Curacao gets a make over for the summer!

CURAÇAO GETS A MAKE OVER

The island’s hospitality industry spruces up just in time for summer travel!

 

WILLEMSTAD, CURAÇAO – May 29, 2013 – Hotel properties across the southern Caribbean island of Curaçao are sprucing up to welcome the summer, becoming even more appealing to visitors to the island.  Visitors will enjoy a wealth of improvements, upgrades and updates to make their stay enjoyable and fun from beginning to end.

 

“Curaçao’shospitality industry is consistently improving and growing in order to offer the most modern, up-to-date rooms, amenities and services for ourvisitors,” says Ghatim Kabbara, CEO,Curaçao Tourist Board. “We want travelers to take advantage of all that our beautiful island has to offer, from new and newly remodeled properties to restaurant openings and tours. There’s something here for everyone.” 

 

Visiting Curaçao this year? Here are some of the newest updates and offerings:

 

Improvements, Upgrades and Updates

New hotel properties include the Papagayo Design Hotel, Beach House Curaçao, and Piscadera Harbour Village. Recently renovated properties include the Hilton Curaçao, the Floris Suite Hotel, Lions Dive & Beach Resort, the Otrobanda Hotel & Casino and the Sunscape Curaçao Resort, Spa & Casino.

Papagayo Beach & Design Hotel

The recently opened Papagayo is located in the well-known Jan Thiel area, on the beach adjacent to Papagayo Beach Club. The Hotel’s main building is a stunning contemporary design. Guests will enjoy views of Jan Thiel Boulevard, featuring restaurants, a beach club, casino, the garden and the Caribbean Sea.

Piscadera Harbour Village

Enjoy Curaçao’s stunning natural beauty at the newest condominium hotel on the island boasting 48 apartments, 16 bungalows, a fitness facility, Wi-Fi and a business center. Located steps from Hooks Hut beach and just 10 minutes from Hato International Airport, Piscadera Harbour Village offers an infinity-style pool overlooking the bay and spacious and spectacularly appointed suites with modern amenities.

 

The Beach House Curaçao 
The Beach House provides Deluxe, Sea View and Royal Sea View apartments where guests can enjoy Curaçaon luxury at its best.  Apartments are equipped with every amenity needed for a relaxed stay: fully equipped kitchens, spacious porches – many with ocean views - and more. The property’s new restaurant, New York, opened in May. 

Floris Suite Hotel

The boutique Floris Suite Hotel is now an adults-only retreat and embraces the LGBT community. The Floris exudes luxury with it’s a one-of-a-kind merger of authentic Caribbean culture and the Dutch minimalistic modern design –perfectly conducive for romantic getaways or relaxing corporate travel.

Hilton Curaçao

The Hilton Curaçao’s new Executive Floor and contemporary guest rooms draw inspiration from the island of Curaçao and the ocean. Guests in Executive Floor rooms and Suites enjoy access to the brand new Executive Lounge where guests can enjoy a delicious continental breakfast and daily happy hour with beautiful ocean views.

Lions Dive & Beach Resort

One of Curaçao’s most popular dive resorts, Lions Dive has recently begun a wide ranging update of the property.  Guest rooms are being renovated in a colorful Caribbean style that matches the property’s tropical setting.  Guests will enjoy the stunning palm studded private beach and fringing reef of Curaçao’s National Underwater Park that fronts the resort located in the Bapor Kibra area.

Otrobanda Hotel & Casino

Otrobanda’s newly renovated rooms were designed by renowned Venezuelan artist Miguel Angel Jimenez. Guests will appreciate amenities including free Wi-Fi, hairdryers, coffee makers and flat screen plasma TVs. Otrobanda Hotel & Casino is in the heart of Curaçao’s capital, Willemstad,walking distance from Brion Square and St. Anna Bay. Casinos, shopping, nightclubs, restaurants, museums, local markets and art galleries are in close proximity.

Sunscape Curaçao Resort, Spa & Casino

Re-opened four months ago, the five-story, 341-room resort includes a full-service spa, theater, ballroom, wedding chapel and fitness center.  Sunscape’s signature Unlimited-Fun® vacation includes spacious rooms and suites with private terraces or balconies overlooking the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean. The resort features three swimming pools, a kiddie pool, fitness center, an Explorer’s Club for Kids and Core Zone Teens Club.   

