We left Willemstad early, like early for vacation ha, because the drive out to the west side takes a while and we knew we had several stops ahead of us.
I tried mapping out every beach on the west side at first, thinking we could just move quickly between them, but once you get there, that plan falls apart. You’re not going to want to leave after ten minutes anywhere with water like this.
If you’re planning your route, renting a car in Curaçao makes it easier, and I’d plan that ahead of time instead of figuring it out last minute. I also used this packable beach bag for all the beach hopping—it’s super light, dries quickly, and folds down to about the size of a chapstick.
If you want to see how I spaced this out across the week instead of cramming it into one day, check out my guide on Curaçao 7 Day Itinerary: How to Spend One Week in Curaçao.
I thought we’d hit a bunch of beaches in one day, but after the first couple stops, it was obvious that wasn’t realistic.
If you want to swim, snorkel, and sit for a bit, keep it to two or three beaches—anything more and you’re just collecting photos. If you do have FOMO like me then this is the route I'd do to hit all the beaches.
We pulled into Playa Piskado first thing in the morning, and you could already see people gathered along the edge looking into the water.
This isn’t the beach you go to for a full beach day—it’s not the prettiest setup—but the turtles are the entire reason you’re here. Going early made a difference because it filled in quickly, and once it does, it gets crowded around the water.
If you want something structured instead of figuring it out yourself, this guided sea turtle snorkeling tour is an easy way to plan this stop (and goes to some of the other beaches on this list).
From there, we kept driving and stopped at Playa Kalki, which felt noticeably quieter right away.
There’s less built up around it, fewer people, and it’s more about getting in the water than setting up for the day. We ended up staying longer than expected just because it was easy to get in, snorkel, and not feel rushed by crowds.
When we got to Playa Kenepa Grandi, this was the first beach that made me stop for a second before even walking down.
The water is that bright turquoise color you see in photos, except it actually looks like that in person. It’s popular, but it didn’t feel overwhelming when we went.
If you want more details on parking, layout, and what to expect, see my full guide on Grote Knip Curaçao Beach Guide (What to Know Before You Go).
A few minutes down the road is Playa Kenepa Chiki, and it looks almost identical, just smaller and quieter.
We didn’t stay as long here, but if Grote Knip feels busy when you arrive, this is an easy backup without giving up the same water color.
We made a quick stop at Playa Jeremi next, and this one felt more tucked away than the others.
There’s less going on around it, fewer people, and it was more local than anything else we went to.
At Playa Lagun, you’re walking down between cliffs to get to the water, which makes it feel completely different from the others.
It’s smaller, a little more enclosed, and good for snorkeling. We didn’t stay long here, but it stood out just because of how the beach is set up.
By the time we got to Cas Abao, we were ready to actually sit for a while instead of hopping back in the car again.
This is where I’d plan to spend a bigger chunk of your day if you want to relax. The water is still that same clear blue, but it felt more set up for staying.
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We ended the day at Playa Porto Mari, and this wasn’t the most relaxing beach since there were pigs everywhere (I knew there were pigs, I just didn’t realize I’d have to guard my snacks at the beach ha).
The water was calm and it was a great spot for snorkeling, so it ended up being a fun stop even if it wasn’t the quiet beach moment I thought it might be.
If you want a full breakdown of this beach, including snorkeling and layout, check out Playa Porto Mari Curaçao Beach Guide (Pigs, Snorkeling & Tips).
We broke up the day with lunch near Playa Forti. Sitting there with the view and watching people cliff jump nearby gave us a second to reset before heading back out and the food was really good too.
If you want something more local, Landhuis Dokterstuin has a completely different feel—open-air, still traditional, and the food was solid.
We did stop at Playa Daaibooi, and the water is beautiful with a good snorkeling spot, but it just didn’t compare to the other beaches we went to. The beach is rockier, and it felt more like a water sports rental spot than somewhere you’d want to hang out for a few hours.
A lunch stop I’d skip would be Marfa’s Good Hangout. The food was fresh, but it just wasn’t our favorite compared to other places we ate. If you’re nearby and it’s convenient, it’s not bad—it just didn’t stand out as much as other spots we tried.
After doing this, the pacing made a big difference.
If I had to narrow it down, I’d start at Playa Piskado early for the turtles, then pick either Cas Abao or Playa Kenepa Grandi and stay there longer.
That gives you something unique and one beach you can actually enjoy without watching the clock.
We stayed in Willemstad, and it made this whole plan easier (plus the food there…need I say more).
If you’re figuring that part out, browsing hotels here will get you a great deal and keeps you close to restaurants but still within reach of the west side beaches.
By the end of the day, it was clear the west side beach hopping in Curaçao has some of the best beaches on the island, but trying to check all of them off in one go is an olympic sport. I would pick a few and stay put longer to make the whole day feel better (and significantly less chaotic getting in and out of the car every hour).
If you’re mapping out your full trip, I break everything down day by day in Curaçao 5 Day Itinerary: What to Do in 5 Days.
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.
