The Bottom Line:
Luxury beachside resort on rocky bluffs just north of Willemstad offers meeting space, a spa and diving.
Contact The Hotel:
John F. Kennedy Blvd., P.O. Box 2133, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles
phone: 599/9.462.5000, from US and Canada: 800.HILTONS, from UK and Europe 800.444.58.667; fax: 599/9.462.5846
web site: Hilton Curacao
Rates:
All 196 guest rooms include a private balcony; half feature ocean views. Thirty-four Executive Floor guest rooms include fax machines and offer full breakfast, hors d'ouevres and evening cocktails. Standard guest rooms start at $140.
Description:
This 30-year-old former Sheraton, set on 23 beachfront acres, was rebranded in early 2003 as the Hilton. The 196-room resort is undergoing a $5 million renovation that will add 6,000 square feet of meeting space and a concierge-level Executive Floor, a full-service spa and a kids' club. The grounds in the meantime have been completely relandscaped, and the fourth floor rooms were the first to undergo the facelift. All renovations are scheduled to be complete by summmer 2004.
Notable Amenities:
Two private beaches, casino, spa, fitness center, PADI certified dive center, freeform infinity pool and children's pool, boating and sailing, mini-golf course, tennis, volleyball, two restaurants, two bars, complimentary shuttle to Willemstad.
In-Room Amenities:
A/C, television, hairdryer, coffeemaker, iron, laptop computer-sized safe, room service (7 am to midnight).
Meeting Space:
6,000 square feet of meeting rooms including a business center and six meeting rooms, added in 2003.
The Details:
The waterfront area has several diverse atmospheres to fit any mood. The main beach area is a small protected cove with plenty of beach chairs and umbrella, and a beach bar right alongside. The main pool is zero-entry freeform and ends in two infinity edges, one with a refreshing fountain. A quieter, private beach and pool is a short walk away. In between, a walking path that follows rocky bluffs provide a scenic place to wander and stop on a bench to enjoy the sunsets. Restaurants are all al fresco, enabling guests to enjoy the trade breezes of the island.
Curacao is popular with Dutch visitors, as it is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Its location in the Southern Caribbean makes it a convenient choice for Latin Americans as well. The island overall is quieter and less expensive than neighboring Aruba, with plenty of unique local charm.
The resort has facilities for destination weddings, including an unforgettable perch on a rocky outcrop perfect (if a bit windy) for a memorable ceremony. A centuries-old fort serves as a backdrop for special events.
The resort is also family-friendly, with a large toddler pool and a soon-to-be-constructed brand-new children's center.
Photo Gallery of the Hilton Curacao
Before You Visit Curacao
