Avila Hotel Curacao
Hotel Information: A late-1700s Dutch Colonial mansion at the center of this multi-section hotel once served as the Curaçao governor's residence and is now the lobby building. The mansion was called La Belle Alliance. That name is preserved in one of the hotel's sections, which includes a vermillion recital hall where chamber-music festivals are held several times a year.
The Avila Hotel’s rich history, proximity to downtown Willemstad, and reputation for personal service (the Dutch Royal family stays here) attract guests from around the world.
Amenity highlights: Two private beaches with thatched shades fringe swimming coves protected by rock breakwaters, with snorkeling-and-scuba reefs just beyond. A dive center one block away delivers rental snorkeling and scuba gear. Treatments at the hotel’s Relax au Paradis Spa include the Water Massage in the sea, couples massage, the After Sun Aloe Wrap, and the beachside Sunset Massage.
Insider tip: Octagon, an octagonal, tower-like house with a domed roof is located on the hotel’s grounds. Venezuelan liberator Simón Bolivar spent time there before setting out in the early 19th century to free Venezuela (and eventually all South America) of Spanish colonial rule. When his first revolt failed, he retreated to Curaçao, and his two sisters moved into Octagon. Today the house is a museum devoted to Bolivar. Guided tours are offered for a surcharge.
Guestrooms provide balconies or terraces with varying views, many of the Caribbean Sea. Décor varies from contemporary Scandinavian in the Blues Wing to neutrals with splashes of Caribbean colors in the Octagon tower. All rooms offer high-speed wired or wireless Internet access (surcharge) and TVs with U.S./international cable channels. Avila Hotel amenities include coffeemakers, minibars, and hair dryers. Irons/ironing boards are provided either in the room or on request. |
