The best way to "do" Curacao?

[TN Traveler]

I'm going soon. I was thinking about Kura Hulanda and using Go West, but after reading recent reviews of Kura Hulanda Lodge on Trip Advisor I'm a bit nervous...

The restaurant at LKH has ALWAYS been a problem - poor service, high prices and inconsistent food quality. The beachfront restaurant has always been fine for lunches. The problem with breakfast and dinner is easily solved by getting one of the rooms that has a kitchenette. Stop by the supermarket on your way out from the airport and buy breakfast and lunch food and snacks and drinks (soda, wine, water ...) and just enjoy eating on your deck/patio. There are local places for dinner that are good (several are excellent and priced reasonably.

The rooms themselves are fine - actually a cut above the "normal" Caribbean resort. In fact, if you read the latest TripAdvisor Report, it looks like things have turned around - the new owners have gotten the message and are fixing things.

 

[irie1029]

I'm going soon. I was thinking about Kura Hulanda and using Go West, but after reading recent reviews of Kura Hulanda Lodge on Trip Advisor I'm a bit nervous...

I have stayed there and it was really nice. Perhaps the TA poster was expecting Paradise Island Bahamas? There are a host of places to eat dinner other than the restaurant at LKH. Sol is tops, Landhuis Misje just past Jaancies was stellar as well. I do not think you will have any problems.

 

[diversteve]

Lions Dive has an optional meal plan if you want to stay in town. Not inexpensive but it's pretty nice. Any of the Apt's or Suites have a full kitchen also. http://www.lionsdive.com/ It's 20 yds. to the main Ocean Encounters shop and a 5min. walk from there to the SeaAquarium complex. That's where they do the dolphin dives also. ($200pp)

I wouldn't stay at the Sunscape AI as it's an ex-Breezes kids resort. If that doesn't bother you, they have an OE shop on-site also for diving.

I haven't been in the rooms at the Marriott but the rest of it is pretty nice. We ate there twice, went to both bars and the casino. Caribbean Sea Sports is on-site for diving but the best shorediving is elsewhere IMO. It's kind of centrally located - 10mins east to downtown, 10-15mins. west to the start of the better diving past St. Wilb.... etc. (Porto Mari etc.)

I still think the best shore dive we did was the one right out in front of Go West at LKH. Good dive in both directions. But it's really quiet once you get out towards Lagun or Westpunt. You really do want to stop at Centrum or one of the other markets before you drive out. Centrum sells $1 disposable coolers if needed.

We drove back to town twice for dinner before relocating into the Piscadera Bay resort area later in the week. We expected Lagun to be to quiet for us and it was. Even Westpunt only has about 1/2 dozen? restaurants/bars.

If you want more of a condo-type place, we stayed here: Piscadera Bay Resort Curacao - tropische vakantie bungalows - Home It's across the street from the Marriott so ocean view but not ocean front. They're duplex condos, I believe most were recently refurbished. When we stayed there it was A/C in the bedrooms only as is often the case in the ABC's.

The Hilton is next to the Marriott and Pirate Bay beach bar is walking distance. There's also a couple other nearby restaurants we didn't try. Denny's is also 5mins. drive away - for us that was useful..lol. Floris Suites is another option nearby - we drove by but didn't check it out.

Being in Piscadera Bay gets you away from the hubbub downtown when the cruise ships are in since they moor right downtown in the harbor.

 

[t4e]

You are more than welcome to book direct with us for All West Apartments & Diving! As mentioned, you can reach me directly at bryan@gowestdiving.com

As for direct flights, Air Canada does year round direct flights and Westjet is seasonal. AA of course has 2 flights a day with a stop in Miami.

Let me know how I can help!

i sent you an email, its probably best to communicate that way

 

[SayNo2Snow]

My 2 cents worth - forego the AI approach and rent a suite near Westpunt at somewhere such as Allwest or similar.

I always feel like I'm obligated to eat and drink at the AI,... after all I paid extra for that convenience. I would rather have my own place and buy a few groceries whether for a few meals or just snacks and visit some of the local restaurants. We abandoned the AI way of traveling about 10 years ago and are so glad we did. Now I research and ask questions on sites like this and TripAdvisor for tips and recommendations, then I generally go onto VBRO (Vacation Rentals By Owner) to book a place to stay.
We're from Alberta and travelled on the AC flight earlier this spring - it is a direct flight AC 1792 departs at 10:00 a.m. arrives around 4:30 pm.

