Curacao

[DR Monger II]

They never caught this rabbit guy? Do you only get robbed while walking there? Is it possible to get robbed in a car?

[Scotty Monger]

Elmo,

Caracas is not for the faint of heart. If a person thinks Curacao is unsafe, then they should definately not go to Caracas. Chavez is an idiot, but that's a rant I'll save for another post. There is a lot of anti-Amercan sentiment in Venezuela right now, and it's probably prudent to wait until after the election to see how everything shakes out.

Luego

[Scotty Monger]

George90,

"I feel your pain", as Slick Willie once said. I have been diving throughout the Caribbean since '91, and have seen the slow gradual decline of the reefs on many of the islands. It has pushed me from Cozumel to Belize, and now to Roatan. Better hurry to Roatan before you miss it. None of these reefs have been decimated, they are just showing the signs of being stressed.

Having said that, I dove for 2 weeks on Curacao in August of '02, and saw a very healthy reef system, at that time. In fact, the only "environmental" damage I saw were the hundreds of golf balls covering the reef off the coast of a major golf course. At that time, the only new cruise ship dock I saw was just outside of the harbor entrance, near the desalination plant. We did a dive on an old aircraft wreck near there, and the reef was in excellent shape. Nevertheless, I'm sure you have seen an overall decline in the quality of diving since your first visit.

Taxis have been "out of line" with their pricing for some time now. It is a must to rent a car, if you intend to visit CA or sightsee around the island.

[Mose]

I have been to Campo a number of times over the past few years and always had a great time. I should be back in Nov. Checking the yellow pages in Curacao I noticed several listing of adult clubs: Cheers, Desires Mens club, LT Nightclub and Races. Has any one tried these out?

[Scotty Monger]

Elmo,

Thanks for the reminder regarding Dutch Caribbean Airlines. I explored the possibility of flying to Aruba, and then taking DCA to Curacao ($92). Strangely, even though Aruba has more flight options from the U.S. than Curacao, the cost from Texas was at least $100 more than the other options I mentioned in my previous post. I noticed that United services Aruba, so if you live in one of their hub cities this might be an option. I would have to fly to Chicago or Charlotte to fly them. no thanks! The A/A prices were even higher than United's.

I do recall that DCA also has flights form Caracas to Curacao ($108), so this is another option to Aeropostal.

Frankly, I have a pathological aversion to Aruba. I don't go there for the same reason I don't go to Cancun.

Luego

[Elmo]

Scotty Monger makes some excellent points on Curacao - I agree with his comments on the island, prices, renting a car, etc.

Here is another option on getting to Curacao - it is real easy to go between Aruba and Curacao - Dutch Carribean airlines has about 4-5 daily flights between the two islands. The flight only takes about 40 mins or so, and costs about $100-120 round trip. Since many more US airlines fly to Aruba than Curacao, you have a more competive market and thus get somewhat better prices. Book a round trip to Aruba. Then book a seperate Aruba-Curacao round trip based on your arrival and departure dates in Aruba. The airline website is www.flydca.net

U.S. customs is located in Aruba, so regardless of where you are going in the US, you go through U.S. customs there - not once you land in the U.S.

I have looked into this route, but then always ended up finding a good deal to Curacao and just gone directly there. I had only looked into this route a cost cutting measure. Customs in Miami is a pain, but in my opinion it is not worth going out of one's way just to avoid it.

Cannot say I would recommend the Caracas option, unless both your spanish and self defense skills are very good. With all the political turmoil and violence going on there leading up to the recall election on Aug 15 (3rd most violent city in N&S America - see A.P. story of 07/0/04), it is not a very safe place.

[George90]

I did not write my previous post to be alarmist and I don't think I am a spoiled monger. I was writing from the perspective of someone who has been to Curacao several times and noted deterioration from one visit to the next.

My problem is not with CA but with Curacao the island. My very first trip there was in 1988. I didn't know about CA then and didn't visit it but there were plenty of women outside the club near my hotel. La Tasca and another club were nearby and tons of Colombianas were available. I returned in 1994, 1995, 1998, twice in 2001, and then this trip in 2004. The island was very nice in 1988 but there were many closed restaurant, closed hotels, streets needing repair, and worn out buses in 1994 and '95. I had not been concerned with any crime in those trips but in 1998 the van that the dive shop used to take us to dive sites was broken into while we were under on two occasions. The police and the insurance comany both said that crime was rising.

