As easy as A-B-C!  Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao.
by Lydia Brown

Now that the weather has turned cold with a daily chance of snow…you are probably already thinking that by January you just might be ready to escape and exchange it all for a stretch of warm sun, sand and tropical breezes, holding your Kindle for a fun beach read.

To make your decision easier, I have compiled an escape list to guarantee you a warm getaway this winter! If you are planning to travel right after the holidays or some time in January/early February, you definitely have to consider a few specific islands. The Bahamas, Bermuda and some of the Western Caribbean can actually be cold in January. I have been to Freeport in the Bahamas in January when they saw their first snowfall and sat with my sweater on in Nassau during April. Early January in Cancun can actually be 65 degrees!

So where do you go?  You head south to the ABC islands of the Leeward Antilles (southern chain of the lesser Antilles) comprised of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire. The islands are affiliated with the Netherlands but self governed for many years now.  You are pretty much guaranteed 80 degree weather or better, warm water, white powder beaches and a variety of hotels and resorts ranging from bed and breakfast and boutique to all inclusive resorts. The island of Bonaire is known for its reefs and therefore is a perfect place for diving, whereas Curacao, has some diving and beaches but is more known for a great European flare in its downtown area of Willemstad and some fabulous restaurants. Aruba (the most visited and Americanized island) boasts white sand beaches and comfortable trade-winds that never stop making it truly inviting.

Aruba is the most popular of the three islands and becoming very congested.  The first time I visited Aruba in the 1970’s, there were only 4 hotels. Today there are more than 25 resorts strung across Eagle and Palm Beaches. The downtown area of Oranjestad is like a mini Miami Beach, with great shops and restaurants.  I can almost guarantee you will come back from Aruba with a tan. Aruba is a desert climate and rarely sees rain. There is a hotel for everyone: the new Riu Resort is the ultimate “all inclusive experience” while one of the original properties, the Divi Divi  (low rise on Eagle Beach) gives a true island experience.  Aruba has many time-share properties as well as the high-end resorts (Hyatt, Westin and Marriott) so there truly is something for everyone here. It’s not a sight-seeing island, per se, but rather a place to really relax. It’s got warm sun, beautiful water, a very educated populous, and all the amenities you could ask for: golf, world class spas, casinos, fabulous shopping, great dining, excellent water sports and incredible deep sea fishing. The natural trade-winds also make for some of the finest sailing in the Caribbean, as well.  Aruba truly has something for everyone.

Bonaire is the smallest of the three ABC islands and is the island that is most known for its scuba and snorkeling.  Bonaire’s economy is mainly based on tourism. There are few sandy white beaches as the island is surrounded by reefs that are easily accessible from the shore.  When you see white, its actually not sand but salt!  It is renowned for being one of the top scuba-diving locations in the world and rightly so.  Bonaire’s license plates carry the logo Divers Paradise (in English). Bonaire is also consistently recognized as one of the best destinations for snorkeling. Wind-surfers also make up a strong group of island tourists, as the east side of the island (facing the Caribbean Sea) has the large waves and wind gusts needed for windsurfing. Lac Bay, in the southeast is shallow yet windy, and hence is considered an excellent place for intermediate sailors to improve their skills. There are mainly time-share resorts here and a few small bed and breakfast properties, so if you are more into five-star resorts, this island is not for you. Most resorts here have on-site dive shops and the rest are affiliated with a dive operation.

Alas, you will need a passport to fly to the Caribbean these days (only the U. S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are exempt from the passport requirement) so update your current one if needed. Don’t be left unprepared if you suddenly want to escape!

Curacao is a medium-sized island with a focus beyond tourism. The main city of Willemstad has a justifiably famous, beautiful and historic harbor with its European influence and pontoon bridge.  Isolated beaches scattered around the island offer some of the best snorkeling and diving anywhere. It’s a good island to explore by jeep, as well.  While the beaches are smaller, the weather is still lovely and it’s a bit more intriguing to me than Aruba, since I am not really a beach person. Curacao was chosen as one of the best 3 locations for snorkeling and diving and macro-marine life by the readers of Scuba Diving Magazine last year.  The people are charming and well educated, offering visitors an enjoyable visit.