 activity
calendar of Aruba’s Institute for Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (IDEFRE)
is a 5K walk open to everyone, 6 years and older on February 6. A total of 20 events have
been planned throughout the year with a total of eight 5K “fun run” events and
five walks. Other highlights include:
- International Half Marathon (21K), March 19
- ABN AMRO 10K Blvd Race, April 22
- MSK 16K race, November 11
For more information, contact IDEFRE at
Tel: 297-824987, Fax: (297) 836478.
All upcoming golf tournaments, to be held
on Tierra del Sol’s 18-hole championship golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones,
include:
- Queen’s Day Golf Tournament, April 29, 30
- Black Label Golf Tournament, August 27-29
- KLM Aruba Golf Open in October
- European Amateur Golf Tournament, December 9-10
For more information, contact Tierra del
Sol at (297) 860978.
Upcoming tourism conferences for tour
operators, wholesalers and airlines held on Aruba include:
- With participation from the U.S. Market: ATCA, March 22-25
- From the European Market: AME, April 3-6
- From the Latin American Market: CATA, May 17-20
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Air Aruba to inaugurate new flights
On February 28, Aruba’s national
airline of Air Aruba will inaugurate a new flight from
Maracaibo, representing Air Aruba’s fourth gateway
in Venezuela, others including Caracas, Porto la Cruz and Isla Margarita.The flight will
fly three times weekly, and is planned to expand to four flights weekly in April and a
possible five flights weekly in July. Also in July, Air Aruba
will add a new flight to the U.S., opening a new gateway from Orlando Florida, with a
preliminary daily flying schedule. Air Aruba already
flies to several U.S. gateways including Miami, Newark, Philadelphia and Baltimore.
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What’s new on Aruba
New eateries/bars:
The new hot dance spot, E-Zone, is found near the harbor in
downtown Oranjestad. This techno-chic venue features a virtual light show along with
swirls of smoke surrounding the dance floor. The E-Zone is home to the
popular band, Crystal Breeze, headed by lead singer Marisela. Tuesday is Ladies Night, but
weekends tend to see the most action. On Fridays and Saturday nights there is a cover
charge of Afl. 10 (US$6).
Located on the same busy avenue as E-Zone,
is Café Bahia, with views of the Oranjestad harbor from its terrace, the
island’s newest eatery and nightclub.Visit for lunch, dinner or drinks. Nighttime at
Bahia offers a busy meeting place with revelers gathering around the fanciful boat
designed bar, sampling the variety of specialty drink offerings. On weekends, Bahia’s
nightclub is open, offering DJ and dance floor.
New shows:
“Bare Illusion,” a new Jean Ann Ryan Production is currently being offered at
Sonesta’s Stardust Theater. Billed as Aruba’s first adult entertainment
offering, the show features the award-winning magic of Dexion, Kurt Larson and Regina
Powers, as well as various dance numbers, resulting in a sensual, exotic and erotic
spectacle. Show times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11:30 p.m. Tickets are US$29 per
person.
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$AVE in Aruba!
Your VisitAruba Plus card is a convenient and
effective way to get the most out of your Aruba vacation with significant discounts and
special offers on hotel accommodations, car rental, watersports, sailing and party
cruises, spa treatments, entertainment, casinos, shopping and more! PLUS as a
cardmember you will be automatically entered in regular raffles to win a FREE
FLIGHT to Aruba!
The 2000 card is being offered for a limited time at an introductory price of just US$10!
Take advantage of this introductory offer to get your VisitAruba
Plus card including shipping and handling* for a limited time only at this
special price. You can even ask for your card to be delivered to your hotel to be ready
for you once you arrive in Aruba.
*FREE shipping and handling applies to orders from the United States only.
A night at one of the hotels, a meal at one of the participating restaurants, or a trip to
one of the participating shops is all it takes to recover the price of your VisitAruba Plus card. In most cases, by using your card
just once only, you will have recovered the cost, and after that it's pure savings over
and over again since you can use it as many times as you like and always receive the
discounts.
As a cardmember you will receive your personalized VisitAruba Plus
card. Present your card at participating locations to take advantage of discounts and
special offers. The 2000 card is valid for UNLIMITED USE until December 1st, 2000. For
more details and ordering, see the VisitAruba Plus section.
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Selected News courtesy of ATA Newsletter
Editor: Doreen Boekhoudt
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