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Traveling in 2021
It seems surreal that only a year ago our life was turned upside down with the Pandemic and all travel plans were put on hold. As the world slowly starts to open up in 2021, traveling is also resuming with some restrictions. We decided to book our first vacation of the year to Aruba, which we indeed needed, especially our son. Although my husband and I are fully vaccinated, we never let our guards down and we still practice safety precautions. We stayed at the Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive Resort, which is part of the Divi Aruba Resort Family. This is our second time on the island in the same resort. We traveled to Aruba five years ago and couldn’t resist booking the same resort because we simply loved that place. So if you are thinking about going to Aruba, I will share 5 reasons why you should book it.
1.Traveling With Kids
All moms can relate, that traveling with kids is very challenging and finding a kid-friendly hotel as well. Thankfully the Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive Resort is KID friendly and is set up to make your family vacation a huge success. As a frugal mom, I always look for deals when traveling with kids. Kids under 12 stay and eat FREE, at the Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive. Plus there’s tons of kid-friendly, family activities and a Kid’s Club “ Sea Turtle Club”. They have COVID safety measures in place, with a limited capacity of kids at a time, plexiglass shields at the activity tables, and a hand sanitation station. Parents can rest assure that they are implementing a safe environment for kids to play. Kids Club is great for my moms and dad that need alone time, is perfect.
Since the last time we stayed at the resort and returning, there’s have been many changes. For starters, most of the rooms are beautifully renovated and have a balcony or patio with an ocean view in every room. The building is low rise and you can walk out of your room to the pool or beach area. If you book the ground floor with an ocean view it is breathtaking.
2. Health & Safety Protocol at Aruba and Tamarijn/Divi Resort
We all know that the health and safety of our family is the #1 priority, therefore before entering Aruba, everyone must follow their travel health requirements in order to be granted access to enter the country. Is very important that you read and understand all the requirements to enter the island along with the paperwork to have on hand. They require taking the Covid PCR test within 72 hours prior to arriving at the island. Once you receive your negative results, it has to be uploaded into their health dept website and you must purchase Aruba Insurance. You also must fill out an Embarkation and Disembarkation card (ED CARD) and wait for the approval. Once you receive the approval QR Code you must present to the airline a copy of the approved ED Card and to customs once you arrive in Aruba.
At the Tamarijn/Divi Resort there hand sanitizer stations everywhere. Every time you enter the resort your temperature is checked and you’re required to sanitize your hands even to enter the restaurants. To be honest I simply LOVE the protocol that took place, which made us feel very safe and it didn’t intrude on our vacation. I hope that once the pandemic goes away that they keep implementing a sanitizing protocol that was put in place for everyone’s safety. The bathrooms are all touch-less dispensers and faucets.
3.Things To Do Around The Tamarijn Aruba & Divi Resort
One thing I have to say is if you’re not the excursion/explorer type these two resorts are PACKED with FUN activities for the whole family. There’s pool volleyball, rock-climbing, bingo, kite-making, bicycles, kayaks, catamarans, snorkeling, floats, tennis with the lighted court, windsurfing, yoga, pilates, and Zumba. And, of course, there is also the beach for some sun, waves and sandcastle building.
You can swim and relax by the pool, sipping delicious cocktails. The server Shanaila is a sweetheart she’ll make sure you get your drink, she’d very attentive and professional. If you want the kids to take a break from the sun you can drop them off at the Sea Turtle Club. Once the sun goes down the tamarin has lots of cool stuff going on at night: you start off with cocktails, live music around the pool area, dancing, movie nights. Theme nights include Aruban Dance Circus, Latin/Salsa Dance, Carnival, Mexican Dance, Water Ballet, Limbo, Aruban steel drum jam session or a live jazz show, and Karaoke.
4. Activities To Do Outside The Resort
This is MUST-DO, we booked the Catamaran Tour with Around Aruba Tours via the resort for a sunset sail, snorkeling+ viewing the Antilla shipwreck. Simply AMAZING experience. From the moment My husband, son, and I got on the boat Alejandro & RJ provided an amazing & professional service. We appreciated their hospitality in making all the guests feel comfortable and had a great time. If you want to have fun and spend an amazing evening on a boat request Alejandro & RJ. You won’t regret it and will have such a good time, great music, drinks, food, snorkeling all under the sunset. For more information click here. They also have UTV, ATV, Private Jeep Tour, Aruba Safari Jeep Tour, Private Boat Tours, and Outback Safari Tour for a memorable experience. You can check out their tours and book here.
