General Travel Facts

• Curacao is a modern place. There are seven McDonalds's franchises and almost every other kind of fast food. There's a Radio Shack and a modern electronics store. The supermarkets are bigger and better than we have at home. The phone system is faster and quieter. There are several hardware and building supplies vendors, so we can buy all the little things we need for the station.
• For spouses and guests, the shopping in town (aimed at cruise ship passengers) is excellent and very reasonably priced.
• Beaches are not so great.
• Power is 110 VAC 50 Hz. Same plugs and receptacles as we use in the states.
• Internet service is available and cheap if you want to bring a laptop.
• Currency is the Netherlands Antilles Florin. 1.78 Nafl per dollar.
• People are very friendly except for the ones who vandalized our rental car....
• US currency and credit cards are accepted nearly everywhere.
• Spanish and Dutch are spoken mainly, but a lot of people know some English. Road signs are in Dutch.
• Rental cars from Hertz and Avis are available at the airport and are very reasonably priced.
• You should have a passport -- not literally required, but highly advisable.
• Customs is tricky -- I will arrange for us to pay a bond at the airport for the gear we bring in.
• There is a big, modern hospital staffed by Dutch professionals. An American we met said he and his wife were treated there once each with pretty good result, and never charged, as it is a socialized medicine nation.
• Humidity is higher than Provo -- averages 73%. Be prepared to sweat like crazy.
• SCUBA diving is available right at the resort where we will stay and it is affordable.
• Snorkeling is great, at the resort, for non-SCUBA types.