OP
LStewart
Contributor
Nice! At this point we are considering NK or an AirBNB nearby. Thanks!
Curacao Recommendations
- Thread starter LStewart
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
Nice! At this point we are considering NK or an AirBNB nearby. Thanks!
OP
LStewart
Contributor
OK, if we don't wind up getting a package deal with GW, who do you all recommend renting a vehicle from .... truck or car?
GrafCanuck
Contributor
One time was National, can't remember the other time. Best to pickup the car right at the airport. You are about 45 minutes to Westpunt. Make sure you go to Sol Food for lunch or supper. The only downside is that the owner is/was (lol) a Red Sox fan. Definitely go into Willemstad. Nicest city in the Caribbean and we've been to 90% of them.
For your size group, 7-12, I don't have any experience so no recommendations. When we had six divers, we stayed at Allwest and did two trucks (in hindsight we would have been fine with one truck and one compact car). When just two of us, we have rented from the major us rental companies at the airport with just a compact. See my last trip report from Jan this year for a heads up. We are passing on airport rentals this trip and renting with Lagun Blou with them picking us up, taking us to Centrum market and then to LB where we will get our car.
- Messages
- 26,281
- Reaction score
- 5,881
- # of dives
- I'm a Fish!
We rented from Budget (8 of us) We rented a truck for tanks and an SUV. It's so convenient at the airport, the car rentals are all right there and the airport is so small the agent walks you to the car,
A few comments on some of the places suggested. First know that except for a market in Barber (NE) there's virtually no food stores out west except for some Snaks which are mostly drinks with a few staples.
Tkaelin alluded to it in a post, when we stayed a few days in Lagun, we exhausted all the nearby restaurants (2) and our apt mgr advised stopping at Centrun by the airport first, they're set up for it with $1 styro boxes on top of the freezers and IIRC dry ice.
Marazul could have sone larger condo rentals but you'd be driving 10mins to GoWest for a boat, Also see the jagged line running down the cliff - that's the stairs to the water. IDK but have read that although they're between two good dives - right there it's kind of Meh...
Up the hill behind Ocean Reef CE condos are some larger house rentals - would have views of the water.
The resort itself is on a low cliff overlooking the water, these are behind it up the hill. All inside a gated area and at the time it wasn't real obvious the resort was also.
I believe there are some larger house rentals in the Varsenbaai area - Ive seen a couple on vrbo. Would not be waterfront but some could have ocean views, Diving thee would be with Trunk Divers but it might be all shore dives - I never saw a boat there and we spent most of the day.
It;s a good dive either way, seahorses within a few feet of the marker ball, at the turn point east is a big pontoon boat wreck around 80-100' - used to transport the Car Pile cars - deeper past it are some of the cars but they're in rough shape, hug the beach on the swim in and turtles will popup in the grasses there in 8'. One dive there were a lot of squid under the dock.
IDK the area well but you might look at house rentals east of town in Caracasbaai - we drove thru there once and there were some big houses on the bay, not the ocean. There;s several nearby dive shops also and it;s not too far from the Tugbuat dive site or Director;s Bay. I believe at both you need to bring tanks now, sometimes the dive school at the Tugboat is in operation. Look at the area on Google Earth and you can see the boat outline, Better part of that dive is to go around the east point and then down - there's a wall covered in white eels. Since the boat is 17' deep, do it on the return. Under the pier isn't bad either.
Lastly and more of a last resort - Royal Palms condos in Piscadera Bay just north of town has some bigger units - and a pool. Across the street and up the hill from the water but a good view. If Caribbean Sea Sports is back at the newly re-opened Marriott it's across the street. There;s a shore dive there but it;s a healthy surface swim out. The Pirates Bay Beach Bar 2 mins. away is on the site, had a dive desk and we rented tanks there - they have a compressor.
It won't be the best dive but it;s wet. Quiet area, a few restaurants you can walk to or the north side of the harbor downtown is 5mins. by car.
hth
A few comments on some of the places suggested. First know that except for a market in Barber (NE) there's virtually no food stores out west except for some Snaks which are mostly drinks with a few staples.
Tkaelin alluded to it in a post, when we stayed a few days in Lagun, we exhausted all the nearby restaurants (2) and our apt mgr advised stopping at Centrun by the airport first, they're set up for it with $1 styro boxes on top of the freezers and IIRC dry ice.
