Divi Resorts Newsletter - 2017 03.Summer

Summer Fun for Kids & Families! page 10

summer 2017 1 benefits from the divi vacation club! pages 4-5 loyalty should be rewarded. introducing club loyalty

from the desk of the president

S

ummertime is here, a favorite for many of our owners and guests traveling with their children and families.

Our resorts fit summer travel perfectly, with suite accommodations that offer the opportunity for everyone to spread out and enjoy a spacious living room, convenient dining area, fully-equipped kitchen and outdoor BBQ grills for those great family cook-outs.

Of course, there are also miles of sandy beaches and freshwater swimming pools for everyone to cool off.

We continue to find ways to improve on family activities and experiences, especially for our youngest travelers. Our complimentary Treasures of the Caribbean Kids program offers daily fun and exciting adventures. We’ve also introduced a great new family social media contest! Visit page 16 for details on how to enter and win prizes.

At Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, children can become Mini & Mighty Chefs, experiencing the joy of cooking.

At Divi Flamingo Beach Resort, we’ve added Junior Zumba so kids can combine exercising and fun. At Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort, children can get an up-close experience of nature at a butterfly farm. You can find a preview of some of our summer family activities on page 10. For more information on Treasures of the Caribbean and activities at your resort, please visit our concierge desk to get the latest schedule and sign up.

We work hard to improve our resorts with renovations and refreshes. On page 7, you can review the many improvements we’ve already made this year, with more scheduled for completion by the end of 2017.

Buck Island, St. Croix, is one of the most beautiful and pristine places in the Caribbean. You’ll find information on a great charter tour on pages 12 and 13. Come visit the island and stay at Divi Carina Bay All-Inclusive Beach Resort.

It’s the only all-inclusive on the island, and it sits on the most magnificent beach.

You’ll enjoy the island’s great blend of both European and American cultures.

Wherever you choose to visit this season, we look forward to seeing you on-island soon – and remember, we always appreciate reading your comments and feedback. I personally read many of the reviews on TripAdvisor and comments on Facebook, and it makes me so happy to know we are doing an excellent job. I also greatly appreciate knowing the areas upon which we might improve. We constantly strive to exceed your vacation expectations – that’s always been our goal, and it always will be, no matter the season.

Wishing you and your family, a safe, healthy and happy summer.

Sincerely,

Marco Galaverna President and COO of Divi Resorts

All our resorts are in the Caribbean, but many of our owners, members and guests from the USA love visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands because they don’t need a passport for entry.

2

a day in the life of a divi GM Our resorts’ general managers (GMs) are very busy people. They don’t just oversee our resort staff and run their beautiful locations. They meet and greet our guests, owners and members; they tour the media; they take part in community events; they entertain celebrities from all over the world. Thank you, GMs!

Clockwise from top left: Members of the culinary team of Divi Carina Bay All-Inclusive Resort with GM Andreas Conhoff; GM of Divi Little Bay Beach Resort Celine Van Meer with well-known Dutch comedian Howard Komproe and Divi Little Bay Sales Manager Joan Samson; GM of Divi Flamingo Beach Resort Melissa Hilgers with Bud and Heather from US Scuba; GM of Divi Southwinds Beach Resort Alvin Jemmott with Peter McDermont of Vintage Sport and Leisure and Mike Procter, one of the most revered South African cricketers of all time, attending the 17th Golden Oldies World Cricket Festival; GM of Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort Patrick Franssen with Mildred Esguerra, Executive Assistant, during a Culture Fair at the resort; GM of Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort Gerrit Griffith with the editors of Dapper Dads + Men Magazine.

3

3 Reasons to become a divi vacation club member today!

The Divi Vacation Club was created especially for you, our valued owners and guests. It’s bursting with endless savings and benefits at incredible destinations around the Caribbean and the world.

Divi Vacation Club members enjoy endless travel deals and substantial discounts on bonus getaways, accommodations, airfare, rental cars, cruises, plus last-minute travel getaways and short stay packages!

With a Divi Vacation Club membership, you choose the accommodation size that fits your needs. Midweek or weekend arrivals let you travel at your convenience. Planning your vacations has never been easier!

join now & receive club loyalty benefits*

P L AT I N U M

Our new loyalty benefits program delivers valuable savings on:

GOLD

club services – save money each time you travel on reduced fees, special discounts and more!

