AIRBNB Resources:

airbnb.com  - It has become a very popular resource for travelers.  We try to limit our lists to rentals in great locations, with good pricing, and great views when we find them.  We use AirBNB a lot. ALWAYS double-check reviews and avoid "new" listings most of the time.  Be sure to double check for air conditioning in the summer, and feel free to reach out to the owner for tips / questions!

VRBO Resources:

vrbo.com  - VRBO is another great one to use.  Sometimes you find rentals here you won't see on AirBNB - its always great to have more options, especially during peak seasons when rentals book up fast.  Always double-check reviews and avoid "new" listings when possible.  The VRBO system won't let us filter neighborhoods as well as some others, so always double check location after finding a good property.  

Bed and Breakfast Resources:

Booking.com - this is often our “go-to” for this category.  We find their customer reviews to be very reliable!  

bedandbreakfast.guide  (B&B Guide) - this one screens out the worst-reviewed places, so their lists are pretty reliable.

bnbfinder.com - this one is promising, but they don’t have near as many listings as the others here.   We hope they grow!

Boutique Hotels Resources:

BoutiqueHotel.me  -  this one is usually our favorite.  However, their list will only provide you with hotels who allow booking through booking.com - so some great hotels won’t be on their lists.

MrandMrsSmith.com - This is fantastic and inspirational resource for finding places to stay around the world.  Much of their focus is on premiere hotels (and not what we would call “budget” finds), but it can be a fantastic place to search.  It’s fun to just click on their “Inspiration” tab and find some new places around the world. 

TheHotelGuru.com - This site also links to booking.com, and can be a complimentary resource.

GreatSmallHotels.com - Another resource the books through booking.com, this one tends to go a little more upscale, especially in large European cities. 

Some More Interesting Lodging Guides:

gounusual.com - Great Resource for those trying to find unique places to stay:  Castles, igloos, boats, more! 

eruoglamping.com - Just what it sounds like - a resource of upscale camping places in Europe:

goglamping.net - GoGlamping / More upscale camping experiences - UK and Europe

NOTE:  No matter what form of lodging you book, we recommend you always confirm your booking one last time a week to 10 days ahead of your travel.

TripAdvisor Dining Lists:

TripAdvisor.com - We recommend using TripAdvisor’s dining directories whenever you find yourself needing good food in a place with which you’re unfamiliar.  They have a huge volume of reviews, great genre help, and mapping. 

Michelin Guide - Dining Lists:

Michelin Guide - For respected and relevant reviews of restaurants around the world, Michelin has been the Iconic dining guide since the 1800s.  If you find a 1 star near you, book it.  If you find a 2 star, you’re in for a treat.  If you find a 3 star - make a travel detour if you need to and get there!   

Wanderlog Dining Lists:

Wanderlog.com - Wanderlog is an interesting site - compiling lots of travel planning possibilities.  Their trip-planning features are worth checking out, but we’ve come to really like their restaurant lists. They’re just a little pickier than TripAdvisor, but not as exclusive as Michelin.  They’re worth checking out in most towns.

When trying to get a nicer restaurant into your travel plans, we recommend making reservations at least a couple of weeks ahead of time.  Some of the Michelin star restaurants might even require more advance (varies).

Things to See and Do Resources: 

These are some itineraries and itinerary resources from sources we trust.  Even if you don't find the exact itinerary you need, they will give you some great places to start.  Rank your priorities (and your travel friends' priorities),  see what works for your schedule, and plan an amazing travel adventure.   *Don't try to cram too much in - it's those "unplanned" moments that often product the best adventures.

FodorsTravel.com - In our experience, Fodor’s is the best overall place to start when planning a trip.  Once you search and find their guide to a city - they break the guide down into Sights, Nightlife, Shopping, Performing Arts, and Sports and Acitivities.  There’s not tons of inspiration here, but good, reliable information.  There are ads, but they do a good job of keeping the content credible.  They also have a great “Map View” feature for the different sections so you can always check to see what’s close.  Their Hotels and Restaurants guides are also pretty good.

RickSteves.com - Rick Steves has been an awesome resource for budget travelers for decades, and his content just keeps getting better.  His reviews are reliable, his itineraries are fantastic, and his reputation for credibility is great.  We check out his information on any destination we're thinking about visiting.  

