Why I don’t like Curacao (but don’t hate it either)

The oil refinery I saw on the way to the apartment I rented in Curacao was a harbinger of things to come.

The Caribbean brings to mind white sand beaches, palm trees, coral reefs and tropical drinks. This summer I plan to travel most of the time Caribbean Sea (Spoiler alert: I didn’t). At the top of my list of travel destinations is Curacao, an island in the Netherlands Antilles. Netherlands Known for its casinos, nightlife and its namesake blue liqueur.

when i fly in curacaoI dreamed of the Caribbean, imagining myself relaxing on a long stretch of white sand with a pina colada in my hand. The largest and strongest ABC (ArubaBonaire and Curacao), Curacao also promises to offer good hiking and non-beach activities.

But almost immediately upon arrival, I was disappointed.

What they didn’t show in the brochure was the refinery on the edge of town. Did you know that this beautiful colorful seaside photo showcases Curacao’s famous scenery?

Well, there’s a not-so-nice oil refinery right nearby that spews black smoke into the air – easily visible from town.

The refinery set the tone for the week.

As we say, Curacao is “meh”. It’s not a bad place, but it didn’t blow my mind. I left the country unmoved. The atmosphere on the island just doesn’t sit right with me. I wanted to love it, but when I boarded the flight home, there was nothing about Curacao that made me sad to leave or to stay.

Let’s start with the beach: nice, but not that great. The beaches near the main towns are all resort beaches, which means you have to pay to enjoy them if you’re not already staying at one of the resorts. It’s packed with people, lounge chairs and artificial waves to beat the waves and create a calm swimming area. (It’s not that calm swimming areas are bad, but breaking waves reduce the current, and since most resorts have boats and docks, I don’t feel like the water is the cleanest.)

The beaches in the north are public, wider and more natural, but even so they are not the long stretches of white sand we usually imagine. Additionally, the coastline is filled with dead coral and rocks. Are they beautiful? Yes. Do I sit there and say, “Oh my God, this is so beautiful”? certainly. Am I blown away by them? No, not really. There are better ones.

I’m also disappointed with the lack of affordable and accessible public transportation. Buses run every two hours and taxis are very expensive ($50 for a 15-minute trip). If you want to see this island, you really have to rent a car during your stay. None really limit what you can see.

Worst of all, even the towns aren’t that pretty. Outside of Willemstad’s famous waterfront, I wasn’t too impressed by the scenery, architecture, or houses. Even the resort looks dated. Nothing adds charm to a city like a little grime and wear and tear, but in Curacao that grit only adds to a sadly neglected feel.

One thing I loved though were the locals. They completed the trip. They are friendly, helpful and chatty. I live in an Airbnb rentalMy host Millie was very friendly and helpful. She even went the extra mile to drive me places so I didn’t have to take a taxi. If I ever return to Curacao I will stay at her place again.

While looking for a place to eat, I stumbled upon a local family-run restaurant near my apartment and ate most of my meals there. Every time I walk in, they greet me like they’ve known me for years (I’m probably the only non-local eating there). Jack from another restaurant was kind enough to give me his phone number to call if I needed anything, always remembered me when he saw me, and I really enjoyed his lemonade.

There were also the bus drivers who helped guide me around town, the locals who gave me a lift when the bus didn’t come, and countless other small moments of friendly conversation and help that occurred throughout my journey. Week.

If I choose to go back, it will be for the people here, not the place.

Curacao is not bad but I have experienced better destination. Maybe I didn’t like it because I had high expectations – when you think about the neighborhood Aruba Bonaire, what you think of as a Caribbean paradise, I just put Curacao in the same category. When we build a position in our minds, expectations often lead to disappointment.

I left Curacao without a strong desire to return. I’m glad I went and I would encourage others to go, but there’s nothing in Curacao that you can’t find better and cheaper elsewhere.

You can’t like every destination. it’s out of the question. I can usually find good stuff everywhere (even vietnam! ), but humans have opinions, emotions and preferences – and mine didn’t like Curacao.

You should explore this island yourself. You just won’t find me there.