PRES

IDEN

T’S E LITE

club recognition – as an elite member, you’ll always be treated like a VIP, ensuring that you feel like a priority the moment you arrive at any of our Divi Club Destinations.

LOYALTY SHOULD ALWAYS BE REWARDED

club amenities – fantastic savings at Divi Club Destinations on dining, shopping, golf, spa, water sports and more!

learn more about the divi vacation club today! if you are staying at a divi resort on aruba…

if you are staying at divi little bay in st. maarten…

Guests at Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort – Call ext. 7002 or 7004. Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Please visit or call the Membership Office. Call ext. 2401 and 2404.

Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Guests at Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort – Call ext. 4652 or 4653. Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Guests at Divi Dutch Village Beach Resort – Call ext. 793. Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

If you are not staying on Aruba or St. Maarten, please call 1-888-863-6822/1-919-419-3484 or visit www.divivacationclub.com. *Availability and savings on Club Services, Club Recognition and Club Amenities differ

by Club Loyalty Benefit level.

4

featured members

Meet our featured President’s Elite members for this issue, Robert and Sherri Anderson of Maryland, USA.

Vacation Club. “The main reason we decided to join the Club was to take advantage of the Loyalty Benefits,” explains Mr. Anderson. “We are getting to a point in our lives where we want more flexibility to stay in other locations in the Caribbean and around the world, and hopefully, in the very near future, take advantage of midweek travel.”

We caught up with the Andersons on their latest trip to Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, where they graciously spoke to us about their vacation experiences, the reasons they love St. Maarten and their membership in the Divi Vacation Club.

The Andersons always travel on all-inclusive plans, so as President’s Elite members, they really like knowing that they get a “starter kit” of sodas, beer and water right from the beginning of their trip. They also enjoy the added benefit of early check-in and the extra VIP attention. The fact that their President’s Elite benefits transfer over to all Divi Club Destinations was also a draw as they made their decision to join the Club.

“Before we purchased timeshare ownership, we used to cruise a lot around the Caribbean. Our goal was to visit as many islands as possible to find one place that we wanted to stay,” explains Mr. Anderson. “We use to cruise into St. Maarten’s port and see beautiful Little Bay and the resort situated on the peninsula. That’s what made us decide this was the place.”

“We don’t like high-rises or elevators,” Mrs. Anderson remarks. “We spend all day on the beach, so that was important to us. The water is always calm here, and the resort faces south, so the beach gets the sun all day long.

The sunsets are spectacular.”

The Andersons have a found a unique way to use their membership. “We’ve always banked any unused weeks or Points over the years, so when our nieces and nephews have gotten married, we’ve given them the gift of a honeymoon,” explains Mrs. Anderson. “Recently, when our niece got married, we traded our Pure Points for their honeymoon in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.”

Once they settled on St. Maarten as their future vacation spot, the Andersons purchased one week of ownership in a one-bedroom unit at the end of March. Steadily, over the next 12 years, they added another week in March and two more weeks at the end of October. They’ve also expanded to two-bedroom units, as they love to bring along friends and family, and having the extra bedroom is very convenient.

“Divi Little Bay is our second home. The staff are our extended family and friends. We know everyone so well, and it’s great to come back and see what’s changed in their lives, and catch up,” says Mr. Anderson. “Everyone knows us. We can relax and enjoy ourselves. The toughest part of vacationing used to be getting acclimated, but coming here, it’s like being home the moment we arrive, only we don’t have any chores!”

In March 2016, the Andersons converted their fixed weeks to Pure Points and became members of the Divi 5

crop over barbados Crop Over (formerly called “Harvest Home”) is a traditional harvest festival that began in Barbados and dates back to the 1780s, a time when Barbados was the world’s largest producer of sugar.

At the end of the sugar season, there was always a huge celebration to mark the culmination of another successful sugar cane harvest – the Crop Over celebration.

As the sugar industry in Barbados declined, so too did the Crop Over festival, and in the 1940s, the festival was terminated completely. However, the festival was revived in 1974 and other elements of Barbadian culture were infused to create the extravaganza that exists today, an event that attracts thousands of people from across the globe. The festival, which runs from May through August, begins with the Mega Cavalacade, celebrating the coming together of seasoned and emerging Soca musical talent.

