Hi all,
We have found the ideal lodging on Bonaire, but are at a loss on where to stay for four nights on Curacao. Any suggestions? We have reservations at the Hotel Bulado Inn in St. Michiel. The webpage looks nice, but does anyone have any actual feed back. Thank you. TheOne

Gail,

We have stayed at the Holiday Beach Hotel and Casino in Curacao. It has the largest casino on Curacao, a Denny's next door (great for breakfasts) and a wonderful beach and protected swimming area. The diving and snorkeling right there are nice also. The rooms are comfortable and good size. I don't know about the dive operation that is there anymore as the folks that owned it (Peter and Linda) sold it when we were there 3 years ago and moved to Grenada. We met the new owners and they seemed nice but new to it all, but of course that was 3 years ago. If we go back there again, I am sure that is where we would stay.

Hope this helps!

Cheryl

And the web address for Holiday Beach is:

http://www.hol-beach.com/


Cheryl

Thanks Cheryl for the tip and the link. I booked a reservation after looking at the web sight. Just out of curiosity are most of the people in this news group vacationers or residents or a mixture of both? The board seems to be a nice little community of Bonaire addicts. I am making my second trip and have a feeling there may well be more- even if this dot in the ocean is almost 6000 miles from Seattle!

We have a pretty good mix in the newsgroup. Myself, Jake and Michael are probably the most vocal fulltime residents. We have the going-to-Bonaire for the first time crowd. But probably the largest group is the repeat visitors. There are sprinkles of others like Antilleans living in Holland, or job interns, or local business people. And I agree they are a nice brunch of people.

Gail,

Welcome to the "fold"! Linda sums it up well. I feel like the newsgroup is it's own little web community. All of us who love Bonaire are eager to help those who are first time visitors and eager to share experiences with, well, anyone who cares to share!

Let me know if you would like some restaurant suggestions for Curacao. I can suggest a few!

Cheryl

Count me as a onetime visitor who uses this newsgroup as work avoidance therapy.

I would be pleased to go fishing with most of you. That is about the highest form of compliment I can give people I have never met. Michael would have to promise not to whine about bagels. I only fish "bagel-less" (Newsgroup humor)

Seriously, I would be interested in a trip report from the Curacao leg of your trip.

Bill, from a fisherman, that is some compliment! We should be flattered!

We would suggest Princess Beach Resort & Casino, which is a Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza Resort. Very nice hotel, beautiful beach, everything is right on property. The dive operation was very nice, one day they had boat of snorkelers going to a site we wanted to dive, they put a divemaster on the boat just for us so that we could dive. We did the same thing on our first trip to Bonaire. Spent six nights in Bonaire and then three in Curacao. Our hearts are still in Bonaire. Have a great trip.

Gail,

The Holiday Beach Hotel is very nice, although most rooms are very basic. It's one of two hotels that have a beach and are on walking distance from the centre of Willemstad. The other is the Avila Beach hotel which has a much smaller beach and is more expense. The advantage of the Holiday Beach hotel is also that their beach is protected by a "reef" from the sea, so no problem with the waves. I have stayed there four times, last in january this year. As they were starting some refurbishment at that time it might be worth enquiring about the situation on that.

WOW-thanky for all the great suggestions for lodging. Any tips on where to go and what to see underwater and equiped only with a mask and snorkel on Curacao? After snorkeling and a roof over our heads(in priority order of course)food is always an issue. We haven't yet comprehended eating on Bonaire(what IS "local food"?) let alone
Curacao. I may be extending this conversation beyond the voundaries of this subject area-BUT--since ya'all are such a effervescent font of local knowlege, and since I have you trapped here in my computer, I would like to scour your brains to the extent to which they will tolerate.

Gail,

One thing about staying at the Holiday Beach is that you are walking distance to town where the floating market it (was? all the boats were from Curacas...I am assuming this has all returned to normal?) It is very entertaining to sight see around that area. Take a camera and if you do rent a car, be sure to drive over the big bridge. That is almost as thrilling as a roller coaster!

There are 2 wonderful restaurants that stick out in my mind....

West Indies
De Rouvilleweg 9
Tel: 4623038

Froets
Koraalspechtweg 11
Tel: 4657565

West Indies you can walk to from the Holiday Beach...we ate there several times, awesome food and service and atmosphere.

Froets is considered typical Dutch and is also very good. Intimate setting, leisurely dining and impeccable service. Treat yourself to the 3 course meal and make sure you aren't in a hurry.

Another place we really enjoyed was Restaurant Frt.Waakzaamheid, a restaurant that I have been told is no longer there. An Irish gentleman ran a wonderful steak restaurant that sat on the side of a mountain near a fort, I think. Anyway, you would order what meat you were going to eat, (steak, chicken or kabobs) then go to the salad bar. Ohmygosh...this salad bar had the most wonderful potato salad among other things. We would have filled up on the salads had our experienced hosts not warned us not to! Anyway, it was incredible! I'll bet there is another restaurant similar there...it seems grilling is very popular there.

Check out the website for the Curacao Tourist Board at:

http://www.curacao.com/

Cya!

Cheryl

The restaurant at Fort Waakzaamheid was still there in january but under new ownership. The previous owner indeed did produce miracles on his grill. The new owners have changed the menu but it's still a very good restaurant want an incredible view. Another good restaurant is in Fort Nassau. It one of the most expensive on the island but it has excellent food and service. I had a grilled salmon there in january which was perfect.

It's certainly nice to combine the two islands in one trip. Eventough they are only a 15 minute flight away and in the same country they are very different.

I was told by the Curacao Tourist Board that the previous owner (of Fort Waakzaamheid) was no longer due to tax evasion....that's sad. The person described the new restaurant as a cafe now. I have a fond memory of sitting there, on the side of a mountain, after a wonderful meal, enjoying the view and some fantastic Irish coffee. As I got about 1/2 through my coffee, the owner came over and in this deliteful Irish brogue informed me that I needed more Irish in my coffee then proceeded to top it off with Irish whiskey. Whew! I left the restaurant with a nice full belly and a warm fuzzy feeling!

I agree about the differences in the two islands. My impression is that Curacao is much more formal, almost snooty and aloof. People just don't go out of their way to get to know you and the atmosphere isn't as relaxed and laid back as Bonaire. And I don't mean that as an insult, just an observation. There were more Europeans there and not as many Americans as Bonaire. Curacao is charming, in it's own way.

Gail, if you do try any of the restaurants I have suggested, please let me know what you think, k?

Cheryl