snturner:
Can you tell me mroe about your trip to AllWest Apt in Curacao? I am thinking of taking my son there in June for a week. The cost looks good but how about the aprtement? Did you get a rental car? What kind of feeling did you get about leaving a car next to the beach while you where in the water? Based on your email it sounds like there is lots of shore diving close to AllWest. Is that correct.
Thanks for your reply. Scott
We have spent 6 weeks total at Allwest and can't wait to return. My boyfriend always does our research for any trips that we do and he found us a perfect place on Curacao. The apts cost $90 and have a nice queen size bed, and unless they have changed the living room furniture, the couch is a sleeper but not of high quality, would be ok for small kids. The studios are $60 a night and they have a bed that appears to be a queen, but actually is 2 separate mattresses framed next to each other. I would believe that a studio would meet your needs. One can always lounge out on the deck at night in a lounge-type chair.
Kitchenettes are small, stove, oven, refrig, coffee maker, toaster, some units may have a blender. We always take one with us and we leave it there. Best store for grocery supplies in the Centrum market which is not far from the airport. Great bakery, deli, fresh fruits. Water is safe to drink on the island. There is a phone for island calling in the rooms, but to call the states you have to use the phone outside in the parking lot with a phone card that you can purchase, Jaunchies one of the local food places sells them at the bar.
We always rent a truck from them and they give a 10% discount for stay/rental/dive package. You really can't beat their rates. They also offer boat dives. It is a really laided back place, no TV's, we usually bring a small CD player. Tanks are available 24/7 and there are many great shoredives near the westend of the island. I could dive Playa Kalki daily, it is just incredible. I saw my first Blue Conger eel, six feet long, the color of KY blue swimming about on the reef on a night dive there. We always dive the house reef, especially at night. There is a great underwater statue of Neptune in about 35 feet of water just west of the little fishing pier. Makes a great photo. On Sunday's there is a little local bbq down at the little fishing pier.
Have you checked out
www.shorediving.com? It has great details about the sites on Curacao. The furthest east we have been was Vaarensenbaai, it is a great dive but close to town. My husband did dive the superior producer from shore with a buddy from the apts, us girls opted out of it since the surf looked pretty rough and they said the surge may for a very hairy safety stop. I understand that the earlier in the day you do this dive from shore the better the conditions are. They dove it in the afternoon.
Cas Abo and Porta Marie both are great shore dives, but you have to pay a small fee to use the facilities there. Take a few tanks and spend the day. There are great dives along the Landhuis San Juan, it is private so very little chance of having theft issues there. You pay 5 guilders to enter, take tanks, water and snacks and spend the day there. The guy who owns the landhuis let us tour the landhuis when we were there, it was cool to see the inside. The road up and over the hill to get down to the beaches was a trip, very steep and bumpy, we were glad we had the truck, we actually made a wrong turn, ended up on an old road that was overgrown, but did see wild pigs in the woods, the downhill ride on that old road was very steep.
Wet suit city was great, airplane wreck was just little pieces, but do take the road up and over to Sunset Water Resort and check out the views even if you don't dive there. We also liked Playa Lugun, Playa Jerami, and Big and little Knip, Big knip is a longer swim to get out to the reef but it's a lovely swim.
There are other great sites, 2 of the best boat dives are done by Allwest, Watamula and Mushroom Forest. Hope this helps and if you need to ask for more info just hollar.
If you do go and meet Louis, tell him that Rob and Sharon Schoenthaler say hey.
Sharon
As far as leaving a vehicle, it is the islands and like so many there are always people willing to take advantage if given opportunity. We have never had any problems, we always leave the vehicle unlocked and leave nothing of great value behind. I have 2 water resistent underwater cases that go under with me, one for driver's license and a little money, the other for my glasses, would hate to have to wear my mask topside to see. I take old shoes and have never lost them. We always take a 2L bottle of frozen water with us and it has never disappeared.
Louis is the owner of Allwest and he has become a good friend. We love this guy. He or one of his crew usually meets us at the airport. Once you get to the apts, just look around for someone to let you in, there is no front desk. Do have Louis's phone number with you upon arrival, just in case there is a mix up of some sorts and no one is there to direct you.
