I had done plenty of research before booking the Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino.  It had 4 out of 5 stars on Expedia and Renaissance is a trusted Marriott brand, so I knew I’d be in good hands.

Upon pulling up to the Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino, it fit right in with the colorful local decor that has become a signature of Curacao. It sits near downtown Willemstad, so it’s in the perfect location for walking to shops, restaurants and visiting the city sites.  So what are the pros and cons of this hotel?

PROS

The Infinity Beach

What can I say about the infinity beach…other than it’s absolute perfection.  PERFECTION.  Heaven on earth.  I’m not exaggerating.  If for no other reason you stay at the hotel, it should be for this infinity beach. The actual beach is too deep to swim and frolic so the hotel built a faux beach complete with warm water, sand and fake algae.  It was great!  It was so life-like that I didn’t even miss the real beach.

Casino
A hotel casino is always a plus.  Always.  Trust me.  It had it all: slots, tables, and free cocktails.  The casino wasn’t overly crowded, which may not have been so good for them ($$) but I hate a crowded roulette table, so it was perfect for me.  And the minimums were about $5, which is perfect for the budget-conscience traveler.

Starbucks on site
When your hotel has a Starbucks on site, it automatically wins.  Again, trust me on this.

Location
The hotel is located in an area of Willemstad that allows for easy access to downtown.  It’s a great place to stay if you value being close to shops, restaurants, bars and the floating markets.  It’s also very close to the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge, which is quintessential Curacao.

Cons

Wifi only in public areas

Would the Renaissance like to join us in 2014?  Not having free wifi in guest rooms is so 2009.  There’s only free wifi in public areas like the lobby and the pool.  But seriously, what year is this?  A hotel should have free wifi, everywhere…period.  It’s not up for debate.

Food & Drink Prices

While the food and drinks were delicious, I was stunned by how expensive they were.  I do expect there to be a bit of markup because it is a resort; however, the breakfast buffet was about $30 and food prices at the pool ranged from about $13-$18.  In my opinion, that’s a tad high, especially if you have a family to feed.  With that said, the food & drinks were delicious…especially the drinks.  Make sure you try the mojito and the mudslide!

Overeager Housekeeping

The housekeeping service knocked on our door at 8 am for cleaning.  8 AM!  I understand they have a schedule to keep with lots of rooms to clean but 8 am is wildly unacceptable, even without the “Do Not Disturb” sign.

Other Thoughts:

• Check-in and check-out was easy.

• Double Queen Rooms were average-sized. Not too big, not too small.

• Not pet-friendly.

• Staff were friendly & attentive.  Keep in mind, you are in the Caribbean so everyone moves on Caribbean time.

• We asked for an upgrade because it was my friend’s birthday, and they offered it to us at a discount.

OVERALL RATING: 4 out of 5 cocktails

The hotel should really lose more than 1 cocktail for not having free wifi available everywhere, but it more than makes up for it with the infinity beach.  #willdrinkfortravel highly recommends this hotel if you’re ever in Willemstad, Curacao.