Baoase Luxury Resort: Curaçao's Most Private Luxury Escape
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- 9 min read
ADVISORS UNPACKED · Curacao Our luxury travel specialists stay at the hotels, eat at the restaurants, and report back exactly what they think — so your advisor can tell you exactly what to expect before you arrive. Reviewed by: Liz Pugatch | Luxury Travel Specialist Elli Travel Group is a Virtuoso Preferred Partner. Liz's take: “It’s like walking into Narnia.” This review is based on a firsthand visit April, 2026 |
Overview
Curacao doesn't get the press of the Dominican Republic or Turks and Caicos. That's mostly the point. Liz Pugatch, one of our advisors, came back from a recent fam trip — Bonaire first, then Curaçao — with one clear verdict: Baoase Luxury Resort is unlike anything else in the Caribbean, and her clients who've been everywhere need to hear about it.
Baoase is entirely man-made: the lagoon, the beach, the island connected to the property. A Dutch family built it from nothing and is now transitioning it to a second generation — an origin story that shows up in the obsessive level of care throughout the property.
Here's what Liz found, room by room, meal by meal — and who it's actually right for.
Getting There: Easier Than You'd Think
From New York, Curaçao is straightforward. JetBlue flies daily from JFK, and United operates several times a week from Newark — both nonstop. Flight time is roughly four and a half hours. No island-hopping required, no obscure connections.
For travelers adding Bonaire before or after, the interisland flight (Divi Divi Air) takes about 15 minutes — a small prop plane, smooth in practice, though Liz recommends a drink or two beforehand if a client is nervous about small aircraft.
Why Baoase Stops You Cold
The entrance is almost deliberately understated. You pull up, the doors open, and — in Liz's words — it's like walking into Narnia.
The owners, a Dutch family now transitioning to the second generation, are still hands-on. They're there. They know the guests. The staff has been there for years — the sales manager, Sue, started as an intern and is now eight years in, and is described as the person who holds the place together.
Twenty-three rooms in total, expanding to approximately 35 when a new wing opens in December. Every room Liz and her colleagues saw was different — and each one more surprising than the last.
The Rooms: A Private World of Your Own
Baoase doesn't do standard rooms. The design throughout the property runs dark mahogany, high
ceilings, outdoor showers, bathtubs that could host a dinner party, and outdoor living areas for every room type.
“I could have done anything in that room and had zero awareness of other guests.” — Liz Pugatch, on her private plunge pool suite
Room Categories to Know
● Private Pool Suites — one, two, and three-bedroom configurations, many in duplex layouts. Your own pool, your own outdoor lounge. Ideal for families or guests who want total seclusion.
● Beachfront Suites — direct beach access with private lounge chairs, steps to the ocean. Guests can snorkel right off the beach from their own room.
● Honeymoon Suite — hot tub on the balcony, private beach access, and an infinity pool. Note for booking advisors: the honeymoon suites include an adults-only stocked minibar amenity with a $200+ charge if opened — worth a quiet heads-up for any couple or family placed there.
● Pool Villas — rooms where the outside of the room connects directly to the main hotel pool.
Privacy is good — the pool has natural separations — but guests sensitive to shared pool access may prefer the Private Pool Suites.
The incoming December wing adds 12 new rooms, all ocean-view, all with pool access fronting a new main pool. For families who want a traditional large-format pool, that's the configuration to watch.
The Beach, the Lagoon, and the Water
The lagoon is the center of daily life at Baoase. The owners built a seawall structure that blocks heavy ocean swells, creating a calm, swimmable enclosure surrounded by beach and lounge chairs. It functions like a pool — but it's the ocean.
“My group never used the main hotel pool because the lagoon made it irrelevant.” — Liz Pugatch
The beach itself is lovely — not Anguilla-white-sand, Liz will tell you honestly — but genuinely beautiful and completely safe for children. Cabanas, lounge chairs, and full beach service are standard. Calm enough that even young kids are fine in the water without concern.
Dining: Not the Same Menu Twice
Baoase has multiple dining venues on property, and the kitchen rotates themes nightly at the main restaurant — Indian, Italian, Mediterranean, and more. Liz was there for Indian night and Italian night. Both were exceptional; the naan on Indian night was specifically called out as not a gimmick — the execution is serious.
