Mar 5, 2018, 8:04 pm
Last edit by: hhoope01
This thread refers to the various Marriott brands within a specific geographic area. Marriott Bonvoy hotels in XX usually have posts asking which property is better, etc. Trip reports are usually better suited in the property specific threads.
Marriott Bonvoy hotels in Curacao
Apr 23, 2015, 6:05 am
#286
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Rewards - LTPP
Posts: 4,240
May 9, 2015, 10:34 am
#287
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: SAN
Programs: AS MVP 100K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, UA 1MM,
Posts: 1,713
Here's a write up for both the Ren and the Marriott. The Marriott was a clear winner for us, and we were fortunate enough to have spent a full week there. The Renaissance was a one night stay for us after a flight issue that kept us in paradise one more day. 
Both properties are great, but there are differences based on what you are looking for.
Renaissance
The Renaissance is a beautiful hotel that is only a few years old. It is close to everything and very walkable to most of Willmestad.
Grounds - the artificial beach and Infiniti pool is neat, but no replacement for the real thing. It would be a lot more of a benefit if you weren't on a Caribbean island surrounded by some of the most beautiful beaches. The beach actually sits on the second floor, above some shops in the outdoor mall area which are all around the perimeter of the hotel. There seems to be a lot of activity around this hotel, events inside and out of the hotel, and lots of locals coming to the nice casino.
Rooms - even staying on points, on the lowest level (interior/no view), we were upgraded. To an ocean view room, but we were only staying one night. The rooms are beautifully decorated, they seem very modern, and it seemed most, if not all, had balconies. There are rooms that face the ocean, and rooms that face interior atriums, so views can vary. The fourth floor would have the best view of the ocean, since the palm trees wouldn't obstruct the view as much. The second floor ocean view might be quite obstructed as it looks over the back of the pool.
Platinum benefits - breakfast only included a continental breakfast for one, even though there were two of us staying. This meant anything cold in the breakfast buffet - fruit, muffins, breads and cereals. The retail value of this is $18 USD so you can upgrade to the full buffet ($26) for $8. Keep in mind, many of the servers are just okay at speaking English, so if you aren't bilingual, you might get some puzzled looks if you explain that the breakfast is complimentary. In our experience, they had to get a supervisor who was perfectly familiar with this process. Plan for plenty of time to eat, an hour at times. On this island, there is no such thing as a quick meal.
I found the Platinum treatment at the Marriott to be much better, and with a full breakfast included for both of us, this would be a significant benefit over the course of a week. In fact, the two full breakfast buffets, or anything off of the menu at the Marriott, was worth $50-65/day.
Service - I am comparing the service here to both the rest of the island and to the Marriott Curacao. The renaissance staff is polite, but very business like. The Marriott was warm, friendly, and had some of the best service I have experienced at a resort. I knew most of the Marriott staff by name by the end of six days there and they knew mine by the end of the first. I would stay at the Renaissance again, but only for a short stay of 1-3 nights. The beachfront resort of the Marriott, wins for me, hands down, as a true vacation destination with the top notch service to go with it. At the Renaissance, as well as the rest of the island, the employees all try very hard to please you, everyone noticeably puts in a lot of effort in. It's just not fast at all, so slow down all of your expectations, and exchange lots of smiles for the best experience.
Marriott
The service here is outstanding, and if you are here for at least a few days, you will get to meet some of the friendliest Marriott employees in the system. I knew most of the Marriott staff by name by the end of six days there and they knew mine by the end of the first.
Impressive to me was the wifi coverage here. It didn't really matter where you were, you could easily connect to it. Even out on the beach, at the Board Room, which is far from the main buildings, at the pool, and everywhere in the lobby.
Platinum benefits - I found the Platinum treatment at the Marriott to be much better than the Renaissance, take a look at my review of that property. From reading Flyertalk.com, breakfast being included for Platinums is a new thing. I hope that stays because it's a great benefit. This was a full breakfast included for both of us, which was a choice of the buffet or anything from the menu. They never seemed to mind if we ordered more than one thing though, again, their service is amazing. At the time we were there, breakfast was only served in the Palms, which is all outdoor seating I think. Some days can be humid, but the breeze is even more coveted. Choose your seating strategically if you need to, there are seats along the outside that get much more breeze than others. Of course, these seats also have more birds and flies surrounding them. Do not leave food unattended on your table. The birds are clever and will steal it! The flies are not shy either, be forewarned. The buffet is pretty extensive, with a mix of European and American options, as well as an omelet station manned by Paulette, who is guaranteed to serve you with a smile.
