Jan Kok Lodges

We have just returned from a wonderful 2 week stay in stunning Curaçao. This was made perfect by our staying at the amazing Jan Kok Lodges. What Frederieke and Jeroen have created is quite remarkable. An absolute little botanical garden of lodges set in a lush jungly surroundings. It is like entering a Shangri-La, a lost world, a tropical Paradise. Our hosts were always near to hand if we needed any information and were most hospitable. We stayed in the garden bungalow which was spacious and very private. We were surrounded by cacti, aloes and a profusion of tropical plants. We were awoken by the exotic sounds of beautifully coloured tropical birds. The bungalow was well appointed and the laundry and beach towels were regularly changed. The ladies who do the room service were lovely. Renting a car is essential for getting around we rented direct from Jan Kok Lodges. In the package, Jeroem met us from the airport and after a 9 hour flight from Amsterdam that was a bonus in itself as the place is tucked away and not so easy to find in the first instance. However the property is well placed to reach all the best beaches on the island. There is a relaxing pool area which we used but were out most days and ate out most evenings. There are plenty of restaurants a short drive away. If you want to get away from the tourist areas with the cheap tacky souvenir shops, bars, music and budget hotels, Jan Kok presents and oasis in the real Curaçao. You will not be disappointed!

The views are amazing and the central locations means most beautiful beaches are within a 15 minutes drive! The airco makes for a comfortable night. Both Frederieke and Jeroen are very friendly and eager you help you feel right at home.

Even having seen all of the lovely pictures on the website and the Instagram account, I was unprepared for the lush and abundant vegetation that takes over the senses on arrival at Jan Kok lodges. It's just what I was craving in a long grey Canadian winter. Everywhere you go, you're surrounded by green palms and cactus and flowers in every color. I loved spending my days on the veranda and by the pool! Frederiejke and Jeroen have created quite a paradise. We stayed in the Garden bungalow and found that the kitchen had everything we needed to make meals and take lunches with us to the beach (JK lodges provides cooler and ice packs). The bed was very comfortable and the housekeeping did a great job keeping the towels and sheets fresh during our weeklong stay. Frederiejke and Jeroen were just a WhatsApp away whenever we needed anything. We loved being able to keep the windows open all day and were surprised at how cool it stayed. We used the ac at night only for sleeping and it worked well. We never got the hot water to work but we didn't miss it. The location and rental car were perfect for visiting spots all over the island, especially the west side for all of the hikes and beaches. We drove into Willemstad for a culture day and for groceries at the Van den Tweel supermarket. In sum, it was the perfect setting for our first (and certainly not last) trip to Curaçao and allowed us to have a fantastic experience on a very reasonable budget. We can't wait to come back!