Anyone ever been to Aruba/Bonaire/Curacao?

T

TSSeasider

Well-known member
Long story short, my recently semi-retired father in law is giving us the 1½million air miles he's accumulated over the years (mother in law hates flying, and he's adamant he doesn't want to fly again - having flown so much over the years).

It's the KLM/Air France version.

Anyway, me and MrsTSS are looking at using them to have one last family holiday before the kids do their own thing or can't coordinate annual leave etc etc.

Looking at the KLM options, these islands look gorgeous and are pretty much year round due to no being in the hurricane zone from what I read.

Has anyone been and do you think there's enough to do to keep a 21,19 and 15 year old entertained, or is it really just a beach holiday in paradise with s bit of history?
 
TSSeasider said:
Long story short, my recently semi-retired father in law is giving us the 1½million air miles he's accumulated over the years (mother in law hates flying, and he's adamant he doesn't want to fly again - having flown so much over the years).

It's the KLM/Air France version.

Anyway, me and MrsTSS are looking at using them to have one last family holiday before the kids do their own thing or can't coordinate annual leave etc etc.

Looking at the KLM options, these islands look gorgeous and are pretty much year round due to no being in the hurricane zone from what I read.

Has anyone been and do you think there's enough to do to keep a 21,19 and 15 year old entertained, or is it really just a beach holiday in paradise with s bit of history?
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Did Aruba and Bonaire a few years back. Beautiful places, great beaches and restaurants etc. Don't remember much for kids though it may have changed, more romantic couples etc.

KLM are great BTW
 
Curaçao is a cruise port destination so we were there in January 2018 as part of our Southampton to San Francisco cruise so we only spent a few hours onshore but Willemstad,the capital, is an interesting place with it’s Dutch and South( Central) American,especially Venezuela which is hardly any distance away influence with some interesting and colourful buildings and it’s famous swinging bridge separating the two sides of the coastal inlet.
I believe there are some holiday beaches on the island but can’t comment on them.
We certainly enjoyed our day there.IMG_2733.jpeg
 
As Bleachy said, At Curacao the bridge is certainly novel, and the shopping area is a bit small and some parts tatty.

Some pretty houses and nice views on the 'sail-away'

Worth going, but not to spend a long time at.

Not really a young persons place...go to Barbados instead
 
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Bend it like Suddick said:
As Bleachy said, At Curacao the bridge is certainly novel, and the shopping area is a bit small and some parts tatty.

Some pretty houses and nice views on the 'sail-away'

Worth going, but not to spend a long time at.
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Yes the bridge….good fun when your on it and it moves…this is the view from the shore…Arcadia ( our ship) in the background and Mrs.Bleach in the front 😂IMG_2937.jpeg
 
TwelveAngryMen said:
Can recommend Barbados
Went in Dec to watch the cricket and going back with family next week
Plenty to keep you going on a break and not as expensive as you’d think when there
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Did you do Harrison’s Caves….worth a visit….same cruise😉….and a change from the beach.

We also ate a flying fish burger and visited the fish market to see what they looked like as we’d seen so many live ones as we approached Barbados on our cruise…they really look like birds from the cruise ship as they skim the bow waves😂IMG_2731.jpeg
 
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Done ABC islands a couple of times off cruise ships, some fabulous beaches, remember driving around Bonaire in a golf cart.
Can't think there's much for the kids unless they're into Snorkeling and scuba diving.
 
stan007 said:
KLM flies into Brazil - Rio!
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Rio is fantastic. Stupidly decided to walk to the Maracana to see Flamengo play via the favelas and realised a few years after what a complete thicko Id been and that I lived to tell the tale.

Had passport stolen on bus in the first hour I was there, but with drivers help stopped anybody getting off at the next stop and miraculously it appeared on the floor nowhere near I was standing.

Brilliant food and beaches, great locations to visit, just don't wear any decent jewellery or watches.
 
bleach51 said:
Did you do Harrison’s Caves….worth a visit….same cruise😉….and a change from the beach.

We also ate a flying fish burger and visited the fish market to see what they looked like as we’d seen so many live ones as we approached Barbados on our cruise…they really look like birds from the cruise ship as they skim the bow waves😂View attachment 18781
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Best fish at Oystains on a Friday night in Barbados where you can get virtually any fish cooked in front of you and a bucket of Red Stripe beer.
 
Bend it like Suddick said:
Best fish at Oystains on a Friday night in Barbados where you can get virtually any fish cooked in front of you and a bucket of Red Stripe beer.
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Didn’t have much time after visiting Harrison’s caves but wandered off along the seafront road and we just stumbled across this tiny little cafe with 2 lovely Barbadians ladies cooking in a tiny and very hot kitchen surrounded by small tables.The Flying Fish Burger was nothing like we expected as served with a crispy coleslaw like salad but it was very good.The fish market was equally stumbled across but the array of fish was amazing.

The burger was accompanied by a local beer of course ( well mine was as Mrs.B doesn’t touch alcohol 😂)
 
bleach51 said:
Didn’t have much time after visiting Harrison’s caves but wandered off along the seafront road and we just stumbled across this tiny little cafe with 2 lovely Barbadians ladies cooking in a tiny and very hot kitchen surrounded by small tables.The Flying Fish Burger was nothing like we expected as served with a crispy coleslaw like salad but it was very good.The fish market was equally stumbled across but the array of fish was amazing.

The burger was accompanied by a local beer of course ( well mine was as Mrs.B doesn’t touch alcohol 😂)
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Sounded fantastic Bleachy..love the Caribbean rum shacks and rustic eateries. Barbadians are on the whole lovely people.
 
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