In 2001, the island seemed more run down than ever. Outside the Punda and Otrabanda areas, and another well-to-do area northeast of Punda, more and more houses seemed to be in great need of repair, including some of the older plantation houses (landhuis) where former slave owners lived and some of which are museums. I used to walk to CA from the bus stop nearby and the CA staff would tell me to take a taxi because I could get robbed. I thought they just were trying to drum up business.

This past trip I found that the Emma Bridge was torn up. There is now only the ferry to go from Punda to Otrabanda. That bridge was a real attraction and its loss is another indication of deterioration. They finished building a new shopping mall/area in Otrabanda new the former bridge but it is so upscale that it is clearly only for tourists. Then, when I was walking to CA I was robbed at gun point by one guy. At the camp it turned out that other patrons had been robbed on other occasions in the very same area by a guy with the very same description. The police said there is a gang that is targetting CA patrons. Apparently one of them has a nickname in Papiementu that means "rabbit" in English.

I dived in Curacao in 94, 95, and 98. I decided to stop diving there because the construction of the piers for the cruise ships had so damaged the coral that there was nothing worth looking at under water anymore. Bonaire is a MUCH better dive site anyway.

For a person whose first trip to Curacao was less than 5 years ago, things probably seem OK and very acceptable. For a person who was there 10 or more years ago, things today are not OK and not acceptable. Prices have gone up, taxis for example, and the quality of the island has gone WAY done.

[Scotty Monger]

Backnblack,

Yes, returning to the U.S, via Miami is a *****, especially if you have to make a connecting flight. A minimum of 1.5 hours is needed to clear immigration & customs, take the various trains, go through security again (which is idiotic!), and make it to the next gate.

I flew A/A in '02 from Dallas-Miami-Curacao, and had to sprint through the Miami terminal both ways. We were the absolute last passengers to board our flight to Curacao. Because I am returning to Curacao around Labor Day, and wanted to avoid Miami if possible, I have researched other options. I have found 2 other viable options from Texas, but they might also work from other parts of the U.S.

1) Air Jamaica: I can fly from Houston to MoBay to Curacao, and it will take about 1 hour less than the Miami route. The price is about $50-$100 more than A/A through Miami, but I'm hoping they will re-run a special that I saw earlier in the year which was $100 less than A/A. By the way, the A/A price from either Dallas or Houston generally hovers around $600 during the summer months (off season). Also, both of these airlines offer packages with the major hotels if you are interested (Marriott, Hilton, Avila, Floris). I've stayed at the Marriott, but prefer the Hiton (formerly the Sheraton, formerly the Curacao Casino Hotel, formerly the very first international Hiton Hotel).

2) Continental or Delta: Both of these airlines offer daily non-stop flights to Caracas Venezuela (Houston & Atlanta respectively). The cost has remained steady for both airlines at about $500. Aeropostal (the largest Venezuelan airline) offers several daily flights to Curacao. The roundtrip cost is exactly $104. So, the serious monger could fly to Caracas on a U.S. carrier, spend a night or two enjoying the scene (they have great spas for the day action, and numerous clubs, with take out, for the night action), then fly to Curacao on Aeropostal, returning to Caracas for a night or two before flying home. This, of course, would add some time to your trip, or shorten the amount of time spent on the island, but it would also open up many more mongering opportuinities! BTW, I know A/A flys to Caracas from DFW daily, but it usually costs more than $500.

Which option have I decided on this time? NONE! Because I learned from my trip to Curacao in late August of '02, that time is on my side. Because it is the off season, I can wait a bit longer to make my final decision, but I'm leaning toward the Caracas route.

Regardless, I just returned from a dive trip to Roatan Honduras, and experienced the immigration & customs process at IAH. There is absolutely no comparison, entering via Houston was 1000% easier and faster than Miami. The wheels of our plane touched down at 2:00 p.m. sharp. I was out of the terminal, with my bags and climbing aboard the parking lot shuttle at exactly 2:35. I pulled out of the parking lot and hit the road at 2:50. Try that in Miami!

Finally, regarding the overall expensiveness (is that a word?) of Curacao. The major difference I found between Curacao and the other Caribbean Islands I have visited, is the relatively high cost of airfare. This is mitigated somewhat by travelling there during the summer, when fares are at their lowest. Trust me, Curacao is hotter than Hell 12 months of the year (thank God for the constant tradewinds) so summer isn't that much hotter than any other time of the year. I also choose to go in summer because it is a Caribbean destination that is USUALLY safe from Hurricanes. I'll save the eastern Carribean travel for winter.

