If you’re going to Curaçao, I’m just going to say it upfront—rent a car. You can get around without one, but it makes everything harder and you’ll miss a lot. Renting a car in Curaçao ended up being one of the best decisions I made on this trip.
I picked up the car and used it every single day—driving to beaches, going to dinner, and getting between different areas that are nowhere near each other. Curaçao is spread out, so nothing is really walkable in a practical way unless you stay in one small area the whole time.
I kept thinking about how limited the trip would’ve been without it, especially when I was bouncing between different beaches in the same day. If you’re planning to stay at a resort the entire time, you can skip it, but if you actually want to explore, renting a car in Curaçao makes a huge difference.
If you’re planning your days around different parts of the island, check out my Curaçao 7 Day Itinerary: How to Spend One Week in Curaçao so you can see how everything connects.
I got in the car the first time thinking it might feel a little chaotic, and it really didn’t. The roads were in good shape, and nothing felt confusing once I started driving.
They drive on the right side, just like the U.S., so that part clicked right away. I kept running into roundabouts, but after a few, I stopped hesitating and just went with it.
I ended up driving all over the island and didn’t feel stressed or overwhelmed at all.
I checked this before the trip and it was simple. I used my regular U.S. driver’s license and that was it—no extra steps, no extra documents.
I booked my car ahead of time here, and I’d do that again. It gave me more options and better pricing compared to waiting until I landed.
You can rent at the airport when you arrive, book ahead online, or go through your hotel. If you’re coming in on a cruise, there are rental options right at the Mega Cruise Terminal, so you can grab a car for the day without going far.
I’ve been to Curaçao a few times now, and on one trip when I stayed at a resort, I looked into other options so I didn’t have to drive. I ended up booking a customizable day tour here, and they handled all the driving while we still made it to multiple spots. It was nice not having to think about directions or logistics for the day.
It worked really well for a day, but after doing that, I was glad I had a car for my other trips because I didn’t want to be on a set schedule the whole time.
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I rented a standard car and never felt like I needed anything more. Most of the main roads are paved and easy to drive, so nothing required anything special.
If I had planned to go deeper into more remote areas, I might’ve considered something with more clearance, but for a typical trip, a regular car works just fine.
I pulled into beach parking lots and restaurant spots all week and never had trouble finding somewhere to park. Most places either had designated areas or space nearby that worked.
I did have to circle a bit in Willemstad before finding a spot, but it didn’t turn into a whole situation—it just took a minute.
I stopped for gas a couple of times, and everything was straightforward. Stations were easy to find, and most of them took credit cards.
I kept a little cash on me just in case, which ended up being helpful.
I drove around the island the entire trip and never felt uncomfortable. I still paid attention like I would anywhere, but nothing stood out as an issue.
I kept using the car to move between beaches, try different restaurants, and see more of the island, and that’s when it really clicked. Without it, I would’ve been stuck choosing one area and staying there the whole time.
With it, I got to actually experience different parts of Curaçao, not just the area around where I stayed.
If you’re figuring out where to stay based on how much you want to drive, check out Where to Stay in Curaçao (Best Areas + Hotels) so you can plan it better.
Renting a car in Curaçao gave me the flexibility to beach hop, try more restaurants, and actually see the island instead of staying in one spot.
If you want that kind of trip, I wouldn’t skip it.
A hotel that’s also a free 24-hour contemporary art museum penguins included. We booked a Corner Suite at 21c and it was massive: separate bedroom, living room, dining area, 699 square feet to spread out in. The bathroom alone had a double vanity and custom Rookwood Pottery tile that made getting ready weirdly entertaining.
The location is downtown, two minutes from Fountain Square, walkable to Boca for dinner, and close enough to hop the free streetcar into Over-the-Rhine. If OTR is where most of your plans are, you might want to stay closer to that neighborhood instead downtown worked for us, but we spent more time in OTR than we expected to.
And yes, there’s a recycled-plastic penguin sculpture that will absolutely scare you the first time you open your door and forget it’s there. Link in bio for the full review rooms, parking, walkability, and everything else before you book 🎨
Three neighborhoods, one streetcar, and more Cincinnati specialties than I could finish in one afternoon.
We hit a goetta breakfast sandwich, chocolate chip ice cream from a shop that’s been at it since 1870, a Liège waffle that earned its Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives spot, and Cincinnati chili the way it’s actually meant to be eaten... over a hot dog, buried in shredded cheddar.
$75 got us three and a half hours, a local guide, free streetcar rides, and a genuinely full stomach. Don’t eat breakfast before this one, the portions add up fast.
My third Secret Food Tour in my third city, and it’s still undefeated.
Link in bio for the full review cost, route, parking, and every stop we hit 🥟🌶️
13 creek crossings, a canyon that keeps closing in around you, and a hike I’d genuinely put back on my itinerary, West Fork Trail was the one.
We got to Call of the Canyon at 7:15am and the lot was barely a quarter full. By 12:30 it was 85% full, so if there’s one tip that matters most, it’s this: go early.
The maintained trail is 6.6 miles round trip, mostly flat, mostly shaded, but I kept my regular tennis shoes dry the whole way by hopping across the rocks at each crossing. It’s rated moderate, and honestly that’s about the distance, not the terrain.
Here’s what nobody tells you though ✨ the maintained trail isn’t the end. We changed into water shoes at the official endpoint and kept going another mile straight through the creek, canyon walls narrowing around us the whole time. That extra mile ended up being my favorite part of the entire hike.
5/5 for me. I’d bring the water shoes again in a heartbeat.
Link in bio for the full guide parking, timing, what to pack, and everything I wish I knew before I went 🥾
Two hours, zero regrets. The Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour is hands down one of the most fun things we did in Sedona.
Open-air Jeeps crawling over slickrock, backcountry views you can’t reach on your own, and the famous Road of No Return, steep, thrilling, and somehow completely safe the whole way down.
If you’re picking one paid activity in Sedona, make it this one.
You have to do @pinkjeeptours 🌵🚙 Link in bio for the full review.
Dinner beside Oak Creek at Cress, and yes, it’s a splurge, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.🤍
Candlelit tables under the trees, the creek running right beside us, a menu that mixes Arizona ingredients with French technique. We ordered a little of everything: the squash and beet salad, milk rolls with three different butters, sweet potato gnocchi that somehow felt light instead of heavy. Then two desserts because we couldn’t decide. The Vanilla Crème Caramel with Manchego cheese completely stole the show, salty and sweet in a way that sounds strange until you taste it.
Plan on $100–250 for two depending on what you order, and this isn’t the spot for a quick casual dinner, it’s slow, intentional, and worth every minute. Book ahead and ask for a creekside table if you can.
If you’re looking for one unforgettable meal in Sedona, this is it. Link in bio for the full review 🍽️
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