Breakfast is served oceanside with views of the lagoon. There's also a restaurant by the marina with its own atmosphere.
Beta Island, a small islet connected to the resort and built by the owners, is being developed into an Ibiza-style beach club with its own bar and an incoming restaurant — a compelling option for travelers who want a day that transitions from resort calm into something more social.
Off property, the town of Willemstad — Curaçao's capital, a UNESCO-listed Dutch colonial city with colorful 17th-century buildings along the waterfront — is a short drive. Liz's group went out one evening to a southern-inspired Caribbean restaurant, arranged by Sue, and called the food spectacular; the city itself is walkable, historic, and genuinely photogenic.
What to Do Beyond the Resort
This is where Curaçao separates itself from quieter islands. There's enough on and around the island that guests don't feel trapped at the resort — which matters for travelers who want luxury but resist the idea of not leaving the property for a week.
● Historical Walking Tour of Willemstad — genuinely fascinating, per Liz. The city holds the oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, with sand floors, and architecture unlike anything else in the region.
● Yacht Day — Baoase operates two private yachts. Half-day or full-day charters, with food, drinks, music, and water access. Liz called it a must.
● Golf — multiple courses on the island.
● Casino — Curaçao has casino options for guests who want them.
● Beach Club Nightlife — a beach club in town runs until midnight with a DJ. Liz described it as spring break energy, except consistent — a good option for younger travelers or anyone who wants a night out.
For families, the island has enough off-property activity to keep kids engaged in a way that Bonaire, for example, does not. Teens especially — Curaçao is genuinely photogenic in a way that translates to great content, and there's enough novelty to hold attention.
Spa, Fitness, and Wellness
The current spa is small and primarily offers massage, open-air and facing the ocean — Liz's massage was excellent. A larger spa is planned as part of the December expansion.
There's a small gym across the street from the resort with a trainer on-site whom the owners bring in regularly — adequate for most guests, though not the setup for serious CrossFit-level training.
Virtuoso Preferred Partner |
Baoase Luxury Resort is a Virtuoso member resort. When you book through Elli Travel Group, a Virtuoso Preferred Partner agency, you receive: ✓ Daily breakfast for two Included every morning of your stay ✓ $100 USD hotel credit Applied to dining, spa treatments, or resort activities ✓ Welcome amenity A personal touch on arrival, arranged by your advisor ✓ Priority consideration for room upgrades Based on availability at check-in These amenities are exclusive to Virtuoso Preferred Partner agencies and are arranged directly by your advisor before arrival. |
Curious if Baoase is right for your next trip? Contact Liz Pugatch |
How Baoase Compares
What can be said with the sourcing in hand: Baoase holds a flat, non-seasonal rate structure — meaning in high season it's a strong value play against comparable-tier Turks and Caicos or St. Barths properties, while in shoulder season it competes on experience rather than price. That's a genuine trade-off worth naming honestly to a client comparing Caribbean options.
Who Should Stay at Baoase
Baoase is right for travelers who want ultra-private luxury with genuine warmth — not the polished remove of a large resort, but something more personal. The service is remarkable by any standard; every staff member knows guest names.
Couples
Honeymoon or anniversary, private suites with their own pools or beachfront access.
Multi-Generational Families
Room configurations up to three or four bedrooms, calm water for kids, enough on-island activity for teens, and the privacy to actually feel like you have your own space.
Girls' Trips
Very Instagrammable, great food, the option to go into town at night, yacht day built in.
Seasoned Travelers Who've Been Everywhere
The product is genuinely distinctive. Travelers who've done the obvious Caribbean luxury circuit will find something here they haven't encountered.
Biggest Booking Mistake Assuming Baoase discounts seasonally the way most Caribbean resorts do. Christmas week and mid-July are priced the same — around $3,000 per night depending on room type. Set that expectation with the client up front; sell high season on value relative to alternatives, and shoulder season on experience rather than price. |
Before You Book: Q&A
What should I tell a client about pricing before they book?
Set the expectation early that Baoase does not discount seasonally — rates run roughly $3,000 per night year-round depending on room type. Position high season as a value play against comparable Turks and Caicos or St. Barths properties, and shoulder season as an experience-driven booking.
Which room category should I recommend for a family with young kids?
