Located in the vibrant Jan Thiel area of Curacao, the Harbor Hotel & Casino offers guests a blend of convenience, stunning harbor views, and dedicated service. While its primary type is a casino, the establishment functions as a full-service hotel that promises a memorable stay for many, though with a few areas that could be refined.
One of the most consistently praised aspects of the Harbor Hotel is its unbeatable location. Guests rave about its unparalleled convenience to downtown Willemstad, with numerous restaurants and shops within easy walking distance. For those exploring by car, a secured parking lot directly across the street ensures hassle-free parking and quick access to the island's main roads, allowing for seamless travel around Curacao.
Beyond convenience, the hotel offers arguably the best views in Willemstad. Many rooms boast captivating harbor views, providing a quintessential Curaçao experience. Imagine waking up to watch massive tankers gracefully enter and leave the inner harbor, or observing the iconic Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge (Handelskade) pivot back and forth. These ever-changing perspectives create an endlessly charming and unique backdrop to your stay.
The hotel staff consistently receives high praise for their friendliness, warmth, and attentiveness. From the front desk, with staff members like Susy, to restaurant personnel such as Jay Jay, Jeanira, and Isnaida, guests report feeling incredibly welcomed and well-cared for throughout their stays. Front desk service is described as speedy and highly effective, particularly with assisting guests in arranging taxis.
The rooms at Harbor Hotel are generally described as very clean, well-appointed, and elegantly decorated. Many feature a tasteful blend of greens and golds that evoke a glamorous island vibe. Guests appreciate the overall cleanliness and the routine daily room servicing, though it's noted that towels are only changed if left on the floor.
As a hotel with a casino as its primary type, the "little casino" within the establishment is noted for its friendly staff and complimentary drinks for players. It offers a straightforward exchange, allowing guests to play with either Antillean Guilders or USD. For blackjack players, it features a 6-deck shoe with 3-2 payouts. However, it's important to note the "no hole card" rule, meaning players lose doubles and splits to a dealer blackjack. Minimum bets in the evening are typically $10.
While general cleanliness is often praised, there have been isolated reports of housekeeping not being "thoroughly" done, with one guest specifically mentioning "wet walls" as a "weird" issue. A more common concern for some guests relates to room temperature control. Rooms can be "super cold," and guests are reportedly advised not to open windows or adjust thermostats (likely a measure to prevent condensation and mold common in tropical climates). The absence of comforting amenities like robes to compensate for the chill was noted as a minor drawback.
It's important for prospective guests to know that the Harbor Hotel is not an all-inclusive resort. Reviews of the food in the hotel restaurant are mixed, often described as merely "ok" or "not good," leading many guests to recommend exploring the numerous excellent dining options outside the hotel. Additionally, the complimentary drink cards provided at check-in are often limited to "punch" (implying low-quality mixed drinks) and explicitly exclude bottled water, which can be a point of frustration, especially when free drinks are available within the casino downstairs.
The pool area garners mixed reviews. While one guest found it "cozy" with a "right balance of fun and relaxation," another described it as small with no view, not particularly relaxing, and not consistently cleaned (with reports of debris). Given its size and limited number of lounge chairs (reportedly only 4-5 for at least 30 rooms), it may not be the ideal spot for extended relaxation or significant pool time.
While the casino environment is friendly and drinks are complimentary, one experienced gambler specifically warned that the casino is a "money grab" and would not recommend playing there, particularly citing the roulette table as "diabolical." This suggests that while the atmosphere and staff are pleasant, the odds for players may be significantly unfavorable.
Some guests noted that hotel staff were not particularly knowledgeable about local nightlife recommendations, which could be a minor inconvenience for those looking to explore Curacao's evening entertainment scene.
The Harbor Hotel & Casino Curacao is a strong choice for travelers prioritizing an excellent central location, stunning harbor views, and exceptional staff service. It excels as a clean, convenient base for exploring Willemstad, with well-appointed rooms that offer a pleasant retreat. While the casino provides free drinks and friendly staff, those seeking favorable gambling odds might want to temper their expectations. Potential guests should be aware of limitations regarding in-house dining options, the modest pool area, and the hotel's non-all-inclusive model. Despite these minor shortcomings, many guests, including repeat visitors, consider it a truly great hotel and would not hesitate to return when visiting Curacao.
Visited the hotel two years ago and came back this week. It’s a great hotel!The location is prime, with a lot of nearby restaurants and shops in walking distance. By car (there is a secured parking lot across the street), you can access the main roads very quickly and move around the island.Would not consider any other place when visiting Curacao!
The hotel is very convenient to everything plus there is no hassle with parking. The issues I had was housekeeping. Our room was not cleaned thoroughly. Also the walls were wet, which was weird.
Stayed last September. Best views in Willemstad period. They never disappoint with each day bringing a new perspective on the endlessly charming Handelskade. Laying in bed watching the massive tankers gracefully enter and leave the inner harbor, the iconic bridge pivoting back and forth, is a positively quintessential Curaçao experience and The Harbor provides it in the most ideal way.The rooms are well appointed and elegantly decorated. Lots of greens and golds evoke a glamours island vibe which contrast so intensely with the azure waters of the harbor just outside your window in rooms such as ours. The pool area is cozy and definitely has the right balance of fun and relaxation.The staff are all the friendliest people and every single person we encountered from Susy at the front desk, Jay Jay in the restaurant, as well as Jeanira and Isnaida. There were many others as well and everyone was so warm and welcoming to us throughout our entire 8 night stay.5 Stars.
I absolutely have a soft spot for this hotel. Why!? It's super convenient to local place downtown Willemstad. Very clean, the rooms are decorated nicely. I had room 302 Harbor View for my bday weekend! Harbor view was beautiful watching ships and boats go pass while the view of the floating bridge was right out my window. I purchased the bday package, which was supper cute. The staff decorated my room with balloons, signs, rose pedals, chocolate, and wine. Very open lobby area and dining area. The hotel is not all-inclusive. The food is ok. But much better place to eat outside. Upon check in the give you an adapter to charge your phone. The security deposit is $100, which was refunded once I checked out. The rooms are cleaned each day. Towels are only changed if they are on the floor. Clean hallways, the pool area is small (they have at least 30 rooms with 4 to 5 lounge chairs at the pool), no view but not relaxing, nor is it cleaned good enough for me. Had debris in it. They give you a complimentary drink card upon check-in, but you can't get bottle water with it. Only punch. Didn't like that, especially when punch in the casino was downstairs.... and free, lol. Rooms are super cold and they don't want the windows open nor the thermostats touched! I totally get it when lots of resorts have mold in the rooms from condensation, but at least give the guest a robe so that we don't touch the thermostat or open the windows.The casino is a money grab, I wouldn't recommend anyone playing here. The roulette table was diabolical. It's definitely a place to stay with really nice rooms, front desk service was speedy and awesome, very helpful with taxi's. I wish they knew what to do or where to go for night life, seems the locals don't really know the best places. I do recommend an all inclusive resort in Curacao. It was definitely pricey. I would recommend staying for guest services and cleanliness. I only gave 4 stars because of the cold rooms, the BS drink tix, the food in the restaurant wasn't good. I ate there once in 4 days, the pool was small didn't use it once, they should close it and just make it a club, they would make more money, or be an all inclusive hotel downtown! They could charge more and ppl would def book more. Free food and drink package at least should be offered at an additional rate
Nice little casino. Staff was nice, drinks were free. They offer a straight exchange allowing you to play with guilders or USD. blackjack is 6 deck shoe, 3-2, no hole card (lose doubles and splits to a dealer BJ), $10 mins in the evening.