If seeing flamingos in Curaçao is on your list, this is one of the easiest places to do it—but it’s quick. I wouldn’t plan your whole day around it, but if you’re already heading west, it fits in really well. This ended up being more of a stop along the way than a main event.
I drove toward the west side beaches and turned off the main road near Sint Willibrordus to get to the Jan Kok Salt Flats. It’s not directly on the main road, but it’s a quick, easy turn and you’re there within a few minutes.
I rented a car and that made this really simple since I could just pull over whenever I saw something interesting along the drive.
There’s no entrance, no setup, and no signs telling you what to do—you just park on the side of the road and look out over the salt flats.
I pulled over, walked a few steps forward, and at first I wasn’t impressed. The salt flats themselves are pretty plain, and there’s no built-out viewpoint or anything that makes it feel like a “stop.”
Then I looked out and saw the flamingos, and that part immediately made it worth it (they really do just flamingle out there).
I spotted around 10-15 flamingos standing in the water, and they were closer than I expected—probably about 30 to 50 feet away. I just used my phone camera and zoomed in, and that was enough to see them clearly.
I didn’t walk anywhere or search for them—they were right there from the roadside, which made this one of the easiest stops I made the entire trip.
I stayed for about 30 minutes, took a few photos, and then got back in the car. This isn’t something you spend hours doing—it’s more of a quick stop to see something different before moving on to the next place.
I went midday and still saw a good number of flamingos, so you don’t have to plan your whole day around timing. That said, early morning or late afternoon would give you better lighting and a higher chance of seeing more activity.
I pulled off directly on the side of the road and that was it. No walking, no tickets, no entrance—just park and you’re there.
I stopped at the colorful church in Sint Willibrordus first, then came here at the salt flats, and planned to end the day at Santa Martha Bay for sunset. That route worked really well without adding extra driving.
If you’re planning your days, this fits perfectly into a beach route—especially if you’re already following something like my West Side Beach Hopping in Curaçao: Porto Mari & Grote Knip Guide.
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I wouldn’t go out of my way just for this, but since I was already nearby, I’m glad I pulled over. Seeing flamingos in Curaçao is cool, it just doesn’t replace beach time or snorkeling if you’re deciding between options.
If you’re building out your trip, I’d focus more on beaches and water time and treat this like a bonus stop along the drive.
I added this in because it was on the way, and that’s exactly how I’d do it again. It’s quick, it’s easy, and you get to see flamingos without doing anything complicated.
If you’re figuring out how to structure your days, I’d pair this with a full beach day or use it as a stop between locations—something like my Curaçao 5 Day Itinerary: What to Do in 5 Days or my Curaçao Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors will help map that out.
Let’s talk about when to actually book that Dubai trip you’ve been pinning for two years. I get asked this constantly, so here’s the honest breakdown: October through April is your window. Anything outside that and you’re basically touring in a sauna!
October and November give you warm days and cooler nights, which is basically the sweet spot for wandering around without melting. December through February is peak season: gorgeous weather. March and April are the quiet insider pick, right before summer heat shows up and ruins everyone’s plans.
Saving this for later? That’s what it’s here for. Full breakdown linked in bio.
If you’re chasing energy, beaches, nightlife, and nonstop luxury, Dubai takes the crown. If you’re craving culture, iconic architecture, and meaningful landmarks at a slower pace, Abu Dhabi shines.🤍
My advice? Base yourself in Dubai and do Abu Dhabi as a day trip! The perfect balance of excitement and culture in the UAE.
Want the full breakdown? Check out my Dubai and Abu Dhabi guide for tips, itineraries, and must-sees!
I do not like seafood. 🐟 So when I booked a tasting menu at a restaurant built around aquarium walls at Atlantis The Palm, I was nervous.
Ossiano sits underwater fish gliding past the whole meal, moody lighting, the kind of room that makes you lower your voice without meaning to. It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. You’re paying for the entire experience.
Here’s the honest part: they have a vegetarian tasting menu, and I assumed it would be an afterthought. It ended up in my top five meals of all time. Course after course, the same care and precision as the seafood-forward menu everyone comes for. They even swapped in a steak for the main and it still felt cohesive with everything around it.
By course four you’re full. They bring out three more breads anyway. I ate all of it. No regrets.
Small detail that stuck with me my dress was black, so they swapped my napkin from white to black without me asking. That’s the kind of thing that tells you everything about a place.
Full breakdown of the menu, the vegetarian option, and what to expect linked in bio.
Dubai is all skyline until you drive an hour into the dunes and it goes completely silent. Bab Al Shams was that shift for us: slower, quieter, more intentional than anything we did in the city.
If you want nightlife or walkable everything, this isn’t your stop. But if you want a night that feels like a reset, it delivers, polished service, food I’m still thinking about, and a setting that never tries too hard.
Full review (and whether it’s worth adding to your Dubai itinerary) is linked in bio. 🏜️
I flew @emirates economy to Dubai fully expecting to just survive the flight. We booked seats by the exit row — @bradplummer1 got the legroom (he’s 6’7”), I got a normal seat right next to him, and it saved us money over booking two extra-legroom seats. Smart trick if you’re traveling with someone who needs the extra space and you don’t.
The food alone earned this post. Warm chicken, a Waldorf salad that actually tasted fresh, real butter on the roll, and a breakfast spread that put most airport brunches to shame. Add in the twinkling-star cabin lighting once dinner wrapped, and it felt less like a flight and more like the trip had already started.
Not everything was perfect — the wifi didn’t work for me at all, so if you’re planning to get work done in the air, download what you need beforehand. But that was the only miss in an otherwise excellent long haul.
If you’ve got Emirates lounge access in Dubai, use it. Showers, buffets, quiet corners to nap it makes the layover feel like a reset instead of a slog.
Full review seats, food, lounge, and the wifi situation is on the blog. Link in bio. ✈️
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
