From: paul.graveline%travel@wugate.wustl.edu (Paul Graveline) 
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: CARIBBEAN TRAVEL ROUNDUP2
Date: 1 Sep 92 13:18:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Travel Online, St. Louis, MO
Reply-To: paul.graveline%travel@wugate.wustl.edu (Paul Graveline) 

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Average  temperature is in the mid 80's and the island gets under 20  
inches  of  rain  a  year. As the Arubans say, "every day is a sunny  
day in Aruba." Actually that isn't too far off.  
 
Most  resorts  are  on  the  western side of the island. Here you'll  
find  incredible  beaches  (the best in the Caribbean in some spots)  
that  are  miles  long with fine, white sand and little surf. But on  
the  island's eastern shores, you'll see crashing waves, large rocks  
and  some  incredible  demonstrations  of erosion. There aren't many  
places  to  swim  here,  and the water is so turbulent, you probably  
should  just enjoy the scenery. Aruba is almost two island's in one.  
 
 
We  stayed  at the two-year old Hyatt Regency on Palm Beach which is  
an  amazing  resort.  It is one of the "high-rise" resorts that make  
up  a  lot  of  the  resort  areas in Aruba. The Hyatt sports a long  
white,   sand  beach  which  connects  with  the  other  neighboring  
resorts'  beaches via a paved "boardwalk." When you arrive you'll be  
captivated  by  the  huge  open  air lobby which looks down into the  
acres  of  gardens  that  make  up  the Hyatt's grounds. Through the  
miracle  of  irrigation, the Hyatt staff has created a lush tropical  
oasis  in  the  middle  of a dessert island. Acres and acres of palm  
trees  surround  tropical  grasses,  flowers and plants. Through out  
the  "oasis"  waterfalls  and  pools team with fish, black swans and  
flamingos.  Walk a little further and you'll encounter the tri-level  
pool  for which the Hyatt is famous. The pools are connected to each  
other  and  to the waterfalls and pools from the garden. Swimming in  
the  pool  gives  you  the  feeling  you're  swimming  in a tropical  
forest!  There  is  a  swim up bar, a walk up bar, a water slide and  
plenty chaise lounges with umbrellas to shield you from the sun!  
 
The  Hyatt's  room  are  all  comfortable with in-room service bars.  
Prices  are  from  $110  a  night.  The Hyatt also features a casino  
adjacent  to  the  lobby.  Gambling  is legal in Aruba and it is big  
business.  The  "Copacabana"  casino  is  one  of  the larger on the  
island  and  has  plenty  to  keep you busy (as long as you have the  
money).  
 
Imagine  swimming  in  a bathtub. You just about have that in Aruba.  
Water  temperature  when  we  stayed in late June was 82-85 degrees.  
All  hotels  on  the  beach  offer  great swimming areas and all are  
serviced  by  watersports  vendors.  I suggest you take a snorkeling  
trip.  And  one  spot  you should take a look at is the wreck of the  
Antilla.  That's a German freighter scuttled during World War II and  
sits  in  about  50 feet of water. Here you'll see nearly every type  
of  tropical  see  life  imagined.  It's  worth  a  stop.  And  as I  
mentioned  before,  the  water  is  so warm, you may not want to get  
out.  For  a closer look, try some scuba diving. All resorts offer a  
course  and  it  doesn't  take  much  to  get certified and into the  
water!  Wind  surfing  is  great  too. Aruba is cooled by a constant  
trade  wind  of  20-40  knots. And again, the resorts will teach you  
windsurfing.  
 
All  in  All  Aruba  is great. If you can go, go! The people are the  
friendliest  in  the Caribbean. The resorts are fabulous (especially  
the  Hyatt!).  The  weather is always wonderful and there is a whole  
lot  to  do  and see. Try it for yourself. I sure You'll be glad you  
did.  
 
BVI Sailing by Jim Hinds 
------------------------- 
If  you're going to cruise the Virgin Islands, be advised that it is  
going  to  be  a  great time. We did it in April of '92. Eight of us  
chartered  a  51' Frers sloop through CYC (Caribbean Yacht Charters)  
in  Marblehead,  Ma./St.  Thomas.  Of all the boats available at the  
time,  the  Frers  was  easily  the best laid out boat for 8 people.  
She's  built  specifically  for  cruising/chartering and is equipped  
with  everything  you  could  need  or  want. She has a generator to  
supply  120  volt  power,  which  is  a  great feature for using the  
blender,  charging  camcorder batteries, and cooking contact lenses,  
among  other  things.  You  could use hair dryers, radios, etc., but  
the  point  is  to  get  away from such trappings of the real world.  
Leave  that  stuff  at  home! Loads of storage, a great stereo setup  
(pairs  of  speakers  on  deck,  in  the  main salon, and in the aft  
stateroom;  the volume for each pair individually variable!), plenty  
of  hot  water,  a refrigerator, a freezer, and ample water capacity  
(250 gals.) rounded out the features we found desirable.  
 
CYC  is  a  top  shelf  operation,  run by people who know cruising.  
Linens,  towels,  galley  equipment,  supplies,  paper goods, tools,  
spare  parts,  everything  you  will  need  has  been thought of and  
provided  in  quantity.  The  boat was 2 years old, and was in great  
shape.  Everything  worked  well and the brightwork glistened, which  
is  no  small  feat  considering the use/abuse these boats get. From  
the  condition  of  our  boat  and looking around the marina, it was  
obvious  that  these  people  are pros and want you to be satisfied.  
The  CYC  staff  we dealt with was knowledgeable, accommodating, and  
professional,  which  you  deserve  if  you're spending this kind of  
money.  Our  only complaint was the lack of "real" charts. CYC has a  
customized  chart  of  the  entire  area  with  the  islands,  major  
features,  depths,  and  similar  fare  on  it;  however not all the  
buoys,  etc.  are  shown  and  it's  at  a scale that precludes much  
detail  in  close.  Although we easily got through the week with it,  
you  may  want  to bring your own NOAA charts. CYC doesn't even have  
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