Hotel Kura Hulanda

Several years ago, while visiting Curacao for Carnival, I toured the museum at Hotel Kura Hulanda Spa and Casino. Later I had dinner at the hotel’s delicious Asian restaurant, Jaipur. Within the comfortable elegance of the luxury hotel, which is nestled into a historic Willemstad neighbourhood, I felt right at home. The property’s restored 18th and 19th century Dutch Colonial Caribbean buildings and courtyards were so alluring that I was determined to some day come back and stay.

Recently I was able to return to Curacao and spent several nights in one of the boutique hotel’s 80 uniquely decorated rooms. My room was furnished with hand-carved mahogany and teak pieces and hand-woven linens from India. A cheerful Dutch stencil design enlivened the walls. The bathroom was large with a generous tub and shower. I especially appreciated its large antique etched mirror.

During my stay I savored my moments walking the hotel’s cobblestone streets and sitting in its many courtyards. (Kura Hulanda means “Dutch courtyard.” in Papiamentu, Curacao's native tongue.) One of my favorite experiences was having breakfast in the Indian Marble Garden next to the Astrolab Observatory Restaurant. The delightful song and movements of the yellow-bellied bananaquit kept me entertained while I lingered over my hot tea.

The outstanding hotel is part of Project Kura Hulanda, a historic and environmental preservation project created within Willemstad's UNESCO World Heritage site by Jacob Gelt Dekker and John Padget. In addition to the hotel, the village-like project complex includes a conference center, the Museum Kura Hulanda, Spa Kura Hulanda and the Casino Kura Hulanda.

The anthropological museum Museum Kura Hulanda is one of the things that makes Hotel Kura Hulanda unique, even among its peers in the Leading Small Hotels of the World. The museum provides and thought-provoking survey of the origin of man, African slave trade, West African Empires, Pre-Colombian gold, Mesopotamian relics and Antillean art. Next door is the open-air Kura Hulanda Museum Restaurant with its tasty healthy offerings.

The Kura Hulanda village also includes stylish art galleries, boutiques and a combination snack bar/gift shop.

When you are ready for swimming, snorkeling or diving, sailing or other water sports, the hotel shuttle transports you to its sister property, the Kura Hulanda Lodge. The oceanfront resort is the perfect complement to the hotel. There you can enjoy grabbing a snack and a mixed drink at the beachside bar or the cliff-top restaurant looking out over the beach. While visiting the lodge I took the opportunity to snorkel in the dazzling aquamarine water and saw many colorful fish.

Just a few blocks away from the hotel is additional shopping, dining and entertainment in historic Willemstad. Imposing government buildings and the oldest continuously used synagogue in the Western Hemisphere are among its many other offerings. (Reviewed 6/1/2009)

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Hotel Kura Hulanda is located: near the St. Anna Bay in Central Willemstad about 20 minutes from the airport
Langestraat 8, Willemstad, Curacao Netherlands Antilles
Phone: (011) 5999 434-7700; Reservations: 8772643106
Web site: Hotel Kura Hulanda

^{As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodations for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.}