Press Release: Aruba Tourism Authority
January 15, 2002
ORANJESTAD, Aruba -- If you are looking to party and stay warm this season, Aruba is the place to visit. Aruba's
48th Annual Carnival is underway now through February 10th.
Island locals prepare a year in advance for Carnival season, a celebration featuring parties, parades, music and
dancing. More than 2,000 people are expected to participate in this year's Tivoli Lighting Parade, a spectacular
show of floats where participants wear costumes adorned with tiny lights. The Tivoli Lighting Parade will be held
on Saturday, February 2nd. Carnival's biggest street party, Jouvert Morning, will be held on Saturday, February
9th. Party goers rise as early as 4 am to take part in the festivities and Sunday, February 10th is Aruba's largest
and most popular parade of the island, the Aruba Grand Carnival Parade.
In the spirit of Carnival, the island's hotels are offering special deals for tourists. Packages to choose from
are:
Aruba Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino is offering travelers a $300 incentive to stay at their hotel. The ``Bonus
Bucks'' package includes deluxe accommodations; $100 resort credit for use during the guests' stay; and $200 in
vouchers to be redeemed at future stays at participating Marriott or Renaissance hotels worldwide. This voucher
can be used up to eight months after the original visit. An additional perk is children under 12 stay free. A four-night
minimum is required and reservations for the ``Bonus Bucks'' package must be made prior to arrival. The resort
offers water sports, spa treatments, and windsurfing. Golf is also available nearby. For reservations, call the
Marriott Resort Desk at 800-223-6388.
La Cabana All Suite Beach Resort in Aruba is also offering incentives for tourists. The hotel is providing a seventh
night free on all bookings of at least seven nights. Travel must be made between January 3 and March 31, 2002.
The promotion is valid for the suite categories of studio garden view, one-bedroom garden view and Grand Suite.
La Cabana is also offering free participation in the resort's Club Cabana Nana, a supervised children's program
(valued at $25 per day, per child). La Cabana has a deluxe Health and Fitness Center, three swimming pools, five
tennis courts, and the Intermezzo Day Spa. The resort is also home to the Royal Cabana Casino, Aruba's largest
gaming house. For more information on the room rates, visit La Cabana's home page at http://www.lacabana.com/resort
or contact 1-800-835-7193 or lacabana@setarnet.aw.
The Aruba Sonesta Beach Resort is offering tourists ``Winter Nights'' rates from now through March 30, 2002. Rates
start at $225 per room, per night and includes a daily hot American breakfast buffet for two. (Suites start at
$265 a night. Tax and service charge are not included.) A four-night minimum stay is required during Carnival.
Tax and service charge are not included in these rates. In addition, the Aruba Sonesta is offering the ``Okeanos
Spa Package'' to help guests unwind and get in shape. The package offers accommodations in an island room or island
suite and is based on a minimum five-night stay. The ``Okeanos Spa Package'' features full use of the fitness center,
a facial, two massages and a welcome basket. For reservations or more information on the packages and rates, call
1-800-SONESTA or visit the website at http://www.arubasonesta.com.
Aruba's tourism industry also recently launched ``Aruba on Us,'' a promotion offering tourists incentives to travel
to the island during January 12 through March 31, 2002. Tourists who stay a minimum of five nights at one of Aruba's
more than 20 hotels and resorts will be given $200 spending money and an Aruba Value Discount Card. Both can be
used at attractions, shops and restaurants across the island. Promotion is applicable to NEW bookings only and
must be made through an official Aruba tour operator. For a list of official tour operators, visit http://www.aruba.com.
Aruba is a vacationer's paradise located in the heart of the Caribbean, 15 miles north of Venezuela and only two
and a half hours by air from Miami. Ideally located outside the hurricane belt, Aruba boasts great weather, cooling
trade winds and friendly people. For more information on planning a trip to Aruba, contact the Aruba Tourism Authority
at 1-800-TO-ARUBA, or visit our website at http://www.aruba.com.
This material is distributed by Everett Clay Associates on behalf of Aruba's Ministry of Tourism and Transportation.
Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
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Contact:
Everett Clay Associates, Miami
Millie Acebal/Melisa Mendez
Toll Free: 1-877/261-6222 or 305/261-6222