Craft workshops, heritage walks and tours, folk concerts, art and photographic exhibitions are all an integral part of the festival, including the Ceremonial Delivery of the Last Canes and crowning of the King and Queen of the Festival.

At Bridgetown Market, you’ll find many stalls full of locally made arts and crafts, as well as traditional Bajan food. As you stroll along, you’ll enjoy the sounds of calypso and Soca music played by live street bands.

Calypso is one of the standout features of the Crop Over festival. Calypsonians compete for several prizes and titles, including Party Monarch, Sweet Soca Monarch, Road March Monarch and Pic-O-De-Crop Monarch. The Party Monarch, and more recently, the Sweet Soca competition, are among the festival’s most popular events. The finale of the Pic-O-De-Crop competition takes place at Kensington Oval, followed by the Fore-Day Morning Jump-Up, a fabulous street party.

The finale of the festival is the Grand Kadooment. This carnival parade features large bands with members dressed in elaborate costumes to depict various themes. Designers compete for the coveted Designer of the Year prize.

Children, too, can participate in the Kiddies Kadooment, donning beautiful costumes and joining their friends in a band to parade before the judges of the competition.

The revelers make their way to Spring Garden, accompanied by the pulsating rhythm of calypso music.

When they get there, the party continues into the night – a spectacular end to a grand festival.

Visit www.visitbarbados.org/cropoverfestival for a calendar of 2017 Crop Over events.

6

new and improved Phase 2 Renovation of Divi Dutch Village Beach Resort

on aruba...

Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort • Replaced elevators in the Tower • New washer and dryer area, ice machine and vending machine with snacks on 3rd floor of the Tower • Two new showers installed on the beach • New patio furniture added to Phase 1 Divi Dutch Village Beach Resort • Phase 2 renovation of building units 6-10 • Giving Phase 2 a new look, replacing 2nd pool • New landscaping and lighting Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort • Roof replacement on Buildings A, B, C and D • Roof replacement on Golf Villas Phase 3 and 4 • Refresh of the Seabreeze Pool • New RFDI locks being installed on all rooms

on barbados...

Divi Southwinds Beach Resort • Replaced roof and railings • Replaced two elevators in the main building • Upgrade and refresh of units, including bathrooms and fixtures, bedroom furniture, new kitchen appliances, lighting, flooring, painting and drapery • New pool and beach furniture

on bonaire…

Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino • •

Added a new washer/dryer facility for timeshare units Replaced and added lateral trainer, StairMaster and free climber to fitness center

on st. maarten...

Divi Little Bay Beach Resort • New pool furniture at all three pools • Added new furniture to the pureocean terrace • Replaced lobby furniture • Started replacement of shower doors in hotel rooms and added new luxury flooring • Completed a new roof and fresh coat of paint on the maintenance building • Renovated lobby restrooms • Upgraded parking lot in front of Divi Little Bay Town Center

7

7

taste of the islands To ensure your taste buds are pampered during your vacation, Divi Resorts has some of the finest Executive Chefs and culinary staff from around the world. Throughout the year, we photograph and document their epicurean talents, but rarely do we show their fun side. We thought you’d enjoy seeing just a little bit of what our chefs are like out of the kitchen and after-hours with their staff.

what hap ...outside the kit ch e n p e ns

Clockwise from top left: Executive Chef Anthony de Palm, Aruba, catching rays with his staff at Divi Phoenix; Executive Chef Antonio Bruni, Bonaire, fishing with his staff at Divi Flamingo; Executive Chef Iwan Hokahin, St. Maarten, catching lobster at Divi Little Bay; Executive Chef Henderson Butcher, Barbados, gardening with his staff at Divi Southwinds; Regional Executive Chef Matt Boland enjoys a menu tasting with his staff at Windows on Aruba.

8

c

rats g n o Sous Chef Dexter Desouza

Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino

Won 2nd place for his Lobster Soup at St. Croix Food & Wine

try it!

