Divi Village Golf and Beach Resort

Each of the five Divi properties in Aruba has its own distinct feel, and the Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort is no different. While two sister properties (Divi Aruba and Tamarijn Aruba) take up a prime spot along the beach across the road, this more expansive resort is set inland along the golf course.The long driveway leads to an attractive lobby area with a car rental and concierge desk. Many areas of the resort were renovated in 2010, and the property feels fresh and up-to-date. An attractive and manicured golf course sits across the driveway, as does the main clubhouse, with two popular restaurants that overlook the ninth hole. This area of the resort is open to the public, and the restaurant Windows on Aruba is an island destination -- celebrities have even been spotted here from time to time. For those looking for seclusion, the Golf Villas are set even farther inland, behind the main village.Though all accommodations include fully equipped kitchens, there is an all-inclusive option that can be purchased at check-in. With this package, guests are permitted to roam freely between sister properties and take advantage of numerous restaurants and activities.

Aruba is a small island 15 miles north of Venezuela, known for having white sand beaches and constant trade winds. The Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort is situated next to a golf course and across the street from Druif Beach in the Low-Rise hotel district, just 10-minutes from Aruba's capital city of Oranjestad and Queen Beatrix International Airport. (The Low-Rise and High-Rise districts are exactly what they sound like, with low- and high-rise hotels, respectively. The High-Rise section fronts Palm Beach and has close proximity to shopping, restaurant and bars, but the Low-Rise section to the south tends to feel less crowded.)A rental car is recommended (there is a desk in the lobby), but taxis are readily available 24-hours a day. To access other resorts, walk along the shore, the footpath, or use the free shuttle service via golf cart vehicles. This service runs between the casino and the Links golf course approximately every 15 minutes. Airport transfers are not available.- 5-minute drive to popular Eagle Beach

• 7-minute drive to Palm Beach for high-rise hotels, restaurants and shopping
• 9-minute drive to California Lighthouse
• 9-minute drive to downtown Oranjestad and the cruise terminal
• 10-minute drive to Queen Beatrix International Airport
• 11-minute drive to Alto Vista Chapel
• 11-minute drive to Tierra del Sol golf course
• 22-minute drive to Arikok National Park
• 23-minute drive to Savaneta for beachside dining
• 36-minute drive to Baby Beach

The 348 suites and villas come in studio, one-, and two-bedroom options, and are located in two distinct areas of the resort. Suites are located in the main buildings near the lobby (these have elevators and were renovated in 2010), and Golf Villas are tucked away in a landscaped area next to the golf course (these opened in 2004 and offer more deluxe accommodations). All types come with king beds, queen sleeper sofas, fully equipped kitchens, and patios or balconies (views range depending on room). Island-style decor is similar to that at other Divi properties: pale yellow duvet covers, tile floors, and furniture in wood and/or wicker. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, and air-conditioners and ceiling fans help keep guests cool in this humid climate.- King beds

• Fully equipped kitchens
• Queen sleeper sofas
• Duvets
• Balconies or patios
• Flat-screen TVs
• Air-conditioning
• Ceiling fans

The Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort is a short walk (across a busy road) to Druif Beach, a long, oval-shaped stretch of white sand. Not only is the area safe -- the beach is home to many Low-Rise resorts -- but the views face directly west for outstanding sunsets. The beach is cleaned daily, and because of the great expanse, it is impossible to feel crowded. The shore has lapping turquoise waves resembling a postcard -- great for swimming and long barefoot strolls in either direction. In fact, guests can walk all the way to Eagle Beach and beyond. All beaches in Aruba are public so there are no off-limits areas to worry about.Halfway between the Divi Aruba and Divi Tamarijn is a can't-be-missed colorful tent that offers an extensive array of non-motorized water sports including snorkeling equipment, beginner windsurfing gear, sail boats, floats and kayaks. For land activities, guests can partake in beach volleyball or try out the outdoor 30-foot rock climbing wall. All activities are free for those who purchase an all-inclusive option.

Though the resort is not directly on the beach (it is across the main road), guests at the Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort have easy access to two large pool areas on-site. One is closer to the beach, and the other is set farther inland near the Golf Villas -- both offer bars for cocktails. These areas offer live music and activities, and do get crowded, so those looking for more peace and quiet should head to the sand.

