We arrived late on a Tuesday night. The Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino was relatively easy to find, although it appears that most of the roads in Curaçao do not bear street signs.
[DRIVING AND TRAFFIC]
Get yourself a rental car. Its a big island and there is a lot to see. Buy insurance coverage from the car rental company. Your own insurance policy most likely does not cover driving in foreign countries.
Driving is done on the right side of the road. Steering wheels are on the left side of the car. Driving is relatively aggressive, like any island in the Caribbean. On some of the unpaved back-roads, oncoming traffic may be taking their half out of the middle, so be careful. Speed and distances are measured in kilometers. Traffic road signs such as No Parking, No Left Turn, and Yield use (I think) International standards, so they may not be familiar to an American.
[CURRENCY]
The local currency is the Antillean Guilder (Nafl.). The exchange rate fluctuates in relation to the US Dollar. I typically make an effort to use only local currency in any foreign destination, however, it didnt really seem necessary in Curaçao. Most restaurant bills include a total in Nafl. and in USD. Some businesses even offered me a discount when I paid my bill in USD. Oddly, the Dutch man in front of me at the car rental counter paid his bill using American currency.
If you do decide to convert to local currency, make the conversion in Curaçao. Dont try to do the conversion in the US. You will pay too much.
[LOCALS]
The people were extremely polite and friendly. I made an effort to pick up a few small pieces of Papiamento (the local language). The locals typically laughed at me when I spoke to them in Papiamento, but it seemed that they were amused by it, and not being mean-spirited or making fun of me. My wife and I were stopped in a grocery store one evening by a local man. He had identified us as Americans, and he was merely engaging in friendly, idle talk. I never met a rude local during my entire stay. Any rude behavior that I observed was exhibited by Europeans.
Receiving driving directions from the locals created some challenges. They were typically given in such a way that assumed I possessed inherent knowledge of the island, such as It is right across the street from Dr. Somebodys office. Everybody know where dat is When I requested, Can you show me on this map? I was told: I can tell you how to get dere, but I cant show you on dere. It is my belief that the ability to read maps is simply not widely understood by the locals of Curaçao. I have run into this problem in other places as well, such as Marylands Eastern shore, where many generations of residents have lived their entire lives in a relatively confined geographic area and everybody knows where everything is.
[RESTAURANTS]
Grab yourself a copy of the Big Red Book. It is probably available for free in your hotel lobby. An online version is available at: http://www.bigredrestaurantguide.com
Expect an average meal to take about three hours. Remember, you are on island time. Relax and enjoy. You will need to request drink refills (good luck finding the waiter), and you will probably need to request your check when you are finished eating. Dont allow yourself to get impatient; relax.
Food in Curaçao is unique. We ordered a sausage sandwich one day for lunch. The bread was round, with two inches of sausage sticking out on each side. The sausage was breaded and deep fried. The inside of the sausage was some kind of chicken pâté. It had the consistency of poi.
Try dinner at the Gouverner (pronounced hoof-er-ner) located in Otrobanda. They have some fantastic seafood plates, along with some traditional Dutch meals.
Portofinos at the Marriott has a buffet Saturday and Sunday night for about $25 per plate. I recommend it. You wont leave hungry.
You can get good sandwiches and stuff at Delifrance in Punda. Also, there is a restaurant up near Playa Kalki that serves a pretty good Iguana stew.
Grocery Stores close at 7.00pm.
[BEACHES]
The beaches in Curaçao are not typically covered in fine sand. Expect to find rocks and coral on the beaches. Many beaches are privately owned, and will require a usage fee (maybe $3 or $4 USD) but the private beaches will also typically include beach chairs and restrooms and possibly even a restaurant/bar. Although there are no nude or topless beaches, do not be surprised to see sunbathers in all states of undress at any beach or hotel pool.
[HOTEL REVIEW]
The Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino is arguably the nicest hotel on the island. It is conveniently located. It has a great pool, a Jacuzzi, and saunas. The grounds are beautiful. There are four restaurants on-site. Internet access is available in the lobby and in the rooms. There is a nice protected ocean lagoon that leads to a great dive reef only 100 yards offshore. The staff is friendly and helpful. Yoga classes, aqua-aerobics, and beach volleyball schedules will be delivered to your door each morning. Additionally, they have a kids club where the little ankle-biters can make crafts, paint t-shirts, swim, feed iguanas, play board games, and generally have a good time under adult supervision while Mom and Dad go diving or have drinks at the swim-up bar.
With that said, the room did not remind me of a world-class resort. It seemed more like a Days Inn or a La Quinta. Most mornings I awoke with a sore back from sleeping on the generic Hotel brand mattress.
