Hey Gang...

My husband and i were contemplating a trip to curacao this January and were wondering if anyone had been recently. The few postings on the site are very old...

Thanks a ton,

 

Has anyone ever attended pride weekend in Curacao? I've been feeling kind of over my gay travel spots of late and am curious about something new. I've also seen very little of the Caribbean and would be interested to travel down there anyway.

 

I was in Curacao this past March when my Atlantis cruise stopped there. From what I can recall, there isn't even a gay bar but the whole community is very tolerant. The locals gays tried unsucessfully to a local t-dance, but the weather was uncooperative. I don't think I'd consider the island a gay destination or anything similar. Gays are accepted but there is nothing special for us there if you know what I mean.

 

Thanks for the response. I suppose the next question is whether other people are planning to travel down there that weekend for the events.

 

Here is a promotional email that I received for the events that was generated by the Cura�ao Tourist Board:

VISIT CURA�AO FOR “GET WET” PRIDE WEEKEND! - SEP 24-27, 2009 The Caribbean island of Cura�ao invites you to join them in celebrating their diversity and gay friendliness at their fifth annual “Get Wet” Weekend.

By booking your ‘Get Wet’ Weekend getaway now, you will be able to take advantage of Cura�ao’s incredible island-wide savings package called “Cura�ao Now” and receive $200 per person credit on airline tickets, $200 food & beverage credit, a Free Night and more! To learn more about “Cura�ao Now”, visit www.curacao.com/now


This special four-day event is filled with small parties, relaxing gatherings and other social affairs. From September 24-27, Cura�ao Gay Plasa, the weekend’s organizer, has a host of activities planned including the popular “NaviGAYtion” Boat and Sunset Lounge parties. In addition, several of the island’s best hotels are offering discounted room rates for visitors during ‘Get Wet’ Weekend. The Floris Suite Hotel, Avila Hotel, the Hilton Cura�ao and the Hotel Kur� Hulanda, Spa and Casino (just to mention a few) are enticing travelers with rates as low as $259 for 3 night packages that include taxes, airport transfers and the NaviGAYtion Boat party entrance fee. Travelers are invited to visit www.gaycuracao.com for schedule of activities.


With the largest International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association membership in the Caribbean, the island of Cura�ao is a true gay-friendly destination. The dedicated destination website www.gayCuracao.com lists the island's gay-friendly weekend hot spots, parties, hotels, dive-operators, an interactive message board and much more.

For more information about Cura�ao and to receive a free destination DVD, click here or call 1-800-3-CURA�AO (1-800-328-7222).

 

They planned it the same weekend as Folsom. Boo.

 

My partner and I have been thinking of Curacao. I doubt we can go in 2009, but maybe 2010, and if not (or if so and it's great) 2011 for sure.

 

Hi,

Bumping this thread up, since I'm heading down this weekend. Any suggestions? Hotels?

Thanks!
Andy

 

Hi Andy,

My partner and I did go in 2011 and loved it. We really didn't do anything gay, though our hotel (Hilton Cura�ao) had a good percent of gay and lesbian guests, as well as plane loads of dutch boys on holiday. We're going back late next month.

 

Ah, perfect. That's helpful. There's a 4 star on Hotwire that looks like it might be the Hilton. How was the location? It seems a little north of the main action in Wilemstaad. Did that bother you?

 

The Hilton is a few minutes drive from Willemstad, but has a shuttle a few times a day, plus taxis. We used the shuttle at first, then rented a car from a very inexpensive place that picked us up and when we were done dropped us at the airport.

 

Wonderful. Thanks again.

 

You're there now? Have a great time! Tell us all about it.

 

It was ok, not particularly great. I was there only for a couple of days, staying at the Floris Suites Hotel. I'm not a huge fan of travel in the Caribbean, anyway, so anything I say should be considered in that light. Nor am I really a beach person.

I thought Willemstad was a pretty fascinating mix of cultures, language and people and reasonably pretty. Last weekend they had some sort of cultural event with lots of live music scattered throughout the city, which was great. I wish I had stayed downtown -- staying out by the Floris (which is accross the street from the Hilton and Marriott) was a mistake. It turns out cabs to and from the city are $15 each way, a hefty sum for a ride that takes at most ten minutes.

I couldn't find any gay whatsoever. The closest was the bar Otra Cosa, which on Saturday night had a few. Other than that, though, nothing. It appears that Lyric's Cafe is closed. There's something called the Rainbow Lounge at the Floris, but it was completely empty Sat. night. And though the gay tourism group advertised a pool party at the Floris for Sunday afternoon (last Sun of the month), nothing.

Which is fine!! I spent a lovely couple of solitary days at the pool and beach with my book and wandering Willemstad. But I don't feel the need to go back to Curacao anytime soon.

Now getting back to NYC last week, on the other hand. I got stuck in Miami for nearly a week. (And yes, I was able to find some gays there...)