Bon Biní

na nos Dushi

Isla

Here you will find some valuable info to make your stay in Curaçao more enjoyable🌴

We love our island, help us keeping it clean by always taking your trash with you instead of disposing of it in nearby trash bins, especially at beaches. These overfill easily resulting in single use plastic ending up in the water due to the strong winds. Dispose of properly ♥

Socializing

Don’t you appreciate it when someone shows you personal interest? It’s a cultural thing here to always greet each other basically anywhere with a simple “Bondia señora” (good morning madam) or “bondia meneer” (good morning sir). It shows respect as a human being and… it’s nice to be nice! The friendlier you address someone, the better. Look the person in the eyes when you speak, but don’t be creepy. You can even kick things up a notch by giving the person an honest compliment about how they look today (nails and hairstyles for example). Even if the person may not seem polite at first, this will sure make their day better. Don’t be surprised if they change their attitude 180 degrees towards you by being extra friendly. In this case, congratulations, you have a made a new local friend.

Here are some words we use on a daily basis in our wonderful language that’s called “Papiamentu” (Speaking).

Bondia - Good morning

Bontardi - Good afternoon

Bonochi - good evening

Masha danki - Thanks a lot

Dushi - Delicious, Sweet, Sweetheart, Good, Sexy… basically anything positive you can replace the word with “Dushi”.

It’s always fun learning a new Caribbean language, makes you fit right in! Now you know how to address the next cashier at the supermarket 😉

How To Save Money

AVOID PAYING IN US DOLLARS! Most stores accept payments in USD (no EUROS). However, the currency exchange at local banks is selling at an average rate of XCG 1.82 / buying XCG 1.77 for 1.00 US Dollar. The street value is noticeably lower at only XCG 1.75 per USD. Meaning if you pay in USD, you will always be spending more than if you pay with local currency. The best thing you can do is go to an ATM, get as much cash as you can in local currency XCG (Caribbean Guilder) and use this during your stay. The average withdrawal limit is around XCG 1850.00 per day.

Public Transportation & Traffic Laws

MAKE SURE YOU RENT A CAR. The public transportation is super cheap but very unreliable. You will spend long times waiting to get from A to B and some routes have no busses passing by at all. So, to avoid major delays and headaches, reserve a car as soon as your trip is booked so you can move freely and enjoy the best the island has to offer. Now this is important, if you’re planning on staying more than a couple of weeks, just buy a used car. Because car values are very high here on the ABC islands, you can actually sell the car back for the same price when you purchased it at the end of your stay. Some sell it for even more making a quick buck this way! The only thing is that you will have to arrange the registration papers & insurance, but this is usually done fast.

Renting a scooter is also an idea if you’re looking for a more budget friendly solution. However, scooters are not insured by insurance companies meaning that if it gets stolen, you’re in trouble. Also, our streets are not very friendly to slower moving traffic. There are often small accidents with scooters and bicycles. A small/midsize car is a safer choice.

During the high season, it can be very difficult to secure a rental last minute. If you’re unable to find a ride, we have local connections and might be able to help, so don’t be shy to reach out.

Driving on Curaçao can be quite the experience. People are often very friendly and give each other easily chances to merge into the traffic. So always pay attention if you see someone flashing their lights or waving at you. Don’t wait too long otherwise we get cranky! We like smooth flowing traffic and are not very patient with slow response times that cause jams.

DO NOT PARK ON THE STREET! This is becoming more and more common with tourists/stagiaires from abroad. When you drive on an island it can give a very relaxing feeling of freedom which in turn can seduce many to park however they want. Don’t do this! Even though parking can be sometimes tricky, find a decent spot and maintain well clear of the road… and yes even if the road looks like it’s not there, stay clear. People can drive like crazy, so don’t risk unnecessary damage to your vehicle.

And most importantly, BE PATIENT. Nobody likes people that are impatient or rude in traffic. Give the old lady behind the wheels a little bit of extra time. The old man crossing the street might have a bad hip so help him if you can.

Climate

IT’S HOT. Even in the cooler months, the temperature is normally never lower than 21 Celsius (which is rare) and only happens at night during a rain shower. During daytime, the temperature can get as hot as 37 Celsius. The problem is not just the heat, but the extreme UV rays we experience in our region. The index is 11+ meaning it’s the most intense out there. Protect yourself by wearing good clothing and avoiding direct sunlight for prolonged times. Don’t rely solely on sunblock since most of them eventually cause skin cancer and they are also very toxic for corals and other marine life.

Supporting Locals

Curaçao, like many other Caribbean Islands, is facing modern exploitation. More and more nature is being bulldozed for resorts and luxury apartments. Most business are foreign owned and employ a very small percentage of locals providing low to minimum wages. For example, an average of only 5% of all diving-schools on the island are owned and operated by locals. It’s pretty simple, the foreigner sees a business opportunity, has the capital to invest and proceeds without thinking what kind of impact this will have on the island. The result is one less space for a local who is pouring their heart and sweat trying to build something to support their families. Most of the money earned by these foreigner companies are not spent on the island, this heavily affects our economy. As much as we love showing others what the island has to offer, this way of development is quickly destroying wildlife habitat and coastal protection like mangroves which take a very long time to grow.

What can you do to help showing support?

BE MINDFUL. Can the person providing you a service actually speak the native language, in our case “Papiamentu”? We have the privilege that we speak at least 4 languages; Papiamentu being the native and official language of the island, followed by Dutch, English and Spanish as seconds. So, you can safely say that all true locals here can speak Papiamentu fluently. It’s a good idea to think about these small things.

Take your time and do good research when booking your next trip. Have you ever tried an Airbnb? This is usually the best way to directly support as you are renting out a room/apartment/house they’ve made available. There are small businesses that are locally owned. Letting them help you with your next tour, car rental or something small like a souvenir is the easiest way to show your appreciation for their honest hard work.

Hope you found this information to be useful, and we wish you a pleasant stay on our Dushi Kòrsou!