Curacao in April

[lilnik10]

I am going to Curacao in April and am looking for advice and suggestions for traveling. I will be meeting up with a dive group so the diving will be planned by the group leaders, but this will be my first time travelling outside of the US as well as first time flying with my gear. I will be traveling alone, so needless to say, I am quite nervous having never gone through customs before.

I have already found some good advice for packing my gear. My plan is to pack my regulator/computer, mask and camera in my carryon. In my checked bag will be my BC, wetsuit, fins/booties, O2 analyzer and accessories (lights, SMB, etc.) Also, planning on carrying on a laptop backpack (as my personal item).

A few specific questions:
1) Should I leave the batteries in my computer and camera flashes? How should I transport loose batteries (I will be bringing spares if possible)?
2) Will I need adapters to plug things in to the wall outlets?
3) What kind of currency will I need? Are credit cards accepted?
4) What's the best way of calling back to the US? My parents will be expecting me to check in daily since I have never left the country before and I don't want to go broke callling them.

Any other info any of you may have will be greatly apprieciated!

 

[drrich2]

What's the best way of calling back to the US? My parents will be expecting me to check in daily since I have never left the country before and I don't want to go broke callling them.

When a friend of mine was living on the neighboring island of Bonaire for a year & 4 months, he signed up for a paid Skype account, that wasn't expensive and gave him the capability to call U.S. phone numbers quite cheaply. Seemed to work fine. If you have a computer or similar device and free wifi access, could work for you.

If you're doing a busy day of diving and socializing with your group, I suspect trying to call every day is going to become quite a drag fast. You might try to get them acclimated to the idea of e-mail or a call every other day. Up to you, but even things that sound like small obligations can become a significant pain.

Richard.

 

[diversteve]

I am going to Curacao in April and am looking for advice and suggestions for traveling. I will be meeting up with a dive group so the diving will be planned by the group leaders, but this will be my first time travelling outside of the US as well as first time flying with my gear. I will be traveling alone, so needless to say, I am quite nervous having never gone through customs before.

I have already found some good advice for packing my gear. My plan is to pack my regulator/computer, mask and camera in my carryon. In my checked bag will be my BC, wetsuit, fins/booties, O2 analyzer and accessories (lights, SMB, etc.) Also, planning on carrying on a laptop backpack (as my personal item).

1) Should I leave the batteries in my computer and camera flashes? How should I transport loose batteries (I will be bringing spares if possible)?

If they're Lithium Ion the TSA wants them on the plane with you and not checked. They're likely to just wave you through on Curacao when you depart. I travel with an aluminum video housing - in the U.S. I reliably get stopped - sometimes sniffed. On the screen they see a gray box they can't see thru with wires coming out of it. On Curacao the operator looked at it, said "Video housing?" and waved me through.

Depending on who you're flying with - many of the airlines include the departure tax in your ticket. AA does for certain. So don't pay that at the counter before security twice.

2) Will I need adapters to plug things in to the wall outlets?

Depends on where you're staying. We saw two options - often right next to each other. One looked like a U.S. plug - I think they're actually 127V/50HZ. Most laptops, cell chargers, battery chargers will be OK - if they support that voltage. Things with motors like blow dryers may run slow and hot. The other plug is a round plug that's 220V so don't just buy a simple plug adapter and use it - you need a transformer - unless your charger supports both voltages. I plugged my laptop in anywhere I wanted without issue. Same with my Sony camera charger. Electrical Plug/Outlet and Voltage Information for Curaçao : Adaptelec.com, International Electrical Specialists

3) What kind of currency will I need?

US Dollars worked for me all week. Expect change back in guilders. The exchange is 1.77NAFL/$1.00 U.S. currently. I just used 2:1 so maybe over tipped a little. Most guilders are coins. If you get square ones they could be one of two options. They're either newer nickels or older .50 cent pieces. Big U.S. bills ($50 and up) are hard to cash at some of the locations outside of town - like the little "snak's" along the road or more remote dive operators. If you're shore diving, there's often a small fee ($3-4 U.S.) collected in guilders at those dive sites that have on-site operators/facilities you're using - so it's a good way to get rid of it.

Are credit cards accepted?

I'm pretty sure I used my Mastercard. Definitely at dive shops since I don't carry cash when diving - just the card in a case around my neck.

4) What's the best way of calling back to the US?

See what your cell provider offers. Some have short duration International calling options that you can buy for the month or so. If your phone has a removable SIM card you can also buy them all over Curacao in disposable amounts. My buddy has AT&T International calling - his phone worked all over. Mine (probably T-Mobile) did everywhere but I'd lose the signal in one area on the west side - sort of a depression. They may've added more cell towers now also.

 

[RJP]

Are credit cards accepted?

In most places, yes. However, you should apply for a card that does NOT charge foreign transaction fees. Travelling - and diving - is already expensive enough; no need to add an extra 1-3% fee on top of what you're already paying. Chase Preferred Visa and Barclay Arrival MasterCard are two good choices that also provide some great travel benefits.

