Curaçao Tourist Traps

This restaraunt is located in Punda on the waterfront and presents itself as a high end Italian Restaraunt. It was recommended by the Marriott guest relations staff too!

First off the service was SLOW and the waitress was unfamiliar with the menu. We had to point at the menu items while she copied the items from the menu. Everything was ala carte which wasn't that unexpected but when the $10 Caesar salad was presented as one leaf of romaine lettuce in a 3 inch bowl I began to worry. The Caesar dressing was out of a bottle. The $18 pasta tasted like chef boyardee and three portions could have been made from one can. When the main course was served they forgot one of the entrees - the so called "Rack of Lamb". After about 10 minutes of flagging the waitress, a waiter came by and asked if I needed anything at which time the waiter apologized and ran off to the kitched where there was a lot screaming at the waitress. As everyone else was finishing their entre 2 nearly raw, quarter-inch thick lamb chops were presented. The meat had not been trimmed like a rack of lamb is supposed to be and was all fat and grizzle. I actually found the equivalent of 2 teaspoons of meat in the entire serving. At the end of the meal the check for $140 was presented with the gratuity added in... go figure!

Unique Suggestions: Sit on the ocean side cafe and drink beer all night long. (not wine, someone was complaining about the poor quality of the wine at another table)

Fun Alternatives: Go to Hooks Hut near in the Hilton for a 16 ounce tenderloin with mashed potatoes and vegetables for under $20! The best food deal on Curacao.

Sometimes you get to your destination and....all landmarks or facilities are closed or restricted due to local holidays you did not know of!
This happened to me once, when I took some days off from work to visit the National Archives of my destination abroad, and discovered they were closed!
Be sure to book in advance for the local holidays, when there will be no cars or rooms for rent at last minute!!. For instance: April 30 is the celebration of the Queen's birthday throughout the Netherlands and all islands of the Netherlands Antilles, and preceeding a long 5 day-holiday from April 30 to May 4 (including Labour Day and Ascension Day)!! All planes between the islands, and hotels and B&B will most probably be full! Also: european dutchmen celebrate May 4 and 5, and may be invading the caribbean islands of the Kingdom for a week-long holiday, probably as of April 29!
Also: Most jewish entrepeneurs will close their shops on jewish feast days, like Pesach, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, but the rest of the shops will be open.
When in doubt, please get in touch.

Unique Suggestions: You could book on the spot during low season, when NOT a local holiday.
Book in advance for local holidays as Carnival, around the Queen's Birthday on April 30; Ascension Day; Christmas Holidays.
Check out the holidays with the Curaçao Tourism Board.

Fun Alternatives: Call the Curaçao Tourism Board at *(5999) 434-8200
or e-mail:
for the U.S.A.: northamerica@curacao.com
for Germany: info@curacao.de
for Scandinavia: info@abcislands.se
for the Netherlands: info@ctbe.nl
others: info@curacao.com

Please be aware to choose the right type of fuel for your car. I just got a mail from visitors who ended up with a big bill for repairs, after they filled up the rented car with the wrong fuel.....
Most rental cars use plain gas, we call [gas-o-leen]. If im not mistaken: Plain gas (92 or 95 octane) is labeled GASOIL. Do not use DIESEL.
Please inform with your car rental what exactly to use on your rented car!
Thanks to Kristy Chen for sharing her experience in this!

Fun Alternatives: Suggest your car rental to put a sticker with the right instruction on your dash board, and in the tank lid cover!