ACOYA Curacao Resort, Villas & Spa

With a name that's a play of the Japanese word "akoya," which means pearl, this hotel offers a tasteful blend of Caribbean and zen styles. Blossoming flowers and perfectly manicured grounds, and a sense of calm imparted by the hotel’s small lake -- which is abuzz with iguanas, birds, ducks, and turtles -- give this property a tranquil vibe. There's plenty of places for the hotel's guests to find a quiet spot to rest, including the laid-back pool complex next to the lake. Interiors are similarly polished and attractive, and the hotel’s breezy, naturally-lit open air lobby has a marble-topped reception desk, flat-screen TV (tuned to CNN), plush lion-footed club chairs, and leather Art-Deco armchairs with swirling lines. It opens onto the hotel’s paver and wood-lined pool deck. Most of the hotel’s amenities -- including Season’s, ACOYA’s open-air restaurant, as well as its bar, fitness center, and meeting room -- overlook the expansive pool deck. The hotel draws guests from around the world -- especially Holland -- and most guests are vacationing couples and families. The hotel is welcoming to LGBTQ clients. ACOYA also has a pet-friendly policy.

Acoya’s secluded location and vibe are perfect for the traveler who wants to get away from it all -- so long as getting away from it all feels more like relaxing in a condo community and not right on the beach. It's also worth noting that there's not much to see or do in the immediate area, and exploring anything will require a car, taxi, or ride on the hotel's free limited shuttle service. The hotel is a 25-minute drive from Curacao’s Hato International Airport (over a towering bridge with bird’s eye views of the city) and 10 minutes from Punda, Willemstad’s restored colonial downtown. Just across from this scenic area is Rif Fort, a former Dutch fortress that's now full of shops and restaurants. Many of the city’s museums -- including the anthropological-leaning Kura Hulanda and The Curacao Museum, which covers the island’s history and is set in an historic military hospital -- are within a 15-minute drive from the hotel. Mambo Beach, a private beach to which the hotel provides free passes -- is a five minute drive or shuttle from the hotel, as is the nearest supermarket. Nearby food options include barbecue, Italian, and Chinese cuisines, but all will be easiest to reach by car -- the closest options are under a five-minute drive away.

There are a wide range of room layouts and categories to choose from here, though they can be broken down into traditional rooms, suites, and villas. Despite differences in size, the look is similar across the board. Expect to see lots of white and cream tones, including tile floors and almost bare walls. A bit of color comes in sparely employed wall art, and furniture consists of white-and-oak items like end tables, plus sharp, minimalistic couches and chairs in handsome gray tones. Suites in the main building have outdoor balconies and overlook the pools and lake. Villas, on the other hand, are housed in standalone or duplex-style buildings with garden views, with the exception of the Three-Bedroom Villa that has its own garden-fringed private pool.  

The nicest options here are the suites and villas, which range from one to four bedrooms. They have living rooms with flat-screen TVs with cable, coffee tables, large dining tables, and photos of Curacao’s azure waters or Asian-themed photo collages of Buddha and lotus flowers on the walls. More often than not, the open floor plans blend the living room and kitchens, which are stocked with all the hardware a chef could want: refrigerators, ovens, electric ranges, microwaves, toasters, coffeemakers, and electric kettles. Some even have dishwashers -- an added bonus for ACOYA’s many guests who self-cater. These units also have furnished patios, balconies, or terraces.

King beds are standard, but we wish they were more comfortable and not two twin mattresses pushed together. All rooms also include air-conditioning, safes, irons and ironing boards, and free Wi-Fi. Televisions across all categories are 40-inch flat-screen units, and even Standard Rooms have mini-fridges and coffeemakers. The tiled bathrooms are sleek and modern, with rainfall showers and -- in some villas -- dual vanities. Lotion, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and bar soap are standard, as are hairdryers and beauty mirrors. 

ACOYA offers all of the amenities expected from a three-and-a-half-pearl hotel, though it doesn't have its own beach. Instead, it offers a free limited shuttle and free passes to Mambo Beach. Beach towels are also free. One of the highlights are the hotel’s pools, which include an infinity pool, a cold-water jacuzzi, and a children’s pool. The entire complex is surrounded by a wood deck, tan pavers, and bleached coral rocks plus seating on rattan lounge chairs and canopied cabanas. For those that prefer a little more activity, the hotel has a sharp little fitness room. It's a bit cramped, but it has Cybex weight machines, stationary bikes, elliptical machines, free weights, and kettlebells. Windows keep everything bright, and it overlooks the lake. Guests might even see four-foot long iguanas scurry by on the lake’s wooden boardwalk while running on one of the gym’s treadmills.   

Seasons, the hotel’s gourmet restaurant serves up three meals a day from its covered, outdoor perch overlooking the infinity pool. The menus are well-liked, but dinner reservations are recommended and the prices can be high, even for Curacao. Breakfast includes bread that's baked on-site, though the meal is not included in room rates. The nearby bar has a trunk-size European coffee machine and rattan bar stools, and it takes coffee more seriously than its cocktails. Brews from throughout the world, including Italian and French roasts, are available.   

The hotel hosts events and weddings as well as meetings. One of our favorite places in the hotel, from a design perspective, was the meeting room with its pool views and shabby-chic decor that includes distressed leather couches, funky floor lamps, and geometrically carved wood furniture. In addition, the front desk can arrange car rentals and free shuttle services to the beach or downtown Willemstad. It also offers free printing and document scanning. Laundry services can also be provided. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and parking is free and easy to find. Villas have parking right outside of their front doors.