Floris Suite Hotel – Spa & Beach Club

The chic, modern style of the Floris Suite Hotel is well suited to match its ideal client: an individual that’s stylish and grown up. With an 18-and-older policy, it is one of the only adult-only resorts around. And though it appears to be aiming to draw in a hip, younger crowd with events like pool parties, the guests are a mix of all ages. The hotel hosts annual parties for Curacao Pride week and is LGBT friendly.

The lobby is light, open, and airy with high vaulted ceilings. The all-white furniture and decor, only contrasted by a few black chandeliers, is very sleek. It all seems super sophisticated, until you come across one of the large, white statues in the shape of a rubber ducky, a signature item seen around the property revealing the whimsical, fun-loving side of this polished hotel. Considering the posh-feeling atmosphere and the lovely pool, the Floris Suite Hotel provides a good value for the area.

The Floris Suite Hotel is located on the southwest coast of Curacao, in a cluster of a few resorts that sit between the Piscadero Bay and the ocean.  The hotel is about a five-minute walk from the lovely, quiet Parasasa beach, which is shared with the nearby Hilton and Marriott Hotels. The Pirate Bay Beach Club, which has water sports and weekly entertainment, is a short walk from the resort, as are a handful of other bars and cafes. The resort is not walking distance to the popular tourist downtown area of Willemstad. However, the hotel provides a free daily shuttle back and forth to town, about a 10-minute drive away. It’s about a 15-minute ride to reach the airport.

The decor of the rooms, similar to the rest of the resort, is contemporary, bright, and fresh-feeling with clean lines. Like the lobby, the rooms are all white, with some black, ivory and silver accents, and a few pops of blue. Modern lighting fixtures, European-style minimalist furniture, and dark woods finish the look.

All 72 rooms are suites, which means they have a separate sitting area or living room. The Royal Suites are the largest, with a full kitchen and living room. Most of the other suites include a small kitchenette. The Imperial Suites are the most recently updated, with sleek open-plan bathrooms that feature both stylish soaking tubs and glass walk-in showers. All rooms include large flat-screen TVs, Nespresso machines, and mini-fridges. Every room also has a nice deck or patio, some with great views overlooking the pool.

There is a very nice, large pool consisting of four square sections set off in different directions, surrounded by tropical foliage to provide shade and privacy. Many lounge chairs are arranged around the pool area. There’s even a table and chairs set in a shallow section of the pool with a romantic candelabra set on top of it.

Next to the pool sits the Pool Bar accompanied by a few quaint cabanas. There is a second bar in the back of the lobby that is popular for happy hour and located near the hotel’s restaurant. The open-air Sjarlotte Restaurant is in a sunny courtyard, with some indoor tables as well. It is open daily for breakfast and dinner, and serves upscale European cuisine with Caribbean flair. A light lunch menu is available by the pool. There is also a small cafe down on the main beach serving sandwiches and cold drinks.

The spa and fitness center completed a renovation in 2015. The luxurious spa offers steam rooms, saunas, and couples treatment rooms. The property also offers meeting rooms and a tennis court. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

This hotel is not directly located on a beach, but there are two places in roughly a five-minute walk where guests can access the beach. There is also a free shuttle available upon request at the lobby to bring guests to the beaches. The main beach, called Parasasa beach, is shared with the nearby Hilton and Marriott hotels. It is a beautiful, tranquil stretch of white sand dotted with many palm trees. There is a small beachside cafe operated by the Floris Suite Hotel that serves beers, refreshments, sandwiches, and other light snacks. The deep blue sea is inviting and palm trees and umbrellas provide shade. It is rather quiet here, and there aren’t many activities other than lounging.

The second spot is at a beach club and restaurant called Pirate Bay. It has a large bar and casual restaurant with a nice, private beach in a protected cove with calm waters. It’s more lively here, with games and music playing, but it's also busier and more crowded -- if it’s serenity you seek, the beach at the Hilton might be for you.