Where to stay in Curacao?

[nldunn]

Good day!
My husband and I are headed to Curacao the end of January. Just returned from a snorkel trip with my SIL who doesn't dive but my husband and I want to dive most of the week. We likely wouldn't dive alone, as we hadn't dove for 30 years and had a refresher Nov 2023 in Cozumel. So we are basically beginners who want some hand-holding and shallow dives This trip I stayed at the Lion's Dive, which was pretty good but in January the rooms start at $495 or more a night and I can't pay that much.
We snorkeled with Ocean Encounter and the Dive Bus and both were great! I loved Director's Bay because we could have gone scuba diving and stayed above 30 feet and seen a lot! I really don't want to dive to 60 feet at this point.
I looked at Coral Estates but it looked pretty far from the Dive Bus and Ocean Encounters, which I would like to use again as they both said they could do some shallow dives with us. Any recommendations closer to both of them? We would like an oceanfront resort for when we aren't diving, and we like nice rooms and restaurants on-site or an easy walk. I always like to think we will explore the city, etc, but we never do. We are beach/water people.
Thank you!

 

[RIHappyDiver]

If you’re ok with air b&b type of accommodations, a couple of folks on here stay in them closer to town and might have suggestions. @rhwestfall & @lexvil, can you help a lady out?

Erik

 

[nldunn]

If you’re ok with air b&b type of accommodations, a couple of folks on here stay in them closer to town and might have suggestions. @rhwestfall & @lexvil, can you help a lady out?

Erik

Thank you!! I hadn't thought about an Air BnB but it might be nice!

 

[lexvil]

VRBO has a lot of great selections, Marbella estates is a gated community with security, where I’ve stayed there we even had a pool to chill in (at least you feel cooler when you get out) and paired with an unlimited air package/pick up truck deal from Dive bus you can cover a lot of the dive sites on your own schedule while saving a pile of $$.

 

[nldunn]

VRBO has a lot of great selections, Marbella estates is a gated community with security, where I’ve stayed there we even had a pool to chill in (at least you feel cooler when you get out) and paired with an unlimited air package/pick up truck deal from Dive bus you can cover a lot of the dive sites on your own schedule while saving a pile of $$.

Thank you! I will check them out now!

 

[Jay Harris]

Good day!
My husband and I are headed to Curacao the end of January. Just returned from a snorkel trip with my SIL who doesn't dive but my husband and I want to dive most of the week. We likely wouldn't dive alone, as we hadn't dove for 30 years and had a refresher Nov 2023 in Cozumel. So we are basically beginners who want some hand-holding and shallow dives This trip I stayed at the Lion's Dive, which was pretty good but in January the rooms start at $495 or more a night and I can't pay that much.
We snorkeled with Ocean Encounter and the Dive Bus and both were great! I loved Director's Bay because we could have gone scuba diving and stayed above 30 feet and seen a lot! I really don't want to dive to 60 feet at this point.
I looked at Coral Estates but it looked pretty far from the Dive Bus and Ocean Encounters, which I would like to use again as they both said they could do some shallow dives with us. Any recommendations closer to both of them? We would like an oceanfront resort for when we aren't diving, and we like nice rooms and restaurants on-site or an easy walk. I always like to think we will explore the city, etc, but we never do. We are beach/water people.
Thank you!

I’ve been to Curaçao dozens of times and have had great luck with Airbnbs at Blue Bay however they aren’t close to the east end where you prefer. Blue Bay has a great diveshop as well. If you change your mind, some of the best (and shallow) reefs are on the West End and I’ve dived with Go West the last two trips while staying at an Airbnb in Coral Estates. And if you prefer shore diving Alice in Wonderland is at Go West. It’s a little bit of a drive to Go West unlesss you find a place on the west end of the island.

 

[BoltSnap]

in January the rooms start at $495 or more a night

I am stunned, I am speechless, I can't believe it. WOW

Please do report on what accommodation you end up using. I can't afford or even think of having to pay $500 per night for a hotel room.

 

[nldunn]

I am stunned, I am speechless, I can't believe it. WOW

Please do report on what accommodation you end up using. I can't afford or even think of having to pay $500 per night for a hotel room.

Me, neither!! Even if I could afford it, which I can't, I wouldn't pay that much!! I just paid about $200 a night at the same place so why would I pay $300 more?? Crazy!

 

[nldunn]

I’ve been to Curaçao dozens of times and have had great luck with Airbnbs at Blue Bay however they aren’t close to the east end where you prefer. Blue Bay has a great diveshop as well. If you change your mind, some of the best (and shallow) reefs are on the West End and I’ve dived with Go West the last two trips while staying at an Airbnb in Coral Estates. And if you prefer shore diving Alice in Wonderland is at Go West. It’s a little bit of a drive to Go West unlesss you find a place on the west end of the island.

I don't mind staying at Coral Estates - I just wasn't sure if there is a good dive shop who could do guided dives for us like the Dive Bus which seems to be far from there!!

 

[Altamira]

I don't know when you are going to Curacao in January, but you might look at the Sunscape Resort, an All Inclusive, which is a block from The Dive Bus, has an Ocean Encounters onsite, and the Pierbaii and Car Pile dive sites just outside of the seawall at the hotel.You can dive Pierbaii as shallow as you wish, and I enjoyed numerous dives there, with Car Pile being a little deeper, but easy diving. Snorkeling in the lagoon is pretty good for fish, but not so much for coral. The food was OK, not great, but the facility was nice and comfortable. Considering you do not pay extra for food or drinks, the price may be in your budget. It is now owned by Hyatt, so the food may be better than is was for our 30 day stay in 2022. Good luck.