FEATURE ABC ISLANDS
In Bonaire it is the snorkelling and
diving that the majority of visitors come for, with the island ranked among the best destinations in the world for the quality of marine life and dive spots. There are 86 official dive sites around the island of which 54 are easily accessed from the shore. They are each marked by a prominent yellow stone, but all visitors taking to the water must purchase a
permit and complete a brief marine
conservation orientation. Kite-surfing, windsurfing and
kayaking are also big in Bonaire, but back on dry land it is Washington- Slagbaai National Park, the salt pans of the windswept south and charming capital Kralendijk that are the main draws.
Aruba’s top-end accommodation, beautiful beaches, shopping malls, restaurants, bars and casinos might keep some visitors entertained indefinitely, but those seeking out a little island culture and heritage should embark on an island tour – or hire their own transport – that visits the likes of the California Lighthouse on the island’s northern tip, the nearby Alto Vista Chapel, the Bushiribana Gold Smelt ruins and Arikok National Park. Larger Curaçao has some 40 beaches dotted around its long coastline but the island is probably best known for its distinctive rows of colourful waterside buildings in capital city Willemstad. The 80-room Kura Hulanda Hotel
on the city’s edge also houses a museum telling the moving story of the slave trade and Caribbean history. The hotel is comprised of a series of Dutch colonial buildings and is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Other city highlights include Fort Amsterdam, the Governor’s Palace and the floating market, while further afield the Christoffel National Park with its 375metre peak and a series of 18th century Land Houses and former plantations make for an interesting step back in time.
What’s new Aruba’s Eagle Beach and Palm Beach, a seven-mile long stretch of white sand and clear blue sea, took third place in TripAdvisor’s Best Beaches of the World category earlier this year. The boutique Manchebo Beach
Resort & Spa on Eagle Beach has been added to Kuoni’s programme this autumn while Thomson is due to start selling the hotel next summer. The 71-room, two-storey property has recently been refurbished.
A comprehensive $31million refurbishment of Aruba’s first high-rise hotel, the Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa, has recently been completed. KLM’s winter
timetable commences at the end of October
and sees flight frequencies
from Amsterdam to Aruba increase from two a week to five. The Substation Curaçao operates its
very own purpose-designed and built submarine with capacity for a pilot and four passengers. It dives to 1,000ft below the surface and there is currently no other operation in the world like it – and that’s reflected in the cost of a 90-minute trip: $650pp. The addition of new rooms and
restaurants at The Blue Bay Hotel in Curaçao will see guest capacity rise to 500 in November. The expansion follows the opening of The Hill rooms and suites late last year. The hotel is home to one of just three golf courses on the island.
Tourism Talk JOANNA WALDING
UK director for the Aruba Tourism Authority “Consumers are very
price sensitive and trading conditions are tough at the moment. However, with a comprehensive marketing campaign, the security of flights with TUI and KLM and cooperation on a local level from our hotels we are confident that 2012 will be a stronger year. Travel agents are key to
our sales and moving forward we are looking to work even closer with them. In light of the recent failures of travel companies, people are looking for financial protection and we are noticing a move back to the high-street and traditional routes of
www.sellinglonghaul.com • September 2011 59
booking. Most of our visitors have already been to the Caribbean before and they come to Aruba because they want to experience something slightly different. Our visitor profile is mainly the 30-plus couples market, although the island does also appeal to older, 50-plus visitors too.”
Where to book it HAYES & JARVIS
0844 855 4488
www.hayesandjarvis.co.uk Seven nights at Aruba's four-star Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort, including flights from London Heathrow with KLM, hotel transfers and breakfast, costs from £1,322pp.
General information LANGUAGES: Papiamento, Dutch, Spanish, English VISAS: not required by UK citizens CAPITALS: Oranjestad (Aruba); Kralendijk (Bonaire); Willemstad (Curaçao) MONEY: The florin is the official currency of Aruba though the US dollar is widely accepted. In Bonaire the US dollar is the official currency, and in Curaçao it is the Antilles Guilder. GETTING THERE: Thomson operates seasonal, non-stop flights from London Gatwick (May to October). KLM flies via Amsterdam, plus there's a choice of US carriers via their various hubs. See:
www.aruba.com,
www.tourismbonaire.com,
www.curacao.com •
UP CLOSE & PERSONAL
BY ANDY HOSKINS "The difference between the islands is nicely illustrated by the three snorkelling trips I was fortunate to enjoy. In Aruba we set sail on a large catamaran with room for 50 people, with music playing and a bar, and we quickly reached two excellent snorkelling sites, one of which was a wreck. In Bonaire, there were just ten people onboard and we enjoyed a guided, 45-minute drift snorkel along a reef teeming with marine life. And in Curaçao just five of us hopped onboard a small motorboat and zipped round the coast to spend 15 minutes snorkelling in awe of the incredible Blue Room, hewn right out of the rock face. The three experiences were equally enjoyable and, although they’re not necessarily typical of each island, they seemed to neatly encapsulate the overall feeling of each one: well developed Aruba, ready to party; low-key Bonaire where nature and the sea are number one; and plucky Curaçao, ready to welcome tourists in its own time."
Selling Tip
Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao all lie outside of the Caribbean's hurricane belt
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