Stingray City

If you are planning a vacation to the Cayman Islands, you may be tempted to just spend your vacation relaxing by the beach, especially if your resort is located on Seven Mile Beach.  However, you’d be missing out on some fabulous activities, so it’s really in your best interest to try to fit in some action along with your relaxation time.

Regardless of your swimming experience, you’ll definitely want to book one of the many boats that travel to Stingray City.  You’ll stand in chest-deep water while the stingray really do swim all around you.  Each boat generally travels with a handler who will show you how to hold the stingray.  Definitely make sure you pack your waterproof camera – there are lots of photo opportunities.

My favorite activity of Grand Cayman was the Cayman Turtle Farm, where we saw giant turtles, held the young turtles, and swam in the lagoon.  If you visit the turtle farm early in the day, you can also snorkel in their pond which is full of sea life.

Rum Point

While Seven Mile Beach is definitely the more touristy (and convenient) beach, if you have access to a car, make the trip about an hour across the island to Rum Point, a public beach.  It’s easily one of the most beautiful spots on the island, and you can spend the entire day there.  There’s a bar, restaurant, and Red Sail Sports kiosk to rent snorkel equipment, wave runners, and kayaks.  While you’re on that side of the island, you may want to do a tour of the Blue Iguana Recovery Program, which is located in the Queen Elizabeth II Botanical Park.  It’s nearly impossible to see these native iguanas outside of the program, and it’s a great educational tour for kids (but make sure you book in advance).

While there are so many things you can do in the Caymans, you will want to save some time for relaxing on the beach – the sand and water is nearly perfect.

This is a guest post by Jodi Grundig of Family Travel Magazine. Photos are courtesy of Jodi Grundig.  Meals, travel, activities and accommodations were provided at no cost for purposes of review.

Take your pick of three swimming pools at the Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina

Caribbean Vibe with Dutch Hospitality

When traveling in other countries, sometimes I am embarrassed by the lack of foreign languages that I speak.  The Europeans routinely speak three to five languages to my two, if you count my rusty  high school and college Spanish.  On a trip to Curacao, I learned that the locals spoke Papiamentu, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and English. While flip flops and sandals were the preferred footwear of choice over wooden clogs from the Netherlands, there was a strong Dutch influence on the island of Curacao in the Dutch Caribbean.

Located at Santa Barbara Plantation, the Hyatt Regency Curacao opened in April of 2010 and is a full-service Dutch Caribbean resort, situated on 27 acres  between the Caribbean Sea and Spanish Water Bay. The largest island of the Caribbean trio universally referred to as the ABC Islands, Curacao is located only 35 miles from Aruba and Venezuela. Curacao’s southern coast, with its vibrant blue waters, offers scuba diving, snorkeling and sailing.

Relax at Hyatt Regency Curacao's private Barbara Beach on the Spanish Water Bay

The snorkeling at Curacao was top notch. I have snorkeled in Hawaii and many places in Mexico, including Paradise Reef in Cozumel, Mexico – one of Jacques Cousteau’s favorite dive locations.

Hyatt Regency Curacao open air lobby

Gourmet Dining to Family-Friendly Activities at Hyatt Regency Curacao

If you are anything like my family, you’ll have a golfer, shopper, swimmer and horseback rider in the group, all wanting to go in different directions. The same thing applies to food choices; one likes seafood, while the other prefers steak and potatoes. While you won’t find any  Stroopwafels on the menu, I did see  Bitterballen, a Dutch fried meatball, offered on the room service menu. I ordered the Saffron Risotto, with shrimp, scallion and pecorino and was not disappointed. Impressive quality and speedy service is what I have come to expect from Hyatt Regency Resorts, and once again, the Hyatt delivered. If you enjoy seafood, the open air SHOR restaurant, over-looking the Caribbean Sea, is not to be missed.

The Hyatt Regency Curacao, with its golf course, swimming pools, private Barbara Beach, tennis courts and Camp Arawak Kid’s Camp (ages 3-12) will keep everyone happy. I spent a lovely morning visiting downtown Willemstad and had lunch at Marshe Bieuw at the Old Market. Joining me at the communal table was a Curacao police officer. With the low crime rate in Curacao, I would feel comfortable sending my teenagers together on the downtown shuttle to Willemstad in the day time – $12 per person roundtrip.

