2022 AgriGold Winter Getaway: Aruba

Trip Dates Aruba Wave 1 : February 7-12, 2022

Departure Cities: Chicago, Columbus, Des Moines, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Omaha, and St. Louis

Trip Dates Aruba Wave 2 : February 8 -13, 2022

Departure Cities: Louisville, Memphis, and Nashville

Registration Deadline: October 10th, 2021

Please read the registration details below before clicking the Register Now. All travel arrangements are made through Summit Planners. Please email Joni Citron jcitron@spmeetings.com or call Summit directly at 574-968.4301 with questions.

Important information regarding Aruba and COVID-19

As of August 9, 2021, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for Aruba due to COVID-19, indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the country. Your risk of contracting COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized vaccine.

Some Caribbean islands have recently added COVID-19 vaccines as a travel requirement. There is a possibility that Aruba will follow other countries and require a COVID-19 vaccine for travel. These guidelines are subject to change at any time.

Trip Cancellation Insurance is available. There are several companies who provide this insurance and their information can be obtained online. We recommend you look into options as we are unable to refund any trip payments for trips cancelled after the November 30^th deadline regardless of reason for cancellation, including any cancellations due to a COVID-related event. All travelers will be required to have a negative PCR COVID test prior to travel (see Aruba Entry/Exit Requirements section below). Coverage and payments vary between companies and we encourage you to read and understand the terms and conditions before purchasing.

Please review the Travel Communications page for more information about traveling internationally to Aruba: https://www.spmeetings.com/agrigold-2022-travel-comm/.

Passports: A valid passport is required for travel to Aruba, and it is recommended that it be valid for 6 months post travel. Earliest expiration date is 8/13/2022. Click here for details on passport renewal.

Aruba Entry/Exit Requirements:

Please click here for our Getaway’s Travel Communications page. Carefully review the yellow FAQ dropdowns. The bullets below reflect protocols as of July 2021. The Travel Communication page will reflect any updates from Aruba or the US.

As of July 2021, all passengers will be required to have a negative PCR COVID test result that was administered within 72 hours of their flight’s departure time for Aruba. You will need to schedule this with a local testing facility.
As of July 2021, all passengers will need to complete an Aruba ED (Embarkment/Disembarkment) Card 72-12 hrs. prior to departing. Negative COVID test results are needed to complete the process.
As of July 2021, all passengers will be required to get a COVID test with negative results before returning to the US. (This will be arranged & test provided for all guests at the Hilton & is at no added cost to travelers.)

+ What About Travel Insurance?

The trip through AgriGold does include* the required Aruba Visitor’s Insurance that protects you against incurred medical and non-medical expenses should you test positive for COVID-19 during your stay in Aruba. Aruba Visitor’s Insurance does not provide the scope of coverage that comes with traditional travel insurance. We encourage you to review your options for purchasing your own travel insurance to supplement the provided Aruba Visitor’s Insurance. We also encourage you to contact your health benefits provider regarding your medical insurance abroad.

If you wish to obtain traditional cancellation insurance protection, there are several companies who provide this insurance and their information can be obtained online. Coverage and payment of benefits, and documents required for claims vary between companies. We would strongly encourage to read and understand the terms and conditions or description of coverage limitations and claims payment procedures before purchasing any travel insurance.

We encourage you to review your options for purchasing your own travel insurance to supplement the provided Aruba Visitor’s Insurance. We also encourage you to contact your health benefits provider regarding your medical insurance abroad.

*AgriGold is covering the $15 fee per person for Aruba’s Visitor Insurance. A week before your departure flight, you will be emailed a promo code by Summit Planners that you can enter while completing Aruba’s online Embarkation/Disembarkation card process.
**Summit Planners does not sell travel insurance, and you should contact a travel insurance provider if interested in these products.

Aruba’s Iconic Palm Beach Resort

Nestled on 15 acres of white sand and lush tropical gardens, the resort interweaves its rich 59-year history with a modern beach aesthetic for today’s discerning traveler. The overhaul respectfully nods to the resort’s original architect who shaped much of what is now iconic hospitality design. This is a refined, upscale resort featuring lots of high-quality furnishings and interiors. Everything is immaculate and service is excellent. The surrounding tropical gardens side-step down a steep grade that leads to an inviting, pristine beach on a private bay.

The lively yet relaxed pool deck now features cabanas with new trellises, day beds, lounge seating, side tables, hammocks and umbrellas. A new, professional beach tennis court has been installed along with the property’s lush, refreshed landscape allowing guests to experience Aruba’s favorite pastime.

On the culinary front, Sunset Grille, the resort’s signature restaurant, has received a new wood terrace bridge with dining tables and chairs, a communal dining table and picturesque cantilever umbrellas. The new centerpiece of the Mira Solo outdoor bar is a sculptural tree crafted of branches that span the ceiling. At night, the outdoor bar is illuminated, creating a firefly effect. The surrounding seating areas include a fire pit resembling a beachfront bonfire where guests can mingle and enjoy Aruban-inspired culinary treats. Next door, the Laguna breakfast buffet boasts a spacious bar redesigned with stone bar top and bar stools, all in muted blue and green hues, as a backdrop for the lush landscaping.

