TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums Southern Caribbean Trip report: The Natural Curacao Nov 7-14 2017

Well it is certainly not Club Orient. It’s comparitively small but actually kind of cozy. We stayed in a Bungalow and it was very nice. I think there are four, maybe five of them, in addition to a couple apartments and even safari tents - also a villa type suite which we didn’t get to check out. We were in the middle in a row of 3 bungalows that was high up. Nice view. Much larger than a CO chalet too, with a large terrace that faces east (with very comfy outdoor furniture that we made good use of) - and they are perfectly oriented so that a refreshing trade wind blows through. It all buttons up nicely at night, and there is good air conditioning in the rather large bedroom (I think it was a king bed, quite comfortable and again, larger than a CO chalet). There was a perfectly adequate kitchen in the bungalow, could be better equipped in regards to pans, pots, bowls, utensils, but there is enough. There was plenty of dinnerware and I was able to make a nice pasta dinner with a little ingenuity. It was not really a problem, and to be fair I am rather picky in this regard. It was actually kind of fun to make it all work with what we had - but I love cooking and kitchens - a bit of an adventure. But really, it was good enough. The whole of the bungalow was great, and if we return, and we may well do so, a bungalow is certainly what I would recommend choosing. I also saw one of the apartments and it looked perfectly fine but I prefer the more space and breeze of the bungalow.

There was a nice pool that was very clean. It’s a bit smaller than their professional photographs imply (I will say though that their website is pretty accurate) but it was actually quite nice and most of the guests made good use of it including us. There is no need for a huge pool there. Most guests went out exploring during the day and ended up around the pool later in the afternoon to socialize. It was really a nice spot.

They have a wonderful coffee in the morning All the guests would gather at around 8 up at the main house for coffee. I like to sleep late on vacation but quickly learned this was worth getting up for. We especially enjoyed talking with the other guests every morning, and people shared their adventures and discoveries of the previous day, along with their plans for the coming day. It instilled a lovely feeling of camaraderie amongst the guests. The owners, Paul and Tatalia (hope I got that right) did an excellent job of making everyone feel welcome and at home. If you go, the morning coffee is essential. The guests were a mix of international travelers - Dutch of course is well represented, but also German, Canadian, and American while we were there. Everyone had a great time together. The coffee wasn’t bad either, but I’m quite the snob in that department (been roasting my own for years). These morning gatherings were a highlight of our stay there - so relaxed, pleasant, and informative.

As far as how to spend your day: Like I said, it’s not Club O. No beach, you’re up in the hills and will definitely need a car. We rented ours directly from them, and they were very nice cars and a fair rate - they also picked us up from the airport and dropped us off, very convenient. As far as food, we ate dinner there the first night and it was delicious. They also offered a full breakfast which a few couples took advantage of daily, but we tend to eat very light in the morning so didn’t take advantage of that. They also do a fantastic BBQ once a week (Thursday maybe? - check the website) It was fantastic. All the guests came for it and I can tell you it was a wonderful night - do not miss it.

The island itself: City down at the SE side, we went once for a nice local lunch and also another lunch at one of the hotels with a couple we knew from home, but otherwise didn’t think much of it. The Natural is kind of in the middle of the island with some very good local restaurants, and the more “wild” and unpopulated part was up to the northwest. It’s quite beautiful up there. We didn’t think much of the few small beaches we visited, but then again we are Club O people. It’s a different kind of beauty there. There are plenty of quite nice restaurants within only a few minutes drive of the resort, but also many nice ones further west. I was comfortable with the climate - in general it's hotter and drier than the Leewards (the city part was quite hot). There’s always a great trade wind blowing and I found it to be fine in the middle and northwest parts. As far as safety on the island, we were plenty safe where we were and also up in the northwest but there are certainly issues around the capitol. 70 miles from Venezuela, take it from there. But for a relaxing vacation I don’t usually go to a city, even though I definitely do enjoy the great cities for a different experience. Different priorities.

I’ll finish up with our hosts: They are the best and I’ll leave it at that. You will feel very welcome. We definitely recommend The Natural.

Brian & Lorraine

It was just pointed out to me by our good friend JR that I did not address the clothing optional aspect. Indeed it is clothing optional with the exception of the main house, and in fact pretty much everyone took advantage of that freedom.

Hi. Thanks for the report. Some people might not know that The Natural is in Curacao, so I put that in the title. I noted that they charge for a/c??

Yes they do, but it was so little I don't even remember how much it was. The breeze keeps the bungalow cool during the day so we only used the a/c when we closed up for the night.

OK, thanks.

Thanks for the positive review. We had been scheduled in Nov. for our customary Club F/Club O (a week at each) visit. When Irma forced a change in plans, we (actually my wife) found The Natural online. We will be there 3/6 - 3/16. I'm looking forward to it. I'm also looking for decent airfares to SXM - from either PHL or EWR - and will return sometime in '18, hopefully sooner than later.

Any particular beaches on island that might have lent themselves to unofficial CO?

Thanks for the report! This is one of the future destinations in the running for us to try.

There are several tiny ones tucked away that we saw. CO is not looked upon favorably by locals. We didn't chance it, but truthfully the spots weren't all that appealing anyway. Small and rocky. There are some quite nice beaches but they are definitely not CO.

Quick question. We are going to The Natural in March and I am trying to decide whether to rent a cell phone, buy a SIM card, use my iphone, etc. What did you do?

iPhone, Verizon with the temp 30 day international plan. Wifi in room somewhat spotty but worked well enough.

Thanks !!

When we were in Curacao this past October, we used my iPhone. We took the Verizon travel pass and only actually had to use it a couple of days, at $10 per day. There are cheaper ways to do it, but for us, this is the most convenient, as we like having our own phones with us.

Thank you ! Yes, I think we will just go with the temporary international calling from AT&T. Whenever we went to SXM, we rented a phone because we had to be in touch with home everyday (to check on my mom), so renting a phone was more economical.

Some places in Hawaii charge for A/C as well.

Your trip report was terrific! We spend 2 weeks yearly in Curacao where we own at Royal Sea Aquarium and love it, But this year because of the lack of places to go, we're having trouble trading for a third week on the island. The Natural sounds terrific, I've been in touch with the owner, so it looks like we'll be going there. We loved SXM last May for our first trip and had booked two weeks this May but obviously had to change plans to go to Aruba. We'll be back to SXM next year but realize there are a lot of other places with great beaches and things to do. Gotta keep an open mind! Thanks again for the great info! Are there taxis to get to nearby restaurants? Hubby is legally blind and I'm a rotten driver! Also, can guests use the grill on the nights there's not a group bar B Q?

I'm afraid I can't answer either question, but Paul is very good about answering email. You also may be able to hook up with other couples for dinner, we saw a lot of guests going out to dinner in groups. It's easy to meet people there since it's small and friendly.

Was there in Nov 2017 - we downloaded a map of the island to Offline Maps on google maps and turned the iphone to airplane mode and used the GPS for Navigation and then the wifi connection with the iphone to call home on Facetime audio and texting..also used Facebook some for messaging and a few calls...

Looking forward to a trip report. We'll be there in a bungalow Sept/Oct.