If you have been to both islands - which one do you like better or would they be equally as good in regards to restaurants, casinos, safety, cleanliness, friendliness of locals, etc. Any info would be appreciated.
Curacao versus Aruba
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Though Aruba and Curacao are sister islands they are both very different. The basic is that Aruba is much catered to the American visitor while Curacao is more catered to the European visitor. You will note that Aruba is Americanized while Curacao is Europeanized. The beaches in Aruba are longer and nicer while those in Curacao are actually bays and they do not have those long miles of white sandy beaches.
You would have to pay to go at a particular beach in Curacao while all beaches in Aruba are free.
Curacao is much richer in Culture than Aruba is. If your seeking culture Curacao is perfect. Their capital city of Willemstad is now on the world heritage list of UNESCO. A must visit museum is the "CuraHulanda" which is about the black holocaust during the slavery period on the island.
Curacao is not a tourism island their main industry is oil and off shore service sector. Aruba's main industry is tourism. The people in Aruba are overall much friendlier than in Curacao.
Service in Aruba is also better than in Curacao. Curacao is not a restaurant island as tourism is not so big there as yet. Aruba has over a hundred great restaurants. Aruba is overall cleaner than Curacao. Aruba is also safer than Curacao. And there are 12 Casinos in Aruba compare to 3 in Curacao. Both islands do have great infrastructure and high standard of living, however poverty is on the rise in Curacao because of the economy.
Overall Aruba offers a better tourism product in terms quality service, hospitable people, cleanliness and safety. Nevertheless Curacao is definitely worth a trip. So I would combine both islands in my trip if I were you to be safe. I would say go to Aruba and spend a weekend in Curacao to see if you like it or not. Since you have already been to Aruba and you like it so much it is safe to say that you would spend the majority of your vacation in Aruba and spend two days in Curacao. If you do like Curacao you can go to Curacao another time for your entire vacation.
I must mention that the economy of Curacao is in a recession which has social affects on the community, like high unemployment rate rise in crime and increase in poverty. The economy in Aruba is still up and going strong.
Succes in planning your trip,
Regards