Yellow Jeep Safaris

Yellow Jeep Safaris has added a new safari tour. This 4x4 adventure ride includes stops at beautiful remote beaches that can only be reached by safari vehicles.

Curaçao Beach Boulevard

Visitors will also enjoy the newly opened Curaçao Beach Boulevard, a unique concept on the island. The “street” combines a variety of shopping, dining and entertainment venues including Souvenir City, The Flip Flop Shop, Vegas 360 Cocktail Bar, El Mexicano

Restaurant, and much more.

Night life and dining establishments have been upgraded too; the Williwood Neighborhood Bar located in the community of Willibrordus, along with Café Kukelekuu in Hanenberg and Zoya Restaurant & Lounge in Otrobanda are new offerings on the island while the Asian restaurant, Jaipur, located on the grounds of the Kurá Hulanda Hotel & Spa, has recently re-opened. Kome, the Papiamentu word for “Eat”, serves up home made sausage, tasty sandwiches, and traditional stews in the Pietermaai neighborhood. 

With five flights daily departing from Miami International Airport on Dutch Antilles Express, InselAir and American Airlines, getting to Curaçao has never been easier. Non-stop Saturday flights are also available from various destinations; from Charlotte, NC on InselAir; and from Toronto on  Air Canada, and WestJet. Sunwing Airlines, Canada's leading high frills, low cost airline will begin Saturday non-stop service to Curaçao in December. DAE has recently launched flights from Orlando, FL to Curaçao, departing Friday, Sunday & Monday. 

From its unique, thriving art scene to its distinct, colorful Dutch Caribbean architecture Curaçao’s historic UNESCO World heritage city of Willemstad is the perfect escape to welcome the summer season.

 

 

About Curaçao

Selected as a ‘Top Destination 2012’ by Frommer’s, one of the ‘5 Caribbean Islands to Discover Now’ by  Budget Travel and a top three ‘2012 Honeymoon Hot Spot’ by Condé Nast Traveler, Curaçao is a unique Caribbean island paradise, boasting 35 uncrowded beaches, and an eclectic mix of history and culture. Explore the vibrant, culturally diverse capital city of Willemstad – a UNESCO World Heritage site –with its distinctive architecture, museums, monuments and world-class shopping. Indulge in Curaçao’s vast selection of flavorful restaurants, with a mix of sophisticated international and tasty local cuisines. Discover Curaçao’s abundant natural beauty, pristine dive sites and spectacular snorkeling at secluded beaches – including Cas Abao Beach, selected as one of the ‘ Top 10 Beach Destinations for 2011’ by Smarter Travel. Curaçao offers idyllic weather, situated outside of the Hurricane Belt.

Our visit to Curacao

Easy Escapes agent Sandra received an exclusive invitation to visit beautiful Curacao. She and a handful of top producing AM Resort agents had the privilege of staying at the Sunscape Curacao.  

For more information on Curacao or to customize your Escape to Curacao call Easy Escapes Travel 1-800-294-6643 or email info@easyescapestravel.com for a quick quote.

New Air Only Promo: Non-stop flights from Chicago to Punta Cana, Cancun, Jamaica, Cozumel & Puerto Vallarta!

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Caribbean News: 10 Most-Visited Caribbean Islands

Budget Travel has just released their list of the Top 10 Most Visited Caribbean Islands:

1) St. Martiin
2) Aruba
3) Bahamas
4) St Croix
5) San Juan
6) Bermuda
7) Grand Cayman
8) Dominican Republic
9) Jamaica
10) Tobago


For the complete article:
10 Most-Visited Caribbean Islands


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Spotlight on British Virgin Islands: Tortola & Peter Island Resort ~ Agent Trip Review

By Sharon Demonaco

This was a very relaxing vacation! We flew into St. Thomas and took the ferry to Tortola instead of flying directly into Beef Island. There are a few different ferries available so our transfer worked out well.

Upon arriving into Tortola, a taxi took us to our hotel - The Sugar Mill - http://www.sugarmillhotel.com/ I recommend this hotel if you are looking for an intimate and quiet retreat. We were lucky to be there during the off-season so we pretty much had the place to ourselves.

Our pool suite was situated on a hill so we had a beautiful ocean view. We were very pleased with our room. The suite had a cozy sitting area and breakfast bar kitchenette that was separated from the bedroom and bathroom. I think the highlight was the outdoor shower - perfect! We enjoyed relaxing and watching the sunset on the large patio.