The spa company, Indulgence by the Sea, has two nearby locations at both Tamarijn Aruba and Divi Aruba across the street. Depending on the location, guests can schedule services such as hair styling, hot stone massages and couples massages on the beach. Body treatments include moisturizers, salt rubs, wraps and exfoliation treatments using local ingredients like seaweed, mango, papaya and sea salt.Both locations offer manicure and pedicure treatments.

Though the resort is closer to the golf course than the beach, the Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort is still an excellent choice for families, with comfortable, spacious accommodations that feature fully equipped kitchens and balconies. Children 12 and under stay free when accompanied by an adult, and cribs are available at no additional charge. For a romantic night out on the island, babysitting services can be arranged for a minimum of three hours.The on-site Sea Breeze Café and Mulligan's Bar & Restaurant are family-friendly dining choices. Those who opt for the all-inclusive package can also access the restaurant options at neighboring Divi resorts, and enjoy the variety of entertainment offered in the evenings.There are tennis courts on-site, and games take place at the pool, but for off-site fun an activities coordinator can help arrange excursions and day tours.Tamarijn Aruba offers a kids' club with supervised activities. This can be bought on a half- or full-day basis. Those who choose to purchase the all-inclusive package will have access to this program for free.Druif Beach across the street is ideal for young ones, with areas of calm waves for swimming and plenty of sand for sculptures and castles.

All suites at the Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort have fully equipped kitchens -- great for families and those wanting the freedom to cook. There are also three dining options on-site.The Sea Breeze Café serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a poolside setting. The clubhouse at the Links golf course houses the other two restaurants: Mulligan's Bar & Restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner in an open-air setting, and above this, the elegant Windows on Aruba restaurant, with floor-to-ceiling windows to let in the views. Windows on Aruba serves contemporary cuisine for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch.All-inclusive packages, which can be purchased at check-in for $125 per day (per adult) includes use of restaurants at Divi Aruba, Tamarijn Aruba, and Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort (excluding Windows on Aruba). This option offers a wide range of cuisines in both air-conditioned and open-air seating areas. Fine dining restaurants for dinner include Asian, Italian and seafood options, to name a few. A beach casual dress code is welcome everywhere, and live music is on offer many evenings.Meal plans (standard, kids, and deluxe) are available for pre-purchase, as well.

Divi resorts offers a wide variety of liquor including international and local beer (Balashi, Amstel, Miller Lite and Heineken), rum, vodka, gin, Scotch, tequila, bourbon, cognac and liqueurs, red and white wine, white zinfandel and non-alcoholic beer. There are also daily drink specials such as the frozen Blue Monday or Yellow Belly.Sit-down restaurants offer different grape varietals for red and white wines: Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. A plus for those who purchase an all-inclusive package: Guests can order a full bottle at dinner -- a rarity for all-inclusive resorts.A specialty wine list (including champagne) is also available for a surcharge at Paparazzi and Red Parrot restaurants.The elegant Windows on Aruba (open to the public) features its own wine and cocktail list.

Unlike Tamarijn Aruba and Divi Aruba -- the two all-inclusive resorts directly on Druif Beach -- guests at Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort stay in self-service suites with fully equipped kitchens. However, guests have the option to purchase all-inclusive packages at check-in for $125 per day (per adult). The package includes access to the variety of restaurants and activities at both Tamarijn Aruba and Divi Aruba, including use of the kids' club.All-inclusive option includes:- All meals and drinks included at Divi Aruba, Divi Tamarijn and Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort (excluding Windows on Aruba)

• All pools at these Divi resorts
• Use of the kids' club
• Use of non-motorized water sports
• Bikes (child, youth, adult and tandem sizes)
• Lighted tennis courts for day and night play
• Divi Winds Sports Center with a 30-foot rock climbing wall and fitness center
• Taxes and service charges are included (airline fares and airport transfers are not included).

