Virginia Beach, Virginia

Aruba – Divi Dutch Village

This resort was relaxed and refreshingly uncomplicated. It is part of the Divi Properties you see along Aruba’s beautiful north side beaches, but the vibe here is definitely more laid back. You can book as an all inclusive guest, or hotel only. Either way you are given a wristband which grants you access to the other Divi properties and amenities free of charge. An awesome perk! The activities calendar for all the properties is digital. Make sure you scan the QR code to see the complete listing. There are daily activities around the pool such as bingo, barbecues and live entertainment. Golf at the Divi Golf is directly across the street and the activities desk can book your tee time.. If you want to try one of the other Divi properties you can either walk the paved path in the rear of the resort which connects them all, or take one of the readily available shuttles. If by chance there isn’t a shuttle waiting in the lobby the concierge desk will call one for you. If you are staying in one of the rooms with a kitchen, the grocery store is 10 minutes away by foot.

The one bedroom unit was beautiful. Well decorated without being over the top. There was plenty of room 670 square feet. It included a full size living room with a separate dining room and a balcony with enough room for a lounge chair and a table seating for four. You could easily entertain a group of ten for a dinner party. The color palette was perfect – blues, grays and white. Housekeeping was very attentive and refreshed the room often. There wasn’t a washer and dryer inside the unit, but there was a laundry facility on the property. The concierge desk staff and give you change for the machines.

If you choose to eat at one of the other Divi properties there is a nice selection to choose from, but I also encourage you to eat off the resort property at one of the many local restaurants and eateries. There is something for everyone. The restaurant prices are comparable to New York or DC prices so plan accordingly. The taxi drivers have business cards with QR codes and you can call one directly to return you to the resort property.

The beach at Divi Dutch Village is visually pleasing and there are plenty of palapas, shaded tables and lounge chairs covered by thatched roof umbrellas, available for guests The beach at this location is very rocky, however the walkable beach and swimmable beach is next door 200ft away at the Divi Tamarijn . No matter what you choose to do while you are in Aruba please be sure to tip the staff, employees, waitstaff and drivers well. Tourism accounts for eighty percent of the island’s income. Book your trip to the ‘Happy Island’ today.