Left to right: Thomas Lam, Sous Chef Dexter Desouza and Nandy Jackson

curry corn and lobster chowder INGREDIENTS (serves 6) 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons curry powder 1 medium onion, peeled and diced 2 stalks of celery, chopped 2 carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped 2 white potatoes, medium diced 1 bay leaf 1 sprig of fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper 2 large cloves garlic, peeled and minced 2 cups fish, lobster, shrimp or shellfish stock (frozen, storebought is fine, if homemade is not available) 1 ¾ cups coconut milk ¾ cup heavy cream 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or more to taste 3 cups fresh corn kernels or frozen corn kernels, thawed 2 tablspoons brandy (optional) ¾ pound cooked lobster meat, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, or to taste Parsley and chives to garnish

1. Heat large casserole pan or saucepan. Add olive oil and curry to pan and cook over medium heat for one minute, stirring occasionally.

2. Add the onion, carrots, potatoes, celery, bay leaf, crushed red pepper and thyme to the pan. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 15 minutes. You will probably need to stir in an occasional tablespoon of water to avoid browning. Add the minced garlic and cook 2 or 3 minutes longer.

3. Add the stock, coconut milk and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat as low as possible, cover and simmer 15 minutes or until the carrots and potatoes are tender.

4. Stir in the cream, brandy and the corn and simmer 2 minutes to combine the flavors. Add the lobster and lemon juice. Adjust the seasoning to taste.

5. To serve, ladle into hot soup bowls and garnish with parsley and chives.

9

summer fun for kids & families At Divi Resorts, we’re always searching for fun, family-focused activities to bring smiles to our guests’ faces, and to create lasting memories of great Caribbean vacations. This summer, we’d like to share just a few highlights you can enjoy. To get more information, or to sign up for these activities, please see your resort concierge or front desk. island

resort

experience

day & time

description/cost to guest

aruba

Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort

Scavenger hunt

Mondays 10 a.m.

FREE

aruba

Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort

Beach games

Wednesdays 10 a.m.

FREE

aruba

Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort

Movie night

Thursdays 4 p.m.

FREE

aruba

Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort

Putting contest

Thursdays 9 a.m.

$25 (one child free per one paying adult) lowest score is the winner (prizes for the winner and child)

aruba

Divi Dutch Village Beach Resort

same as Divi Village

barbados

Divi Southwinds Beach Resort

Nature walk with David

barbados

Divi Southwinds Beach Resort

Baby Turtle Hatching Aid

barbados

Divi Southwinds Beach Resort

Beach volleyball

Thursdays 9:30 a.m. every evening during summer months at pureocean Mondays and Fridays 11:30 a.m.

FREE FREE FREE

bonaire

Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino

Kid's Zumba

bonaire

Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino

Karaoke

Sundays 6:30-9:30 p.m.

FREE

st.croix

Divi Carina Bay All-Inclusive Beach Resort & Casino

Treasure hunt

Fridays 3:30 p.m.

FREE

st.croix

Divi Carina Bay All-Inclusive Beach Resort & Casino

Divi Nature Hike

Wednesdays 1:30-4:30 p.m.

$15 PP

st.croix

Divi Carina Bay All-Inclusive Beach Resort & Casino

Crab races

Wednesdays 5:30 p.m.

$2 per crab

st.maarten

Divi Little Bay Beach Resort

Music Trivia Familes get to play "Name That Tune"

Sundays 5 p.m.

FREE

10

Saturdays 5-6 p.m.

FREE

team member spotlight The local weddings require much less input from me.

The local couples usually have their own friends and family to fill the roles that I typically fill with a destination couple. They often have their own photographer and their family minister, and they may choose to bring their own flowers, cake, DJ and so on. For those couples, who know the island well, the resort’s East End location offers a spectacular beach setting for the ceremony and convenient banquet rooms for the reception. Local wedding couples appreciate the air-conditioning in the banquet rooms, and don’t care that much for an outdoor reception, whereas Stateside couples enjoy a tented poolside location or receptions on the beach.

An event manager at a busy resort has plenty to keep on her plate. When many of those events are weddings, the job gets even more complicated.

We recently chatted with Patricia Fiske, Catering Sales Manager and Wedding Coordinator for Divi Carina Bay All-Inclusive Beach Resort on St. Croix, to learn more about what she does and what makes it all so rewarding.

How long have you been working for Divi?