If you love to golf, then you will love the 9-hole golf course, The Links at Divi Aruba. How about you feeling lucky and want to hit the casino, the Adjacent Alhambra Casino and The Shops at Alhambra shopping arcade is the place to go. We all need SPA time to relax, reflect, revitalize and rejoice. The Indulgence by the Sea day spa offers that and more for a well-deserved relaxation.
5. Divi & Tamarijn Restaurants and Optional Dining
I save the BEST for last, food & drinks! Between the Tamarijn and Divi has a great selection of ten all-inclusive dining options and eight all-inclusive bars and lounges, most of which offer ocean views and nightly entertainment. The perk about all-inclusive is that you don’t have to wander off the property to find a place to eat. What I loved about the restaurants is that they’re open-air dining venues and spacious live cooking restaurants. No one is crunched up on top of anyone, and there’s plenty of space to dine while socially distancing. Buffet-style with live cooking, Cunucu Terrace and Pelican Terrace. This is such a game-changer, when I went five years ago, their buffet-style food was all out buffet-style sitting there for hours, and sometimes you’ll see flies around the food. But with their new live cooking, you select from a themed menu. If you are in the mood for Italian, Paparazzi, Asian fusion? Ginger. Mexican? Pure Lime. If you want to try a great upscale option for you have Windows on Aruba and Fusion Tapa Bar(and Steakhouse) and Fusion becomes a piano bar at night.
You can also check out other restaurants off the hotel property. The cab fare is very reasonable, no more than $20. If you are a steak lover and want to check out a good steak house I highly recommend ” El Gaucho“.
A Few Things To Know
Due to Covid, there’s no room service, and the mini-fridge in the room is not stocked so you would have to go to the shop in the lobby and buy water, snacks, and juice.
Currency is Aruban Florin, if you are from the US, no worries the US dollar is accepted everywhere.
Aruba is on Eastern standard time during the summer and on Atlantic standard time during the winter, therefore they don’t follow daylight savings.
Aruba is, considered one of the safest islands in the Caribbean, and crime against tourists is rare, but you always have to take precautions anyway.
The beaches of Aruba are in the south outside the hurricane belt, making it rare for direct hurricanes to hit.
Heading To Airport for Departure
When is time to head to the airport, please give yourself enough time. Due to covid many things at the airport have changed. For starters, those traveling to the United States have to go through US Pre-clearance. You will go through passport control in Aruba at U.S. Custom & Border Protection once in the US you don’t have that hassle, which somewhat alleviates. After U.S. Custom & Border you proceed to Aruba immigration where you have to show your travel documents. After passing Aruba Immigration you will need to pick up your luggage (which you would have dropped off during check-in). A US Custom agent will run a computer check and take your custom declaration form and once clear you will place luggage in the conveyor where the luggage will be taken to your flight. It might sound like a hassle but is not and they go quick.
Overall Aruba is an island that you must visit, trust me once you experience how beautiful the island is, that’s you won’t regret it. Aruba is gorgeous, the beach, the white sand, and the resorts are amazing, perfect for a family vacation, wedding, and honeymoon. SO go ahead book your next family vacation to Aruba. Have you been to Aurba? What was your favorite part of the trip? Love to hear all about it. Leave a comment below.
CALLING ALL MY FRONT LINE HEROS! THANK YOU
As a special ‘thank you’ Tamarijn/Divi is offering 50% savings on their all inclusive rates
for travel Now – August 31, 2021.
Book now through March 31, 2021 with code: THANKU21
- Hospital & Medical Employees
- Grocery Store Employees
- Mail & Delivery Services
- Teachers
- Law Enforcement Officers
- Correctional Officers
- Firefighters & Paramedics
- Armed Forces
- Transportation workers
If you do Travel to Aruba, hope you have an amazing time like we did. Safe Travels!
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