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WHERE TO STAY
Depending on the season, you just might have a problem finding a hotel room. That's because Curacao currently doesn't have enough rooms to meet demand. There are just 2,800 hotel rooms on the island but there are plans in the works to double this number. I stayed at the Curacao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino, which is on Piscadera Bay and considered the nicest hotel on the island. (I would rate it 4 stars. It's next door to the Hilton, which I checked out and it's just okay.) What's nice about this hotel is that it's just 10 minutes from both the airport and Willemstad (the capital city) so it's in an ideal location. The staff is friendly, the grounds are immaculate and the pool and the soft, sandy beach are the most popular spots. The hotel features 247 rooms in a series of three-storey buildings. My room was colorful, had Marriott's comfortable "Revive" bed, a clean bathroom and a balcony with a slight view of the Caribbean Sea. Rooms have high speed Internet for $12.95 a day and an in-room safe, large enough to hold oversized laptops. There's a small casino near the open air lobby but I didn't spend any time in there. Instead, I ate at the hotel's four restaurants, which served consistently good (not great) food. At times the service was slow but then again, it's an island, and things tend to move at a slower pace. For those feeling active, there's a great gym, two tennis courts, two hot tubs, beach volleyball, kayaks, sailboats, snorkel gear and water-skiing. It's family-friendly and they offer a children's program. Room rates begin at $189 USD. The Curacao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino, Piscadera Bay, P.O. Box 6003, Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles, tel: (+5999) 736-8800, Toll-free: (1-800) 223-6388.

HOTEL KURA HULANDA
Other hotels worth checking out are the Kurá Hulanda Hotel and Lodge Kurá Hulanda. A remarkable Dutch man named Dr. Jacob Gelt Dekker owns both. Jacob, as he likes to be called, made millions in one-hour photo stores throughout Europe. He has put his money to good use in charities and in improving Curacao. The Kurá Hulanda Hotel has 84 rooms, a casino and is on St. Anna Bay in Otrabanda. Jacob spent millions of dollars restoring the 18th and 19th century Dutch colonial buildings. The bedrooms are nicely refurbished with Indian marble bathrooms and feature both a tub and shower. The hotel is not on the beach but is attached to the Museum Kurá Hulanda (more on this shortly). Neither should be missed. If you don't stay here, at least have dinner at Jaipur, the hotel's Asian restaurant. Jaipur is closed on Mondays. Its specialty is traditional Indian food and it's considered one of the best restaurants on the island. Room rates begin at $190 a night. Kurá Hulanda Hotel and Casino, Langestraat 8 (Otrabanda) Willemstad, Curacao Netherlands Antilles; Tel.: (+5999) 434-7700. Toll-free: (1-877) 264-3106.

LODGE KURA HULANDA AND BEACH CLUB
Jacob's other hotel (where I'd like to stay one day) is the Lodge Kurá Hulanda. This property is located on the western side of the island and is situated on 350 acres. Some of the rooms are on a cliff overlooking the beach. This property is a member of the Leading Small Hotels of the World. It's quite secluded and it's a good 45-minute drive from town. The lodge has a variety of rooms, including spacious villas, a tree house and Jacob's personal residence, which can be rented out most of the year (he's usually only in town for a few days). His open air, eco-friendly residence is designed like a luxurious African tree fort and is exquisite. It has furniture from all over the world and there are three bedrooms, so you can bring the whole family or some friends. The three-bedroom suite goes for $1,500 USD a night. Lodge Kurá Hulanda & Beach Club, Playa Kalki 1 Westpunt, Curacao Netherlands Antilles; Tel.: (+5999) 839-3600.

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