ARUBA INVITES  TRAVELERS TO ENJOY  BOATLOADS OF SANTA-APPROVED HOLIDAY FUN 

Oranjestad, Aruba, Dec. 2022:    With so many Americans planning to travel this holiday season, it is sure to be an exciting time in Aruba, fondly dubbed One Happy Island.  Visitors who swap the white snow for white sandy beaches will experience familiar holiday celebrations as well as a handful of uniquely Aruban traditions. Take your pick from festive celebrations hosted at hotels and resorts to timeless Aruban traditions and let’s get the party started. www.aruba.com/

Hot Holiday Hotels: 

• Divi & Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusives provides guests with a variety of festivities to enjoy including live holiday music, themed limited-time menus at on-property restaurants, holiday karaoke, a fireworks display, and a Christmas-eve dinner buffet.
• Ritz-Carlton Aruba curates limited-time offerings including a pop-up seasonal bar, Christmas Day feast, elves meet-and-greets for the little ones, and live holiday music.

• Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, Spa, and Casino celebrate the Holidays with live music, specialty cocktails, and themed decorations around the property. The resort also offers holiday cupcake and cookie decorating activities for guests with kids to enjoy.
• Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino brings the Holidays to their guests by hosting a Holiday Village fair on each Wednesday of December and through special events such as Aruban holiday carol singing in its lobby, welcoming Santa on Palm Beach on Christmas Day as he rides in on a jet ski and a Poinsettia Tree of Giving charity drive. At the Holiday Village fair, guests can shop for art, crafts, and food & beverages from local vendors.
• Amsterdam Manor hosts a stellar New Year’s Eve Party at Passions on The Beach, where guests can celebrate the new year with complimentary snacks, live music, and a bar with premium drinks.
• Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino celebrates the holidays with festive experiences and month-long seasonal drink selections including popsicles for the little ones and cocktails for Mom & Dad. The resort also hosts a Chocolate Truffle & Rum Tasting experience at La Vista every Thursday in December, a Letters to Santa activity on Christmas Eve, Christmas Eve Dinner, and Christmas Brunch. As for New Year’s, Aruba Marriott will host a celebratory four-course feast at Atardi, followed by a New Year’s Eve Party for adults leading up to a fireworks display at midnight.

Local Traditions

• Christmas Meals: Food is a key part of Aruba’s celebration with locals making beloved dishes such as ayacas – the Caribbean’s take on tamales, as well as their egg-nog-inspired, ponche cream each year.
• Holiday Markets: The One happy island holds a variety of Christmas markets across the island with locally made items for sale, which are perfect for gifting!
• Decorations: Aruba takes pride in decking the halls for Christmas. The holiday is a very significant part of its culture and homes and businesses decorate with gorgeous Christmas trees and bright decorations to get into the spirit. Travelers should stroll through Oranjestad to see all the decorations and enjoy the festivities.
• New Year’s Fireworks: Fireworks (klapchi) are sold on every corner and purchased by most families, setting them off in their neighborhood streets. Hotels add to the incredible display with professional-grade fireworks that begin at 12 am local time, resulting in an unforgettable way to ring in the new year.
• Dande: Dande (meaning “to wander” in Papiamento) is to spread goodwill to family and friends. Traditionally, Dande groups of five to six people travel around to the homes of their loved ones on New Year’s Eve, wishing them success and happiness in the coming year through song. Visitors can join in on the fun at the annual Dande festival, which takes place just before the New Year.  And for those with a sweet tooth, or two, sample seasonal treats from Chocoglam, the only chocolate factory on the island, and indulge in a taste of the season!