Curacao

[QUOTE=LuvBlkWomen;2072430]HB1.

Is the parking at the Renaissance next to the hotel?

Also, do you know if they have a good dive shop?

LBW.[/QUOTE]The parking at Renaissance is excellent. It's a garage inside of the Renaissance property. Perfectly safe, and free. There is an attached complex with numerous restaurants and bars. The walk from the Renaissance to willemstad is 10 minutes or so over the pontoon Bridge and perfectly safe. We stumbled back drunk every night with no problems. 27 Curaçao is a very cool bar Nieuwestraat has a lot of cool bars. You'll see them. There was even one outdoor bar around there doing kareoke one of the nights. That was fun.

As far as dive shops, I don't know if the Renaissance has one. We used the dive bus. Great guys and were very helpful. I definitely recommend them. It's maybe 15 minutes south of willemstad but there are several good dives around there. I think it was $50/ day for dive equipment (we brought our own wet suit, mask, fins, snorkel and boots).

Loved Curaçao. Would go back anytime.

The Hilton has a excellent dive shop, Caribbean Sea Sports, I have been diving with them for years. The Hilton is a good hotel, easy drive to the airport and into town. When in Curacao you definitely need a car. I have been coming to Curacao for the past 15 yrs, Campo is safe, some of the local places that are mentioned are not in very good areas. Campo is an adult candy store with cheap prices.

[QUOTE=HumanBeing1;2073193]The parking at Renaissance is excellent. It's a garage inside of the Renaissance property. Perfectly safe, and free. There is an attached complex with numerous restaurants and bars. The walk from the Renaissance to willemstad is 10 minutes or so over the pontoon Bridge and perfectly safe. We stumbled back drunk every night with no problems. 27 Curaao is a very cool bar Nieuwestraat has a lot of cool bars. You'll see them. There was even one outdoor bar around there doing kareoke one of the nights. That was fun.

As far as dive shops, I don't know if the Renaissance has one. We used the dive bus. Great guys and were very helpful. I definitely recommend them. It's maybe 15 minutes south of willemstad but there are several good dives around there. I think it was $50/ day for dive equipment (we brought our own wet suit, mask, fins, snorkel and boots).

Loved Curaao. Would go back anytime.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=HumanBeing1;2071686]I was there last year with a buddy. We both party hard. We stayed at the Renaissance and loved it. Drove after drinking many times with no issues. The drive from the city to campo is simple. It's one lane much of the way so you don't even really get a chance to speed. I really wouldn't worry about it as long as you're not black out drunk.

I'd highly recommend staying in Willemstad or somewhere on the south coast and drive to Campo as needed. It's a 15 min drive from Willemstad and it gives you opportunity to do a lot of other stuff between Campo visits.[/QUOTE]How far of a walk is it from the Renaissance to Campo? Is it even possible to walk? I will still get a car but prefer to walk if I can.

[QUOTE=Usa33;2073442]How far of a walk is it from the Renaissance to Campo? Is it even possible to walk? I will still get a car but prefer to walk if I can.[/QUOTE]Definitely not walkable. There are no hotels within a realistic walk of campo. It's by the airport and up a hill. You'll need to drive. The parking lot is safe and has security. Just drive. You definitely need a car in curacao.

I'm in Curacao now for 6 more nights, I have a rental car also. If anyone wants to go hunting, let me know.

[QUOTE=HumanBeing1;2073501]Definitely not walkable. There are no hotels within a realistic walk of campo. It's by the airport and up a hill. You'll need to drive. The parking lot is safe and has security. Just drive. You definitely need a car in curacao.[/QUOTE]I have been to Curacao and definitely don't like to drive there. If I stayed at the Hilton (where I can go diving during the day without the need to drive anywhere), the drive only looks to be about 15 minutes. Any thoughts on taxis / Uber to do my nightly mongering? Thanks.

[QUOTE=Forest;2075055]I have been to Curacao and definitely don't like to drive there. If I stayed at the Hilton (where I can go diving during the day without the need to drive anywhere), the drive only looks to be about 15 minutes. Any thoughts on taxis / Uber to do my nightly mongering? Thanks.[/QUOTE]Don't taxi in Curacao, Period! Unless you want to be robbed by them ofcourse.

I hope it is the last time we have to answer this on this forum.

[QUOTE=Crjsim;2075418]Don't taxi in Curacao, Period! Unless you want to be robbed by them ofcourse.

I hope it is the last time we have to answer this on this forum.[/QUOTE]Besides using a taxi or rental car what are the other options for getting around Curacao during a short visit?

[QUOTE=Forest;2075055]I have been to Curacao and definitely don't like to drive there. If I stayed at the Hilton (where I can go diving during the day without the need to drive anywhere), the drive only looks to be about 15 minutes. Any thoughts on taxis / Uber to do my nightly mongering? Thanks.[/QUOTE]I just got here a few days ago. I don't see a taxi very often. There is also no Uber or anything like that here. I'm guessing you can make a call to the taxi company. But I heard they are expensive. I just rented a car here for 7 days, only $132 USD. It's not that hard to drive here. The only issue with driving is it's not easy to always know what is a one-way street, and the locals will drive past you, which doesn't bother me, but some locals will just get on you ass and not change lanes to go past you. Also in most areas the streets cross each other at weird angles. This is my forth time here and I just realized I should not make a right turn at a red light. If you use your car just once a day you will surely save money by renting a car here.