Ray

 

[lilnik10]

When a friend of mine was living on the neighboring island of Bonaire for a year & 4 months, he signed up for a paid Skype account, that wasn't expensive and gave him the capability to call U.S. phone numbers quite cheaply. Seemed to work fine. If you have a computer or similar device and free wifi access, could work for you.

If you're doing a busy day of diving and socializing with your group, I suspect trying to call every day is going to become quite a drag fast. You might try to get them acclimated to the idea of e-mail or a call every other day. Up to you, but even things that sound like small obligations can become a significant pain.

Richard.

Thanks! I agree it will be a drag, but my mother is so afraid I am going to be kidnapped or something she will not be able to sleep unless she hears from me. I think I will be able to use FaceTime or send a iMessage for free as long as I can connect to wi-fi.

---------- Post added January 4th, 2015 at 09:45 PM ----------

In most places, yes. However, you should apply for a card that does NOT charge foreign transaction fees. Travelling - and diving - is already expensive enough; no need to add an extra 1-3% fee on top of what you're already paying. Chase Preferred Visa and Barclay Arrival MasterCard are two good choices that also provide some great travel benefits.

Ray

Thank you for the info. Definitely don't want to pay additional unnecessary fees. I have a Capital One Venture card already, I will check to see if they will charge those fees. I hope not!!

---------- Post added January 4th, 2015 at 09:48 PM ----------

Thank you, diversteve, for all of you helpful info!

 

[DaJuice]

Thank you for the info. Definitely don't want to pay additional unnecessary fees. I have a Capital One Venture card already, I will check to see if they will charge those fees. I hope not!!

I come to Curacao regularly for work, actually am in Curacao right now. When you pay with a credit card they will ask you if you want to pay in Guilders or Dollars. Just tell them Dollars and even if your card would have charged you a fee, since you're being charged in dollars... you wont!

For the calls, I have a plan that allows me to make unlimited Skype calls for free to regular phones in the US, I think it is $2 a month. So that is an option, but if you can do facetime like you mentioned you're probalby already set. Finding free wifi is easy most places on the island.

 

[drrich2]

When you pay with a credit card they will ask you if you want to pay in Guilders or Dollars. Just tell them Dollars and even if your card would have charged you a fee, since you're being charged in dollars... you wont!

Neighboring island Bonaire now has the U.S. dollar as the currency, and I still got foreign transaction fees on a card when I was there last May. So you might want to check into that.

Richard.

 

[DaJuice]

Not sure about Bonaire. Have not been there but curaçao is definitely working on several cards. My corporate Amex, in the few locations here it can be used is and I have to turn in recipes for every charge on that over $75. I have a personal visa that I use exclusively for business where Amex is not accepted and I have to turn in receipts for anything over $25 on that. I have a 3rd card that I use for things I can't expense. I've never seen a foreign transaction fee. If you were actually charged in USD and still got a fee I'd say call your bank and find out why.


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[RJP]

I come to Curacao regularly for work, actually am in Curacao right now. When you pay with a credit card they will ask you if you want to pay in Guilders or Dollars. Just tell them Dollars and even if your card would have charged you a fee, since you're being charged in dollars... you wont!

Has to do with what bank it's drawn on, not what currency. Foreign bank = foreign transaction fees.

---------- Post added January 10th, 2015 at 11:48 PM ----------

Not sure about Bonaire. Have not been there but curaçao is definitely working on several cards. My corporate Amex, in the few locations here it can be used is and I have to turn in recipes for every charge on that over $75. I have a personal visa that I use exclusively for business where Amex is not accepted and I have to turn in receipts for anything over $25 on that. I have a 3rd card that I use for things I can't expense. I've never seen a foreign transaction fee. If you were actually charged in USD and still got a fee I'd say call your bank and find out why.


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Corp Amex = no transaction fees. I'm guessing you just have cards that don't have fees..

 

[DaJuice]

I did a little digging because I had never heard of a foreign transaction fee if it was in the same currency and from what I'm reading, there isn't one. There is a risk of the vendor giving you a bad exchange rate when they convert to USD. From what I've seen the currency conversion the vendors are doing are in line with what I'd deem reasonable. Many restaurants will actually list prices on their menu in USD and Nafl in Curacao so it is easy to see what they are going to charge you in each currency. Get a free currency conversion app on your phone and you can see which way you are better off. Even if they don't what you see on your check is the total in Nafl and below that the USD they are planning on charging you so you can check before giving them your card also.

My personal cards are Wells Fargo and are not ones they offer that waive fees. When I go to countries that do not offer the ability to charge in USD such as Mexico, I do see these fees. Many of my coworkers are Canadian and when they come to Curacao they bring a card with them that allows them to be charged in USD to avoid the fee.

This is the best article I found that describes all this. Based on this I would recommend to the OP to get a card that does not charge a foreign transaction fee and ask to be charged in the local currency if the prices in USD are out of line. After reading this I think I'm going to do that too.

How To Avoid Foreign-Transaction Fees | Bankrate.com

Also, here is a page showing std foreign transation fees for several banks. The the total section they list out their special cards that are exceptions to their std fees.

Credit Card Foreign Transaction Fee Chart | Bankrate.com

And since this is my one day off a week... I'm gonna go do another dive