Hilton Curacao

[gr00ve]

Hello people ! Believe me, its is my first post here.

Im planning a week in Curacao in august, at Hilton, 7 nights and 5 double tank boat dives in a package, and have some questions:

- Should I cancel a boat's dive day to do a full day of shore dives ? I went to Bonaire two years ago, and liked a lot the dives.

- Will they take me to sites like Mushroom Forest or Watamula, on the west side of the island ?

Thanks!

 

[diversteve]

You're probably staying too far east for those sites. What you might do is contact Ocean Encounters (Hilton's dive operator) and see what the options are for getting on their boat at Ocean Encounters West - either drive to Westpunt (35-45 minutes from the Hilton) or I've read they sometimes shuttle divers out there. They do both dives from OEWest:
Dive schedule - Ocean Encounters West Curacao ::..

Here's your likely dive schedule from the Hilton: Dive Schedule | Ocean Encounters Curacao

I'd definitely do some west end shore diving if you have a vehicle. Playa Kalki, Porto Mari, Nos Kas (Habitat's house reef) and Playa Lagun were among the better sites we did in that area. All simple beach or dock entries. You can rent tanks/weights at all of them. Many shore dive sites on Curacao have dive facilities onsite and you pay a small usage fee to the operator - it's different than Bonaire.

Get a good dive site/road map, things aren't marked too well once you leave the city.

Another excellent option for shore diving is the Dive Bus. The Dive Bus - HOME, they pickup at the Hilton also.

 

[DeputyDan]

The operator at the Hilton is going to be way too far east to take you to western sites.
Not because they are bad - it's just the way it is. Plan ahead and you can dive when and where you want.

 

[RJP]

Hello people ! Believe me, its is my first post here.

Im planning a week in Curacao in august, at Hilton, 7 nights and 5 double tank boat dives in a package, and have some questions:

- Should I cancel a boat's dive day to do a full day of shore dives ? I went to Bonaire two years ago, and liked a lot the dives.

- Will they take me to sites like Mushroom Forest or Watamula, on the west side of the island ?

Thanks!

Ocean Encounters East (Op at Hilton) can easily hook you up with their brethren at Ocean Encounters West up at Playa Kalki. They have a great house reef there (Alice in Wonderland) and a boat that goes to Watamula, Mushroom Forest, etc. Plan to spend the whole day up there, and have dinner with Sunshine and David at Sol Food.

Ray

PS - not that you asked, but that Hilton is a fricken' rat hole. If there's any chance you can change accommodations, I would. Walked over there this year and last year from the Marriott - assumed it was closed for renovations, or hurricane damage or something. But nope, it was open. Ugh! I have literally more than million Hilton points, but when I go to Curacao I PAY to stay in a regular room at the Marriott vs staying at the best suite at the Hilton for free.

 

[DeputyDan]

PS - not that you asked, but that Hilton is a fricken' rat hole. If there's any chance you can change accommodations, I would. Walked over there this year and last year from the Marriott - assumed it was closed for renovations, or hurricane damage or something. But nope, it was open. Ugh! I have literally more than million Hilton points, but when I go to Curacao I PAY to stay in a regular room at the Marriott vs staying at the best suite at the Hilton for free.

I would take exception to this since I also have several hundred thousand Hilton points but, I really can't cause its pretty close to accurate.

The Hilton as compared to the Marriott - well there isn't one!

I would not pay to stay at this Hilton!

 

[James R]

Wow...I briefly considered booking Hilton for our upcoming trip to Curacao!

 

[Feney]

I would take exception to this since I also have several hundred thousand Hilton points but, I really can't cause its pretty close to accurate.

The Hilton as compared to the Marriott - well there isn't one!

I would not pay to stay at this Hilton!

It looks a lot worse from the outside. The rooms are not so bad and the oceanview rooms have great balconies. AA put us up at the Hilton last year and we groaned when the taxi pulled up to the hotel, it does look like a dump from the outside. But the rooms and the executive lounge were nice, free drinks at night. I would stay there again and I'm picky. This year after a week at Kura Hulanda in Westpunt, we will check out the new Hyatt using some free night awards.

 

[PhilC]

PS - not that you asked, but that Hilton is a fricken' rat hole. If there's any chance you can change accommodations, I would. Walked over there this year and last year from the Marriott - assumed it was closed for renovations, or hurricane damage or something. But nope, it was open. Ugh! I have literally more than million Hilton points, but when I go to Curacao I PAY to stay in a regular room at the Marriott vs staying at the best suite at the Hilton for free.

Good information to know. We're also sitting on just short of a million Hilton points and had talked about doing the Hilton Curacao to spend some of them. Based on the agreement amongst you and DeputyDan we'll find somewhere else to spend them it sounds like.

 

[DeputyDan]

I have stayed at this Hilton.
I stayed using points so what can you say - it was essentially free.
I would choose to stay at the Marriott if I were forking out cash!

 

[muzicgirl]

I've stayed at this hilton 3 years in a row- it could use a little updating but we loved it...the beaches are amazing, the rooms were great- AC was a little weak but other than that, the staff was great and the food average....I would return.