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Phone: +58 (212) 263.1820 / 265.2433/ 236.1940, Fax: +58 (212) 263.9119, info@alboradavenezuela.com
Phone: +58 (212) 263.1820 / 265.2433/ 236.1940, Fax: +58 (212) 263.9119, info@alboradavenezuela.com
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Travel Tips
Curaçao
Local time
Curaçao is on Atlantic Standard Time, one hour later than US Eastern Standard Time and four hours earlier than Greenwich Mean Time. During the summer, Curaçao has the same time as some of the cities in the U.S. but during winter, the time changes again to one hour later. In summertime, in Amsterdam it's 6 hours later than in Curaçao, but during winter it becomes 5 hours. So, during winter, when in New York it is 9:00 am, in Curaçao it is 10:00 am and in Amsterdam it is 3:00 pm.
Electricity
Curaçao's electricity is 127/120 VAC at 50 cycles. This means that most appliances made in the USA (60 cycles) will work well, except for electrical devices with internal time mechanisms. For electrical appliances from the USA, you do not need an adapter plug. We use the same two-pronged flat plugs as in the States. Visitors from Europe will need an adapter plug for their round-pronged plugs. These can be found anywhere on the island, and most hotels keep them in stock and in the rooms as well. Only dual-voltage appliances from Europe can be used on the island.
Water and food
Water
Not only is water in Curaçao safe to drink; it is of the finest quality. The Curaçao's distillery, known as Aqualectra, produces water of excellent quality. It is soft, contains no chloride and little calcium, is tasteless and odorless, and has a good bacteriological composition. Very safe to drink.
Food
Tourists have many dining options when visiting Curaçao. Travelers on a budget have many choices, from affordable local food to American fast food and local pizza joints. Other restaurants may serve local and international cuisine at reasonable prices. Diners looking for an inexpensive meal at these types of establishments in Curaçao can eat for anywhere from $5(USD) to $15(USD).
The island also hosts a number of nice eating establishments and hotel restaurants. Chinese, Thai, and Indonesian food are readily available on the island. Italian and French food, along with Latin American food and steakhouses, can also be found. Moderately priced meals on the island will cost travelers from $15(USD) to $30(USD), while the most expensive international cuisines will cost more than $30(USD) per meal.
Vaccines
Curaçao has no malaria or similar tropical diseases, and no vaccinations are needed to visit.
Shopping
Curaçao has been a major trade center for hundred of years, so it's no surprising that stores are stocked with quality items from around the world.
Punda is the city's commercial center, with several upscale boutiques selling fashionable designer clothing, perfumes, imported linens and expensive jewelry. Dozens of small shops sell electronics, souvenirs and bargain clothing.
Heerenstraat and Madurostraat are wide pedestrian malls, closed to traffic.
Otrobanda's main shopping street, Breedestraat/Roodeweg, is bustling, particularly on Saturday mornings. People in Curaçao like to shop in this street.
If you're lucky, your visit will coincide with a street fair or holiday flea market. When major cruise ships are in port, city merchants organize a festive Bon Biní (Welcome) marketplace in Punda. Vendors sell colorful paintings and wood carvings from other Caribbean islands at several plazas and at the round market.
Among the most popular small shopping malls outside the city center are Bloempot, Saliña Galleries, Promenade, and the 77 complex on Jan Noorduynweg. The Free Zone, adjacent to the seaport, sells electronics and bargain clothing in quantity.
Store hours vary but are approximately 8:30am - noon and 2:00 - 6:00 pm, Monday-Saturday. Stores and banks are closed on official holidays. Willemstad stores are occasionally open on Sundays if a large cruise ship is in port.
Most stores accept US dollars and major international credit cards; prices are fixed and there is no bartering. Shop employees are generally fluent in English and Spanish. Many stores are air-conditioned.
Tipping
Hotel bills in Curaçao generally include both a government sales tax and a service charge. The government room tax will be 7 percent of the bill, while the service charge will come to 12 percent. Additionally, bellhops and porters should generally receive $1(USD) per bag. Cleaning service staff should be left a few dollars per night. Travelers should always check with their hotel or resort for tipping policies. Many all-inclusive resorts prohibit additional tips to their staff as a result of the included service charge. Restaurants in Curaçao have a sales tax of 5 percent of the bill. Additionally, many restaurants also include a service charge of 10 percent to 15 percent of the bill. Travelers who were pleased with the level of service and friendliness that they have received can leave an extra 5 percent to 10 percent on top of the included service charge.