I started with Divi back in 1999, when we first opened, as a bartender, a job I really loved. Meeting our guests on a daily basis was a great experience. I left the island after the events of 9/11 because, as you can imagine, we had virtually no tourists here for a long time. I moved back in 2006 after my first grandchild was born – nothing could have kept me away! The position of Catering Sales Manager was open, and seemed like a great fit for me, I’m highly organized and love working with people and that is definitely a requirement for this job!

What’s the most challenging part of your job?

Weddings are the most challenging aspect of what I do, because they have to be perfect – no room at all for error!

We do a lot of destination weddings, but I have to say we’re also among the favorite locations to get married for the local brides and grooms of St. Croix and the USVI. Building trust is so important for destination brides trying to plan their dream wedding when they’re so far away, so keeping the lines of communication going is crucial. For our St. Croix and USVI locals, they know our beach is picture-perfect, and we can accommodate large and small groups.

We’re also popular for business groups, special honeymoons and anniversaries. People simply love the convenience and price point of an all-inclusive resort, plus our banqueting facilities are the largest on the island.

Is planning a local wedding much different than planning a destination wedding?

What does Divi Carina Bay offer for weddings that no one else on the island can deliver?

We offer a truly affordable wedding package that starts at $530. Couples can customize with several add-ons, but the most popular addition, one hour of professional photographer, brings the total to just $1,056. When you consider the high cost of airfare, our price point makes Divi Carina Bay a very desirable destination wedding option for couples on a budget. Of course, St. Croix is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, so American family members don’t need passports to attend. When you consider that we’re also the only all-inclusive resort on the island, and one price really means all the food and beverage and entertainment is taken care of for their guests during their stay, it really makes sense that we’re such a popular destination wedding venue.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

When we put on a perfect event – especially a wedding – it’s really satisfying. I also became a minister of the Universal Life Church about five years ago, and performing wedding ceremonies is very moving for me. I become so attached to my brides that I miss our emails when the wedding is over. Vow renewals are also really special – I did one recently for a couple celebrating their 50th anniversary, and their son organized the whole thing as a surprise. Mom cried like a baby!

11

island adventurer st. croix With so many great things to do and try on your Caribbean vacation, we thought we’d offer some insight into discovering something new—or perhaps just more information on an activity you love—as well as the best places to enjoy the experience on our islands. This is Island Adventurer.

Just off the coast of St. Croix lies Buck Island, a small, uninhabited patch of land that also happens to be a national monument. The National Park Service protects the island and the surrounding reef, which sees about 50,000 visitors per year.

Snorkelers enjoy exploring the underwater trail, one of only three in the United States. Turtle Beach, on the west end of the island, has pictureperfect white sands and turquoise waters. It was voted one of the world’s most beautiful beaches

by National Geographic readers.

In order to preserve the vibrant marine life of its coral reef, Buck Island is only accessible by boat.

If you’re staying at Divi Carina Bay All-Inclusive Beach Resort on St. Croix, this natural wonderland is just a short boat ride away. Family-owned and -operated Buck Island Charters is the only chartered tour company that takes visitors to Buck Island on sail power alone, and it’s been doing so since 1968.

It’ll be smooth sailing aboard one of their two trimaran sailboats, the Teroro II or the Dragonfly, with Captain Carl or Captain Heinz at the helm.

They’ll treat you to a personalized tour of Buck

Island National Monument that includes sailing, snorkeling and hiking.

The half-day trip aboard the 42-foot Teroro II departs the Green Cay Marina at 9 a.m., returning by 2 p.m. at the latest. The cost is $75 per person; for children ages 11 and under, the cost is $55 each. Children ages two and under are free.

“Weather permitting, we sail to the underwater trail first and spend an hour there snorkeling,” says Captain Carl. “We provide all the snorkel gear and excellent instruction with a guided tour through the marine garden and time to do your own exploring.

We then sail over to Turtle Beach and spend about one-and-a-half hours there. You can go on a self-guided hiking and photo tour, or snorkel some more, or just enjoy the beach.”

The 38-foot Dragonfly is also available for private charters, for those interested in a more customized experience. The Dragonfly can accommodate groups of up to six people, with a charter rate of $570.

Don’t forget to bring your bathing suit, beach towel, sunscreen, hat or cover-up, water shoes, camera, bottled water and anything else you’d like to eat or drink during the trip.