• Car rental desk in the lobby, and vehicles on-site
• Concierge service, also at these resorts, can arrange day trips, such as De Palm Island or the Balashi Brewery
• Laundry and dry cleaning service
• Wi-Fi for a daily fee
• In-room babysitting service for a minimum of three hours
• Golf and tennis lessons for individuals and groups

Guest will have access to nightly entertainment at both Tamarijn Aruba or Divi Aruba. Performances occur on stages near the main bars, which can get lively, and serve wine, beer, mixed and frozen drinks until 1 a.m. in the morning.Entertainment includes theme parties such as salsa dance classes, Caribbean night, a mystic show with fire eating, jam sessions with a live band, and a romantic Jazz night. Other theme nights have Aruban circus dance shows, Latin dance shows, carnival shows, Mexican dance shows, water ballet shows, limbo shows and karaoke. An evening market is also held weekly and local vendors sell a variety of locally produced arts and crafts.For sporting events, the plasma widescreen TV at Paparazzi Bar provides a fun place to watch the big game.Movie nights give guests a chance to watch a new film or an old classic right on the beach.

This resort is popular with golfers, thanks to the on-site 9-hole golf course where guests receive preferred tee times. Opened in October 2004, the Links is one of only two golf courses on the island (the other is an 18-hole course at Tierra del Sol). This 9-hole ocean view course was designed by architects in Florida and offers play over water and landscaped lagoons for any level. Golfers also have use of a video golf swing analysis station, driving range area (in net), chipping area and bunker practice area.Overlooking the course with scenic views is the clubhouse that offers two restaurant options: the casual open-air Mulligans Bar & Restaurant and the elegant Windows on Aruba for fine dining.On the lower level of the clubhouse is the pro shop, which sells golf equipment and accessories, men's and women's logo apparel and other related merchandise and services, like club repair and a re-gripping facility.Instruction and lessons are provided by golf professionals from the Johnson & Wales Golf Academy. In addition, well-known PGA Member and Tour Coach, Donald Ross (with his unique FeelGolf School and swing method) is also based on-site.Key facts:- Dress code for men and women requires collared shirts.

• Carts are mandatory, and there are no caddies.
• The longest tee is the Gold Tee, at 2,952 yards.
• Ocean views and manmade lagoons
• Paspalum grass
• There are beverage stations after holes 3 and 6.

• Guests who choose to purchase an all-inclusive plan will have free access to the 30-foot rock climbing wall, tennis courts, fitness center and non-motorized water sports, including snorkeling equipment, a snorkeling clinic and tour, beginners windsurfing equipment, a "Learn to Windsurf" beach clinic, sailboats, floats and kayaks.
• Pool games are held at the on-site Seabreeze pool, as well as the pools at Divi Aruba and Divi Tamarijn. Beach walks are also arranged.
• The concierge desk can arrange day excursions, including sunset sails, snorkeling tours and deep sea diving.
• Bike rentals available at Tamarijn Aruba (kids, adults and tandem)
• Tennis clinics and lessons are provided by professionals from Aruba Tennis (equipment provided) for a fee.
• In addition to preferred tee times at the 9-hole golf course, there is a separate driving range for private instruction from a well-known golf pro, Donald Ross. Several packages offer video analysis and on-course instruction.

Divi Village doesn't have a casino on-site, but Alhambra Casino is across the road past the Divi Aruba, just a ten-minute walk from the resort. There are over 350 slots, video poker machines and multi-game machines. Table games (only available in evenings) include blackjack, roulette and craps, and they come with low-limit offers.In spring 2012, a function room opened on the second floor of the building with an attached kitchen for catering needs. This space can seat up to 180 and is ideal for wedding parties, special occasions and business meetings. In addition, the Shops at Alhambra Casino (still underway) will feature a variety of boutiques and restaurants, including a sophisticated cigar bar.Aruba's first casino opened in 1959 and gambling became the island's most popular attraction, aside from the beaches. There are a number of venues in Oranjestad and the High-Rise hotel district.

There are several facility options for business and convention groups. The golf course clubhouse houses two distinct restaurants and meeting rooms, and Tamarijn Aruba's meeting room is within walking distance, and can seat 36 people boardroom-style. For larger groups, the function space at Alhambra Casino -- with an attached kitchen for catering needs -- can accommodate seating for 180 people.

