I was just recalling tonight that 1 month ago we were in Curacao, and how peaceful and pleasant it was. Here in summary were our favorites and less favorites. <br><br>We stayed at Lions Dive Resort, and would have no qualms about staying there again. The first room offered had some items needing maintenance, so they were very gracious and got us a different room on the 2nd floor which we liked for privacy. The breakfast buffet was very satisfactory, and the help very friendly. I used the "fitness room" on 4 occasions, and felt it was a nice perk. Free admission to the adjacent Sea Aquarium, and free passage onto the beach were included. They had converters for my shaver, and lent us a hairdrier for S. Mostly Dutch people staying there. Needed to claim beach chairs before breakfast a couple of days, and the beach was topless allowed. <br><br>We rented a car, and would do so again. Favorite beaches besides SeaAquarium were Great Knip and Cas Abou. Porto Marie would have made the list, but it rained, so we had too short a stay there. The best snorkeling was at Tugboat Beach, and just outside the "breakwater" at Sea Aquarium beach just to the west of Lions Dive. Also quite pleasant at Cas Abou and Knip. <br><br>Best dinners by far were at "Blues" at Avila Beach hotel. We loved our dinner there with their regular menu (the butterfish was awesome!) and went back for Valentine's Day special dinner. All the food was great, and the jazz on Thursday evenings was very enjoyable, and only occasionally too loud. We also stopped for a beer and some blues music Saturday night. Re other dining, Groet's Garden of Eatin was very so-so with bad service...NOT RECOMMENDED. Mambo Beach and Kon Tiki on SeaAquarium Beach were both pretty good for beach bar type restaurants...we preferred Mambo. Rumors at Lions Dive was OK. The Ristaffel was a very interesting and very filling dinner. 20 or so courses..like a buffet with 20 little containers of various meat, veggie, and other items. Definitely worth doing, but take a big appetite! Small World at the Waterfront Arches in W'stad was very good, and wonderful seaside setting. GrillKing at the same strip of restaurants wasn't as good or friendly, despite being under the same ownership. <br><br>The most interesting lunch was at the old market in Punda, where about 15 local families bring in large quantities of food, and the local workers flock there at noon for a Curacao food court type of experience. Do it! If you speak Dutch or Papiamentu it will be easier for you though. Good lunch too at Jaanchie's in Westpunt. <br><br>Re shopping, not much to report. Seems the reports of great shopping were overstated. We did enjoy a visit to the Curacao liquer "factory." Kura Hulandi museum in Otrabanda was interesting and very moving. Recommended as a very humbling experience. <br><br>Carnival parade was awesome..amazing the energy and effort the people put into their costumes and dance. Hundreds of people, we white Americans in the definite minority, and never felt the least bit uncomfortable.....lots of smiles all around. <br><br>We loved the brightly colored buildings, but were a bit turned off by the sprawl that Willemstad has become. Though traffic moved prety well, it always took us 30 minutes to get past W'stad to head to the west end of the island. Also enjoyed for a brief stop Boca Tabla area on the northwest coast, where the waves crash into the rocks. <br><br>In summary, I'd gladly return to Curacao and do research for any of you. If you wanta powdery beach that extends several miles, Curacao won't do it. If many scattered small beaches with pretty good snorkeling, good seafood, a definite foreign flavor, and friendly people are your goals, Curacao may fill your needs. <br><br>Hope this helps some of you make some decisions. Don't just stay on the grounds of your hotel..get out and explore and enjoy!<br> <br><br><br><br><br>
Last edited by Administrator; 03/13/2002 09:26 AM.
