Accommodations

The Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort: A Seriously Stress-Free Family Getaway in Curacao

Last updated 22nd March 2019

If you, like some of my friends when I first told them where my family was headed for our beach vacation, aren’t exactly sure where Curacao is, then you want to add this relaxing little island to your radar ASAP. Located in the southern Caribbean waters, it is part of the Dutch ABC islands (that also include Aruba and Bonair) just 12 miles off the coast of Venezuela.  Curacao may not be as “buzzy” as Aruba, but that’s a good thing. With its white beaches, neon blue waters and rich culture this lesser-known escape has all the trappings for serious relaxation.

The Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort takes advantage of the serene setting and makes for an idyllic family beach vacation. We flew a direct from New York City, an easy four and a half hour flight for my 10- and 13-year-old children.

The native language in Curacao is Papiamentu and we got a kick (and a lot of use) out of their expression “dushi,” which means beautiful. Beyond the beauty, here are five great reasons to pamper your family at the Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort.

1. Ocean Views Everywhere

There is something about being on vacation and hearing the rolling ocean waves wherever you walk that truly calms your spirit.  This Spanish- style hacienda resort spans 27 acres of beachfront and is features panoramic views of Spanish Waters Bay.

The Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort has the best of both beach and mountains. The resort sits on a 2000-acre plantation community at the base of Tafelberg mountain and has an award-winning 18-hole golf course designed by the famed Pete Dye. There are walking paths along the plantation as you are encouraged to explore the property.  The property is artfully landscaped, adding to the Caribbean charm.

The location of the resort is ideal as it’s only a 30-minute drive to see the many cultural and historical sites in the capital city of Willemstad.

2. Plenty of Room

There are over 350 beachfront guest rooms and suites to choose from, including four private villas that have access to their own private swimming pool. Fun fact: Superstar Christina Aguilera and her crew have stayed here. There is also a Royal Suite, named for the King and Queen of the Netherlands who came to stay. At a place fit for celebrities and royals, you know you’re in good hands.

The rooms are decorated beautifully with rich, warm colors and natural sandstone floors. We stayed in the one-bedroom Sunset Suite, aptly named thanks to the gorgeous evening views it offered. Another great feature of the suite was the option to join it with another standard room for the kids. I’ve found as our kids grow older it makes for a nicer vacation when we all have our own space to unwind. All rooms have private patios or balconies and my family’s favorite perk was the super cozy bathrobes and slippers. 

3. Kids Won’t Ever Be Bored

Courtesy of Carey Reilly

Kids don’t always just want to lay on the beach. Luckily, there is plenty to keep them entertained at the Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort. There are two oceanfront main pools to choose from with chair-service menus for food and drinks, plus cabanas you can rent for the day.

My son John and my daughter Ava’s absolute favorite spot was the swimming lagoon along the beach. We also made a beeline for the beach shack everyday to choose from equipment rentals and excursions. One day we booked a guided jet ski tour that picked us up right at the dock outside the hotel and took us all around Fuik Bay. Other options include kayaks, paddleboards, snorkels, mountain bikes and off-road buggies. Another popular choice is the boating excursions to see the historic Klein Curacao lighthouse.

My kids were also plenty entertained by some of the simpler equipment available. An enormous floating mat kept them busy for hours as they used it for everything from a float to lay back on to a runway for leaping into the ocean. The hotel also offers plenty of free activities like the fun guided lizard feeding. Kids get to see the massive iguanas on the property and learn how to feed them fresh fruit.

If you want some grown up time, there’s a fabulous kids’ club and they have babysitting services available upon request for little ones.

5. Never Think About What’s for Dinner

I can’t tell you how nice it was to let someone else think about what to feed my family. The Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort has an all-inclusive package perfect for families. We took advantage of this option and were glad we did. It included unlimited eating at three of the five restaurants and a 20% discount at the other two dining venues. Between the five restaurants, there’s seemingly endless food options, so no one in the family will get food fatigue.

Our first night we ate on the beach at a BBQ buffet with a singer and piano player for entertainment. We usually ate lunch at Splash, the poolside bar that serves fish tacos and will deliver them right to your chairs on the beach. Talk about total bliss! In the mornings we had fresh omelettes and pancakes at the breakfast buffet at Medi. A couple of night’s we opted to get classy and made reservations at the fine-dining restaurant Shore, which has wonderful fresh fish and dramatic views of the ocean and golf course.

Every Saturday night, marshmallows are available for roasting at the bonfire down on the beach. The restaurants, pools and shops are centrally located and my son and daughter liked the freedom they had to walk over to the marketplace any time they wanted for a scoop of gelato or a quick snack.

6. Family Bonding

Courtesy of Carey Reilly

Wherever we go as a family, we always like to rent a car and explore the place we are visiting with no real plan in place. It allows us to embrace the unpredictability of travel and enjoy just stopping at whatever catches our fancy. Even though it was hard to leave the beach and pool, we took the day to see the island and spend the day all together.

You can also taxe a taxi to and from the hotel, but that can get expensive. We walked around the capital city of Willemstad enjoying its candy-colored buildings, great food and the cool floating pontoon bridge, named “The Queen Emma Bridge.”

Courtesy of Carey Reilly

We grabbed lunch and a swim at Mombo Beach. This beach area is open to the public and offers beach chairs for rent. There are tiki-style snack shacks serving hamburgers, tacos and cocktails. The highlight for my kids was a large inflatable obstacle course floating out on the water that they climbed on most of the day. It was a great way to go beyond the resort and take in the rest of the island.

After our time at the Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort and embracing the laid-back Caribbean lifestyle, we came back fully refreshed. We like to fondly refer to Curacao vacation as “super dushi.”

By Carey Reilly

Read about the 10 Best Activities for Families in Curacao.