The beach, located across the street from The Sugar Mill, is small, as was the pool, but they are adequate given the size of the hotel.

The Mill has two restaurants – Islands Restaurant, directly on the beach, and the award winning Sugar Mill Restaurant, located in the remnants of a 370 year old stone sugar mill. It was named one of the 12 Most Romantic Restaurants in the World by Concierge.com. I will definitely have to agree!! The menu varied every night but we were never disappointed. I have to also mention that the incredibly friendly and accommodating staff was amazing. We would love to return here in the future. Our next stop was Peter Island.

Our ferry transfer from Tortola to Peter Island – www.peterisland.com - was seamless and once we arrived on the island, we knew we were going to have a fantastic time. We were catered to the minute we stepped off of the ferry. The service there was all around incredible! A staff member took us on a tour of the resort in a golf cart. The resort offers ocean view rooms and beachfront junior suites as well as amazing villas. We stayed in an ocean view room and were delighted with the accommodations. There are no televisions in any of the rooms but it didn’t matter much to us.

Tradewinds and Deadman’s Beach Bar and Grill are the resort’s restaurants. We had no complaints at all with our meals. The menu varied and they had some theme nights which was nice. Service was great and there was never a problem making reservations.

We spent all of our time at the beach and I even tried windsurfing! It’s much harder than you might think but at least I can say that I gave it a try, right? There are plenty of activities throughout the resort if you are looking for something to do. I recommend taking the ride to the resort’s private beach, White Bay. The view is gorgeous and each couple is assigned a beach hut to use for as long as you want. A hotel staff member will drop you off and pick you up when you’re ready. You can also request a picnic lunch to be brought to you! Another must-do is Sunset at the Loop. Guests are invited daily to enjoy a trip to the far side of the island to watch the sunset. It is a magical moment you won't forget. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the sunset while munching on cheese, crackers and fruit and sipping on champagne.

Last but certainly not least I have to mention the incredible spa – also a must-do!!! It’s located on a secluded part of the island with amazing views. After your treatment, head outside and down the walkway and you will not be disappointed. There is a private jacuzzi and two lounge chairs set up so you can relax and just take in the beauty. The infinity pool and outside waterfall shower is a highlight as well.

We really enjoyed our stay on Peter Island. The fact that it’s so private is what makes it so spectacular! I hope you get a chance to experience it one day too.

Sharon@EasyEscapesTravel.com

Top 20 Must Do's When You Escape To The Caribbean...

1) Watch boat makers hone their craft by hand in the Out Islands of the Bahamas.

2) Sip a cold drink while sitting in the shallow, tranquil waters of one of Antigua’s deserted beaches.

3) Ride bareback on horses through the ocean at Half Moon Rose Hall resort in Jamaica.

4) Sort through your many, many unique gourmet dining options in Grand Case, St. Martin.

5) Jump from the cliffs and into the water at Rick’s Café in Negril, Jamaica.

6) See the ocean floor without a scuba license during a deep-sea submarine dive in Georgetown, Grand Cayman.

7) Sail on a catamaran to Soufriere, St. Lucia, where the Piton Mountains jutting out of the sea will take your breath away.

8) Take in that same view from above while dining at Ladera, set up high between Soufriere’s two mountains and looking out to the sea.

9) Eat jerk chicken as it’s meant to be eaten: roadside in Jamaica.

10) Be part of the weekly party at Shirley Heights in Antigua, with live reggae and mountaintop bbq.

11) Surf with the pros in one of the best spots in the world, Cabarete, Dominican Republic.

12) Snorkel the underwater trail at Trunk Bay, St. John, with signs posted below the surface to tell you exactly what you’re seeing.

13) Witness bioluminescence firsthand during nighttime snorkel at the Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman.

14) Pamper yourself with an intense personal wellness session at Parrot Cay’s COMO Shambala spa and wellness center in Turks and Caicos.

15) Carnival in Trinidad. Say no more.

16) Plunge from a rope swing into the rushing waters of Y.S. Falls in
Jamaica.

17) Watch a pro make conch salad before your eyes – and sample the resorts at Our Lucaya in the Bahamas.

18) Get a taste for the upper-class life in your own private villa in Anguilla.

19) Get up close and personal with the friendly and fascinating creatures at Stingray City off the shores of Grand Cayman.

20) Go island-hopping through the Eastern Caribbean to get your fill of every attraction in the water and on land.