The capital city of Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage site, lures visitors with its distinctive candy-colored Dutch Colonial architecture, museums and monuments. Just some 35 miles north of Venezuela, with more than 30 beaches, 129 nationalities, 60 dive sites and an increasing number of hot new hotels and restaurants, Curaçao’s time has come.
With its intimate, private beaches, pristine dive sites, eclectic array of restaurants and ϋber-luxe resorts, Curaçao is redefining the luxury Caribbean vacation!
Whether you prefer modern and intimate, or more traditional accommodations with multiple amenities and activities, Curaçao has the perfect spot for you. Those looking for the ultimate pampering can choose from the old world charm of the Avila Hotel, the favorite of Queen Beatrix who always stays when on island, most recently in The Bolivar Suite. The Bolivar Suite is the ultimate in modern luxury. Located on the top floor of the new Octagon Wing with fabulous grand views of the azure Caribbean Sea and the southern coastline of Curaçao from its wraparound balcony, the suite consists of large rooms with breathtaking views and contemporary Danish design.
Luxury seekers looking for an intimate retreat need look no further than the Baoase Luxury Resort, a uniquely Curaçaoän property, with a distinctly elegant Asian flair. Nestled amidst tropical gardens and caressed by the azure water of the Caribbean Sea, the Baoase is an idyllic retreat tucked away on the stunning island of Curaçao. The five-star plus resort is located on 300 meters of stunning beachfront property. Offering sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea with most colorful and exciting coral reefs. Most recently, Grammy Award winner Stevie Wonder stayed at the Baoase, while performing at the 2011 Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival.
Travelers in search of a resort with all of the amenities imaginable will flock to the Hyatt Regency Curaçao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina, Curaçao’s newest and now largest hotel, with 350 guestrooms. Located on the Santa Barbara Plantation, on Curaçao’s East End, the Hyatt Regency Curaçao features three outdoor pools, four tennis courts managed by Peter Burwash International, jogging trails, volleyball courts, bicycles and a marina offering daily diving trips, water sports and other aquatic activities provided by Ocean Encounters. Perhaps most alluring, is the property’s Atabei Spa. Golf aficionados will delight in the Hyatt’s 18-hole championship Old Quarry Golf Course, designed by the renowned Pete Dye. The combination of the rugged terrain of the Tafelberg Mountain and the serenity of the Caribbean Sea and Spanish Water create a world-class setting for the course, which includes an 8,000-square foot pro shop and seafood restaurant, SHOR.
Curaçao has no shortage of activities for the sophisticated traveler. For a once in a lifetime splurge, Substation Curaçao offers the Curasub, a mini-submarine which takes guests beneath the sea, down to 1,000 feet. All of the activity is sure to work up an appetite.
Being made up of so many nationalities, Curaçao has an eclectic array of cuisines, including island fare, Indonesian food and American/European Continental cuisine. For an evening out on the town, Bistro Le Clochard is the epitome of upscale dining in Curaçao. With an extensive array of dishes, combining Swiss and French fare and Caribbean ingredients, overlooking Curaçao’s iconic ‘Handelskade’ waterfront, along the Santa Anna Bay. For more international, eclectic palates, the Indonesian “Rice-Table” open-air restaurant, Tempo Doeloe, offers up fresh cuisine and a unique luxury dining opportunity mimicking popular rice table group meals in Bali, Indonesia. The richly-decorated restaurant is located near Piscadera Bay, with beautiful sunset views from the Parasasa Hill.
