Curacao or Bonaire
 

we are trying to decide on curacao or bonaire for next winter. we like to snorkel but we like expansive beaches which i understand bonaire, particularly, doesn't have. if we do decide on curacao, since it seems to have both snorkeling and more things to see and do besides snorkeling, where resort would you recommend? we like bucuti beach in aruba and victoria house in belize.

If you decide on Curacao, stay at the Marriott. You will find it to be an attractive resort with a breathtaking pool area and a large beach. If it is on your itinerary, they have a beach bar where you can sip some really good drinks and they have some good restaurants.

Go to both islands. Or even include Aruba with it's awesome beaches.<BR><BR>It is very easy (and cheap) to fly between the three islands of Curacao, Bonaire and Aruba.<BR><BR>Air Aruba<BR>Phone: (800) 882-7822<BR>or<BR>AIR ALM (Antillean Airlines) <BR>Phone: (800) 327-7230<BR><BR> <BR>

we like to stay at smaller resorts, like bucutti beach in aruba so wouldn't the marriot be like staying in a city?<BR>what about avilla in curucao? i heard it's lovely but has no pool.

We originally planned on staying at the Avila. Being only 5 minutes away from downtown sounded good to us. However, I met a man on the internet who was born on Curacao and he told me there were a lot of Europeans there and recommended the Marriott. My concern might be if their staff is required to speak English. I guess I would ask. The Marriott is a little larger, but there is plenty of room around the pool and beach area. They also have a shuttle that whisks you into downtown twice a day, as well as a car rental service in the lobby. Wherever you stay, you will love Curacao!

The Marriott in Curacao is not by any means a huge complex. In fact it feels almost quaint the way it has been planned. The Marriot has a nice beach. See the first Curacao Wow! note which was my report from our February trip. I'd be happy to answer any other questions I can. Sorry can't help out on Bonaire or Aruba.

The Curacao Marriott only has about 250 rooms and when we were there, it felt very uncrowded even though the resort was relatively full. We really loved the Marriott - the service was fabulous and the beach and pool areas were beautiful. I thought the Avila looked very nice too although I understand that the rooms vary quite a bit. We ate there at the Blues restaurant and I did not like my food. My husband liked his food though so it might have just been what I ordered. The Avila actually looked more spread out to me than the Marriott. There are something like 36 beaches on Curacao so plenty to explore in addition to the many historical and cultural sites. The Marriott also has decent snorkeling right offshore.

Curacao has to be the absolute worst island I have ever been to. <BR><BR>Yes, it's out of the hurricane zone, and yes they do have nice, remote beaches, but I have never experienced such rude, condescending people anywhere in the Caribbean, than in Curacao. <BR><BR>I've been there twice before, and again, just last week on my cruise, and this visit just re-affirmed my opinion of the island...they still have a lot of improvements to make if they want to keep tourism one of their major industries!

Interesting. The only place we experienced rude service was the Fort Nassau restaurant, which was also the most expensive place we ate at on the island ($275 for 2). The staff at the Marriott could not have been nicer. We also really liked a restaurant called Hook's Hut which is walking distance from the Marriott and our server there was super friendly. That being said, everyone I know who has been to Bonaire really liked it but I am not sure how much else there is to do besides snorkeling (I am not saying there isn't anything - I just do not know because I have never been there). They profiled Bonaire during the inflight entertainment on our last Air Jamaica flight and it really made me want to go. Coincidentally, during that trip to Jamaica, we experienced some very rude service, not to mention terrible food, at Marguerite's restaurant in MoBay.

Bonaire one of my favorite Islands , quiet and friendly , fairly inexpensive,the best diving in the A.B.C.s Plaza resort wins out for the best resort on island . If your looking for a place for great r&r grab a book head to Bonaire. I will be back

We've been to both multiple times and love both but we're both divers. We haven't been to Bonaire since the waves from the hurricane hit it several years ago - don't know what's changed.<BR><BR>No big beaches on Bonaire but friendly people and laid back atmosphere. There is pink beach which is fun & not crowded on Bonaire. The snorkeling is good there too. We've always stayed at Sand Dollar - nothing of a pool but at least used to have a great dive operation. Heard it's gone downhill recently.<BR><BR>We love Curacao too although we mainly stay out at Habitat Curacao. Not sure it would be a good place if not diving. Off the beaten path. Nice pool - no beach.