Several months ago, when my siblings and I chose Curacao as the destination for my mom’s birthday, I took the sole responsibility of planning the entire trip, including accommodations for the four of us. To ensure that it would be a memorable vacation, I spent hours researching the island, means of transportation, and hotels. After contacting Gerald, the sales director of the Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina, and discussing a few requests, I determined that the Hyatt would be the right choice for our vacation.

Because the resort is located about 30 minutes away from Hato International Airport, I made a car rental reservation online ahead of time. Taking into consideration the fact that we would have eight pieces of luggage, I opted for an SUV with an automatic transmission. The streets in Curacao are very narrow and filled with potholes, so a larger vehicle is helpful. I rented a Kia Carens and it was the perfect size for four passengers and our suitcases.

Taxis and shuttles are available from the airport to the Hyatt, though they are much more costly. Taxis charge about $70 one-way, and the shuttle charges $32 per person for a round-trip ride. Knowing that we would be making two round-trips to the airport and visiting Willemstad, the capital of Curacao, at least once, renting a car was much more economical. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, there is a shuttle available from the resort to Willemstad, costing $12 per person for a round-trip ride. Ultimately, the car rental cost just over $400 and allowed us to explore parts of the island that we wouldn’t have visited otherwise. Driving on the island was fairly simple, so I would highly suggest renting a car for the week.

Upon entering the Santa Barbara Plantation, a private stretch of land on which the Hyatt is located, I knew that I had made the correct decision. I was comforted by the fact that the resort has very high security, requiring all guests to enter through a gate where personnel is stationed 24/7. As soon as we pulled up to the lobby, we were greeted by two friendly gentleman who immediately began unloading our car. We were also offered refreshing drinks, and the bellman parked our car outside of our bungalow as we checked in, which took a mere five minutes.

We were then taken on a guided tour of the resort so that we wouldn’t miss out on any of the amenities that the Hyatt has to offer. The entire hotel features open-air architecture, allowing guests to enjoy the perfect weather even when indoors. The lobby was easily our favorite part of the entire resort as it was the perfect place to enjoy a drink while sitting on the terrace and listening to live entertainment.

Rooms are spread out on the plantation, overlooking either the golf course, pools, or beach. Our room had a premier water view—set a few steps away from the azure water—and was located close to the lobby.

Our room, equipped with two double beds and a balcony, was spacious enough for the four of us to share. I particularly liked that our room was environmentally friendly, from the bath products that were offered to the electricity that was used. The high-definition television had satellite cable, including movie channels, such as HBO. Wi-Fi is available throughout the resort as well as in the rooms, for a fee of $110 per week, per device.

Sea Traditions rooms come with additional amenities, including a personal butler from 9am to 7pm. Whenever we made a call to make a request, like to ask for additional hangers, our request was met within five minutes.

The Hyatt resort offers two large pools and is nestled aside the Spanish Water Bay. The expansive man-made beach was gorgeous, making it easy to spend hours basking in the sun on a chaise lounge or in a comfy cabana.

The 27-acre resort was meticulously maintained, landscaped with many indigenous plants.

I do not golf, though the course seemed to boast none other than pristine grounds with world-class views.

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The fitness center was easily accessible and was open 24 hours a day, allowing me to squeeze in a workout early in the morning or late in the evening. Though I did find it to be a little small, it was never overly crowded. Using the state-of-the-art equipment, I could run on the treadmill while watching the sun set behind the pool, or weight-lift using one of their many machines.

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Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to visit Atabei, the spa adjacent to the fitness center.

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Breakfast, lunch, and dinner was nothing less than five-star quality. We dined at the resort for the majority of our meals and opted to visit the breakfast buffet at Medi on a daily basis. Though it was a bit expensive at $25 per person, the options were endless. Chefs were willing to prepare made-to-order omelets, and the buffet had an array of hot foods, as well as fresh fruit and bakery items every morning. In addition, there were traditional European breakfast options available to guests.

Swim, the bar and grill located poolside, offered many lunch and drink choices. Guests could dine at the outdoor bar or on the beach, without even needing to move from their chair. Servers frequently offered menus and were more than willing to bring your drink to you while you were floating on a raft in the water (well, at least to the edge of the water!).

With an Italian-inspired menu, Medi was an excellent choice for dinner as well. For a more upscale dining experience, Shor was perfect for deliciously-cooked seafood.

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Above all, the extremely attentive staff at the Hyatt Regency made our stay the best that it could be. Every member of the staff—including those who were out in the scalding sun for eight hours a day—were friendly, overly gracious, and very accommodating. It was evident that they strived to please their guests by going out of their way to make us comfortable, such as bringing us fresh beach towels midway through the day.

On a daily basis, I was greeted by name along with a smile by several staff members—and trust me, my last name is not an easy one to remember! The staff paid close attention to detail; without even inquiring, the team at the Hyatt arranged to surprise my mom with dessert on three different occasions to celebrate her birthday. I was sad to leave some of the familiar faces that I had gotten to know so well during my stay and I am confident that my experience would not have been as memorable had it not been for the staff.

Disclaimer: The Hyatt Regency Curacao offered me added amenities in return for writing a review on the resort. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.