You may not have heard of the southern Caribbean island of Curacao before, but it needs to be on your radar for a family vacation in the sunshine. Along with its sister islands of Aruba and Bonaire, the trio make up the Dutch, alphabet-inspired “ABC islands”, located just off the north coast of Venezuela.
Outside the hurricane belt, and blessed with year-round gloriously sunny days, Curacao offers a laid-back beach vacation destination that has more than enough activities to keep kids and adults entertained all week long. With this in mind, I headed there with my husband and five-year-old son for a much-needed family holiday.
Where to Stay
Book your stay at Sunscape Curacao Resort Spa and Casino, where the needs of the youngest guest are front and center. Their beautiful and spacious playroom with indoor and outdoor space provides a full program of fun activities including excursions, beach games, cookery classes and movie nights. Parents are given an electronic beeper so that they can relax at the beach while the kids play and when it’s time for you to pick them up or if there are any issues at all you’ll be alerted instantly.
Select rooms come with kitchenettes which are incredibly convenient for whipping up early breakfasts before the buffet opens. My son is always hungry, so we appreciated being able to make snacks and quick meals right in our room. Every afternoon ice cream is served from a hutch opposite the swimming pool, and kid-friendly cocktails are available all day long. My son’s recommendation is to try the “Mickey Mouse.”
This all-inclusive hotel offers four a la carte restaurants, a cafe and a beach bar and a range of fun planned activities. However, the real star of a vacation here is the show-stopping private beach. A seawall has created a calm pool of water teeming with marine life which is perfect to kayak, stand up paddleboard or swim in. Borrow snorkel gear, for free, to see the vast array of fish.
It’s worth the additional fee to upgrade to the sun club. In addition to premium rooms, you’ll also have access to a VIP lounge, a concierge, room service and cartoons for the kids.
Where to Eat!
Although your stay at Sunscape includes unlimited food and drink, sometimes it’s nice to explore off the resort. Drive almost the length of the island, which only takes about an hour or so to The Blue View Sunset Terrace in Westpoint for lunch one day.
They serve lots of fish, chicken and homemade dishes, including traditional iguana. You’ll enjoy your meal with magnificent views of sea cliffs and the Caribbean ocean below.
Just for Kids
Lazy days at the beach making sand castles, swimming in the pool and playing at the edge of the ocean is what sun vacations are all about, but Curacao can offer so much more than that. On the way to The Blue View Sunset Terrace stop off at Playa Piskado where you can bring your snorkel gear and meet some turtles. It was my little one’s first experience of snorkeling, and it’s a great place to (click to read more)
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