A Private Pool Suite in a duplex layout, or wait for the December wing's ocean-view rooms with access to the new main pool if the family wants a larger, more traditional pool setup.
Is the Honeymoon Suite a safe default recommendation?
Yes, with one heads-up: the room includes an adults-only stocked minibar amenity with a $200+ charge if opened. Worth mentioning discreetly to any couple or family being placed there.
Should I recommend combining Baoase with Bonaire?
For clients who want both a luxury resort stay and a quieter, dive-focused island, yes — the interisland flight is about 15 minutes. A 3–4 night split on each side works well; weight the split toward whichever experience the client values more.
What's the best way to set expectations on the beach itself?
Be honest that the sand isn't Anguilla-white, but that the lagoon — a calm, man-made swimmable enclosure — is the real draw and functions like a private pool for the whole stay.
What Travelers Ask About Luxury Travel to Curaçao
Is Curaçao a good destination for luxury travel?
Yes — particularly for travelers who want ultra-private, boutique luxury with a genuinely distinctive experience. Baoase Luxury Resort is the standout property: 23 rooms, a man-made lagoon, private beaches, and service that outperforms much larger resorts. The island adds historic Willemstad, multiple dining options, and real nightlife — more depth than most small Caribbean islands.
What is the best luxury hotel in Curaçao?
Baoase Luxury Resort is widely considered the finest property on the island. It's an intimate, design-forward resort built around a private lagoon, with room types ranging from private pool suites to beachfront villas. The ownership is family-run, the staff remarkably tenured, and the service personal in a way that large branded properties rarely match.
How do you get to Curaçao from New York?
JetBlue flies nonstop daily from JFK; United operates nonstop service from Newark several times per week. Flight time is approximately four and a half hours.
Is Curaçao good for families?
Yes. The lagoon at Baoase is calm and safe for children. The island has enough off-property activity — Willemstad's historic district, beach clubs, yacht days, golf — to keep older kids and teens engaged. Multi-room suite configurations accommodate families without sacrificing privacy.
Should I combine Curaçao and Bonaire?
It depends on the traveler. The combination works well for those who want both a luxury resort experience (Curaçao) and a quieter, nature-focused diving destination (Bonaire). The interisland flight is 15 minutes. A suggested split is 3–4 nights Bonaire, 3–4 nights Curaçao, or weighted toward whichever experience the traveler values more.
What are the room options at Baoase Luxury Resort?
Four main categories: Private Pool Suites (one to three bedrooms, many in duplex layouts), Beachfront Suites with direct ocean access, a Honeymoon Suite with a private balcony hot tub and infinity pool, and Pool Villas connected to the main hotel pool. A new wing opening in December adds 12 ocean-view rooms with access to a new main pool.
Does Baoase discount during low season?
No — Baoase holds a flat rate year-round, roughly $3,000 per night depending on room type, whether it's Christmas week or mid-July. That makes high season a comparatively strong value against similarly priced Turks and Caicos or St. Barths properties.
Is Bonaire worth adding to a Curaçao trip?
For travelers who prioritize diving and snorkeling and want genuine quiet without much nightlife, yes. Bonaire's reef is accessible directly from shore at most hotels, and Harbor Village is a well-regarded four-and-a-half-star option with rates from roughly $350 per night for interior rooms up to about $1,000 per night during festive.
Read Next
Open Item — Confirmed URLs Needed [NEEDS CONFIRMATION: 2–3 other live Advisors Unpacked post URLs needed here (Caribbean or boutique-property cluster ideal). Per the Hyperlink Rule, never invent or guess a URL — list candidates once confirmed live.] |
Questions About Curaçao or Bonaire?
Liz Pugatch is available for direct questions about Baoase, Harbor Village, or building a combined Curaçao–Bonaire itinerary.
Contact Elli Travel Group Email: liz@ellitravel.com |
About This Guide
This guide was written by Elli Travel Group advisor Liz Pugatch and Co-Founder Juan Fernandez — a Virtuoso-member agency based in Westchester, New York, specializing in luxury travel.
Luxury Travel Advisors listed are independent affiliates of Elli Travel Group.
Footer Note
Elli Travel Group is a Virtuoso-member luxury travel agency. This review reflects a firsthand visit by advisor Liz Pugatch in April 2026; amenities, rates, and room inventory are subject to change.