We stayed in a lovely condo on the water called Marazul Dive Resort (not a dive resort in the true sense of the word) rather a collection of duplex style condos with a great house reef and a rinse tank to clean your gear after diving. I'd stay at Marazul again in a heartbeat they have a security gate that you use a key code to open. From Marazul you can see both Go West Dive shop and All West appartments as they are just along the shore from Marazul. I considered All West but elected for Marazul because they had more space, a pool, etc. All West is built more like an appartment with small balconies and a small beach (sand and rocks) out front.

We did most of our dives (shore & boat) with All West and they are a great dive operation with good prices. Bryan was very helpful recommending other spots to dive also. One activity Go West has is a lion fish hunt, followed by a feast where a local restaurant prepares the catch. We particpated in their first one the end of February and had a blast! (thx Bryan if your reading this post)

PM me if you have any questions you'd like to ask off-line.

Cheers
Ann

 

[TheWizard]

...We stayed in a lovely condo on the water called Marazul Dive Resort (not a dive resort in the true sense of the word) rather a collection of duplex style condos with a great house reef and a rinse tank to clean your gear after diving. I'd stay at Marazul again in a heartbeat they have a security gate that you use a key code to open. From Marazul you can see both Go West Dive shop and All West appartments as they are just along the shore from Marazul. I considered All West but elected for Marazul because they had more space, a pool, etc. All West is built more like an appartment with small balconies and a small beach (sand and rocks) out front.

We did most of our dives (shore & boat) with All West and they are a great dive operation with good prices. Bryan was very helpful recommending other spots to dive also. One activity Go West has is a lion fish hunt, followed by a feast where a local restaurant prepares the catch. We particpated in their first one the end of February and had a blast! (thx Bryan if your reading this post)

PM me if you have any questions you'd like to ask off-line.

Cheers
Ann

I've done the All West/Go West combo two years ago and enjoyed it.
But I'm thinking of Marazul for lodging next time due to more creature comforts.
But their default dive shop is/was (last time I checked) a different shop I've not heard of.
How does it work if you stay at Marazul but prefer using Go West? Do you have to try to find parking at the Go West main shop and haul tanks up those stairs every day?
Or do they let you drive next door to All West and get them from their tank room, which would be a FAR SUPERIOR option?

 

[SayNo2Snow]

To my knowledge Marazul are not affiliated with any dive shop. The owners of the unit gave us a bunch of tips on diving and none referenced an affiliated diveshop. And yes the creature comforts are lovely.

One of the reasons we didn't haul air from Go West was due to the stairs to the parking lot. We stopped at All West Apartments once for air but no one was around and there didn't appear to be any spare tanks so I can't help with advising that you can get tanks from All West if you are not staying there.

Ck with Bryan at Go West to see if they will sell to those staying elsewhere. That said, we paid $9 and $10 respectively at Purto Mari and Cas Abou and the only tank hauling we did was in and out of the water across a lovely soft sandy beach. I think Playa Langun was also $10 for a tank and again there we only hauled taks once we were suited up and not very far across the width of the parking lot and into the water.

Cheers Ann
Go

 

[slackercruster]

If I'm not looking for an AI, where is a good place to stay for a week that offers a kitchen?

Must have beach or close to it, clean and not too pricey.

 

[Bryan.]

I've done the All West/Go West combo two years ago and enjoyed it.
But I'm thinking of Marazul for lodging next time due to more creature comforts.
But their default dive shop is/was (last time I checked) a different shop I've not heard of.
How does it work if you stay at Marazul but prefer using Go West? Do you have to try to find parking at the Go West main shop and haul tanks up those stairs every day?
Or do they let you drive next door to All West and get them from their tank room, which would be a FAR SUPERIOR option?

Hey Wizard... I totally understand the service dilemma we have regarding the stairs! Carrying tanks up and down is a work out unfortunately... I have done it enough aswell!!

Having said that, we are currently constructing an upstairs fill station and shore tank storage locker!! Therefore, in the near future tank pick and drop off will become simple and easy... back your truck and load/unload! This should allieviate alot of problems and provide a higher level of service to our shore divers everywhere!!

For now, my staff and I are more than willing to assist until this project is complete!!

 

[SayNo2Snow]

Slakercrusher - for a place to stay with a beach, Nos Krusero apartments is right across the road from Go Wes Diving and there is a nice beach there. Although I'm not sure if there is a charge to rent a beach chair there (I doubt if but I don't know) Nos Krusero Apartments

Another condo to rent is at Playa Langun and Discover Diving Lagun Vacation Rental - VRBO 254538 - 1 BR Curacao Condo, Magnificent Views in This Oceanfront Condo Playa Lagun

---------- Post added May 20th, 2013 at 10:49 PM ----------

Hey Bryan - Great to hear you'll have the fill location available up top!!