Both properties are great, but there are differences based on what you are looking for.
Renaissance
The Renaissance is a beautiful hotel that is only a few years old. It is close to everything and very walkable to most of Willmestad.
Grounds - the artificial beach and Infiniti pool is neat, but no replacement for the real thing. It would be a lot more of a benefit if you weren't on a Caribbean island surrounded by some of the most beautiful beaches. The beach actually sits on the second floor, above some shops in the outdoor mall area which are all around the perimeter of the hotel. There seems to be a lot of activity around this hotel, events inside and out of the hotel, and lots of locals coming to the nice casino.
Rooms - even staying on points, on the lowest level (interior/no view), we were upgraded. To an ocean view room, but we were only staying one night. The rooms are beautifully decorated, they seem very modern, and it seemed most, if not all, had balconies. There are rooms that face the ocean, and rooms that face interior atriums, so views can vary. The fourth floor would have the best view of the ocean, since the palm trees wouldn't obstruct the view as much. The second floor ocean view might be quite obstructed as it looks over the back of the pool.
Platinum benefits - breakfast only included a continental breakfast for one, even though there were two of us staying. This meant anything cold in the breakfast buffet - fruit, muffins, breads and cereals. The retail value of this is $18 USD so you can upgrade to the full buffet ($26) for $8. Keep in mind, many of the servers are just okay at speaking English, so if you aren't bilingual, you might get some puzzled looks if you explain that the breakfast is complimentary. In our experience, they had to get a supervisor who was perfectly familiar with this process. Plan for plenty of time to eat, an hour at times. On this island, there is no such thing as a quick meal.
I found the Platinum treatment at the Marriott to be much better, and with a full breakfast included for both of us, this would be a significant benefit over the course of a week. In fact, the two full breakfast buffets, or anything off of the menu at the Marriott, was worth $50-65/day.
Service - I am comparing the service here to both the rest of the island and to the Marriott Curacao. The renaissance staff is polite, but very business like. The Marriott was warm, friendly, and had some of the best service I have experienced at a resort. I knew most of the Marriott staff by name by the end of six days there and they knew mine by the end of the first. I would stay at the Renaissance again, but only for a short stay of 1-3 nights. The beachfront resort of the Marriott, wins for me, hands down, as a true vacation destination with the top notch service to go with it. At the Renaissance, as well as the rest of the island, the employees all try very hard to please you, everyone noticeably puts in a lot of effort in. It's just not fast at all, so slow down all of your expectations, and exchange lots of smiles for the best experience.
Marriott
The service here is outstanding, and if you are here for at least a few days, you will get to meet some of the friendliest Marriott employees in the system. I knew most of the Marriott staff by name by the end of six days there and they knew mine by the end of the first.
Impressive to me was the wifi coverage here. It didn't really matter where you were, you could easily connect to it. Even out on the beach, at the Board Room, which is far from the main buildings, at the pool, and everywhere in the lobby.
Platinum benefits - I found the Platinum treatment at the Marriott to be much better than the Renaissance, take a look at my review of that property. From reading Flyertalk.com, breakfast being included for Platinums is a new thing. I hope that stays because it's a great benefit. This was a full breakfast included for both of us, which was a choice of the buffet or anything from the menu. They never seemed to mind if we ordered more than one thing though, again, their service is amazing. At the time we were there, breakfast was only served in the Palms, which is all outdoor seating I think. Some days can be humid, but the breeze is even more coveted. Choose your seating strategically if you need to, there are seats along the outside that get much more breeze than others. Of course, these seats also have more birds and flies surrounding them. Do not leave food unattended on your table. The birds are clever and will steal it! The flies are not shy either, be forewarned. The buffet is pretty extensive, with a mix of European and American options, as well as an omelet station manned by Paulette, who is guaranteed to serve you with a smile.
