Quite frankly, the timing of the evening AA flight sticks. Centrum and Cost U Less close at 8PM. There is a small store, Oassis that stays open until 9pm but you cut it short if there is a long line at the car rental counter. Drop me a line. I shop on Thursdays and can easily pick you up some juice, milk, cereal and yogurt; enough for your 1st morning and you can stop by on your way to the Lodge.

Directions are easy though; from the airport, exit right. At the rotary go halfway around. Be aware that as the first road enters from the right, they have the right of way and you need to stop in the rotary. The triangle point up with arrow gives you the right of way, the triangle point down and no arrow is a yeild to incoming traffic. A left at the 1st light will take you to Cost U Less a Sam's/BJ style store with groceries. They sell USDA beef. Across the street is L'Esperamos, a local store. At the 2nd light from the rotary, take a right and Centrum will be on your left. It has more of an American feel to it. Maybe (?) a mile further down the street is the right hand turn to Oassis. From the Lodge however, you can drive to Barber. Turn across the street from the large church. There is a small store at the bottom of the hill but at the top is a larger green building/market that will have almost everything you need except produce. About 18 miles from thre Lodge is California Market in Tera Cora with a drugstore (Botika) next door. By the time it takes you to drive there, you can go the extra 4 miles to Centrum for a much larger selection. From the rotary that 1st turn is the road to Westpunt (signs clearly marked). Jaanchies restaurant is about 24 miles west. Turn across from Jaanchies and take a left behind the cemetary. Our house is the green building on the left with Sol Food sign, the Lodge is a half mile down the street from us.

Please pack a pair of lightweight long pants and closed shoes for the evening. You will be more comfortable than if you don't.

Sunshine

curacaosunshine@gmail.com

Mermaid asked about shopping before heading west, but... I was in town today and went to Albert Heinz, the big Dutch grocery store. I almost never mention it to our guests or those of All West or the Lodge because it is in the other direction. But for anyone staying at the Sea Aquarium, Lions Dive or even the Marriott ot Hilton (although a bit out of the way for the last two) it is open to 10PM, has a great wine selection and lots of fresh produce and, go figure, Dutch cheese and salamis. Simplified directions would be; take a left out of the airport. At the 3rd set of lights you'll be at a rotary on the ring. Get on the ring so that the refinery is on your left. Drive. Go over the big bridge; right lane for the view. At the 4th set of lights (you'll see a white monuments of sorts with a bird on the right) take a left. At the lights take a right, a right at the stop sign and follow around a curve in the road and the store will be on your right. If you miss the light and see KFC, go to the 3rd light after KFC and take a left and at Kooeyman take a left to get to the store. It's in the Zeelandia area. Upon leaving (one exit) take a right and get back on the ring road. Ask the car rental agency for directions to your hotel from the KFC next to McDonalds. Do not look for street signs. AH is about 20 minutes from the airport.

There is also California Supermarket on the way to the lodge. It is much smaller than the one Sunshine mentioned but it could give you the small items you will need for your first day before heading downtown area. We picked up eggs, bread, beer, wine, and smaller stuff here then headed to Centrum the next day for other things. I also brought down coffee, peanut butter, snacks and crackers in my luggage. This helped with cost and provided late night snacking in the room.

You will love the lodge!!!! bring water shoes and snorkeling gear to really enjoy the beach at the hotel.

The problem is that Curacao does not set the clocks back an hour so from November to March the AA flight doesn't land until 8:05. By the time you clear customs and get your rental car, most of the stores are closed. Those flying Air Jamaica, Continental or Delta arrive earlier. There continues to be rumors that AA is adding the afternoon flight back on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I was at the airport a couple of days ago and Insel Air is still not booking the flights from Miami. I'll post when I hear for sure.

Thank you all for your help. You are great!

One more point before you all think I spend all my time at the grocery stores (only Thursdays). Curacao is finally banning all the white plastic bags, hooray! While I don't expect you to bring along an enviromentally correct Trader Joes or hemp mesh bag on vacation you could use your beach bag to carry home your groceries. All the stores do sell reusable bags for under $3 (US) even thermal ones.