Curacao

B.A. was on the list. The lack of a decent beach is a killer. It does seem to offer a whole lot but for now I need more beach/water/warmth environment.

An excellent idea though. I actually had a trip all lined up but realize it is still going to be big city living. I'd rather trade the Gucci loafers for flip flops.

[QUOTE=Jim Steele]Thanks Ford,

I've read a number of your posts in the past and always appreciate your info. I'm not of age to qualify for anyone's pensionando style plans. I have looked at Panama (and posted I believe, although it may have been under a previous username). I like the place but for various reasons will not stay.

The Dutch will give you a non-work residency if you can show money (about 24,000 NAFl). My stuff originates from a trust I can't touch so I don't have much in the way of taxation issues to worry about (just a lot of gifts!).

Panama is excellent if you have taxation issues, I agree. The DR also gives a legal 3 year window for residents before worldwide taxation kicks in. I agree no one really pays it there.

I am currently looking at Venezuela (Marg Isl.) and Curacao and St. Maarten. I am having a lot of trouble finding good info on costs of living in Curacao. Things like restaurant costs, maid costs, etc.

I am looking for: beach, warm, decent sailing, cheap costs, maid, chicas, English or Spanish language spoken, not too scary (I take Rio and Colombia off the list. I have others to worry about). The more I roam the more I realize that it is a big damn world.[/QUOTE]

A blind trust. Nice! Congrats from all us working stiffs! :)

To be honest, after a recent series of pm's with some members of this board - It has come to my attention that I come across as alot older than I actually am. I'm not all that old either (I just turned 40) so I don't qualify for any pensionado programs yet either (except of course for Panama's).

I've been to Margarita Island as well as the Venezuelan mainland on an extensive trip. Curacao is much more expensive across the board. Marg Isl is a bit of an anomaly in this hemisphere - its a caribbean island owned by Venezuela but in terms of day to day living the island seems to retain its own character and autonomy. In other words they keep a safe distance from President Chavez and his socialist minions. (This of course could change.)

Labor costs are dirt cheap, so domestic help will be cheap. Gasoline is comically cheap (around 14 cents a gallon) and they are currently involved in an extensive building and reclamation project so there is alot of new construction of fairly inexpensive properties. My issue is I could never see living there - I found the island to be a dry dustbowl completely without any charm or personality.

Cuaracao is charming and enchanting! :) I always felt comfortable there. I think it would still be better for retirees from the Netherlands as they qualify for various relocation and tax perks.

cheers and good luck on your search Jim........

Brazil has lots of beaches. You can get an apartment on Copacabana Beach for around US$300. a month, with maid.
[url]http://ipanema.com/welcome.htm[/url]
Also been there 3 times. Loved it.


[QUOTE=Jim Steele]B.A. was on the list. The lack of a decent beach is a killer. It does seem to offer a whole lot but for now I need more beach/water/warmth environment.

An excellent idea though. I actually had a trip all lined up but realize it is still going to be big city living. I'd rather trade the Gucci loafers for flip flops.[/QUOTE]

Anyone looking for a dive buddy?

I'll be checking out the local houses as well.

Will be chillin in the Antillan for much of this month.

Anyone wanna swap stories and beers drop a note here.

One last gasp before heading out. Any info people have on anything besides Campo would be cool.

There have been a few other places mentioned here but without much detail. Havana, Playstation etc.

Anything?

Check out these people. They can help and are lots of fun. I had a great sail with them and they can hook you up with good dive people.
[email]sail@insulinde.com[/email] [url]http://www.insulinde.com/[/url]

These are my pictures if the link works.


[url]http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8Mctmblk2UZRw[/url]

WT69


[QUOTE=Miami Dave]Anyone looking for a dive buddy?

I'll be checking out the local houses as well.[/QUOTE]

Within a few weeks I will visit Curacao.

I' m looking for slutty and small (not tall) Colombian blondines in Campo ? Do anayone has some room numbers for me ?

Thnx in advance,

LeandroDS

For those of you who are here; get you ass to otrabanda. The bridge just reopened after nine months. The whole town is here and some beer company from Aruba is handing out free beer and t-shirts. Bands, babes - it is all here. Report to follow...

There isn't a lot to add that isn't here already. There really do not seem to be any places not listed here from what I can work out. This is a serious driving place. A car is an absolute must and you will spend time in it. The beaches are small and mostly rocky. The town itself is nice but nothing spectacular in my view.

Campo Allegre is 10fl these days and it is well worth the trip. I was semi-prepared for this one but still pleasantly surprised. Little pink one story buildings lit with neon all over the compound. Chicas in doorways, chicas in the little streets, chicas dancing, chicas at the bar... The are everywhere. And they are all there for one sole purpose. 3 month contracts to make as much money as they can. Prices are fixed, but I have found a couple try to take advantage if they think they can. 50fl for as long as the girl wants (30 minutes).

