Curacao – It is a kind of sequel to “Trains, Planes and Automobiles.” Can you imagine me saying, “You’re going the wrong way?” There are advantages to each when you travel by land, sea or air.
Villas – Jan Thiel for example has a wide variety of Villa on VRBO – We rented one with 5 bedrooms (2 upstairs and 3 below), two kitchens and sleeping arrangements for two or three families. The cost well below any Hotels by far. The luxury otherworldly. Private swimming pool and spa. Since you need a car or Uber you can visit any portion of the Island, including the Playa Beach Club and restaurants only approachable by car (Fort Nassau or Braso do Mar. Jan Thiel even had ice cream parlors and a large supermarket walking distance for us to grill fish, buy wine or walks along the escarpment.
By Cruise Liner – No luggage, dedicated health care, no booking hotels or cars. All you can eat and entertainment at night and pools galore. If you have sailed you know all this- including identification, rules on liquor and issues with health. Too often pop-up markets command the port and little of the interior of the Islands are seen – for example the Dutch Bakeries on every one of the ABC Islands or the desert landscape with dune buggy, arches, salt water ppols or flamingos to name a few attractions you will not see by boat. We have traveled to each of the Islands by air but if you want to see it all at once, this is the way to visit each of the ports and if you are adventurous, you can plan a get away with a couple of friends on the trip. It is just harder.
Hotels – These hotels can get expensive. We stayed at the Hilton in Curacao and because we fly standby and the 1st nights lodging is always expensive, we paid twice as much as our family members. Some hotel restaurants are fine, but we have generally discovered the better ones, the gems, are off the property. The Hilton in Willemstad had free parking and plenty of stores by the Old Fort Entry. Everything can walked and the journey is colorful. The infinity pool with salt water and sand was great for the toddlers.