Captain Heinz and Captain Carl are a father-son team that have been sailing the St. Croix waters for more than 30 years. They enjoy sharing their local knowledge with visitors and would love to have you aboard!

To reserve your spot on Captain Heinz or Captain Carl’s next excursion, call 340-718-3161 or email teroro@msn.com. Both are U.S. Coast Guard-certified and National Park Service-approved. For more information on Buck Island Charters, visit www.gotostcroix.com/heinz.

12

buck island ~

st. croix's national monument

sources: grisha levit/flickr, NOAA/flickr, snorkelingdives.com/flickr 13

divi cares Our Divi team members work hard throughout the year to make a positive impact on the islands they call home. The Divi Cares initiative partners with local Caribbean communities in outreach programs that assist with education, healthy lifestyles, animal rescue and humane treatment and green projects focusing on the resorts’ environmental impact on land and sea.

Here are a few recent programs and projects Divi has adopted on the islands:

Divi Carina Bay Donates to Children’s Swim Program on St. Croix

Divi Carina Bay All-Inclusive Beach Resort is proud to announce a $3,000 annual donation to the Dolphins Swim Team, a St. Croix nonprofit organization that teaches local children water safety, swimming skills, friendly competition and healthy living.

Divi Aruba Phoenix Opens Greenhouse for Earth Day

Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort opened its new greenhouse in time for Earth Day. As part of the opening, guests and staff members alike were invited to help plant herbs and vegetables, getting the greenhouse off to a healthy start. Divi Aruba Phoenix staff members also took part in a beach cleanup in honor of Earth Day, and guests were treated to a session of recycled arts and crafts.

Divi Little Bay Celebrates Earth Day with Fun Guest Activities Divi Little Bay Beach Resort recognized Earth Day this year with an early-morning Earth Day ceremony, followed by a group cleanup of the property, T-shirt painting for kids and the showing of an Earth Dayrelated movie.

Divi Carina Bay Hosts Chili Cook-off to Support United Way Divi Carina Bay All-Inclusive Beach Resort recently raised funds for the United Way of the U.S. Virgin Islands by hosting a chili cook-off. The daylong event featured chili tastings, familyfriendly live entertainment and raffle drawings.

14

International Day of Happiness 2017 Aruba is known as the One Happy Island, and our Aruba staff members and guests certainly did the slogan justice when they celebrated the International Day of Happiness this spring. Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort and Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort lined up full rosters of fun and smileinducing activities for staff members and guests alike, from a staff breakfast that involved dancing to complimentary mini-massages and refreshing spritzes of water for guests enjoying the beach at Divi Aruba Phoenix.

Earth Day

International Happiness Day

15

divi extras check it out!

NEW WEBSITE FOR DIVI LINKS

Divi Links, the golf course at Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort on Aruba, has just rolled out an updated website. Go to www.divilinks.com to schedule tee times, check green fees, purchase Pro Shop gift certificates, learn about the resort’s golf packages and more.

#SUMMERATDIVI

It’s a summer full of fun at Divi Resorts, and you can be a part of it! Follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #summeratdivi. You can also use the hashtag to post your own summer adventures on our islands!

Stay updated on the latest #summeratdivi contests, prizes and perks at www.diviresorts.com/summeratdivi.htm.

ST. MAARTEN SUMMER SPECIAL Aqua Mania Adventures on St. Maarten (www.stmaartenactivities.com) is offering a few specials to guests of Divi Little Bay Beach Resort. All trips leave right from the dock at Divi Little Bay. If you’re at the resort, stop by the Aqua Mania kiosk for details!

Sail to Anguilla on Thursdays and tour to a slice of paradise called Shoal Bay. $135pp includes open bar on the sail catamaran, taxi tour, welcome punch, BBQ lunch, beach chairs and umbrellas.

Try a sunset sail! Depart Thursdays on sail catamaran Tango to tour the coastline as the sun sets. Sip cold cocktails, enjoy snacks and look for the green flash on the horizon for $40pp.

Santino Motor Boat cruises St. Maarten’s coastline for the best swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing. Snorkel with reef fish at Creole Rock, swim with turtles at Tintemarre and spot iguanas at Pinel Island. Bring your own picnic lunch or purchase a BBQ lunch at the famous lolos in Grand Case. $75pp includes drinks on the boat plus tax.