Most girls are pretty ordinary. 5 to 6 range. Columbianas almost exclusively. There are some 2's and a few 8 to 8.5's. Unless you are brutally picky there is plenty here for all. And if you are one of those types what the hell are you doing at a 30 dollar brothel? I can't give room numbers as I don't know any and they will all be gone by the time you get here anyway. Lame to average strip shows seem to run 10:30 onward Th - Sun. Drinks are mini (250ml or so) beers that cost about 3 to 4 fl there. Food is decent and cheap. A poontang resort.

I laughed with a guy who works there about making it an all-inclusive pooty resort since they are building a hotel soon next door. In a bizarre twist he told me it is being discussed with some seriousness. That could possibly be cool.

Habana Vieja is good also. Dirt cheap TLN. Hotels are all friendly to your requirements. The only exceptions, of course, are the all-inclusives. Casinos exist but are small. Clearly the best is the Holiday Beach.

Locals are friendly but the most amenable to accompany you seem to be the Latinas once again. Every race on the planet is here. Some rather hot local Dutch speakers. The big blond euro types. They are tough nuts to crack on the first try though.

Plenty of touts here. They don't bug like more popular tourist laden destinations, but you tend to end up meeting them anyway. Whatever one might require can be provided here.

This is a cheap place to play overall. Hotels can be a little dear, but most have a nice little beach they supplement with sand. Hilton and Marriott are the class acts, but Renaissance and Hyatt are coming shortly. If you pay more than $30 us here, you are screwing it up. That is all it takes anywhere I have gone. Granted at campo that is only 30 mins. but the whole straightforwardness of it is awesome. No drink buying, no bullshit.

All the girls swear there are never problems there but I found one to talk to that I had seem coming out of the security building in hysterics. It seems that in a rare turn, security always seems to side with the clients (especially if they are local). I don't condone it, but a lot of liberties seem to be taken with these girls. Pay your money and do what you like kind of thing. It does keep the girls very in line though.

I will keep on pounding the pavement and the poon and report what comes up. Just thought I'd check in and provide some info.

This is a little outside the box so I didn't put it in the other report. I got lucky when I came back to the hotel and found literally thousands of people outside all over the harbour.

The floating bridge is back in service after many months. A massive party. And guess who just happened to have the perfect hotel suite over the bridge?

Some beer and two big bottles of rum brought back more chicas than I could shake my stick at. Literally. Just could not get to them all. While the local Dutch girls seem a little reserved about jumping right in the sack, the darker latinas and haitian types do not.

I did all I could and eventually ran out. Sometimes all you need is a little luck, alcohol and a nearby hotel room...

[QUOTE=Jim Steele]All the girls swear there are never problems there but I found one to talk to that I had seem coming out of the security building in hysterics. It seems that in a rare turn, security always seems to side with the clients (especially if they are local). I don't condone it, but a lot of liberties seem to be taken with these girls. Pay your money and do what you like kind of thing. It does keep the girls very in line though.
[/QUOTE]

I am in contact with one of the girls there, and she told me one local client, a high profile member of the governement or from the administration, told the security she had robbed him 100 guilders. She was forced to give "back" 100 guilders, although she argued she did not robbed him...She told me that local customers are always the ones who are right...

According to the same and one other, there are few clients since the end of Easter, and most of them can't afford to make it financially viable, and a lot are returning to Colombia or go somewhere else.

Sat. night at Mambo is jumpin'. The huge parking lot was almost full by 1 a.m. Hundreds partying on the sand. No cover and about 4 fl for mini-beers. Are all the mini-beers their way of making you drink Amstel Bright? The club was well worth the effort. Even cracked a local nut. Maybe it is just me, but some of these local Dutch chicks are hot. Lots of ecstacy being consumed in the club. I would say it is the same as trying in Miami or wherever else, but can be worthwhile.

Jan, I believe you about some girls leaving. I have not seem enough guys at Campo to justify the amount of girls there. If the $55 nut the have to pay is true then they must be hurting. Those I have dealt with seem to be happy; even considering a return when they can.

There is a Columbiana there. About 5'8, long black hair. I think room 168. Absolutely brilliant. 30 mins became 60. BBBJ if you require, DFK, and any and all of the special extras you may want done enthusiastically. Best in a while. Happy for the chance of a take-out but my day started later than planned due to hangover so not going to happen.

**It has been said, but absolutely get a car. I couldn't take some people I met to Mambo as the car could not fit them all. A two minute drive, literally cost them $10 US.**

where is this island at???? I mean what airport would you fly into? Is there another name for the island or airport?



Chris H

[QUOTE=Chris H]where is this island at???? I mean what airport would you fly into? Is there another name for the island or airport?



Chris H[/QUOTE]

Its the largest of the A-B-C islands that make up the Netherlands Antilles.
(Aruba and Bonaire being the other two) It is located in the southern caribbean off the coast of Venezuela.

You would fly into Hato Airport (airport code: CUR) it is the islands international airport.

Hey Jim Steele,

I'm enjoying your reporting! Cracked a nut in a local Dutch girl - nice! Yes, you're right I have run across several hot bartenders at the clubs and at the Mambo beach bar. Never got past 1st base with them, but then again I was always occupied with a Colombiana! Never had alot of time to work on them. ;)

Enjoy the rest of your trip!