The concierge was friendly and courteous. Anytime I asked for directions to a restaurant, they would produce a pre-printed set of instructions. Unfortunately, the instructions didnt always match my request. On one occasion, I asked for directions to a specific restaurant. (I provided the address). The concierge explained that it was too far away. I again asked for directions and the concierge suggested that I eat somewhere closer. I never found that restaurant.
Free wireless Internet access is available in the Lobby. Internet access is also available in the rooms for an additional $12.95 per day. Internet access in the rooms is not Wireless, and the network cable did not reach beyond the desk. I was glad I brought my wireless hub.
Everything at the Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino (meals, drinks, even your room rate) will be charged an additional 12% Service Charge plus a 5% tax. This Service Charge is levied by the hotel, and does not count as gratuity.
[DIVING IN CURAÇAO]
Nearly all dive sites on Curaçao are easily accessible from the shore. Get yourself a Dive & Drive map (http://www.divecuracao.com/map/index.htm), available from most dive shops.
On most dive sites, the reef starts around 15 to 20 feet, and extends deeper than you should go. There are not a lot of large fish, but the reefs are beautiful. Move slowly on dives. Take your time to look in all the nooks and crannies for creatures. You will see lots of moray eels, arrowcrabs, nudibranches, brittlestars, and maybe even an occasional seahorse. Make sure you do some night dives. You may see an octopus, an occasional batwing coral crab, and if you look closely enough you will see spiny lobsters.
[DIVE SHOPS]
I dove with two different shops on the island:
Caribbean Sea Sports (http://www.caribseasports.com)
Located behind the Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino, Caribbean Sea Sports rents air for dives on the Marriott House Reef as well as running daily boat trips to dive sights along the west coast of the island. A guided night dive runs every Tuesday. Additionally, you can check out tanks overnight and dive with a buddy any time you want. Solo dives are not permitted.
The Sea Sports dive boat is stocked with a first aid kit complete with O2. The crew is friendly and fun. They take roll call before the boat leaves the dock, and immediately after each dive. A DM escort is provided on all boat dives.
The Dive Bus (http://www.the-dive-bus.com)
What can I say? Mark and Suzy run a great shop. They will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the best dive spots. They rent (and sell) full dive gear. If you brought your own gear, they can provide air and weights. The Dive Bus provides a non-stressful diving environment that was like hanging out with my friends. When I wanted to dive on their day off, they were willing make recommendations and even contact other shops and find someone who was scheduled to dive the destinations I wanted.
There is a scheduled night dive every Wednesday night on the reef behind The Dive Bus hut. The first post-dive beer is on the house. And feel free to bring along your non-diving significant other.
[DRIVING AND TRAFFIC]
Get yourself a rental car. Its a big island and there is a lot to see. Buy insurance coverage from the car rental company. Your own insurance policy most likely does not cover driving in foreign countries.
Driving is done on the right side of the road. Steering wheels are on the left side of the car. Driving is relatively aggressive, like any island in the Caribbean. On some of the unpaved back-roads, oncoming traffic may be taking their half out of the middle, so be careful. Speed and distances are measured in kilometers. Traffic road signs such as No Parking, No Left Turn, and Yield use (I think) International standards, so they may not be familiar to an American.
[CURRENCY]
The local currency is the Antillean Guilder (Nafl.). The exchange rate fluctuates in relation to the US Dollar. I typically make an effort to use only local currency in any foreign destination, however, it didnt really seem necessary in Curaçao. Most restaurant bills include a total in Nafl. and in USD. Some businesses even offered me a discount when I paid my bill in USD. Oddly, the Dutch man in front of me at the car rental counter paid his bill using American currency.
If you do decide to convert to local currency, make the conversion in Curaçao. Dont try to do the conversion in the US. You will pay too much.
[LOCALS]
The people were extremely polite and friendly. I made an effort to pick up a few small pieces of Papiamento (the local language). The locals typically laughed at me when I spoke to them in Papiamento, but it seemed that they were amused by it, and not being mean-spirited or making fun of me. My wife and I were stopped in a grocery store one evening by a local man. He had identified us as Americans, and he was merely engaging in friendly, idle talk. I never met a rude local during my entire stay. Any rude behavior that I observed was exhibited by Europeans.
Receiving driving directions from the locals created some challenges. They were typically given in such a way that assumed I possessed inherent knowledge of the island, such as It is right across the street from Dr. Somebodys office. Everybody know where dat is When I requested, Can you show me on this map? I was told: I can tell you how to get dere, but I cant show you on dere. It is my belief that the ability to read maps is simply not widely understood by the locals of Curaçao. I have run into this problem in other places as well, such as Marylands Eastern shore, where many generations of residents have lived their entire lives in a relatively confined geographic area and everybody knows where everything is.
[RESTAURANTS]
Grab yourself a copy of the Big Red Book. It is probably available for free in your hotel lobby. An online version is available at: http://www.bigredrestaurantguide.com
Expect an average meal to take about three hours. Remember, you are on island time. Relax and enjoy. You will need to request drink refills (good luck finding the waiter), and you will probably need to request your check when you are finished eating. Dont allow yourself to get impatient; relax.
