Air Canada Vacations hosted agents on a FAM to sunny CUR 05-09JUN, and Open Jaw joined the tours featuring the hotels, the beaches and the diverse attractions of this friendly Dutch Caribbean island.
ACV's CUR program leverages Air Canada's non-stop service on Rouge from both YYZ and, starting this fall, YUL. For clients used to premium cabin service, Premium Rouge provides a dedicated flight attendant for the six seats on the aircraft, a 3 course meal with a choice of entrée and complimentary bar as well as free wifi. Premium Rouge allows agents to match air experience with a client's luxury resort booking.
And what about all those properties? Here’s a snapshot of the ones the group toured.
This inland property feels like it’s in a restful residential neighbourhood and has 188 rooms, apartments and villas with up to 5 bedrooms, some with private pools. Guests include a lot of corporate travellers and long-stays. The onsite spa is its crowning jewel with 8 treatment rooms and yoga sessions and more. There’s a free shuttle to the capital Willemstad, the beach, and the supermarket, and Acoya has its own fleet of rental cars from US$35 a day – a bargain.
A hit with the agents, this historic charmer (once a hospital, now the oldest-operating hotel on the island), the 157 room Avila, with 2 small beaches, is centred on the historic main building and today draws a mix of European and North American clients. It’s available as an EP or MAP option; and if clients want to hang out with the locals they need go no further than the funky Pier Blues Resto on a Thursday night.
The massive water park at the entrance to this property leaves no doubt it’s a huge hit with families (day passes including use of the park and F&B are available for tourists - from US$75/$40 for kids - staying at other hotels and from cruise ships). Families love the smoothie bar, and availability of connecting rooms. Though there’s no casino, there are a lot of adult-pleasing features such as 24 hour bar with snacks – and even a self-serve bar!
With spacious rooms and pleasant beachfront location, the Dreams is the mid-tier of the 3 AM resorts on the island, the others being Sunscape and Zoëtry. All the popular options are included: 6 dining options, 3 bars, 3 pools, spa, casino, and open air theatre. Rooms include use of a very handy tablet for time, weather, international news, TV guide, spa details and more. Dreams is a casual resort with a mix of clientele from Europe, North America and South America.
Definitely a gracious choice with a welcoming modern plantation house vibe. The breezy lobby offers comfy seating while the Reef Club off the lobby is an optional add on at US$40 per night per stay and includes us of the lounge, beverages and continental breakfast. The hotel also has an all-inclusive option with all meals and drinks. Guests love the in-room espresso machine and handy built-in cooler!
Also a part of Marriott, the waterfront Renaissance is adjacent to a delightful row of shops and restos (sports bar, pancake house, grab’n’go) and, just a 15 minute walk to the heart of Willemstad. With its conference centre, meeting spaces and ballroom it’s an excellent choice for the meeting and incentive client. All the rooms, decorated in a pleasing pale turquoise, are identical except for the view, alleviating the tricky question of who in the group gets what room.
Not surprisingly, a hot new bestseller in the luxury category and game changer for Curacao. The Sandals Resort (which I clocked at about a 30 minute drive from Willemstad) is set in a secluded and huge beachfront location with the usual Sandals all-inclusive indulgences such as 24 room categories, 13 bars, 8 restos and 3 hugely-fun food trucks. Smoochy Kurason Island rooms are set around a heart-shaped pool, while clients looking for the ultimate can settle into an Awa seaside bungalow with private pool. The guests I spoke to were loyal Sandals clients and thrilled to experience a “new” destination in their favourite way.
The “entry level” of the 3 all-inclusive AM Resorts on Curacao (the others being Dreams and Zoëtry), the Sunscape sprawls along a wide stretch of beach and is know for its family-friendly fun thanks to the Explore Club for kids 6 – 12 (“Not just a day care” but featuring outings so they have their own vacation, parents not permitted!) and Core Zone for teens 13 – 17. Some rooms have a kitchenette with hotplate, microwave and mini-fridge. There’s 4 pools, one of the island’s biggest casinos, and the resort is close to Mambo boulevard with funky shops, bars, and beach clubs.
The top tier of the 3 AM resorts (also Sunscapes and Dreams), the Zoëtry (rhymes with poetry) is located adjacent to the Dreams, where Zoëtry guests have free access to all facilities and F & B outlets. Though not beachfront, the property has a shuttle to the beach a minute away. Fun elements include sip-and-paint classes and lessons in Papiamento, the local language, as well as wine tastings. You can even dine in the wine “cellar”! Classy features include Bulgari amenities in the bathrooms and three-times-daily housekeeping services. While not adults-only, kids are charged full adult rate, effectively discouraging families.
