Hotel: Avila Beach Hotel

Not many beach resorts can boast of beautiful lodgings as well as genuine historical significance, but count the Avila Beach Resort among the few that do. At the Avila's heart is a grand colonial mansion built in the late 1700s and used over the years as a residence for British and Dutch governors, as a school and a hospital, and since 1949 as a hotel (making it Curacao's oldest hotel still in operation). What's more, the resort's distinctive octagonal cupola--a popular wedding site--once housed family members of South American liberator Simon Bolivar during their exile in the early 1800s. The resort has added three wings to the original structure, and the newest ones--the Blues and Octagon wings--are well worth the additional cost. While the hotel lobby and other common areas retain an Old World look, the newer rooms have a sleek design, with modern amenities like flat screen TVs and wireless internet, yet tempered by natural elements like wood floors and stone bathrooms. Most units

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Not many beach resorts can boast of beautiful lodgings as well as genuine historical significance, but count the Avila Beach Resort among the few that do. At the Avila's heart is a grand colonial mansion built in the late 1700s and used over the years as a residence for British and Dutch governors, as a school and a hospital, and since 1949 as a hotel (making it Curacao's oldest hotel still in operation). What's more, the resort's distinctive octagonal cupola--a popular wedding site--once housed family members of South American liberator Simon Bolivar during their exile in the early 1800s. The resort has added three wings to the original structure, and the newest ones--the Blues and Octagon wings--are well worth the additional cost. While the hotel lobby and other common areas retain an Old World look, the newer rooms have a sleek design, with modern amenities like flat screen TVs and wireless internet, yet tempered by natural elements like wood floors and stone bathrooms. Most units have full or partial views of the azure sea, while those in the Blues wing have kitchenettes and peaked wood ceilings. The Avila fronts a terrific beach, close enough to town for quick shopping and eating trips.

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The Danish royal family stays here when visiting the island. The 150-room hotel, the oldest on the island, is located on two private beaches separated by a pier. A natural breakwater creates a kid-friendly shallow area, perfect for splashing. This, and the hotel's location in Willemstad, make the property a good choice for families. A freshwater pool opened in December 2006. Children 12 and under stay free in their parents' room. The resort also offers babysitting services and children's menus in two of the restaurants.

Island history meets upscale modernity at the Avila Hotel, which has the benefit of a beachfront location that's a short walk from the urban sights of Willemstad and a three-minute ride from gay-friendly sunbathing/nightlife spot Mambo Beach. The original late 18th-century Dutch Colonial building acted as a governor's mansion known as La Belle Alliance; it now houses the most traditional rooms. But the hotel's gay following gravitates toward the more modern Blues wing constructed off a pier on a private beach. Or, for the best of them all, check out the 68 luxe Octagon Wing rooms, all with balconies and ocean views. The on-site Blues restaurant is a popular island spot for live jazz. The hotel is an International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association member and welcomes same-sex commitment ceremonies.