car rental recommendations for Curacao?

[diversteve]

Nothing except there's about 50 of them to walk down if you want to dive right there. I think they're shown in the website header photo to the left. It's all high in that area, our place in Lagun had a vertical drop of 60' to the water. What we didn't anticipate was that when they said ladder - they meant ladder - not stairs.

It would be easier to drive to Lagun or Jeremi and park near the beach to walk in. Or the Gnip sites or Playa Kalki. The Gnip's have nice beaches also.

Actually thinking about it again, Marazul to town is the same time/distance as Westpunt to town. I changed my previous post to reflect the time. I was thinking of another place.

It's nice out there, not saying it isn't. But a little remote. After several days in Lagun nearby we moved to Piscadera Bay to be closer to things. But my friends like to go out most nights and so we planned for that.

 

[thespoons]

Okay, so I'm looking at cancelling Marazul and booking in the Royal Palm resort. Probably one of the cheaper units, so first floor and probably facing the WTC or garbage cans if I'm lucky. But we're willing to forgo the view for a more central location.

Any opinions on the apartments in Royal Palm?

 

[Damselfish]

Don't know but I'm sure someone will.

Have you looked at this place? - http://www.scubalodge.com I assume the basic rooms wouldn't have any kitchen facilities though and am guessing you are looking for that.

 

[diversteve]

I don't know Royal Palm but we drove by it daily since our condos were a block away. So here's some info on the area:

I think it all has a view, Piscadera Bay in that area falls down towards the water pretty sharply. Royal Palm is on the same hill as ours was so should be very similar.

Just down the street from RPR is Sonesta Beach, next to that to the right is the start of the Marriott's beach. Sonesta Beach is a little rocky so just walk around the point to the Marriott's. I think you can also buy a day pass to use their facilities etc.

There's a dive off the Marriott and Caribbean Sea Sports is onsite for tanks. You might want to surface swim out over the breakwater - I think the Marriott put it there to protect their beach - it's too perfect looking to be natural. Afaik it's all submerged so you can get past it - we didn't do that dive though. Next door at the Hilton there's an Ocean Encounters shop also. Farther west on the Bay is Pirate Bay - formerly Hooks Hut. Beach Bar, decent food, they'll have a band some nites. When it was Hooks they also had a dive shop onsite but IDK if they still do. There's a nice pier there also. Casino's at both the Marriott and Hilton also. Food wasn't great at either place but better at the Marriott.

The double lane road in front of RPR goes to Otrabunda - about 2 miles away. Conveniently once there, where the road Y's is near one side of the Swinging Bridge, walk across it and you're in the heart of the shopping district in Punda (all the brightly colored buildings) Or drive about another mile inland and over the bridge and back down. The cruise ships also dock on the Otrabunda side so it gets a little congested.

The double road out in front of RPR goes north to the airport. Before you get there, about a mile north on the west side is Centrum Market. IIRC it'll be the first streetlight. If you turn left and continue past it, you'll shortly be at the Blue Bay resort/golf course. They have a shore dive off their beach also. And an on-site operator - Diveversity. If you continue north towards the airport, at the rotary you can go west to all the better western dive sites - ending in Westpunt. It's the main artery across the island, not too far the other way is downtown and sites east.

We found it a very convenient location yet very quiet at night. There is a convention center just west of RPR but it seemed mostly unused. IIRC one day during the week there was an event and they were gone by dark.

Want to see it from overhead? I marked Royal Palm b4 I realized the pool just to the left is probably the entrance.

Zoom in to see more detail, .vbulletin mangles these images usually.

 

[thespoons]

Never could get the owner of the Royal Palm apartment to respond to requests for information, so no way am I going to chance booking it. We wound up at a nice looking apartment in Willemstad near Cas Coraweg and Hermesweg. The price was right, the owner was nice and somewhat vouched for, and the price was right. Just weren't willing to pay double so we could look at the ocean from the top side.

 

[SayNo2Snow]

We stayed at Marazul in Feb/Mar - but car info first...

We used Just Drive and were very happy with their service. A representative met us outside of the airport terminal and took us to the car he had parked in the parking lot. (they don't have an office at the airport but it was not an issue). We gave it the once over for any previous damage, signed the paperwork and were off. The nice thing about them is there was no charge for registering a 2nd driver. Most other places charge a bit for 2 drivers. Their rate was the best. Returning the car was a snap. We drove into the terminal area to unload our bags, the representative met us picked up the car and was off. Simple, affordable, and excellent service. The car was quite new and ran well, good stereo, A/C and was peppy to drive. The seats were cloth and we put towels on them when we were wet. Chiefly for our own comfort later when we were in dry clothes and didn't want to get them wet. I think they expect a little sand and damp seats, heck we're here to dive

Regarding Marazul - a lovely location I'd rent again in a heartbeat. We did a couple of dives on the house reef and yes there are some stairs to get to the water but it was not a problem. There are 2 sets one at the left at the end of the property. The stairs on the left are easier to go down when you are completely geared up as they are very wide and there are hand holds to use to steady yourself if needed. The entry is not graceful but easy. sit down at the edge and push off on your stomach when the little wave comes up to you. Exiting here is a little tricky so we exited at the stairs on the right side of the property. Again no real difficulties. There is a vertical ladder of about 4 rungs so I climbed onto the first rung, took off my fins and tossed them up onto the path/platform above me (about 3') then climbed up the 3 remaining rungs, picked up my fins and continued up the stairs. These stairs are a little steeper than the other but the rail makes a good hand hold to steady yourself.
If any of this sounds a little daunting it isn't. I'm a 50+ lady, overweight and with bad knees and I had no difficulty.

Yeah you burn a few more calories getting in and out but that only helps when enjoying guilt-free beer after to whet your whistle

In March there were plans to extend the stairs further into the water at the left side of the property to create a easier exit. We left before construction started so I don't know if it occurred or not.

My recommendation definitely stay at Marazul and Just Drive for rentals were excellent

Have fun!

 

[femftal]

As far as lodging, we're already booked at Marazul. The king size bed was just too tempting. I hate the whole "shove to singles together and call it a queen" thing.

Can you tell me what unit at Marazul had a true king size bed? We are planning a trip next month and want to stay out that way, but it's extraordinarily hard to find places that have a true king size and NOT two XL twins put together.

Thanks!

 

[thespoons]

Should be E2. I also found several real beds on airbnb.