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10 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday November 22, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Lazy days and lively nights on Dutch isle of Arbua L azy Days and lively nights -- hassle-free holidays are Aruba's stock in trade. That's how life is on this Dutch island of idyllic beaches, clear blue waters and warm ocean breezes located just off the northeast coast of Venezuela. During the cloudless sunny days, you can relax on white sand beaches or enjoy windsurfing, snorkelling on the reef, deep-sea fishing or excellent scuba diving among wrecks with visibility up to 30 metres. I voted for relaxation this week and took a pile of books to my lounge chair under a divi-divi tree. I also plugged my laptop into a handy palm tree to write this column. Along with many, many other Canadians, my idea of perfection is turquoise water calmly lapping at a sand beach. And, oh my, Aruba has some of the best. Transat Holidays has come back to Aruba this winter, offering a choice of six resorts to unpack your luggage. You'll have your choice of an allinclusive resort, a plan that includes breakfast, hotel only or a suite with a small kitchen. Mine is unpacked at the all-inclusive four-star Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort Aruba, a Transat exclusive, and very much good value for dollar on this upscale island. Since I was last here, years ago, the resort has had a total update, complete with a new pool and beachfront area. The Belgian chef, Bernard Fantoli, is new, too and so is the menu. Regulars, and there are lots of them coming back year after year, are impressed. There is very much a North American flavour to the food and you'll like the coffee, which does taste like home. Danny Fernandes, a hotel executive says what is special about the hotel is the staff, and I would agree, the staff are quick and efficient and truly want you to enjoy your holiday. Another hotel executive said, "That is because our staff are from Aruba and naturally hospitable. So valued is hospitality on this island that it is celebrated in the national anthem. Aruban inhabitants are multilingual -- speaking Papiamento, English, Dutch and Spanish, and now many are learning Italian. But some things don't change. This Dutch island that is part of the Zoutman. Built in 1796, this is the island's oldest building and is now a museum of Aruban artifacts and historical pieces. Nature lovers will be intrigued by the 170 species of birds found on the island. Look out for the bright orange trupiaal and prikichi or little parrot. This interesting tour includes a swim and a snorkel experience after visiting Arikok National Park, an environmental sanctuary that covers about one-fifth of the island. Christian Mongelluz, Transat Holiday's destination rep, says the horseback riding tour for two-anda-half hours for $40 is a real bargain because of where you ride. "You'll venture off the beaten path to Aruba's arid, rocky, windward coast to the Natural Pool, a wonderful place to swim and snorkel -- and difficult to get to unless you're riding." The Tierra del Sol Resort and Country Club, Robert Trent Jones 18-hole, PGA-approved course overlooks the northwest coast. Golfers will find the course challenging with the constant trade winds. The links at Divi Aruba, a nine- Kingdom of the Netherlands, is spotless. When you want a break from the beach, you head into the island's capital, Oranjestad, where you'll find gabled Dutch-style boutiques and shop duty-free for merchandise from around the world. Getting around by local bus is easy and this is an island where it is perfectly safe to go downtown at night, or any other time for that matter. The all-day jeep excursion is one of the most popular tours simply because it is a great way to see the island. History buffs will enjoy Fort hole course are just a swing away from the beach. For nightlife, try one or all 10 of Aruba's casinos -- some of the best in the Caribbean -- or dine in one of the many fine restaurants on the island. The busy Palm Beach Hotel area offers a fine selection of restaurants, bars and cafés, and is becoming a retail haven as well. New shopping areas make the immediate vicinity an interesting place to poke around, and I notice that most people coming back to the hotel have a shopping bag or two. There is serious shopping available. Many people recover from their shopping exercise by treating themselves at one of the spas. You can stroll for hours along the beach stopping at a pier for a beer, a beach restaurant for a snack, rent a windsurfer or just gawk at the other tourists. The sea is cluttered with sail boats, yachts, motor boats, personal water craft and para-sailors, making the water scenery interesting, too. The island of Aruba is a place to explore and visitors do. -- Sam Ion can be reached at sion10@cogeco.ca. 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