[QUOTE=Gagoo;2075795]I just got here a few days ago. I don't see a taxi very often. There is also no Uber or anything like that here. I'm guessing you can make a call to the taxi company. But I heard they are expensive. I just rented a car here for 7 days, only $132 USD. It's not that hard to drive here. The only issue with driving is it's not easy to always know what is a one-way street, and the locals will drive past you, which doesn't bother me, but some locals will just get on you ass and not change lanes to go past you. Also in most areas the streets cross each other at weird angles. This is my forth time here and I just realized I should not make a right turn at a red light. If you use your car just once a day you will surely save money by renting a car here.[/QUOTE]Wow! Car rental $ 132 for 7 days. Great price. Do you have automatic transmission and air condition in this car? Can you give the name of the company that rents these cars? I also experienced tailgating, I do not know whether it is locals drivers or other tourists. I do not pay attention and drive the car at my speed. For driving directions instead of maps. I use landmarks like buildings, signboards, etc. For me this is better than reading street names.

Link [URL]http://curacaochronicle.com/local/17-venezuelan-trago-girls-arrested/[/URL] Published On: Sat, Aug 26th, 2017 Local.

By Edition.

17 Venezuelan "Trago Girls" Arrested.

WILLEMSTAD. The multi-disciplinary team led by the Inspection Section of Curacao's Ministry of Economic Development during a control at the Nana snack bar detained 17 Venezuelan so-called "trago girls" who tried to run away when the officials arrived.

The women were working without an employment permit to get male customers to spend more on drinks. It turned out the establishment lacked a liquor licence too and rented rooms in the back for prostitution, so it was closed.

Clients could buy the ladies a small cup of Tip Top syrup diluted with water for five Antillean guilders (the price of a whole bottle in the store), of which they then got four in the form of a chip to be collected at the end of the shift.

The team also went to Sabor Uniko Restaurant on Metselaarsweg, which did not have the proper licence either and was illegally renting rooms there to Venezuelans. The dirty and unhygienic place has been shut down as well.

[QUOTE=StRobert;2077271]Wow! Car rental $ 132 for 7 days. Great price. Do you have automatic transmission and air condition in this car? Can you give the name of the company that rents these cars? I also experienced tailgating, I do not know whether it is locals drivers or other tourists. I do not pay attention and drive the car at my speed. For driving directions instead of maps. I use landmarks like buildings, signboards, etc. For me this is better than reading street names.[/QUOTE]I used to company Ace. But that seems to be a rented name by a local company that I think is called Boric. The price was good and I had no problems. It was an Automatic with air conditioning. The only thing that slightly sucks is they don't have an office at the airport. I found (barely) someone in the parking lot waiting for me with the car, then she drove me to the office which is towards the main city. The place they pick you up is near where you would pick up your rental car, but across the driving lanes in the parking lot. They didn't try to sell me a bunch of unneeded crap, so I have to give them a thumbs up for that.

I only went there twice last week. I met a 30 YO Colombian from Pereira. She had a really, really nice natural body. But, I could tell she probably had the lipo done, which doesn't bother me at all. The rest of her was nice and real. I liked her because there was zero rush in time. It kind of felt like a no time limit deal with her. Anyways, service was pretty decent, but no kissing, and only CBJ. I think she hinted I could pay extra for extra services. But I was fine with the 50 Guilders price. After I seen her the first time I saw her 2 days later and I said I just want to relax first, she said no problem, and we just hung out in her room for awhile before getting busy. For tips I just gave her 20,000 Colombian pesos both times. In places like this you can still get rid of your Colombian pesos. Once in Aruba I fully paid a Colombian with Colombian pesos. She is in room 258. Overall, I think think the girls there at the moment are not as good as when I was in Curacao last year. I've been going to Curacao once a year for 4 years now. I was not too excited with Campo Alegre this trip. But, I was just in Colombia for almost 3 months, so that is probably why.

[QUOTE=Gagoo;2077570]I used to company Ace. But that seems to be a rented name by a local company that I think is called Boric. The price was good and I had no problems. It was an Automatic with air conditioning. The only thing that slightly sucks is they don't have an office at the airport. I found (barely) someone in the parking lot waiting for me with the car, then she drove me to the office which is towards the main city. The place they pick you up is near where you would pick up your rental car, but across the driving lanes in the parking lot. They didn't try to sell me a bunch of unneeded crap, so I have to give them a thumbs up for that.[/QUOTE]Thanks for all information!

It is good that Curacao is below hurricane belt. St. Maarten airport and island are severely affected by hurricane Irma. Link photos [URL]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4858858/Princess-Juliana-Airport-destroyed-Hurricane-Irma.html[/URL].