If you’re trying to figure out Is Curaçao worth visiting, I get it—there are a lot of islands competing for your attention. After actually going, I can say yes, but it really depends on how you like to travel. This ended up being a mix of beach days, good food, and moving around when I felt like it (which worked out very well for me).
I went into this trip hoping for clear, calm water and good food, and that’s exactly what I got. The water was consistently clear, the food was better than I expected, excellent in fact, and every interaction felt easy and normal in the best way.
I split my time between relaxing at the resort and driving around to different beaches, and both felt equally worth it. I could chill when I wanted to, then switch it up the next day with a full itinerary.
If you’re figuring out how to plan your days around this, you can check out my guide to Curaçao 7 Day Itinerary: How to Spend One Week in Curaçao because that’s basically how I balanced everything.
I got in the water at almost every beach we stopped at, and I could see straight to the bottom every time. The water is crystal clear, insanely blue, and some of the best I’ve seen in the Caribbean.
I kept expecting it to get cloudy or less clear the farther out I went, and it just didn’t. I stayed in longer than planned more than once because it was too pretty to leave (and I wasn’t rushing that).
I didn’t stay at one beach all week because there were so many cool beaches to explore. Some were wide and sandy, some were tucked into cliffs, some had better snorkeling, and some felt more local and quiet.
I’d go to one beach, stay for a while, then head somewhere else just to see what it looked like. Beach hopping ended up being a big part of the trip, and honestly I’d do it the same way again (snack breaks included).
If you want a full breakdown of where I went, you can see my Best Beaches in Curaçao (with Map + Tips) because that’s exactly how I planned it out.
I went into this expecting the food to be just fine, and it ended up being outstanding. I ate a mix of local Caribbean food, Dutch-influenced meals, and a few nicer dinners, and I had very few “dud” meals.
Every meal felt thought out, and I didn’t have that one disappointing dinner that you just accept on vacation. That alone made me extra excited every time we sat down to eat (I’m always ready to eat, so this helped).
If you’re planning meals, I’d recommend looking at Best Restaurants in Curaçao (Where to Eat + What to Order) so you’re not guessing when you get there.
We rented a car early in the trip and used it every day. The roads were easy to follow, nothing felt confusing, and most of the beaches we wanted to see were on the same side of the island.
We'd leave in the morning, hit a couple beaches, grab food somewhere, and head back. If you’re planning to move around like this, renting a car here makes it easier and gives you way more flexibility.
I talked to people at restaurants, beaches, and anywhere I needed help, and every interaction felt welcoming and easy. No one felt annoyed, and everyone was just genuinely kind, which made everything feel more relaxed.
That kind of thing isn't something that you think about before you leave on a trip, but it definitely affects how everything feels once you’re there.
I walked into a few beaches and immediately noticed rocks, coral, and uneven entry points. It’s probably the biggest thing to know ahead of time.
I wore water shoes at most beaches and that helped a ton. Once I got in, the water completely made up for it anyway. If you want something structured, this guided snorkeling tour in Curaçao is an easy way to see multiple spots without figuring it all out yourself.
I drove around expecting more greenery and instead saw a lot of dry, desert-like areas with cactus and rocky terrain. It’s not waterfalls and jungle everywhere.
It is still very beautiful and it didn’t bother me, but it’s definitely different if you’re picturing somewhere like St. Lucia or St. Kitts. The contrast actually made the beaches stand out more once I got to them.
If you like beaches and snorkeling, want crystal-clear water, enjoy trying different restaurants, like having the option to explore, and want a mix of relaxing and doing things, this works really well.
I naturally ended up doing all of that, and it felt like the right balance the whole time.
I also thought about what wouldn’t work for some people. If you want a super lush, tropical island with waterfalls, don’t want to rent a car, or prefer soft, sandy beaches everywhere, you might get frustrated.
Those things aren’t deal breakers for me, but they’re worth knowing ahead of time.
Curaçao is less lush than islands like St. Lucia or Jamaica, but the water is clearer and better for snorkeling. It doesn’t have the long, soft sand beaches you’ll find in Turks and Caicos or the Bahamas—most beaches are smaller coves. Compared to Aruba, it feels less resort-heavy and more about exploring, with better variety in beaches and food.
If you’re deciding between islands, you can learn more in my Curaçao vs Aruba: Which Island Is Better for Your Trip? because that’s the closest comparison I kept thinking about.
I ended up splitting my time between relaxing and exploring, and both felt like the right choice. I’d spend part of the day at the beach, stay in the water longer than planned, then go out to dinner somewhere new after (earned it).
Curaçao is worth visiting if you want to unwind at a resort with crystal-clear water and great food, or if you want to beach hop and see different parts of the island.
Either way, you’ll sea(ha ha) what I mean pretty quickly.
If you’re planning the logistics, looking at where to stay in Curaçao and booking here helps get you the best rate, and checking flights on Skyscanner is where I usually start.
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.