Though Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort's kitchen-equipped suites are great for families, couples may also appreciate their casual and peaceful setting near the golf course. Across the street is an expansive stretch beach, where couples can walk hand-in-hand for miles along the shore. Windows on Aruba, located on-site in the clubhouse, is one of the most romantic options on the island, with golf course views and contemporary cuisine.Guests are welcome to join in nightly entertainment at neighboring resorts. Tamarijn Aruba's pool area tends to get crowded in the evenings, but Divi Aruba has additional outdoor seating areas for a romantic drink spot. The white daybeds by the wading pool become lit in soft colors during the evening, and live jazz music often plays near the bar.Honeymooners can request add-on packages for an extra fee. This includes turndown service with rose petals, chocolate and a bottle of champagne.

Couples looking for an easy destination wedding will want to consider Druif Beach, just a short walk away from Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort. The continuous white sand leads down to lapping turquoise waves for great photo ops. Most ceremonies take place on the northern end of the beach -- near Divi Aruba -- for additional seclusion, though there is some flexibility with location. The scenic golf course is also available for ceremonies.For receptions, guests have the choice between several restaurants, including the outdoor Sea Breeze restaurant and Windows on Aruba for a more formal indoor setting.The resort's wedding planners "Aruba Weddings For You" will handle all arrangements -- the office is based on-site at the Tamarijn Aruba.Tamarijn Aruba and Divi Aruba both have a spa and salon for hair styling, manicures, pedicures, facials and body treatments. Larger groups can be split between the two locations.Basic wedding packages start at $1,850 and free extras depend on how many rooms are reserved for the group.Tier 1 Package (requires a minimum of 10 rooms):- Free room for the bride and groom for seven nights

• Bottle of champagne
• Candlelight dinner for two
• A certificate for a free night's stay for the couple's first anniversary
• Remembrance giftTier 2 Package (requires a minimum of 20 rooms):- All amenities from the Tier 1
• Beach wedding or golf course ceremony
• Fresh floral bouquet and groom boutonniere
• Pre-recorded background music
• Destination wedding setup, which includes palms and candles lining the aisle
• One bottle of champagne and two torches
• Keepsake calligraphy certificate
• Coordinator will be present at ceremony
• Non-denominational minister fee, plus administrative charges

Aruba may have a small landmass but it does attract the occasional celebrity. One of the island's best-rated restaurants is located on the top floor of the Divi Links clubhouse, on the resort grounds. Windows on Aruba is open to the public and has beautiful views overlooking the golf course and ocean beyond. The restaurant has hosted Kim Cattrall of the Sex & The City while she was in town for the Aruba Film Festival, as well as Michael Bolton.

• Divi resorts received Silver Certification from Earthcheck for meeting environmental standards for energy & water consumption, total waste production, and community commitment.
• Drinks are served in eco-cups and there are dozens of receptacles throughout the neighboring properties for collection.
• Bathroom toiletries are provided in eco-friendly receptacles (no conditioner)
• Electric-powered shuttles -- similar to large golf carts -- are used for guest transportation between properties.
• Herbs and fruit grown on-site for use by the restaurant kitchens
• The golf course uses ecologically-friendly Paspalum grass

Divi Resorts is a small group of Caribbean properties in Aruba, Bonaire, Barbados, St. Maarten and St. Croix. Divi Aruba was the first company property to open on the island. Over the years, the company expanded to include a casino, 9-hole golf course and four additional properties -- both in the Low-Rise and High-Rise hotel districts of the island. The Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort, since 1992, is the most recent in the Low-Rise district. The property expanded in 2004 with the addition of the Golf Villas.

The resort completed a major wave of renovations in 2010. Suites have new bathrooms, updated decor and modern amenities, including flat-screen TVs. Other major additions included the modern lobby entrance and golf course clubhouse -- including two restaurants.The nearby Shops at Alhambra Casino opened to the public in spring 2012. Ginger (a second location to the Tamarijn Aruba restaurant) and the Fusion wine and cigar bar helped rejuvenate the aging casino. The building's second level includes a meeting and function space with an attached kitchen for event catering.

This spacious resort is the only Divi property in the Low-Rise district that offers is elevator access in the main building. All public areas are wheelchair accessible, and bathrooms have support bars. There is a free shuttle that runs guests between resorts, the casino and The Links golf course approximately every 15 minutes.

Despite the infamous Natalee Holloway case, Aruba is widely considered to be a safe island. Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort is located in the Low-Rise hotel area, and the entire premise has 24-hour security as well as lighting throughout the property at night. Staff members have gone through fire training, and kitchens at the Divi resorts have met HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) standards to ensure safety and food quality.