Aruba tourists: Be careful

By ANNE B. ADAMS

and NANCY NASH-CUMMINGS

DEAR ANNE AND NAN: I wanted to write out of concern for other travelers to Aruba. We rented from a top-notch time share condo facility (part of the DIVA Resorts) from a friend. To make a long story short, a cat burglar ransacked our room and took money and jewelry as we slept.

We thought we were safe with our private balcony, but the thief came down from the roof. After talking to people about the Aruba Phoenix Beach Club Resort, where we stayed, we found out that robberies in Aruba are a regular occurrence.

A little more warning from management could have avoided a lot of heartache. We have written to the DIVA Resort people; they have never even had the courtesy to respond. --- ROBERT M., Plainfield, N.H.

DEAR ROBERT: It is incredible the folks at DIVA haven't even responded to your letters. How creepy and downright frightening to be burgled while you slept. It does seem that a sign warning guests would be appropriate, but then, how many people want to stay in a place that has cat burglars?

We turned to our copy of "Trouble-Free Travel" (Nolo Press, 1998). In the section on hotel liability, the book says, "Just as a hotel has a duty to receive guests, it also has a general duty to receive and protect the guest's belongings, although this duty is not unlimited."

It sounds as though you have tried to work with DIVA at the local (Arubian) level and gotten nowhere. Now it is time to write to their North American office. The address is: DIVA, 6340 Quadrangle Drive, Suite 300, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27514.

We think you should also write to the Tourist Board of Aruba at 199 14th St. NE, Suite 2008, Atlanta, Ga., 30309, as well as the Caribbean Tourist Board at 80 Broad St., 32nd floor, New York, N.Y., 10004. Any other suggestions, Dear Readers?

DEAR ANNE AND NAN: For months (even years?) now, I have been looking for drawer pulls to replace those that have broken over the years. The furniture manufacturer has been out of business for a long time. I have written to Faneuil Furniture, but the help there was marginal. I have also checked with Antique Hardware and Home with no success. Do you have any ideas where we might get five of these drawer pulls? --- ROBERT A. DRAFTS, Beverly Hills, Fla.

DEAR ROBERT: We can't find exactly what you are seeking (Robert sent along a picture of the drawer pulls he want). Our suggestion is that you get a copy of Van Dyke's Restorers catalog (800-558-1234).

It has tons of great items for all sorts of restoration projects. It has a vast selection of drawer pulls; hopefully you'll find something that will work.

Newspaper Enterprise Association

Copyright 2000
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.