Curaçao
Curaçao is a little Dutch island in the Caribbean. The people are friendly and there is a relaxed island vibe.
I spent 4 nights in a place called Barber and 5 nights in Sint Michiel. A lot of dutch tourists come to this island but there are still several things to do without being surrounded with too many tourists.
On this page I will share the hidden gem places in Curaçao for an authentic experience.
What To Do
Where To Stay
Accommodation In Barber
A great place to stay if you want to explore the west side of the island. It’s a quiet neighborhood with friendly hosts. You’ll have your own parking spot on the terrain.
The price is between €33/€60 per night depending on when you book.
Click here for the Airbnb.
Accommodation In Sint Michiel
Sint Michiel is a little closer located to Willemstad, but still a quiet neighborhood. This Airbnb was from the same hosts as the one in Barber, just a little bit more basic. It’s located in the Blue Bay community. This is a gated community with security at the entrance. When you’re staying in this Airbnb you will get a card that will give you free access to the Blue Bay beach, and with this card you can also use the beach chairs. You will also have a swimming pool in the backyard.
The price is around €50 per night. (It was €37 when I visited, so the price went up a lot!)
Click here for the Airbnb.
How To Get Around
The best way to explore the island is to rent a car. Usually on my travels I always use the public transport, and in some cases rent a taxi, because I don’t like to drive in foreign countries. But the public transport here is very limited and renting a taxi every day is just too expensive. So for the first time I decided to rent a car. I had no regrets because the island is very relaxed to drive around! I really enjoyed having the freedom to go everywhere you want. Only in Willemstad, the capital, it can be a bit more chaotic. But even there I had no problems driving around, and I really do not like to drive in busy cities.
Just so you know, a 4×4 is not necessary on this island.
Costs
Accommodation:
Budget: €35-€50 per night
Midrange: €50-€60 per night
Luxury: €60+ per night
Restaurants:
This will range between €15 and €25. This is a price indication of the local restaurants. Expect to tip around 10%/15%.
Transportation:
I rented a car for 9 days with an all inclusive insurance for €454. I used Sunny Cars, it’s a bit expensive but they have good service.
What I spent on my trip:
Trip – 9 days
- Plane ticket: €725
- Car rental 9 days: €454
- Accommodations: €361
- ATM (for food, drinks, gas and entrance fees): €474
I went out for dinner every evening.
Total: €2014
Practical Information
Language: Dutch, Papiamento
Currency: Antillean Guilder
Travel documents: Passport, DI Card (Digital Immigration) you can fill in the form 7 days prior to departure here.
Water: Drinkable
Electricity: 110/130 volt
Best time to travel: There is very little rainfall in Curaçao, and there is no hurricane season so the whole year is a good time to visit the island. But the driest months are February till September.