Where to stay/dive in Curacao? Advice?

[Doug B]

Looking at a trip to Curacao, but never been there. Anybody have any experience there?

Where do you recommend to stay?

Things for the family to do while I'm diving?

Thanks

Doug B

[diversteve]

Originally Posted by Doug B

Where do you recommend to stay?

With a family, somewhere in town. The Marriott in Piscadera Bay is nice. Big pool area, protected beach, small casino and on-site dive op. There's also a Hilton next door but it's older and their beach isn't so good.

It's a 10min drive to downtown from Piscadera, so also consider staying closer in at places like Breezes. I don't know any of the other hotels in town as we stayed in condos in Piscadera.

Some parts of downtown can be a little grimy so not exactly where I'd want to stay with kids. Mostly the Otrabunda area.

Also the cruise port traffic daily makes downtown a huge traffic jam.

Out east by the Sea Aquarium is ok, Lion's Dive resort is next door, they have a beach. Ocean Encounters main diveshop is there also.

The dive resorts out to the west (Sunset Waters, Habitat, Kura Hulanda) have nothing nearby so kids/non-divers would be bored almost immediately. And it's 20-45 min. drive back to town.

Things for the family to do while I'm diving?

Sea Aquarium, Hato Caves, all the watersports, horseback riding, the Ostrich farm. For adults there's about 15 casinos. Curacao attractions | Bon Bini Curacao}

Couple of links we found useful planning our trip last April:

The island of Curacao - A real, different Caribbean vacation | Bon Bini Curacao
Curacao Hotels Car Rentals and more travel info for your vacation
Curaçao Actief

[carib_traveler]

I agree with Diversteve totally. The Marriott and Lion's Dive are two of the best for diving. The lion's dive has a bit more to do for children, but wives usually like the Marriott better They both have very good dive ops.
Another option would be Avila Beach Hotel which is also serviced by Ocean Encounters.
Some other useful links:
Marriott: Marriott Caribbean Beach Resort in Curacao | Curacao Hotels in Willemstad
Marriott's dive op: Curacao dive operator Caribbean Sea Sports Curacao - scuba diving, dive shop and boat trips
Avila Beach Hotel: Curaçao Luxury Hotel, Resort and Spa - Avila Hotel
Lion's Dive: Curacao Hotels Lions Dive and Beach Resort
Lion's Dive & Avila dive op: Curacao Scuba Diving PADI - Ocean Encounters

[caribbean soul]

Another possibility although I never stayed there is Breezes which is a little
north of the Lions Den I believe it is an all inclusive there is a casino on
the property and Ocean Encounters also has a pier there.
If you want to shore I recommend www.the-dive-bus.com , they are
a fun group to dive with and you could walk there from Breezes although
they will pick you up where ever you are staying.

[kyfriedchipper]

My wife and I are going for 16 days in late January 2008. We are staying at the Marriott (due to all the traveling I do for work, I am a Marriott points whore). Going to use the Caribbean Sea Sports dive shop on site as well as drive to other house reefs to shore dive.

[Doug B]

many thanks guys and gals.

[giortire]

I have stayed at Breezes, and it is fine. I will not say it is great due to the food being just average. Other then the food, the rooms are good (stay in the tower and you are closer to the dive pier), the drinks are good, the specialty restaurants are pretty good, and the shore diving is specatacular and included in the all inclusive price.
You can also catch the Ocean Encounters boats to any of the favorite dive sites.
For kids and non divers this is the place to stay. Too many activities to list here, but the circus camp is like nothing I have seen anywhere in the Caribbean. Kids can actually learn to use the flying trapeze.
There is a free shuttle going into town every day, and it is a 5 minute walk to the SeaQuarium.
Regardless of where you stay, you will love Curacao!

[carib_traveler]

@Giortire
Is that the tugboat in Curacao as your profile's picture? Cool

[giortire]

Ahhhh!
You must have been to the tugboat to recognise it. One of the most fun dives of my life. While diving the wall before the tugboat, saw seahorses, octopus, eels, lobster, etc.. The tugboat was the icing on the cake

[rach]

when i visited curacao i stayed at Habitat, but i echo everyone above that if you're going with non divers, this isn't the place to stay because it is a drive into town...but a plug for Habitat is that their house reef is great!