Vacationers who choose to use taxis as their primary means of transportation around the island may also want to set aside money for tips. Taxi drivers will often help with luggage and can also act as friendly guides to sites around the island. While tipping is not mandatory, most visitors tip taxi drivers around 10 percent of the fare.
Banks
Banks are open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The airport bank is open Monday through Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Selected banks branches have ATM's that disburse US dollars which are accepted almost everywhere, contrary to traveler's checks. Bills of US$ 50 and 100 can be hard to cash. International credit cards are accepted at most major commercial establishments. Debit Cards are accepted at large shops and supermarkets. The larger denominations of guilder bills (100 and 250) are hard to cash for small purchases. There are currently two versions of guilder coins in circulation.
Taxi hints
Taxis are easy to recognize by their signs and the TX on their registration plates. The prices are based for 1-4 people from 6 am-11pm. A fifth person costs 25% more. After 11pm there is 25% surcharge. Passengers should agree a price for the journey with the driver first. There are taxi stands at the airport, hotels and Sha Caprileskade in punda. Taxi Company: Main Office: tel: 869-0747 Complaints: 869-0747
Driving Laws
Driving takes place on the right-hand side of the road. At intersections and traffic circles, yield to traffic coming from your right unless signs indicate otherwise. At all T-crossings, through-going traffic has priority. The speed limit is 45 km/hour in town and residential areas, and 60-80 km/hour outside the city and on the four-lane Ring Road. Most gas stations are full service; a few are open 24 hrs. To drive in Curacao, a valid driver s license is necessary. An international driver's license is not required.
Emergency
In case of an emergency, just dial 917, Curacao s 24-hour tourist emergency line.
Safety and Security
Curaçao is altogether safer than many places in the world today. However, use common sense and take all standard safety precautions. Lock your car and your hotel door when you leave, and don't leave valuables unattended in your room. Most hotels have safety vaults where you can store your valuables.
Cruise visitors should watch out for pickpockets in crowds and should not leave bags unattended or agree to carry packages for anyone. It is recommended not to walk in the small alleys in the town area, and visitors should not walk alone late at night in deserted areas. Additionally, take sensible precautions such as not taking valuables to the beach or wander alone off the main roads at night.
Curaçao is on Atlantic Standard Time, one hour later than US Eastern Standard Time and four hours earlier than Greenwich Mean Time. During the summer, Curaçao has the same time as some of the cities in the U.S. but during winter, the time changes again to one hour later. In summertime, in Amsterdam it's 6 hours later than in Curaçao, but during winter it becomes 5 hours. So, during winter, when in New York it is 9:00 am, in Curaçao it is 10:00 am and in Amsterdam it is 3:00 pm.
Electricity
Curaçao's electricity is 127/120 VAC at 50 cycles. This means that most appliances made in the USA (60 cycles) will work well, except for electrical devices with internal time mechanisms. For electrical appliances from the USA, you do not need an adapter plug. We use the same two-pronged flat plugs as in the States. Visitors from Europe will need an adapter plug for their round-pronged plugs. These can be found anywhere on the island, and most hotels keep them in stock and in the rooms as well. Only dual-voltage appliances from Europe can be used on the island.
Water and food
Water
Not only is water in Curaçao safe to drink; it is of the finest quality. The Curaçao's distillery, known as Aqualectra, produces water of excellent quality. It is soft, contains no chloride and little calcium, is tasteless and odorless, and has a good bacteriological composition. Very safe to drink.
Food
Tourists have many dining options when visiting Curaçao. Travelers on a budget have many choices, from affordable local food to American fast food and local pizza joints. Other restaurants may serve local and international cuisine at reasonable prices. Diners looking for an inexpensive meal at these types of establishments in Curaçao can eat for anywhere from $5(USD) to $15(USD).
The island also hosts a number of nice eating establishments and hotel restaurants. Chinese, Thai, and Indonesian food are readily available on the island. Italian and French food, along with Latin American food and steakhouses, can also be found. Moderately priced meals on the island will cost travelers from $15(USD) to $30(USD), while the most expensive international cuisines will cost more than $30(USD) per meal.
Vaccines
Curaçao has no malaria or similar tropical diseases, and no vaccinations are needed to visit.
