SuperClubs Breezes Curacao Resort
Lodging Review

by Tammie Thompson

Breezes Curacao is one of those "ultimate family vacation" destinations. First rate, all-inclusive, Breezes is more than a hotel, it's an experience. Stay for a few days, a week, or longer and your family will leave with memories of new friends, new experiences and a new attitude.

Mention Breezes Curacao and my seven-year-old daughter says, "I get the chills just thinking about it. I have to go back there. Soon."

I'll admit I was leery of an all-inclusive resort. My idea of vacationing includes getting down and dirty, exploring, and traveling off the beaten path. My misgivings crept to the surface on our first day. The Breezes patio was loud and crowded. The music was blasting and every five minutes the PA system barked, "Join us for a dance contest. Join us for a kayak race. Come on kids, it's time for volleyball in the pool."

We headed down the beach, away from the fray to some solitude. But it didn't take long for the kids to wander back to the center of activity for a soda, to get reeled into a contest, and come back smiling. We unwound for a few days, then slowly found ourselves meeting other families; joining the silly games; and trying sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, rock climbing, even flying on the trapeze. And that's what is so attractive about Breezes Curacao; you can find solitude as well as companionship. You can relax and the kids can be entertained. And you can eat and drink to your heart's content!

With so much to do on site, it's hard to motivate to venture out and explore Curacao. But do. Breezes is the icing on the cake to an island full of culture, adventure and family fun.

Lodging: Breezes Curacao is located on Curacao, not far from the capital city of Willemstad. It is the largest resort of Curacao, offering 339 rooms and suites, most with ocean view. Various wings offer families a variety of choices. If you have small children request the Pelican Wing. There's a small playground and children's pool, plus the Kid's Club. Another good choice is the newer Royal Tower, overlooking the mail pool and ocean. Furnishing is Caribbean style, a bit sparse, but rooms are spacious and clean.

Activities: At 8 AM the PA system was going off. "Join lovely Lisa for a workout in the pool." The activities went on from there. Separate daily activity sheets were posted for kid's club and families. A sampling:

Kid's Club:
Moonwalk
Pool Party Games
Mini Circus Clinics
Theme Lunch
Story Time
Crazy Games
Bouncy Boxing
Arts & Crafts
Planet Hop
Alien Encounter Dinner

General
Morning workout
Beginner's Tennis
Rock Climbing
Aquacise
Juggling
Trapeze
Volleyball
Ping Pong
Pictionary
Beach Soccer
Name that Tune
Kayak Race
Talent Show
Dance Party
Karaoke
Intro to Scuba

You get the idea. So much to do! And all on site. A typical day might include: a leisurely breakfast, a trip to Willemstad, back to Breezes for lunch, kids to the Kid's Club, a siesta on the beach, a paddle in the kayak, a Pina Colada before dinner, dinner at Pastafari's, Karaoke at Jimmy's, followed up by a fashion show by the staff. Of course, throw in some socializing, and it's a full day.

Other Amenities:
- There's an onsite dive center, complete with excursions by boat. A stay at Breezes includes one shore dive per day (kids must be over 14).
- Gym: complete with the latest free weights, resistance and aerobic equipment.
- Spa: A huge menu of massages including deep tissue, reflexology, beach; plus facials, body masks, hair braiding and make up sessions. All the little girls had "Caribbean braids" - budget about $30.
- Casino - run independently of the Breezes, for adults only.
- Tour desk to set up other excursions including a visit to Hato Caves, Bounty Snorkel Adventure, Sunset cruises, and full island tours.
- Movie and game room. Big hit with kids.
- Teen center with arcade games.
- Nurse on duty 24 hours a day for minor medical attention.

Kid's Programs
The Kid's Club offers Camp Breezes, which is more than childcare. We found it to be hit and miss as far as activities. Some days they had extensive activities planned, on others it was more like basic childcare. Kids love the Polynesian party and Pirate night. Parents love the supervised dinners (including kids' friendly fare) and non-stop activity. Kid's Club is included in daily room rate.

Dining:
Dining at Breezes is indeed a breeze. High on the list of amenities (including activities and location), the dining options were superb. Guests have a choice of four dining facilities. Jimmy Z's Buffet is open all day and serves buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. This means kids can wander in and get something to eat at any hour. The beach and pool snack bars are also open most of the day and serve burgers, fries and other kid friendly food. The resort offers two reservation restaurants. Munahana is a Japanese restaurant that serves sushi and tableside grilled fare. Pastafari is an Italian restaurant, with open-air patio, that we loved. The kids could play in the pool and we could dine at a leisurely pace. Both serve excellent food and wine.

The whole "food experience" is so easy with Breeze's all-inclusive concept. Not having to worry about budgeting every meal alleviates that much more stress and makes you feel like you are truly on vacation. My daughter lived on pina coladas (non-alcoholic of course) and French fries. But she did venture out to enjoy a variety of fresh fish, fruit and other island specials. Something she probably would not have done if we had to order a meal. Desserts were

Overall Rating: Breezes Curacao rates as a top family destination. Kids prevail and most amenities are attuned to that. We would return? Definitely. I get chills thinking about it.

For more info see Breezes Curacao .