We pulled off the road looking for a beach that didn’t show up on most lists, and that ended up being the theme for the whole trip. These hidden beaches in Curaçao were the ones we kept going back to—less crowded, easier to enjoy, and honestly just better days overall. Some take a little more effort to get to, but that’s kind of the point.
If you’re planning your trip and trying to map this all out, I’d glance at Curaçao Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors so you know how these spots fit together.
We stood at the edge of the water here before getting in, and I remember thinking this doesn’t look like much for a beach day. There’s no big sandy setup, and you’re not laying out here for hours.
Once you get in, though, it flips completely. The water is clear right away, and snorkeling both directions is worth it because there’s a lot going on—fish everywhere and we saw a full school of squid moving together.
The entry is crushed coral, which seems fine until you’re walking in and suddenly it doesn’t, so having water shoes made that part easier.
Playa Jeremi felt like a true hidden beach. It wasn’t crowded, mostly locals and a few people who clearly knew about it ahead of time. We swam out pretty far on the left side and didn’t deal with any current, which made it easy to just stay in the water.
There’s a restaurant above the beach and chairs to rent, plus security in the parking lot, which is always a plus. We didn’t rush here and ended up staying longer than expected (no complaints).
Playa Lagun looks completely different from most beaches because it’s tucked between cliffs. We got there before 10, parking was easy, and it didn’t feel overly crowded (which I was fully expecting).
The snorkeling was good, the water was calm, and we stayed longer than planned. There’s a smoothie stand right there (I got one immediately and didn’t regret it), plus a couple food options nearby, so we didn’t feel like we had to leave for lunch.
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If you’re trying to pair this with other stops, it fits well into a day like what I mapped out in West Side Beach Hopping in Curaçao: Porto Mari & Grote Knip Guide.
Playa Kalki is small—like you notice it right away. We didn’t treat it like a full beach day, more of a stop to snorkel and hang out for a bit.
There’s limited sand space and only a couple rows of umbrellas, but there’s also a dive shop, bar, and restaurant. It’s set up enough to stay for a while, just not somewhere I’d plan to spend all day.
If you’re planning beach days like this, it helps to know where everything is—my Best Beaches in Curaçao (with Map + Tips) breaks that down.
Cas Abao isn’t really hidden, but going early made it feel like it was. We got there before it filled up and had way more space than I expected.
The water here was some of the clearest we saw, and this is one of the beaches that as soon as I saw the water I knew we had to get in and stay a while. Later in the day it fills up, but early it feels completely different.
If you’re figuring out where to stay to make mornings like this easier, looking into where to stay in Curaçao helps cut down on driving. We booked our hotel on the west side here and got a great deal.
We had a rental car, and getting to all of these was straightforward. The roads are easy to follow, and even when they turn into smaller dirt roads, it still feels manageable—not like you’re driving somewhere you shouldn’t be. Nothing felt remote in a stressful way.
We’ve been to other Caribbean islands, and Curaçao just felt more spread out once we got outside the main areas. It wasn’t empty, but we weren’t dealing with packed beaches unless we chose to go to those spots.
You notice it more when you’re at places like these, where it feels like people aren’t all following the same plan.
By the end of the trip, these were the beaches I kept thinking about. Not because they had the most going on, but because they didn’t.
They were easy to enjoy, easy to stay longer than planned, and didn’t feel like you had to plan your whole day around them. Sometimes the quieter spots end up being the ones you remember the most—just go with the flow and beach it easy.
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.