Hyatt Regency Curacao Waterview King, Room #1306 faces the Caribbean Sea

ACCOMMODATION
• 350 guestrooms, including 15 suites, 16 Sea Traditions rooms, 195 kings,
128 doubles, and 12 accessible rooms
All accommodations offer:
• Full balcony or patio
• Hyatt Grand Bed™
• Voice mail, telephone with message light, wireless and wired Internet access port
• Flat-screen plasma television with remote
• Electronic lock
• In-room safety-deposit box
• Deluxe bath amenities
• Tea pot
• Iron / ironing board
• Mini refrigerator
• iHome® alarm clock radio

Sea Traditions Suite #3101 with spa bathroom perfect for honeymooners

SERVICES & FACILITIES
• 1-800-CHECK-IN®
• Concierge
• Business center
• Car rental desk
• Multilingual staff
• Assistive devices for persons with disabilities
• Safe-deposit boxes at front desk
• Airport Shuttle service available at a nominal fee
• Valet and self-parking
• Gift shops
• In-room dining
• Tour desk

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
• The property features  the Old Quarry Golf Course, an 18-hole, par 72 golf course designed by Pete Dye.
It is approximately 7,200 yards, includes a driving range, a 3,000-square-foot pro
shop and the 5,000-square-foot Shor restaurant. Lessons and caddies are available
• 4,500-square-foot ATABEI Spa has four treatment rooms, including a couples
treatment room
• 24-hour Hyatt Stay Fit fitness center features state-of-the-art fitness and
weight-training equipment
• Three full-service restaurants (Shor, Medi & Swim)
• Four lounges
• Three outdoor pools
• Four clay tennis courts
• Camp Arawak

Activities include:

• Bicycling and jogging trails
• Diving
• Golf
• Snorkeling
• ATABEI Spa
• Swimming
• Tennis – four  clay courts
• Beach Volleyball
• wifi (additional charge)

Connect with Social Media:

Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina  is on Twitter and you may friend the resort on Facebook.

If You Go:

Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina

Santa Barbara Plantation, Porta Blancu, Nieuwpoort ,
Curacao, Dutch Caribbean

Photos courtesy of  Travel Writer Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip, Travels from Northern California.

I was a guest of Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina.

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Curacao Hotels

Visiting colorful Curacao? Save time for a trip to Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage site

Are you visiting Curaçao for the first time? Below is a list of “Insider Tips” for things to see and do in dushi Korsou – the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao.

Did you know that downtown Willemstad, in the Dutch Caribbean of Curacao, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

If you are looking for typical Curaçaon cuisine, I recommend Jaanchie’s on the West end of the island.

Looking for a quiet place to escape and unplug from the digital world? Check out one of the beautiful beaches on the western part of the island.

When you come to Curacao, takes pictures at the Floating Market in Willemstad

When you come to Curaçao, take your picture on the floating bridge in front of the colorful Handelskade.

The best item on the menu at Restaurant La Bahia, is the Keshi Yena (Stuffed Gouda Cheese).

Seeing a lot of Iguanas on the island? Curaçao is best known for Iguana soup – oh my!

Plenty of Iguanas to be found in Curacao

Looking for cheap and authentic food in Curaçao, go to Marshe Bieuw, the Old Market, in downtown Willemstad – where the locals eat.

For quality Swiss and French cuisine, go to the five star Bistro Le Clochard.

In Curaçao, take your picture with an ostrich at the Ostrich Farm!

For your best pictures and viewing, walk to the top of Riffort Village.

The Fort Nassau offers great views and Handleskade is the best place to watch or experience the Heineken Regatta Curacao.

In Curaçao, outdoor enthusiasts will want to hike Christoffel Park or hop on one of Eric’s ATVs.

Looking for a little exercise? Walk along the Jan Thiel walkway.

If you are a museum lover, Curaçao’s best museum is Kura Hulanda Museum.

Ready to enjoy a night out on the town? For a night of dancing, go to Mambo Beach.

Eat authentic Curacao food at Marshe Bieuw in Willemstad, Curacao

The Truk’i Pan  – a food truck,  is the spot for late night dining.

K-Pasa, offers movie reviews and will keep you posted on what’s happening in Curaçao.

You can tell a lot about Curaçao from visiting and watching Carnival, the island’s Mardi Gras!

In the spring you should attend Curaçao Kite Festival.

In the summer you should plan a trip with Substation Curaçao.

Did you know that Curaçao is known for its annual North Sea Jazz Festival? Plan a visit to Curaçao in the fall, this Labor Day weekend.

Come to Curaçao for pagaras and firework events in the winter – all the local business participate.

Visit Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue in Willemstad, Curacao. The oldest synagogue in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere.

Insider Tip:  Check out the often over-looked Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue in Curaçao. The oldest synagogue still in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere.

Go to Landhuis Daniel for a great breakfast treat or coffee.

If you are looking for a dolphin experience, just outside of Willemstad you can visit Dolphin Academy, and have lunch at the Seaside Terrace.

Do you plan to travel around the entire island of Curacao? You’ll need to rent a car. I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Curacao, which offers transportation to the resort from the airport and an inexpensive shuttle service to downtown Willemstad.

Don’t miss the Sea Aquarium if you have kids traveling with you.

What are your favorite things to do in one of the Caribbean ABC islands of Auruba, Bonaire and Curacao?

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Thanks to Curacao Tourism for assistance with this post. I was a guest of Hyatt Regency Curacao.