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Curacao - Four Fab Spots to Stay
Curacao Marriott Beach Resort Exciting New Oasis for Business and Leisure
Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino Practical Urban Base with a Brand-New Vibe
by Susan Canpbell
by Susan Canpbell
I
was delighted to hear that the Curacao Marriott would be reopening in the Piscadera Bay area in 2019. The absence of a major resort on that prime piece of real estate right across the street from the Curacao World Trade Center was sorely missed. But now, after a $40 million USD renovation, the transformation is complete. And it’s glorious. I’m happy to see they left the grand entrance and sprawling pool intact and now, bedecked with state-of-the-art amenities, they are regaining their reputation as a first-rate stay on that landmark six acres of oceanfront. They will soon also offer the largest meeting space capacity on the island. The 336-room hotel is divided into two wings flanking The Great Room lobby area, one with a stand alone adult-only pool area. Our rooms were fresh and modern with epic sea views, and our Reef Club level status gave us access to an inviting indoor/outdoor space just off the lobby offering complimentary gourmet snacks and spirits. Also, off the lobby, is Zalo Gastropub for creative tapas and hand-crafted cocktails, a sushi bar, and a coffee house/marketplace for grab-and-gogoodies. For surfside food and drink, there’s the lively Salty Iguana, but it’s their new signature dining spot called C-Spice that’s really making big waves on Curacao’s culinary front. We had the pleasure of enjoying a fabulous poolside dinner there, and it was great to see award-winning Chef Dino Jagtiani at the helm. I knew him from St. Maarten when he ran Temptation, one of that island’s most celebrated restaurants for many years. Welcome back Curacao Marriott!
www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/curpb-curacao-marriott-beach-resort
Canadian World Traveller Spring 2020
I
’d not been to this cool urban resort in the heart of downtown Willemstad for two years, so I was really surprised at the magnitude of changes there- all for the better! Though their past carnival theme had been a very bright and colorful collage of design elements, that’s all changed after a 12-million-dollar renovation. Though the new Wind Creek Carnival Casino still carries on that festive colorful theme, the entire complex has been redesigned with an ethereal upscale, sleek, and modern style. From the sparkling new lobby and refreshed indoor/outdoor Nautilus signature dining room to the addition of a guest-only Starbucks on the second floor, the resort has truly been elevated. And it’s extremely inviting. Our stay this time was short but sweet, so the first spot I headed to was the unique manmade clifftop beach and seawater infinity pool, seriously one of the coolest water installations I’ve ever experienced. I’m happy to say that it’s still intact the way I remembered it, but now it’s even better with on-site spa cabanas. It’s right beside the cruise terminal, so you can see the twinkling lights of the ships on the water at night, and during the day, sometimes the infinity view provides the optical illusion that the ships are about to cruise right up onto the beach! Very cool. All the property’s 223 rooms and suites have been completely refreshed, and I totally enjoyed my sea view room overlooking the historic Rif Fort and its lively outdoor village where the outdoor music can waft up to your balcony at night. Of special note was the abundance of 110-volt outlets, there were dozens of them. Most of Curacao’s hotel rooms were originally designed to accommodate European visitors, so they often require adapters for the 220-volt outlets. This is an ideal practical base for business travellers, but also perfect for those seeking to be within easy walking distance of all the island’s UNESCO World Heritage sites and major urban attractions Willemstad has to offer.
www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/curbr-renaissancecuracao-resort-and-casino