Aruba

Aruba is among the livelier, more developed islands in the Caribbean. Aruba has low- and high-rise resorts, great restaurants, and glitzy casinos lining the white-sand beaches and the downtown boulevard. You’ll find plenty of things to do on Aruba, too: sunbathing, world-class windsurfing and waterskiing by day, and discos, cabarets, dinner shows and high-stakes gambling at night.

Except for the Arikok National Park Foundation, you won’t see an abundance of natural attractions in Aruba. Nor is Aruba covered in lush foliage. It’s about as close to a desert island as you’ll find in the Caribbean, with stands of cacti and aloe vera dotting the dusty terrain. In fact, Aruba is so dry, goats eat the cacti in search of something resembling leaves. Still, Aruba has one of the world’s most threatened tropical ecosystems—its mangrove forests.

Dining in Aruba

Dining in Aruba you can eat fresh fish straight from the sea, share a glass of wine at sunset with your toes in the sand, or indulge in classic Italian in the shadow of a century-old lighthouse.

Aruba’s vibrant restaurant scene is your happy opportunity to sample delicious cuisine inspired by many different unique nationalities.

Several restaurants are available within walking distance from the Hilton Aruba Resort and Casino. Lunch and dinner at the resort are not included because of the plethora of options available to dine at nearby, you will want to explore Aruba and try them all!

Daniel’s Steak and Chop House
Menu: Dinner

Gianni’s Ristorante
Menu: Lunch | Dinner

Aqua Grill
Menu: Dinner

The Old Canucu House
Menu: All Day

Registration & Travel

AgriGold 2022 5-Night Program Package:

Double Occupancy: $6,200
Single Occupancy: $4,600

The Aruba Trip includes:

5-night accommodations at the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort and Casino
Breakfast, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages included daily
All taxes, service charges and bellman/maid gratuities
Round trip group airfare from: Chicago, Columbus, Des Moines, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Louisville, Memphis, Nashville, Omaha, or St. Louis **
Round trip airport transfer and gratuity in Aruba
AgriGold private events
The fee for Aruba’s Visitor Insurance, which is required for entry. A week before your departure flight, you will be emailed a promo code by Summit Planners that you can enter while completing Aruba’s online Embarkation/Disembarkation card process.
The fee for the COVID-19 antigen test to re-enter the US.
Personalized travel services from Summit Planners Inc.

*All guest must be over 18 years old

Additional fees as a result of individual deviations from group arrangements will be charged to the individual.

**Seats out of each city are based on limited availability and will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. You may request extra nights in Aruba, upgraded seats, specific airlines or another departure city; however, additional fees may apply depending on what you choose.

Next Steps:

Click on the Register Now link to submit your registration! Note that all travelers, will be required to sign a Waiver and Release to secure a spot on the trip guest list.
Send your full payment to secure your reservation. All deposits must be received before the October 10th registration deadline.
You will receive a packet in the mail three weeks before departure day with your final flight itinerary, luggage tags, name badges and general information about the events, hotel and traveling to Aruba. Please continue to check the Travel Communications page for the most up to date information. If you need to make any adjustments to your registration or have general questions about the trip, reach out to Summit Planners.

Payment:

Call Julie Barlage at 1-989-834-9721 with any questions. Checks must be made payable to AgriGold. Please send check to the following address:

AgriGold
Attention: Pam Selby
5381 Akin Road
St. Francisville, IL 62460

Payment by Credit Card – Please use link – https://squareup.com/store/agrigold

Cancellation Penalties:

You may register at any time prior to the deadline of October 10, 2021. Your registration will not be processed, and your spot(s) will not be secure until full payment is made and a Waiver and Release has been signed by each attendee. Registration spots are limited and will be assigned on a first come first serve basis. Please reach out to Joni at Summit Planners to make adjustments to your travel plans after you register. Cancellations after November 1, 2021 may be subject to cancellation charges as follows:

Cancellation Period November 1 – November 30: $125/per person cancellation fee
Cancellation Period After November 30: Forfeiture of full trip payment and total costs of name changes on airline tickets will be 100% paid by the traveler.
Note: Your safety is our greatest concern. We encourage you to make decisions that you feel are best for your own health and well-being. Please continue to check the Travel Communications page for the most up to date information about COVID-19 and how it is affecting travel.

Waitlist:

If there isn’t space available when you register, we will place you on a waitlist. If space becomes available, you will be notified and will have 48 hours to accept the spot(s) on our trip guest list.

Trip Cancelled:

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a concern across the country and the world. In the event we cancel the 2022 AgriGold Winter Getaway in Aruba, we will reimburse you for the fees you’ve already paid. If this occurs, our responsibility is limited to a refund of any such trip fees you’ve already paid. Neither AgriGold or Summit is responsible for airline tickets, other tickets or payments, or any similar fee penalties that you may incur as a result of any trip cancellations or changes.