Marazul could have sone larger condo rentals but you'd be driving 10mins to GoWest for a boat, Also see the jagged line running down the cliff - that's the stairs to the water. IDK but have read that although they're between two good dives - right there it's kind of Meh...
Up the hill behind Ocean Reef CE condos are some larger house rentals - would have views of the water.
The resort itself is on a low cliff overlooking the water, these are behind it up the hill. All inside a gated area and at the time it wasn't real obvious the resort was also.
I believe there are some larger house rentals in the Varsenbaai area - Ive seen a couple on vrbo. Would not be waterfront but some could have ocean views, Diving thee would be with Trunk Divers but it might be all shore dives - I never saw a boat there and we spent most of the day.
It;s a good dive either way, seahorses within a few feet of the marker ball, at the turn point east is a big pontoon boat wreck around 80-100' - used to transport the Car Pile cars - deeper past it are some of the cars but they're in rough shape, hug the beach on the swim in and turtles will popup in the grasses there in 8'. One dive there were a lot of squid under the dock.
IDK the area well but you might look at house rentals east of town in Caracasbaai - we drove thru there once and there were some big houses on the bay, not the ocean. There;s several nearby dive shops also and it;s not too far from the Tugbuat dive site or Director;s Bay. I believe at both you need to bring tanks now, sometimes the dive school at the Tugboat is in operation. Look at the area on Google Earth and you can see the boat outline, Better part of that dive is to go around the east point and then down - there's a wall covered in white eels. Since the boat is 17' deep, do it on the return. Under the pier isn't bad either.
Lastly and more of a last resort - Royal Palms condos in Piscadera Bay just north of town has some bigger units - and a pool. Across the street and up the hill from the water but a good view. If Caribbean Sea Sports is back at the newly re-opened Marriott it's across the street. There;s a shore dive there but it;s a healthy surface swim out. The Pirates Bay Beach Bar 2 mins. away is on the site, had a dive desk and we rented tanks there - they have a compressor.
It won't be the best dive but it;s wet. Quiet area, a few restaurants you can walk to or the north side of the harbor downtown is 5mins. by car.
hth
Curacao Sunshine
Contributor
- Messages
- 632
- Reaction score
- 66
- # of dives
- 200 - 499
GO SOX!!!!! And definitely dive Curacao! <3
Hey Sunshine! Good to hear from you. I did not know you were a Sox fan and unfortunately this year is not the year for the Sox.
Looking forward to our return in Jan and will contact you when we get closer to the date for a dinner reservation. Hope all is well. TK.
Curacao Sunshine
Contributor
- Messages
- 632
- Reaction score
- 66
- # of dives
- 200 - 499
It has been a great year in Westpunt; water temps, visability, and all! Sea you ion January!
Everyone else..... we are partial to the westside, Westpunt in particular. Definitely, go to the grocery store before driving out. There are a number of great places to eat:
Cactus Club (former Trio Penotti), Misje, Sol Food, Blue View, Rancho Sobrino, Discover Lagun Dive, Bahia Inn, Landhuis Klein Santa Marta, Shelter Rock all within 10 miles from Westpunt. E Lanternu, Bliss, Willywood, Koraal, Karacter, De Brouvrouw, Bali, Daniels, and a dozen small local places within 15 to 20 miles.
Hotels, mini resorts, condos, and Air BnBs - plenty of options. Come and enjoy.
Everyone else..... we are partial to the westside, Westpunt in particular. Definitely, go to the grocery store before driving out. There are a number of great places to eat:
Cactus Club (former Trio Penotti), Misje, Sol Food, Blue View, Rancho Sobrino, Discover Lagun Dive, Bahia Inn, Landhuis Klein Santa Marta, Shelter Rock all within 10 miles from Westpunt. E Lanternu, Bliss, Willywood, Koraal, Karacter, De Brouvrouw, Bali, Daniels, and a dozen small local places within 15 to 20 miles.
Hotels, mini resorts, condos, and Air BnBs - plenty of options. Come and enjoy.
- Messages
- 26,281
- Reaction score
- 5,881
- # of dives
- I'm a Fish!
and definitely eat at Sunshine's place - Sol Food.
Similar threads