AtlasObscura.com - This is our favorite guide source!  We don’t know how the team at Atlas Obscura finds so many cool, interesting, and odd things to see around the world - but they do it.  It’s easy to find those top few things to do in any location, but these guys go beyond - and get you some off-the-beaten path adventures.

TripAdvisor  - Trip Advisor is pretty commercial in nature, but they have really high traffic - so it's easy to see what's popular pretty much anywhere in the world.  That can be helpful for planning what to see, and sometimes what to avoid.  It's one of our go-to resources for seeing what might be in the town ahead on a road trip.

Wanderlog.com - Wanderlog is an interesting site - compiling lots of travel planning possibilities.  Their trip-planning features are worth checking out, and we really like their “THINGS TO DO” lists.  They’re pretty much ranked from most popular to least - so its a great place to figure out a priority list of things to see.

GetYourGuide.com - We really like this one!  Get your guide is becoming a great source for planning as well as inspiration for travel adventures.  Even if you aren’t looking for things to do on your trip, it’s a good place to get new trip ideas and browse exciting things to do.   They have some "decent" pricing on local activities - worth considering for booking.

Nomadicmatt.com - Matt travels as much as any blogger / content creator we follow.  He's a good writer, a good planner, and delivers entertaining content.   We certainly recommend you check out his travel guides.  If he's been somewhere, he shares great stuff!   

OTHERS WORTH CHECKING OUT:

The Crazy Tourist - This is a travel resource that covers destinations all over the world.  Just type the name of a country or city in their search section, and they have good

CultureTrip.com - This one is pretty commercial (lots of ads), but its also pretty reliable. They’ve been a travel industry leader for a long time, so there are enough reviews on things to know if you’re making good decisions.  We always check out the Culture Trip guide for any location we’re planning on visiting.   

If you're planning a trip to Curacao, there's so much to see and do that it can be overwhelming to know where to start. To help you plan your itinerary, here's a comprehensive checklist of must-see destinations and off-the-beaten-path gems to explore.  Below our checklist, you'll find several sample itineraries we recommend.

DON’T MISS:

• Explore the capital city of Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its colorful Dutch colonial architecture and waterfront promenade.
• Visit the Curaçao Sea Aquarium, where you can see a variety of marine life up close, including sharks, sea turtles, and stingrays.
• Relax on one of the island's many beautiful beaches, such as Mambo Beach, Jan Thiel Beach, or Cas Abao Beach.
• Go scuba diving or snorkeling to discover the vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine ecosystem that surrounds the island.
• Check out the Hato Caves, a network of underground limestone caverns that are filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and other natural wonders.
• Sample local cuisine, such as keshi yena (stuffed cheese), funchi (cornmeal porridge), and stobá (a stew made with goat meat).
• Visit the Ostrich Farm, where you can see and feed these large birds and learn about their behavior and habitats.
• Take a tour of the island's distilleries, such as the famous Curaçao Liqueur Distillery, where you can see how the island's signature blue liqueur is made and sample some for yourself.

IF YOU HAVE MORE TIME:

• Visit the Christoffel National Park, where you can hike to the top of Mount Christoffel for stunning views of the island and its surrounding waters.
• Check out the Kura Hulanda Museum, which showcases the history and culture of the African diaspora in the Caribbean.
• Explore the small towns and villages outside of Willemstad, such as Soto, Barber, and Lagun, where you can see local life and traditional architecture.
• Visit the Flamingo Sanctuary on the island of Bonaire, where you can see these pink birds in their natural habitat.
• Take a boat tour of the island's rugged coastline and hidden coves, such as Playa Lagun and Playa Porto Marie.

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

• Go on a guided ATV tour of the island's remote and rugged terrain, such as the rugged hills of the Northern coast or the deserts of San Pedro.
• Take a trip to Klein Curaçao, a small uninhabited island off the coast of Curacao that is known for its pristine beaches, turquoise waters, and diverse marine life.
• Explore the island's lesser-known beaches, such as Kleine Knip, Grote Knip, and Playa Forti.
• Visit the Landhuis Chobolobo, a historic plantation house that now houses the Curaçao Liqueur Distillery, and learn about the island's history and culture.
• Attend a local music or dance festival, such as the Curaçao Carnival, which takes place in the weeks leading up to Lent and features colorful costumes, parades, and music.

ITINERARIES FOR CURACAO:

 *photos from pixabay.com, pexels.com, unsplash.com and Darrell Potts