Shopping
Curaçao has been a major trade center for hundred of years, so it's no surprising that stores are stocked with quality items from around the world.
Punda is the city's commercial center, with several upscale boutiques selling fashionable designer clothing, perfumes, imported linens and expensive jewelry. Dozens of small shops sell electronics, souvenirs and bargain clothing.
Heerenstraat and Madurostraat are wide pedestrian malls, closed to traffic.
Otrobanda's main shopping street, Breedestraat/Roodeweg, is bustling, particularly on Saturday mornings. People in Curaçao like to shop in this street.
If you're lucky, your visit will coincide with a street fair or holiday flea market. When major cruise ships are in port, city merchants organize a festive Bon Biní (Welcome) marketplace in Punda. Vendors sell colorful paintings and wood carvings from other Caribbean islands at several plazas and at the round market.
Among the most popular small shopping malls outside the city center are Bloempot, Saliña Galleries, Promenade, and the 77 complex on Jan Noorduynweg. The Free Zone, adjacent to the seaport, sells electronics and bargain clothing in quantity.
Store hours vary but are approximately 8:30am - noon and 2:00 - 6:00 pm, Monday-Saturday. Stores and banks are closed on official holidays. Willemstad stores are occasionally open on Sundays if a large cruise ship is in port.
Most stores accept US dollars and major international credit cards; prices are fixed and there is no bartering. Shop employees are generally fluent in English and Spanish. Many stores are air-conditioned.
Tipping
Hotel bills in Curaçao generally include both a government sales tax and a service charge. The government room tax will be 7 percent of the bill, while the service charge will come to 12 percent. Additionally, bellhops and porters should generally receive $1(USD) per bag. Cleaning service staff should be left a few dollars per night. Travelers should always check with their hotel or resort for tipping policies. Many all-inclusive resorts prohibit additional tips to their staff as a result of the included service charge. Restaurants in Curaçao have a sales tax of 5 percent of the bill. Additionally, many restaurants also include a service charge of 10 percent to 15 percent of the bill. Travelers who were pleased with the level of service and friendliness that they have received can leave an extra 5 percent to 10 percent on top of the included service charge.
Vacationers who choose to use taxis as their primary means of transportation around the island may also want to set aside money for tips. Taxi drivers will often help with luggage and can also act as friendly guides to sites around the island. While tipping is not mandatory, most visitors tip taxi drivers around 10 percent of the fare.
Banks
Banks are open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The airport bank is open Monday through Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Selected banks branches have ATM's that disburse US dollars which are accepted almost everywhere, contrary to traveler's checks. Bills of US$ 50 and 100 can be hard to cash. International credit cards are accepted at most major commercial establishments. Debit Cards are accepted at large shops and supermarkets. The larger denominations of guilder bills (100 and 250) are hard to cash for small purchases. There are currently two versions of guilder coins in circulation.
Taxi hints
Taxis are easy to recognize by their signs and the TX on their registration plates. The prices are based for 1-4 people from 6 am-11pm. A fifth person costs 25% more. After 11pm there is 25% surcharge. Passengers should agree a price for the journey with the driver first. There are taxi stands at the airport, hotels and Sha Caprileskade in punda. Taxi Company: Main Office: tel: 869-0747 Complaints: 869-0747
Driving Laws
Driving takes place on the right-hand side of the road. At intersections and traffic circles, yield to traffic coming from your right unless signs indicate otherwise. At all T-crossings, through-going traffic has priority. The speed limit is 45 km/hour in town and residential areas, and 60-80 km/hour outside the city and on the four-lane Ring Road. Most gas stations are full service; a few are open 24 hrs. To drive in Curacao, a valid driver s license is necessary. An international driver's license is not required.
Emergency
In case of an emergency, just dial 917, Curacao s 24-hour tourist emergency line.
Safety and Security
Curaçao is altogether safer than many places in the world today. However, use common sense and take all standard safety precautions. Lock your car and your hotel door when you leave, and don't leave valuables unattended in your room. Most hotels have safety vaults where you can store your valuables.
Cruise visitors should watch out for pickpockets in crowds and should not leave bags unattended or agree to carry packages for anyone. It is recommended not to walk in the small alleys in the town area, and visitors should not walk alone late at night in deserted areas. Additionally, take sensible precautions such as not taking valuables to the beach or wander alone off the main roads at night.