Overnight layover in Curaçao??

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Nikole

Contributor
Messages
173
Reaction score
13
Location
United States
# of dives
25 - 49
I'm going in May and was just shopping around for flights, and noticed many 4pm flights out of Miami that have overnight layovers in Curaçao and then flying over to Bonaire the next day. Has anyone chosen this route and stayed overnight to get to know Curaçao for a bit? Just curious thought I'd ask. I do know that I can fly straight to Bonaire without stopping in Curaçao but once I saw those options it just sparked a little interest. That's all! :wink:
 
What airline from C to B? If Insel, I wouldn't even consider it.
 
Locals and others familiar with Insel often refer to it as "Insult Airlines". (Personally, If they were the only option to fly to Bonaire I'd go somewhere else.)

I strongly suggest you read through the Insel reviews posted here before booking with them.
 
I ready some reviews on several websites and I don't find it surprising that if you book several months out that things can be subject to change... And the they probably do their business differently than in the US .im still reading. Did u ever fly with them and how was it, same?
 
Haven't flown with them, but another option should you decide to overnight there: fly direct to Curacao, visit at your leisure, then take Divi to Bonaire. They have several flights daily and are reasonably priced.
 
I flew with them from Curaçao to Bonaire, and both times our flight was delayed a little but not enough so that we missed our connecting flight. I'd be sure to schedule a safe amount of time between your Insel and connecting flight.
 
I have played that game with Insel ... I have paid $100+ on round trip tickets just to not have to deal with Curaçao and Insel airlines... I hate them that much....

Jim...
 
I've been to Curacao many times, but have not flown Insel and have read too many bad stories to want to. Most recently I've seen news about financial issues - Insel Air in financially dire straits

If you need to have an overnight in Curacao for flights to work that's one thing, but I think planning one night there to "get to know Curacao a bit" is a waste of time. Either go straight to Bonaire and have more time there, or stay on Curacao at least a few days and make it worthwhile, and maybe dive there too. Curacao is a bigger more varied island than Bonaire, and in less than a day you're not really going to get much of a sense of the place. (I think people there for such a short time tend to see mostly the city, cruise ships, oil refinery, and other heavily developed areas of Curacao and get a negative impression, thinking that's all there is to the place. Which is definitely not the case.)
 
Price staying overnight also. The airport is mid-island north - most things like Willemstad are mid/east island south. It's not a particularly wide island but a fairly expensive cab ride - for a local feel I'd stay downtown - some other areas are pretty quiet at night. A cab is going to run you about $40? - probably cheaper to rent a car. Curacao Airport Transfer Rates by TioTaxi

The airport hotel has a dismal reputation for being smoke infused and old. And not cheap. Nothing around it either.
Curacao Airport Hotel (Willemstad) - UPDATED 2016 Reviews - TripAdvisor

I'd be OK with staying overnight at the San Marco in town - seemed older but decent. In the the old downtown and places to walk to nearby for dinner. They also have a casino onsite. San Marco Hotel and Casino (Curacao/Willemstad) - UPDATED 2016 Reviews - TripAdvisor

You could walk a short distance to the swinging bridge and cross over to the Otrabunda side of the harbor, the Renaissance mall/hotel complex is pretty nice - shops, restaurants etc. Also a view of old downtown lit up at night across the harbor. Or there's plenty to see on the Punda side also - esp. if you like old historical structures.

I didn't like the look of the Holiday Beach hotel nearby but I've not been to it either - just walked by.
 
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