Scheduling and prices are subject to change. Prices advertised are cash. Paid reservations are required to receive specials and are subject to availability.

16

divi caribbean crossword

17

calendar of events

Aruba Summer Music Festival

aruba July: Aruba Summer Music Festival Musicians from around the world come to Aruba to perform for thousands of locals and tourists at the Harbor Square Arena. For details and tickets, head to locoloboaruba.com.

Aruba Hi-Winds Tournament Aruba hosts competitions and races in a variety of wind sports such as kite boarding and wind surfing. For more information, visit aruba-hiwinds.org.

Aruba’s Turibana Loop 10K Race

Aruba’s Annual International Regatta The Regatta features boating competitions for yachts, beach catamarans, sunfishes and more. For details, visit aruba-regatta.com.

One Cool Summer International Drag Race Local and international drag racers compete to raise funds for the Palo Marga racetracks and equipment.

September:

August:

Turibana Loop 10K Race Run in a 10K race on Aruba and experience the island in a new way. For more information, go to ibisaruba.org/ en/events/turibana-10k.html.

Aruba International Pro-Am Golf Tournament Professional and amateur golfers play a two-day 36-hole tournament at the Tierra del Sol Golf Course.

Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival Celebrate high-quality jazz at this weekend festival that also showcases a wide selection of theater, arts and food.

For details, visit caribbeanseajazz.com.

18

Flavors of Barbados Dinner and Cabaret Show

Aruba’s Annual Reef Care Project Help keep your favorite beaches and dive sites clean in the island’s largest volunteer environmental project.

barbados July-August: Flavors of Barbados Dinner and Cabaret Show Enjoy dinner and an evening of song and dance for all ages at this extravaganza at the Sea Rocks Dome.

Crop Over Festival The Crop Over Festival is Barbados’ premier summer festival that runs through August. For a taste of its wide variety of events, visit barbados.org/ cropover.htm.

july 2017 - september 2017

Bonaire Flag Day

bonaire

Bastille Day on French Saint Martin

September:

August:

Bonaire Flag Day A public holiday to celebrate the island’s heritage. Locals and ProKids Windsurfing 2017 visitors will often dance, eat and Professional and amateur children drink outdoors. A different town compete in this annual freestyle and or neighborhood hosts the official slalom wind surfing championship held festivities each year. at Sorobon Beach. For details, visit prokidsfreestyle.com.

July:

Taste of Bonaire Visitors and locals alike have the opportunity to experience food, culture and local crafts at this quarterly event. For more information, visit tourismbonaire.com/taste-of-bonaire.

August: Cultural Market This market brings together local arts and crafts, delicious food, education presentations and live music to celebrate the culture of Bonaire.

St. Maarten’s Sandy Ground Festival

st. maarten July:

Bastille Day The entire island celebrates this traditional French holiday with fireworks, food and drink.

Schoelcher Day Locals and visitors participate in boat and bike races to honor Victor Schoelcher, a Frenchman who fought against slavery in the 19th century.

19

Assumption Day A public holiday that commemorates the Virgin Mary’s entrance to heaven in the Catholic tradition.

Sandy Ground Festival Held on Assumption Day, this festival celebrates island culture with traditional games, food and music.

September: Annual Coastal Cleanup Visitors and locals gather together to help preserve St. Maarten’s beaches.

For details, visit facebook.com/ sintmaartenpride.

World Tourism Day The St. Maarten tourism authorities recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the island’s tourism and hospitality industry.

keep in touch contact

website: www.diviresorts.com blog: blog.diviresorts.com reservations: 800-367-3484 or 919-419-3484 reserve@diviresorts.com owner services: 888-863-6822 ownerrelations@diviresorts.com groups: 800-801-5550 groupsales@diviresorts.com loan servicing/collections: 800-649-2853

social

facebook: facebook.com/diviresorts twitter: twitter.com/diviresorts instagram: instagram.com/diviresorts pinterest: pinterest.com/diviresorts

news

spring 2017: divivacationclub.com/downloads/ island-time-spring-2017 winter 2017: divivacationclub.com/downloads/ island-time-winter-2017 fall 2016: divivacationclub.com/downloads/islandtime-fall-2016 summer 2016: divivacationclub.com/downloads/ island-time-summer-2016

20