Keep Calm and Kompartí in Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort
Through blended celebrations that transcend borders, the festive season at this Caribbean resort balances family fun with room to reflect and reset
Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort balcony / Photo: Courtesy
Dreaming of a white (sand) Christmas? Reimagine your celebration at Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort, the six-acre oceanfront resort on an island renowned as a cultural mosaic. Curaçao is under 200 square miles and has just 150,000 residents yet boasts representation of over 50 nationalities—here, holiday traditions converge, woven together with the warmth and charm of the Caribbean. The same can be said of the festive programming at the resort, where holiday revelry offers both the familiarity of cherished customs and the excitement of discovering new-to-you facet and flavors.
The Local Lifestyle
In the melting pot that is Curaçao, global influences—including the former Spanish-turned-Dutch colony’s relationship with European countries—shape daily life; locals speak Spanish, Dutch, English, and Papiamentu. The latter is a creole language that flourished after the slave trade, and out of respect for the island’s complex history, Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort has named its festive program in Papiamentu: kompartí (“share”). As the program title suggests, each activity and feast are driven by the mission to share joy, goodwill, and traditions.
Delicious Celebrations
Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort Greatroom / Photo: Courtesy
For many, there’s no deeper connection to the holiday season than through food. A winter escape to Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort doesn’t require sacrificing the flavors that many American guests associate with end-of-year celebrations: turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin, and pomegranate—as well as hoppin’ John, collard greens, and cornbread on New Year’s day—all have a place at the table. They simply kompartí that space with Jamaican jerk chicken, European pinchos, Asian sushi, and, for those who crave authentic experiences, ayaka—a Curaçaoan delicacy made with a mixture of meats, olives, and raisins, wrapped in a cornmeal dough, folded into plantain leaves, tied up with string, and boiled or steamed for hours.
Tailored to your Tastes
Of course, throughout the season, the dining outlets at Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort continue to serve their regular menus, giving each guest a diverse array of options throughout their stay. Çspice presents a broad breakfast buffet each morning and Mediterranean-style dinners each evening. Zala Gastro Lounge’s hand-crafted cocktails and sharable plates pair perfectly with sunsets, and Izakaya Sushi Bar has a serious contender for best volcano roll on Curaçao. The Salty Iguana Ocean Grill is the go-to for holidaymakers soaking up the sun on the beach or in the pool, and Papiamentu Marketplace is a combination café-deli-convenience store, offering coffee and tea, sandwiches, snacks, and soda, plus cake and gelato.
A Well-Being Boost
Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort pool / Photo: Courtesy
If that all sounds too indulgent, or for anyone looking to start their New Year’s resolutions when the clock strikes midnight, Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort has great amenities for the health-and-wellness traveler, too. A 24/7 fitness center is nicely equipped; a 5K running trail originates at the hotel’s entrance; and group fitness classes in the Harmony Pool keep everyone cool. Looking to move your body, kompartí-style? Zumba is added to the program during the holidays, providing a lively and comfortable atmosphere for the newcomer.
The resort’s second pool, the Serenity Pool, is an adults-only infinity pool with 25-meter lanes for swimmers, and the botanical garden is a serene environment for self-directed exercise and meditation. Several days a week, guests can start the day by centering themselves with yoga on the sea, and massages and body treatments leave them as physically refreshed as they are mentally.
Activities Galore
The resort’s recreation schedule is complete with island-themed activities (fresh coconuts! cocktail-making classes! snorkeling!) alongside the Christmas and New Year’s activities you know and love: family movie night, cookie-decorating, and ornament-making are just a few. Of course, Santa makes a personal visit to the kids’ club, and anyone hoping for New Year’s fireworks will be thrilled. But in the spirit of kompartí, guests can also make everlasting memories through fun and games like bon kune, a Caribbean version of bingo popular on Curaçao.
Step away from the ordinary — experience kompartí at Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort. Blending rich traditions, the holiday season will leave you with memories as unique as the island itself.
