Travel tips for Curaçao

Curaçao's native language is Papiamentu, a Creole blend of African, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French, English and Arawak. The official languages are Dutch, Papiamentu and English, and of those Papiamentu is the one you hear most: on television, in parliament and in the street.

Historians believe Papiamentu — from the Portuguese papear, to speak or converse — arose in the 17th century as a way for enslaved people from different parts of Africa to communicate with their Portuguese masters. Unlike most Creole languages it is spoken at every level of society, and it has become a defining part of the island's identity.

Casual summer clothing is the rule. Bring a hat if you mind the wind: the trade wind blows all year and it is not compatible with a carefully arranged hairstyle.

For the smarter restaurants, night clubs and casinos, one or two dressier outfits are appropriate. Swimwear belongs on the beach, not in the streets or in shops and restaurants.

Tap water is distilled directly from the sea, tastes good and is safe to drink.

Curaçao's country code is +5999, followed by a seven-digit number. Numbers starting with 5 or 6 are mobile, the rest are landlines.

There is GSM coverage, but roaming with a foreign provider can be very expensive. If your phone is unlocked, a prepaid SIM card is far cheaper. Calling over WhatsApp or another internet service is cheaper still when you are on wifi.

Reception is good almost everywhere, though remote corners can be patchy. Practically every hotel and rental has wifi, and in downtown Willemstad you will find plenty of open networks.

Public transport on Curaçao is very limited. The two main bus stations are at Punda (+5999 641 6257) and Otrobanda (+5999 462 8359). For everything outside Willemstad, a car is the practical answer.

Taxis are recognisable by the letters TX on the licence plate. Fares are not metered, but drivers can show you a fare sheet.

A surcharge applies for more than four passengers (five people +25%, six +50%, seven +75%, eight +100%) and between 11 pm and 6 am (+25%). Large or excessive luggage may cost a little extra. Many drivers double as tour guides.

The official currency is the Caribbean guilder (XCG), which replaced the Netherlands Antillean guilder, but you can pay for nearly everything in US dollars. Euros can only be exchanged at a bank.

The bank rate is 1 USD = 1.80 XCG; shops and restaurants round it to 1.75 XCG for easier arithmetic. Rates vary slightly between shops and hotels.

ATMs are widely available and dispense both US dollars and guilders. Cards from Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, debit cards nearly as widely, and personal cheques not at all. ATM instructions are given in Dutch, English, Spanish and Papiamentu, and guilders come out in multiples of XCG 25.

Any local bank will change money for you. At Hato International Airport there is a branch of Maduro & Curiel's Bank near the arrivals hall. Banks in town usually close at 3:30 pm, the airport branch stays open until 6 pm, and you will need valid ID. Your hotel's front desk can often change small amounts of dollars or euros.

A service charge of 10% to 20% is usually already on the bill. If it is not, a tip of 10% to 20% is appropriate, depending on the service.

Most visits to Curaçao pass without any trouble and the tourist areas are generally safe, but petty theft exists here as everywhere. Avoid remote places after dark, take nothing valuable to the beach and leave nothing valuable in the car. Keep your belongings out of sight or in the hotel safe, keep an eye on your luggage, and never carry a package for someone you do not know.