Curaçao The Caribbean’s Hidden Treasure

Curaçao, located just two and one half hours from Miami, is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and is perfectly situated just outside the hurricane belt. It boasts a Dutch attitude with Caribbean latitude.

With 17 proud members, this gay-friendly island boasts the largest International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association membership in the Caribbean! The dedicated destination website www.gaycuracao.com lists the island's gay-friendly weekend hot spots, citing Lyric's Café; Curaçao's official gay bar along with gay-friendly places to visit such as Mambo Beach -- the place to be every Saturday night, while Zanta Bar on Friday night, Wet & Wild on Sunday night, Ay Caramba on Tuesday night and Cinco on Thursday are the nightly hot spots.

Travel to Curacao from Sept. 24 through Sept. 27 and enjoy Curacao's fifth annual Get Wet Weekend, a special four-day event filled with LGBT activities and events, including parties, short cruises and other social affairs, it's a weekend everyone looks forward to.

But if you can't get away for Get Wet Weekend then get to Curacao between Aug 15-Dec15. That's because almost all of Curacao is on sale. During the Curacao Now promotion, travelers to the island will receive a $100 per person airfare credit and value-added deals from nearly 70 hotels and resorts, car rental agencies, attractions, museums and other tourism service providers. The booking window for these travel dates is May 15-July 15, 2009. Visit www.curacao.com/now for more info.

Also visit www.curacaotreasure.com to register and learn more about Curacao's $500,000 Treasure Hunt and to win a free trip to the island.

Less than 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela, the small island of Curaçao stands apart in the Caribbean experience. Still thriving with local culture and legend untainted by the commercialism of other island destinations, Curaçao has a unique way of plugging you into the energy and ambiance of Caribbean life.

Stroll through the vibrantly painted Dutch colonial architecture of Willemstad, which has been named an UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the seaside geographical wonders of the Hato Caves, or hike the vast and beautiful Christoffel National Park to spot white-tail deer.

If water sports are your thing, splash into over 60 world-class dive sites dotting the waters around the island, which offer everything from sunken tugboats to submersed sea caves and even the other-worldly underwater Mushroom Forest.

With its pristine dive sites, secluded beaches, championship golf course and rich local cuisine, Curaçao offers a little something for everyone - from the adventure traveler to those who simply want to unwind (and enjoy its perfect climate).

Visit Curaçao and discover a real, different island.