Curacao

Curaçao is not your typical beach vacation destination and because of the lack of focus and investment in tourism, there aren’t a lot of brands to choose from. You can find a Hilton and two Marriott’s on the island: the Renaissance and the Marriott Beach Resort. Otherwise, you’ll find a few options on beaches: namely, Avila Beach and Santa Barbara. There are also several boutique hotels in Willemsted. Prices vary, but expect to pay between $200-400 nightly for a room rate at a 4 star property.

Car rentals in Curacao are quite reasonable and most hotels offer the option to book a day rate directly with the front desk. We recommend renting a car to explore the island for a day or two, it’s almost impossible to get lost.

Taxis are available as well and we recommend taking one if you plan to leave your hotel for dinner. While the island is safe enough compared to some destinations, we did feel a bit anxious walking longer distances at night.

The town of Willemsted is the only really notable “dining” area on Curacao. The cruise ships dock in the town center, and therefore a number of restaurants have sprouted in the area. The best restaurant we found was at the hotel Bijblauw. 

We did find several cute bars on the water’s edge along the main canal and we had a great time enjoying beverages while the ships came and went. Overall, we found the service to be about the same everywhere as well as the food quality.

There are some great shops in Willemsted that sell adorable crafts and jewelry. Our favorites are Seeya and Out of the Blue. They sold local jewelry, bags, accessories and gifts. We loved their focus on sustainability and awareness.

Unlike its neighboring Aruba, Curaçao’s lack of tourism focus also means you will get a more “real” experience with the island. There are certainly parts of town outside Willemsted that have been long abandoned and never revived. You won’t find endless tour companies and activities in Curaçao. People in Willemsted are friendly and helpful, but the farther you get outside the main town, the less you’ll find the same level of service and safety.