May 9, 2015, 1:30 pm
#288
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Rewards - LTPP
Posts: 4,240
Marriott
The service here is outstanding, and if you are here for at least a few days, you will get to meet some of the friendliest Marriott employees in the system. I knew most of the Marriott staff by name by the end of six days there and they knew mine by the end of the first.
The service here is outstanding, and if you are here for at least a few days, you will get to meet some of the friendliest Marriott employees in the system. I knew most of the Marriott staff by name by the end of six days there and they knew mine by the end of the first.
Jun 27, 2015, 8:36 am
#290
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: SPG/MR Plat, HH Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 159
Platinum benefits diminished
here in curacao at the Marriott.
As a plat, now expect:
30% off the $28 breakfast buffet
Free internet
5 coupons of $20 off a massage (non-combinable)
That's it folks. Free breakfast was replaced by 50% off. Then was lowered to 30% off.
Also, don't expect to get the same answer from staff - everyone keeps quoting different benefits and percentages because management has done a poor job of telling them the updates. Unfortunately it's up to management at check-out to apply the discount and this is what they are now using.
As a plat, now expect:
30% off the $28 breakfast buffet
Free internet
5 coupons of $20 off a massage (non-combinable)
That's it folks. Free breakfast was replaced by 50% off. Then was lowered to 30% off.
Also, don't expect to get the same answer from staff - everyone keeps quoting different benefits and percentages because management has done a poor job of telling them the updates. Unfortunately it's up to management at check-out to apply the discount and this is what they are now using.
Dec 13, 2015, 7:21 pm
#291
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 12,072
Reading the reviews and posts about this property, I am inclined to believe that you have to "go with the flow" IOW, it can be a great property and stay OR not.
Headed to Curacao early February 2016 and have not decided why I should or should not stay here
Headed to Curacao early February 2016 and have not decided why I should or should not stay here
Dec 13, 2015, 8:46 pm
#292
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SNA
Posts: 18,241
Free breakfast for Plats was first reported in April 2015, and reported gone in June 2015, and for many years before that was not available, so I would say don't count on that.
The island as a whole has some service standard issues. We've been 3 times and had a great time each time, but you have to seriously adjust your expectations. Everywhere, not just at the Marriott. The people are all nice, just don't be surprised by places being closed for no reasons with no notification and very slow service at restaurants and other establishments.
We have gotten upgraded to ocean front rooms every single time.
The island as a whole has some service standard issues. We've been 3 times and had a great time each time, but you have to seriously adjust your expectations. Everywhere, not just at the Marriott. The people are all nice, just don't be surprised by places being closed for no reasons with no notification and very slow service at restaurants and other establishments.
We have gotten upgraded to ocean front rooms every single time.
Feb 7, 2016, 7:06 am
#294
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: marriott platinum
Posts: 11
Curacao Marriott Breakfast
Coming to Marriott Curacao in March. Can anyone confirm from a recent stay the current policy for breakfast discounts for Plats (LT). This would be helpful for me to choose between a resort credit package (if there is a discount) and a true breakfast package (if there is no discount).
Feb 7, 2016, 12:19 pm
#295
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,142
Coming to Marriott Curacao in March. Can anyone confirm from a recent stay the current policy for breakfast discounts for Plats (LT). This would be helpful for me to choose between a resort credit package (if there is a discount) and a true breakfast package (if there is no discount).
Cheers.
Feb 9, 2016, 7:15 am
#297
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Midwest
Programs: Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Diamond, AA Plat Pro, UA Silver
Posts: 574
Is there someplace on the website that gives the GM's email? Wanted to inquire about a day stay here in November. Found phone number but would prefer something in writing. ( coming in a cruise and want to spend the day here, checking in 9-10 am and Checking out 8 pm or so)
Sep 1, 2016, 5:29 pm
#299
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: PHX
Posts: 66
Had a week booked here in October. Just got a call that they will be closed for change-of-ownership / renovations for 18 months beginning in September. I'm moving my reservation next door to the Hilton. It's not nearly as nice, but that's the beach I want to be on, and I'll save a few hundred bucks.