Maryann

Kura Hulanda Lodge exceeded my expectations – oceanfront studio was great! We rearranged a coffee table and chair, because it was kind of in the middle of the room. Coffeemaker didn’t work the first day, but after inquiring twice at the front desk – got it replaced the next day. Gotta have my coffee first thing in the morning! LOL Getting in and out of the bath tub was a little challenging since it was a little "tall" for me – actually it was a little "tall" for my husband who is 6’4" but that’s just a minor detail! We had three "resident" iguanas on our back patio – there was a covered patio with furniture and then another uncovered patio with a lounge chair and table with chairs. Very nice! Food and drinks were on the expensive side at the resort, but didn’t mind too much since we were on vacation. Disappointed they didn’t have ostrich available that was on their menu – wanted to try it – maybe next time! Restaurant, bar, and all other staff were excellent! Slight language barrier at times, but you get used to it. After all, you are in their country! Pool area very nice! Wear sandals – stones get really hot!!! Also had these grass huts with lounge chairs in them if you prefer to stay out of the sun but have the "pool atmosphere". Had to go down two flights of stone steps to get to beach and walk a little way to the diving area (good exercise!) but beach was very nice – even though public, so would recommend getting a spot early in the morning! When we first got there, was slight confusion about diving reservations, but dive shop handled it. Boat and shore diving were excellent, even though there was miscommunication between the dive shop and resort about night diving. The divers in the group went out for a night dive thinking they could get back in the gate with their resort room card per the resort and dive shop – the reader was broken so security had the gate padlocked – luckily the security guard heard the divers and let them in. He gave them a little bit of a difficult time, but they got over it. No big deal. If you want to go to Willemstad where most of the shopping is, need to rent a car, it’s probably at least a 45 minute drive from the resort – would recommend renting a car for longer than the resort minimum of 2 days. Miami airport was ridiculous – I thought Houston was bad….I ‘ve never had my passport and boarding pass checked more times than in Miami. Very rude employees too! Wouldn’t recommend a short layover there – will need the time to get through everything and walk from one side of the airport to the other and back, security, customs, immigration, etc. Would definitely recommend Kura Hulanda to other people though!! Will go back there again – husband really liked the diving – said it wasn’t "crowded" like some other places we’ve been to are getting. As a non-diver, this is the first relaxing vacation I’ve had in a few years and actually didn’t want to come home. Loved the paved trails at the lodge – very nice. Our friends stayed in the gardenview rooms – still nice, but nowhere near as nice as the oceanfronts! Worth the extra money to me anyway being a non-diver!