Possible warning re "Curacao Now"

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This promo is still the dumbest thing ever, it's exactly like last year, where is actually cheaper to not use it.

I've been looking at Kura again, but even picking any other random hotel, 99% of the time there is a cheaper package rate listed specifically not mentioning the 'now' promotion. Makes no sense since it's supposed to include a free night. Tricky marketing I guess... jack up the rate, but offer a free night.

I could never get a straight answer out of anyone last year if the air rebate still applied if I actually picked cheaper package that didn't mention the promo. <sigh>
 
I believe they were enforcing the rule last time that the "package" had to specifically state it was a "Curacao Now" package, but on the other hand they didn't need a copy of your passport, which they had required on an earlier version.

I am sure the bottom line for Curacao is the publicity, name recognition, getting tour ops to push the deal, etc. probably a reasonably cost effective form of advertising.

I have now booked my trip and did not use the Curacao Now thing. Would have liked to save on the airfare, but what the heck...I have my tickets and am a happy camper.
 
I'm booking All West this week, without the Curacao Now offer.

Seems as though Andreas made me an offer I couldn't refuse. :crafty:
 
I have just about had it with the curacao now thing...we were in curacao in the fall and submitted our proof of reservations at the hotel, our flight, etc....they won't give us our airfare rebate because the hotel eventhough it was participating in curacao now, didn't put those words on the reservation paperwork. So, they are saying that means we didn't take part in the promotion...sooooo disorganized. I wouldn't book a trip and bank on the fact that you'll get your money back. We will return to curacao because we love it but the curacao now promo is a ripoff ..
 
They changed the terms for each promo. For part of 2009 you had to include a photocopy of your passport or you would not receive the rebate. Then later in 2009 they didn't care about the passport, but the hotel receipt HAD to say it was part of the Curacao Now promo or, as you found, no rebate.

Now at least, the rebate is immediate and "automatic" if you book through one of the participating travel agencies. On the other hand, that makes it impossible to book air and hotel separately.

I skipped it this year and just booked my trip directly. I wish I could get the rebate, but C'est la Vie.....
 
muzicgirl:
I have just about had it with the curacao now thing...we were in curacao in the fall and submitted our proof of reservations at the hotel, our flight, etc....they won't give us our airfare rebate because the hotel eventhough it was participating in curacao now, didn't put those words on the reservation paperwork. So, they are saying that means we didn't take part in the promotion...sooooo disorganized. I wouldn't book a trip and bank on the fact that you'll get your money back. We will return to curacao because we love it but the curacao now promo is a ripoff ..
Click to expand...

Ya that sucks. I tried to clear that up with them last year, and it was still was relatively unclear, fortunately I book the package that specifically mentioned it. While it took forever to get the check back, it finally came.

The problem I have, which is the same as last year, is that booking the package that mentions the promo is more than $500 more expensive, which pretty much nullifies the promotion.... doesn't make sense since it's sposed to include a free day and all.

But like you, we love it there too and I'm not sure what we're going to do this year yet, but I"m sure we'll return regardless.
 
We just booked 2 weeks at All West in Sep. 2010 through Maduro, using the 2010 Curacao NOW promotion. Weird thing is the Maduro agent said they couldn't book the rental pickup truck at Hertz Hato in our package - that we'd have to do this ourselves. I've sent 2 e-mails to the Curacao Hertz operation, and cc'ed the Maduro agent on the second e-mail to hopefully help get this part moving along.

I liked the arrangements last year where we booked air, hotel, and vehicle rental all ourselves, mailed in the forms and received and deposited our rebate checks before our trip began, and printed out several color copies of the Curacao NOW coupon (those came in handy several times during our 2009 trip). The 2010 Curacao NOW promotion is more hassle trying to get everything customized for individual tastes, but Andreas at All West and Maduro have worked together for us to get us what we're looking for.

Hopefully we can catch some of the Curacao coral spawning this year - it's a dice roll given the dates we picked, but who knows?
 
We just booked our package for June 26-July3 through Delta Vacations - Delta Air Lines official vacation package provider.

I did reserach for about 2 weeks pricing all of the different sites. I used the Curacao NOW | Great Deals for your trip to the Caribbean Island of Curacao website and clicked every travel partner on their page. I then called them and tried to see what kind of deal I could get through the phone instead. Delta vacations was the cheapest. I didn't want to stay at Breeze's, but my wife wants an all inclusive and that was our option. So, we get the free dive and $400 airfare credit, but the free night is a little more amusing. They jack the price up, then give you a free night. We do get a $200 spa credit.

It's our first time in Curacao so I hope it's good! Travel safe everyone. Would love to find some folks to dive with while I'm there! Feel free to message me.
 
Well, we found today the one part of the Curacao NOW program we can't depend on is the 1 free day car rental through Hertz so we booked our truck rental from All West as part of our package through Maduro for our September 2010 trip. The Maduro agent informed me that All West will allow for rental vehicle pickup and dropoff at the airport (have the vehicle there waiting for us) so we can stop and buy groceries along the way from the airport to All West.

From Maduro
". . . here is more information on car rentals in Curacao as per the Curacao Tourist Board:

The 3 car rentals that have partnered with us in the Curacao Now program is:

Budget
Hertz
Thrifty

The client has to reserve the car at least 3 days prior the arrival directly to the local car rental agency in Curacao and mention the Curacao Now program.
Client can not reserve a car through the car rental agency in the USA. Make sure clients understand this.
Client will get the voucher booklet from the host hotel upon check-in.
Client gets one free car rental day on a 4-day rental.
Upon returning the car client has to turn in the car rental coupon as proof that he had booked the Curacao Now program.

Regards,

Joe"
​

The Curacao Hertz franchisee will not respond to my e-mail requests with the coupon voucher pasted into the e-mail whatsoever this year. I did get the free day last year, but had to present the detailed e-mail quote plus a color copy of the 2009 Curacao NOW coupon BOTh when picking up the truck and returning it at Hertz last year. I decided to quit trying this year since Hertz won't send me a detailed quote. Budget on Curacao has too high a price on their truck rental and Thrifty doesn't offer trucks on Curacao.

​
 
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