Curacao packages

[kelemvor]

Anyone know where I can find some curacao trip package information? I understand they have a Marriott there, so that's high on my want list.

Looking for mostly diving, but maybe a day or two of roasting on the beach.

 

[dreamdive]

I am currently in Curacao. Contact Goby Divers, they are a first class outfit and most helpful. We are staying at the Hilton which is right next door to the Marriot and is very nice, too. We heard that the Renaissance Inn is another great option. The people at Goby Divers might be a great resource for you.

 

[snowdog61]

Guess I'm not understanding why you aren't looking at Sunscape - the one we just used here on the Surge. Thought the accommodations, meal options, and having the dive op on property was all pretty first rate. Maybe I'm missing something

 

[diversteve]

The Marriott is nicer than Sunscape. The beach is better at the Marriott IMO - I think at one time it was artificially enhanced also, there's a breakwater out there to keep it in place.

Caribbbean Sea Sports is the on-site operator there - Goby DIvers is down the street a mile or so at Veneto. So I don't know why you'd want to do that. Caribbean Sea Sports I don't know why DreamDive isn't using them since they're on-site at the Hilton also.

At Caribbean Sea sports at Hilton Curacao

The Renaissance has no beach - it's on the cliffs in town. In order to compensate they have a sandy "beach" around their pool. CSS will shuttle you from there to their location in Piscadera Bay anyway for diving. It does have the best casino on the island though.

The other big problem with the Renaissance is it basically adjoins both the Rif Fort shopping complex and the MegaPier. So if cruise ships are in, it's a pretty congested area. Every time we drove down/past there traffic was pretty bad.

Almost all the beaches west of town also have on-site dive operators. So you can both dive and laze on the beach. Porto Mari is really popular for both - weekends parking will be difficult there. It's the double reef dive on Curacao.

There's even a dive off the Marriott. There's the breakwater out there but the actual reef is a farther swim out. CSS guides out there at least one night a week.

I like the Marriott in PIscadera Bay - they have a small casino, a nice upstairs bar, a pool bar and we had a pretty good meal one night at the beachfront restaurant. A fun place walking distance west pas the Hilton is Pirate's Bay - sort of a combo beach bar, music venue, dive shop in one.

 

[kelemvor]

Guess I'm not understanding why you aren't looking at Sunscape - the one we just used here on the Surge. Thought the accommodations, meal options, and having the dive op on property was all pretty first rate. Maybe I'm missing something

I wasn't at the surge, and I hadn't heard of sunscape (that I can recall). When I travel inside the US, I like to stay at Mariott brand hotels because they're consistently good. Also there's the whole "reward points" thing etc... unless there's a super compelling reason not to stay there.

 

[dreamdive]

we just came back from checking out both the Marriott and the Renaissance. I think both are nicer than the Hilton. The Marriott is a more quiet, more resort like. The Renaissance might offer more for a non-diving spouse/friend. It's a bit of what you are looking for.

 

[snowdog61]

Not trying to to talk you out of the rewards points but having a dive op right at the resort is a very big plus IMHO. Not sure that the Marriott will have tanks, rinse tubs, and a dive locker for your use along with a decent house reef and car pile to dive on. Dive boats also pick you up directly at their dock so hauling gear around isn't an issue. I did plenty of shore dives there and was certainly pleased with all aspects of the stay (ok the Makotos knock-off wasn't very good but the other 4 restaurant options more than made up for it). If you haven't, read some of the Surge reviews and get some other opinions of the place. This was my one and likely only Curacao trip - very healthy reefs (pinnacle coral forest was amazing) but I just didn't see a lot of color and larger fish though there were lots of bait fish. Sadly the only hogfish I saw was at the aquarium. There are lots of lionfish at 60'+ if you polespear and the dive op even provided a zookeeper and spear for another guy in our group (or at least they did for our boat).

 

[tkaelin]

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