Food in Curaçao is unique. We ordered a sausage sandwich one day for lunch. The bread was round, with two inches of sausage sticking out on each side. The sausage was breaded and deep fried. The inside of the sausage was some kind of chicken pâté. It had the consistency of poi.
Try dinner at the Gouverner (pronounced hoof-er-ner) located in Otrobanda. They have some fantastic seafood plates, along with some traditional Dutch meals.
Portofinos at the Marriott has a buffet Saturday and Sunday night for about $25 per plate. I recommend it. You wont leave hungry.
You can get good sandwiches and stuff at Delifrance in Punda. Also, there is a restaurant up near Playa Kalki that serves a pretty good Iguana stew.
Grocery Stores close at 7.00pm.
[BEACHES]
The beaches in Curaçao are not typically covered in fine sand. Expect to find rocks and coral on the beaches. Many beaches are privately owned, and will require a usage fee (maybe $3 or $4 USD) but the private beaches will also typically include beach chairs and restrooms and possibly even a restaurant/bar. Although there are no nude or topless beaches, do not be surprised to see sunbathers in all states of undress at any beach or hotel pool.
[HOTEL REVIEW]
The Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino is arguably the nicest hotel on the island. It is conveniently located. It has a great pool, a Jacuzzi, and saunas. The grounds are beautiful. There are four restaurants on-site. Internet access is available in the lobby and in the rooms. There is a nice protected ocean lagoon that leads to a great dive reef only 100 yards offshore. The staff is friendly and helpful. Yoga classes, aqua-aerobics, and beach volleyball schedules will be delivered to your door each morning. Additionally, they have a kids club where the little ankle-biters can make crafts, paint t-shirts, swim, feed iguanas, play board games, and generally have a good time under adult supervision while Mom and Dad go diving or have drinks at the swim-up bar.
With that said, the room did not remind me of a world-class resort. It seemed more like a Days Inn or a La Quinta. Most mornings I awoke with a sore back from sleeping on the generic Hotel brand mattress.
The concierge was friendly and courteous. Anytime I asked for directions to a restaurant, they would produce a pre-printed set of instructions. Unfortunately, the instructions didnt always match my request. On one occasion, I asked for directions to a specific restaurant. (I provided the address). The concierge explained that it was too far away. I again asked for directions and the concierge suggested that I eat somewhere closer. I never found that restaurant.
Free wireless Internet access is available in the Lobby. Internet access is also available in the rooms for an additional $12.95 per day. Internet access in the rooms is not Wireless, and the network cable did not reach beyond the desk. I was glad I brought my wireless hub.
Everything at the Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino (meals, drinks, even your room rate) will be charged an additional 12% Service Charge plus a 5% tax. This Service Charge is levied by the hotel, and does not count as gratuity.
[DIVING IN CURAÇAO]
Nearly all dive sites on Curaçao are easily accessible from the shore. Get yourself a Dive & Drive map (http://www.divecuracao.com/map/index.htm), available from most dive shops.
On most dive sites, the reef starts around 15 to 20 feet, and extends deeper than you should go. There are not a lot of large fish, but the reefs are beautiful. Move slowly on dives. Take your time to look in all the nooks and crannies for creatures. You will see lots of moray eels, arrowcrabs, nudibranches, brittlestars, and maybe even an occasional seahorse. Make sure you do some night dives. You may see an octopus, an occasional batwing coral crab, and if you look closely enough you will see spiny lobsters.
[DIVE SHOPS]
I dove with two different shops on the island:
Caribbean Sea Sports (http://www.caribseasports.com)
Located behind the Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino, Caribbean Sea Sports rents air for dives on the Marriott House Reef as well as running daily boat trips to dive sights along the west coast of the island. A guided night dive runs every Tuesday. Additionally, you can check out tanks overnight and dive with a buddy any time you want. Solo dives are not permitted.
The Sea Sports dive boat is stocked with a first aid kit complete with O2. The crew is friendly and fun. They take roll call before the boat leaves the dock, and immediately after each dive. A DM escort is provided on all boat dives.
The Dive Bus (http://www.the-dive-bus.com)
What can I say? Mark and Suzy run a great shop. They will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the best dive spots. They rent (and sell) full dive gear. If you brought your own gear, they can provide air and weights. The Dive Bus provides a non-stressful diving environment that was like hanging out with my friends. When I wanted to dive on their day off, they were willing make recommendations and even contact other shops and find someone who was scheduled to dive the destinations I wanted.
There is a scheduled night dive every Wednesday night on the reef behind The Dive Bus hut. The first post-dive beer is on the house. And feel free to bring along your non-diving significant other.
