Renting a car in Curacao: What you should know
Tips when renting a car in Curaçao
For any traveler, the ability to move from one place to another during their vacation is essential. As we have already mentioned, Curaçao has a limited number of licensed cab drivers and the public transportation service is also limited if you want to make efficient use of your time on the island.
Here you can not only read some practical tips when renting a car, but you can also book online and securely. I only like to recommend official agencies, to avoid as much as possible any possibility of dissatisfaction or even the risk of fraud which, as in many other destinations, also exists.
Tip n. 1: RENT WITH RECOGNIZED AGENCIES
The car rental agencies invest in compliance with the requirements and have the necessary documentation so that you will not have problems with the local authorities when using the car. The cars have a valid insurance and you will have the guarantee of a replacement if for any reason something goes wrong with the car received.
Tip n. 2: reserve IN TIME
During vacation planning, many leave car rental as the last item on the to-do list. Don’t make this mistake when coming to Curaçao. If you are looking for a smooth vacation, coordinate your transportation on the island in advance and avoid surprises upon arrival. Many rental agencies have their offices at the airport and hotels, so the customer who has not arrived on the island is not aware of the great demand before his arrival. For many, it is very discouraging to arrive and find out that no agency has cars available.
Tip n. 3: Bring your driver’s license.
It is possible that this advice sounds excessive, but in the eagerness to leave the routine behind and come to Curaçao, many people leave the necessary documentation to be able to rent a car on the island. In Curaçao, the minimum age to rent a car is 21 years old and a driver’s license is required. Each agency is free to establish its own policies regarding age, deposit or payment methods.
Tip n. 4: verify that your rental includes accident insurance
On an island like Curaçao, traffic signs may be slightly different from those in many Latin American countries. The great advantage is that the streets of Curaçao suffer very little from traffic congestion, so it is easy to keep your distance and drive with confidence in a short time. However, being insured and anticipating the recklessness of other drivers is always the best option. Don’t skimp when it comes to prevention.
Tip n. 5: PLAN YOUR ROUTES INTELLIGENTLY
Budget in advance how much you will be willing to spend on transportation (gasoline) during your vacation on the island. This way you can create your itinerary and routes in an intelligent way. For example, one day you could visit several beaches on the West Point side and another day visit other attractions on the downtown or West side of the island. Take advantage of the routes for necessary visits or purchases and you will avoid wasting gasoline unnecessarily.
Tip n. 6: familiarize yourself with prices (and weather!)
You should not forget that Curaçao’s climate (25 degrees and more depending on the season) will tempt you to use the car’s air conditioning most of the time. Therefore, you should remember that the use of air conditioning also increases gasoline consumption rapidly.