I found the lodging costs to be similar to other developed Caribbean islands. The rental car rates are higher than in the U.S., but in line with other islands I have been to. In regards to overall prices, you simply can't compare Curacao with 3rd world islands such as the D.R., which is comparing apples to oranges. I found the prices to be similar to U.S. prices for food, cokes, etc...As with any island, buy as many locally produced products as possible to keep expenses down. Curacao has the largest port in the entire Caribbean, and receives a lot of boat traffic from the mainland and other islands. As such, the selection & price of everday products is reasonable, not cheap, but reasonable.

For those who haven't been, Curacao is a very unique Caribbean island experience. My 2 favorite things about it are: 1) There are very few fatassed American tourists complaining that the food tastes "different" than back at home, they all go to Aruba! and 2) because the island is not "impoverished" compared to many Carribean islands, there are no hassles from locals constantly trying to hussle you or sell you something ( I spent a month in Jamiaca one week, and this shit ruined my trip, plus the diving sucked!).

Oh yeah, there is a third thing I love, Amstel Bright!

Luego

[Hit n Run]

I'm considering staying at Breezes. Anyone with experience of this place. Is it walking distance to happy hour beach clubs, like Mambo Beach Club. What other clubs are must see for 6-10pm fun prior to CA trips.

Thanks.

[BacknBlack]

Yes, it is quite expensive to fly to Curacao and you will have to fly through Miami to get there which on the way back can be a pain in the balls.

I think we should all email the Curacao Tourism Board to voice are concern over Campo. They should be aware that they will lose a lot of tourists.

[Mr Jetsetter]

Dick Dawson does raise a valid point with regard to airfare -- the cost of flying to Curacao is often quite expensive indeed, in the $600-700 range. On three of my trips, I was able to purchase tickets out of Chicago for under $400, but this was always in the summer, Curacao's low season. I also confess that what one considers "expensive" or not is highly subjective, but I will say that Curacao is much cheaper than the Virgin Islands, the Cayman islands, Aruba, and Bon Aire (all places I have been).

I want to thank Dick and everyone else for posting on this board. I really hope that whatever problems the Campo might be having recently dissipate soon, because I have had some fabulous times there.

Even though I am an avid scuba diver, I would not even consider returning to Curacao if the great Campo Alegre were to go under. I have even emailed the Curacao Tourism Board with my concerns regarding this matter!

[BacknBlack]

I have to agree with Mr Jetsetter about Curacao being expensive. I think people tend to compare the prices of Curacao to the DR like George90 did. The DR is a banana repbulic and Curacao is not. The prices are more expensive in Curacao than the DR but you also do not have to worry about no electricity, not being able to drink the water and people constantly screwing you out of money. I think for the Carribean, Curacao is probably average or slightly above in terms of cost.

As for Campo, I hope they get everything straightened out b/c without Campo I really do not see the point of going to Curacao not unless you are into diving. The divers also want a little action at night though, especially if they are members of this board.

backnblack

[Tbird]

Ford, as I said, fear not. Only the most spoilt monger can have a problem with Campo Alegre.

[Ford]

Hey Guys,

With NO disrepect to anyone - there are alot of conflicting reports about the action in Cuaraco.

Depending who you believe, Campo is either closing or it isn't..... the selection of girls is either poor or it's good...... the island overall has gotten expensive or it has stayed cheap.

There are more disagreements on this board than there were at the last NATO summit!! (lol)

Cheers,
FORD

[Dick Dawson]

Well it was expensive for me because of the way I booked the trip. I used AAVacations and booked it as a package. It came to about $950 for the flight and hotel alone. I flew out of Newark Liberty Airport, which included a layover in Miami as there are no direct flights to Curacao from Newark. I stayed at the Howard Johnsons which is across from the moving bridge (the name of which escapes me at the moment)

I only found out after my trip that I could've stayed at one of those apartment units for about half the price of the Howard Johnsons. Being it was my first time and I was going alone, I wanted to book everything together and I wanted to stay in the heart of Willemstaad.

I did rent a car a traveled around the island which I did find to be very beautiful in many places, however my main reason for going was to see CA.

Maybe it wasn't fair to label the island expensive. I just came back from a trip to the Dominican Republic last month so I was comparing the two. I wasn't trying to scare anyone. I was just reacting to George90's report.