Venezuela

[sej67]

I've heard of people doing excursions to Venezuela from Curacao (and Aruba), since they're only 20-30 miles from Venezuela. I don't imagine there's time to see both Venezuela and the island in one day, so it's probably more for people who have already been to Curacao or Aruba. Is there much to see in Venezuela from these islands?

 

BTW, how do you pronounce Curacao? Just like it sounds?

[cruiseapril]

Would not recommend excursions to Venezuela, which has safety issues. There is so much to do in Curacao!

[curacaoqueen]

many ways to pronounce Curacao, cure a sow for one, Kor a sow too.

[roothy123]

Glad curacao queen told you how to pronounce it - that's one thing I asked on another board before I went! I hated hearing kur a sow...

 

Don't think there are any ferries to anywhere from Curacao, so you'd have to fly. I'd skip it, and yes, there are tons of things to do right there on Curacao - caves, ostrich farm, beaches, Willemstad, forts, butterfly farm, park, Boca Tabla, aquarium, casinos. There's way too much for a day.............if it hadn't rained so very, very much when we were there (early Dec.) and if it hadn't been so expensive, I would have loved, loved, loved it!

[schmoopie17]

A few years ago our Southern Caribbean cruise included a stop at Isla Margarita, which is part of Venezuela. There wasn't a whole lot there other than a straw market. That's about as close to the "actual" Venezuela as we dared/cared to go.

[curacaoqueen]

Roothy, you seriously found Curacao to be expensive? My husband and I have been 7 times, (flying)it is an inexpensive island. Try going to Grand Cayman, now that's a pricey island but we love it too.

[roothy123]

Well, I haven't been to Grand Caymen (which a friend highly recommended), and I also have not been to any Caribbean islands on my own before (took a cruise last year, with lodging and most food already paid for) However, I found Curacao (or at least Willemstad) more expensive than the places we visited a year ago (Antigua, Tortola, Dominican Republic, etc.) St. Bart's, of course, is pricey!

 

What kind of got me were all the taxes in Curacao, especially for lodging.

 

It's a great island, though - so far my favorite, due to all the things to do - and the color! Love the color! Love the people! Love the fact that it's not over-ridden by Americans (and yes, I'm American, so I can say that!). Love the fact that many menus are priced in U.S. as well as florints, and dollars are taken just about everywhere, and that so many people speak at least some English, even out and about on the island.

[cruiseapril]

roothy- So good to read your comments. We like all of the things you mention and have a big photo of the colorful Curacao harbor on one of our walls.

[roothy123]

Yep, it's an interesting place. I chose it carefully from a lot of different island possibilities, and other than the incessant rain (unusual), liked it a lot.

 

Check out my pix at http://www.pbase.com/roothy123/curacao

[ooulio]

I would not go there. We were in Aruba. We got to meet some locals. They all said dont go to Venezula. Especially tourists and girls. At first I though they were kidding. They weren't. They told us about girls being raped and robbed. Some of them had nice rings on. They wouldn't give them to them. They cut off one of the girls fingers. Some of them had such a hard time getting back. Too many people told us the same things. I am not afraid to try new places. Please Go somewhere else!

[cruiseapril]

The U.S. Dept. of State has write ups on each country in the world and includes travel warnings. It is a good resource.