The Ritz Residence

We left on the fourth night after a strange hissing sound beside the bed woke us. It stopped when my husband turned over, but the whole thing left us feeling so uncomfortable that we went somewhere else right away. We’d read recent negative reviews and recognized many of the same problems. We didn’t tell reception because we just wanted to leave and didn’t feel comfortable staying there anymore. The room had a damp, musty, moldy smell that remained after the air freshener used at each cleaning wore off. The towels were changed every day, but smelled foul and didn’t seem clean. The ceiling looked grubby too, and the room and building didn’t feel fresh. We later heard it used to be an ice factory, which might explain the dampness. We booked The Ritz Village through Corendon and found the location somewhat remote, while the room itself was very basic. We wouldn’t stay at The Ritz Village again and can’t recommend it.

The room was clean and pleasant, and it was easy to leave the car there and explore without worrying about it. It’s close to the center, so this is a great place to stay when visiting Curaçao. I’d happily return and recommend it.

The breakfast was the real letdown. It cost extra because it wasn’t part of our booking, and even though we were the first there, it was deplorable: hardly any variety, about three kinds of bread, espresso only, and very little fruit. At night, the area also felt dark and deserted, with abandoned houses and a few homeless people around. They never bothered us and we had no problems with them, but it did feel different from the daytime, when there’s little traffic. Still, I’d return without hesitation. We went in February with my son, and the room was spectacular, huge, with a balcony, a large fully equipped kitchen, laundry facilities, and top-notch decor. The facilities were good, reception staff were friendly, and they sorted out our reservation problem without any fuss. There’s ample parking too. For the price and quality, I’d recommend it. Punda, where the center of Curacao is, is 700 meters away.

The pool has a lovely real sandy beach, and the staff were friendly. We had beautiful views of Scarloo and Pietermaai, with the sea behind them. You can walk from the resort to the pontoon bridge, or Emma Bridge, in 10 minutes, and the town center is charming. There are beautiful buildings along Scarlooweg too.