One Happy Podcast

One Happy Podcast would like to welcome to the show Frank Tisellano Sr., a 20-year member of the Playa Linda Family.  Twenty plus years ago, Frank and his wife Patricia took a trip to a place called Aruba.  Shortly thereafter they completely fell in love with the island and decided to purchase a timeshare there. That timeshare was at the Playa Linda which has been home to Frank Sr., Patricia and their children Frank Jr. and Kristina.  

 

Frank and I sit down for about an hour to discuss his love for Aruba and what the island has meant for him and his family.  Having introduced their children to the island when they were only about 4 or 5 years old, Aruba has been part of their family dynamic nearly as long as anyone can remember.  I guess you could say the children grew up on the island.  

 

This episode seems to follow the theme of family.  There is Frank’s actual real family but also another one.  Being an owner at the Playa Linda for so long, the other families who share the same weeks have also become a sort of family.  This is a running theme I have heard from many of the guests I have had that own a timeshare.  However, I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen it represented as extensively as what you get at the Playa Linda.  If you have doubts, just wait until you hear episode 69 of One Happy Podcast - the officially unofficial podcast of the island of Aruba.

 

On This Episode of One Happy Podcast you will:

  • Get an idea of what it was like landing on the island before the big terminal was built
  • Hear why Frank and Patricia chose the Playa Linda to be their family’s home away from home
  • Get a description of Aruba’s three very different golf courses
  • Find out what it’s like to be a member of the Playa Linda family
  • Hear about some of Frank’s favorite restaurants on the island
  • Realize that Aruba is the ideal place to go for family time away from it all.
 
 

Properties Mentioned this Episode:

 

 

 

 

Aruba Golf Courses:

 

 

 

 
 
 

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Direct download: EP69_-_Frank_Tisellano_Sr._Playa_Linda.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EDT

Joining me on this episode of One Happy Podcast are Sean and Khanisa Darby, two guests who love Aruba.  Although Sean and Khanisa have only been visiting the island for a couple of years, they are definitely hooked, which is completely understandable considering their grandparents have been visiting for more than 20 years.  Now as newlyweds who actually got married on the island, Sean and Khanisa are joining the family tradition of being regular visitors to the island.  If being married on the island of Aruba isn’t connection enough, Sean and Khanisa have an ace up their sleeve, pudding.  As owners of a pudding company Sean and Khanisa have found a way to integrate Aruba into the business via an island-inspired flavor that’s so good that literally everyone who tries it, buys it.

 

Over the course of this 50-minute episode of One Happy Podcast, we talk about a lot.  Of course, we start with how Sean and Khanisa first discovered Aruba, but you already knew we were going there.  Where things get unique is when they describe to me what it’s like planning a destination wedding on an island where you don’t know anyone.  We also talk about their pudding company and what One Happy Island tastes like.  Lastly, we finish things off with the “eye of the hurricane” which always yields unique insight into what the guest's version of Aruba looks and feels like.



On This Episode of One Happy Podcast you will:

  • Hear all about Sean and Khanisa’s first trip to Aruba
  • Learn how a destination wedding to Aruba can actually save you money
  • Discover a flavor of pudding that was inspired by Aruba
  • Get Sean’s take, on the casinos of Aruba
  • Learn about an awesome chef that is available for private catering
  • Hear about Sean and Khanisa’s favorite taxi driver Junie

 

Properties Mentioned this Episode:

 

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Links to Khanisa’s Pudding

 

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Direct download: EP68_-_Sean_and_Khanisa_Darby_talk_One_Happy_Island.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EDT

This episode of One Happy Podcast featuring 30 year Aruba visitor Ann Fontaine is one of my favorites. It's a bit unique not only because it was recorded on location but also because there are four active participants in the conversation.  It wasn’t planned out that way but sometimes you just have to go with the flow.  While there were audible challenges that came with 4 people being limited to 2 microphones, the end result is something pretty special.  

So the interview took place at the Passion’s Beach Bar at Amsterdam Manor, during one of the bulletin board meetups.  The four of us commandeered a table and had a bit of a round table discussion about Aruba.  The end result is a recording that gives the impression of a conversation being eavesdropped on from an adjacent table.  I really like doing the in person interviews and would love to do many more in the future.  

Over the course of this hour long episode, we find out how Ann first discovered the island 30 years ago and what circumstances led to her purchasing a home.  Ann tells us all about her experience buying their home and also about the Aruba residency requirements.  We finish off the episode by talking about some of Ann’s favorite places on the island to eat.  While most of us can tell you about all the popular tourist places, it’s always nice to find out about lesser known establishments from someone who actually lives on the island.

On This Episode of One Happy Podcast you will:

  • Hear ann’s advice for those thinking of relocating to Aruba
  • Learn how long it took from the time she started the home buying process until finished
  • About what it’s like applying for residency in Aruba
  • Hear why becoming a full fledged resident may not be the ideal move to make
  • Discover some restaurants you probably didn’t know existed

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Direct download: EP67_-_Eavesdropping_on_my_conversat.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EDT

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