Avila Beach Hotel

The private beaches were great for snorkeling, with lots of fish and coral just beyond the barrier. One interruption during our visit was a wedding scheduled for Saturday: half of the west beach was closed for the whole day. Since our room was on that side, we had to walk around the setup and then the wedding. It may be worth asking about events if you want to avoid a surprise interruption. We enjoyed the food, especially the fish of the day at both restaurants. The restaurants offered good choices and great service, and the hamburgers were huge and cooked to order. The breakfast bar had everything we wanted and more. There was a live band on Thursday, which I was told is a regular feature and not to be missed, as well as a Saturday BBQ night. The bars were good, with consistently better service at the West bar. Mr. Sheldon took great care to keep our drinks coming. Room 287 was spacious, and housekeeping provided excellent daily service. From our west-facing room, we could see the ocean toward Williamsburg.

Snorkeling in the hotel’s protected lagoon-style beach was much better than we expected for something so convenient. We stayed in the Blue Wing at Avila Beach Hotel, and the view from the balcony made it feel as if we were almost out over the water. It gave us a peaceful, immersive ocean feel without being directly above the sea. The hotel is close to Willemstad, so it was easy to enjoy the culture, history, and restaurants, but the beach, amenities, and atmosphere were so enjoyable that we often felt no need to go anywhere. A sunset dinner at The Pen Restaurant was a highlight and a memorable end to one evening. Avila Beach Hotel is a lovely combination of comfort, local culture, and time by the sea. We’d happily stay again.

The hotel’s museum about the island’s connection to Simon Bolivar was small but full of interesting artifacts and photos. We saw it after asking a staff member for access. As a history buff, I was also fascinated by the many photos behind the check-in desk when we arrived at this beautiful, historic hotel. Its website says it is the oldest operating hotel on the island. We moved there halfway through our stay in Curacao, and check-in was smooth. Soon we were looking out at the ocean from our balcony. There are two lovely beaches, a very large pool, and a hot tub that can be difficult to find but is worth the effort. We had no trouble finding beach chairs, and there are at least two bars by the beach. The on-site restaurants were good, and some very good places off site are within walking distance. My only gripe was that the hotel didn’t provide washcloths, although the resort we stayed at earlier in our Curacao visit did.

The food and cocktails were disappointing, without the quality or care that would have made them memorable. The rooms were comfortable, though they looked somewhat dated. Service varied across the property, and some staff interactions felt less warm than I’d expected.