Guests at Papagayo first past through a 24-hour security gate onto landscaped grounds of grassy green yards, blossoming bougainvillea, palm trees, and cactus that are taller than a basketball rim. Watch out on your left, or else you’ll miss the resort’s standalone reception building, where staff sit at high-top tables, immediately establishing this hotel's deliberately casual vibe. Decor is funky, playful, and mod-inspired, including details like gilded eagles, a golden dog statue topped with a watering can head, and iridescent, palm-leaf textured wallpaper. There's also lots of white-on-white all around, creating a look that's far more contemporary than much of its Curacao competition. The resort restaurant has Caribbean-modern decor and is a short walk from the lobby. It's a relaxed spot to grab a drink or bite to eat while enjoying the pool view (which, at times, might be filled with splashing kids). The hotel has broad appeal, though couples and families make up most of the guests here. 

The resort is perched on a hillside overlooking the Caribbean Sea, and is only a five-minute walk to Jan Thiel Beach (depending on your villa’s location). There's a bit of activity nearby, including a casino, some nightlife, and a few casual dining spots and bars, many that are part of the larger Papagayo development. For any real activity, travelers will need a car or cab to get to Willemstad, which is a 20-minute drive away. Willemstad's historic heart, Punda, has restored colonial buildings as well as shops, restaurants, and nightlife. Many of the island's museums are located across the river from Punda, in the Otrobanda neighborhood. Hato International Airport is a 30-minute drive across the island. 

Papagayo’s bright and airy villas (available in two-, three-, and four-bedroom configurations) are sharp and eclectic, with a blend of mod and contemporary elements. We loved the vaulted wood ceilings and the way the villa’s entire rear wall folds open to the outdoors, but without any screens or fans, mosquitos can be problematic. Luckily all bedroom have mosquito nets. Some villas have colorful scenes of parrots and hummingbirds painted on living room and bedroom walls, while others are all white with pops of red in sculptural decor (as in the Royal Villa we visited). Furniture is minimalist, and includes simple plush white couches and loveseats, and Asian-inspired armoires. 

Standard features include free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning in the bedrooms, safes, and flat-screen TVs. They also include full kitchens with refrigerators, dishwashers, electric ranges, ovens, coffeemakers, electric kettles, and dishes. Some longer bookings are entitled to modest kitchen stocking, so check ahead. The villa’s bathrooms are large and have rainfall showers, dual sinks, and include toiletries. Each villa also has a wraparound balcony, some of which have sea views. Royal Villas add washing machines and dryers and private pools with lounge chairs and cabanas.

Most of Papagayo Beach Resort amenities are shared with its oceanfront sister property (Papagayo Beach Hotel) down the hill. At the resort, though, is its wood-decked pool, surrounded by lounge chairs and thatched cabanas. There’s also a children’s pool with its own set of cabanas, a playground, and a palapa that hosts children’s activities. Papagayo Specialty Restaurant overlooks the pool and gets decent reviews, serving upmarket international fare.

Papagayo Beach Club is a five-minute downhill walk from the resort. The club serves three meals a day and turns into a lounge with live DJs on the weekends. A quirk of Curacao is that beaches don’t usually have ocean access, rather they’re sandy pools overlooking the ocean. Papagayo fits this mold, with its large, turquoise infinity pool of seawater with a sandy beachfront that’s surrounded by dozens of plastic lounge chairs and beach beds (a fee is required to use the beds). A beach bar serving up cold drinks and the resort’s Explore Curacao dive shop is located next to the beach.

The resort’s other amenities are shared and open to the public and include the Challenge Sport and Health Club, a gym with classes and ocean views, and Laman Spa, which offers salon and spa services (beach massages are a popular offering). The Papagayo Beach Plaza has shopping as well as an ice-cream parlor, the Diamond Beach Casino, a car rental office, and water-sports equipment rentals.