Caribbean Vacation Travel Choices…

In exploring a trip to the Caribbean, a delightful trifecta of islands offers three distinct experiences: The “ABC Islands,” which refer to Aruba (“A”), Bonaire (“B”), and Curaçao (“C”).

Since we working humans usually have limited time and budgets for vacation travel, this begs the question: Which of these three islands is best? After traveling around each one, I have an answer.

Given that “best” is, of course, wildly subjective, I will use this article to give an overview of what each of the ABC Islands has to offer, then will conclude with which destination I liked the most, myself! But first, some background.

What and Where are the ABC Islands?

Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao are three southern Caribbean islands in the “Lesser Antilles,” north of Venezuela. How far off the coast of South America are they? 15 miles for Aruba, 50 miles for Bonaire, and 40 miles for Curaçao. That said, they differ greatly from Venezuela because of their history and governmental structure.

Each of the ABC islands is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (though they are not in the European Union, themselves). Bonaire is a “special municipality” of the Netherlands, while Aruba and Curaçao are autonomous. Culturally, all three islands are a mix of Dutch, Caribbean, and South American influences. Yum!

Important note: All three ABC Islands lie outside of Hurricane Alley, meaning they are more protected from the storms that have devastated much of the Caribbean. This is a huge benefit for their economies, as well as travel planning. Let’s examine each island.

Aruba: Popular American Destination

The island of Aruba enjoys a thriving partnership with the American tourist infrastructure, offering affordable and direct flights from major U.S. cities, and well-developed resort complexes and tourist activities.

This makes Aruba the easiest, and sometimes the most inexpensive, choice for many U.S. citizens… but that does come with a caveat: Such bustling tourism development makes it harder to feel the local culture of Aruba itself, and exploring behind the resort trail can be difficult.

Bonaire: Tiny, Quiet Diving Escape

The tiniest of the ABC islands is Bonaire: a destination best known for its exceptional coral reef diving opportunities. Though the island itself is quite quiet (and full of cacti!) I loved a certain Bonaire resort and its beach (which I ended up stay at alone, despite it being a classic romantic destination)!

Curaçao: Colorful Culture and Beaches

With a diverse and vibrant cultural, architectural and beach scene, Curaçao is increasingly being embraced by people seeking a relaxed but exciting vacation with options beyond resort activities.

Let us now get into some photos and details from my exploration of all three islands, starting in reverse order with the “C!” Simply click the “Continue Reading” button for further details on each topic, and do keep scrolling for the big reveal of which island I liked best, myself…

Can You See Why “C” was My Favorite?

Despite the fact that Aruba is the most known and popular among American vacation travelers, I HIGHLY recommend considering Curaçao if culture and variety are of interest. As always, make sure to check for accurate travel updates from the official tourist board to ensure up-to-date information.

Here’s the problem with Curaçao, though: Because it is lesser-known and lesser-traveled by Americans, there are fewer direct flights, and thus transportation costs and times can be prohibitive. But wait — there is an affordable option!

Cheap Flights Between the ABC Islands

There are inexpensive flights between the ABC islands at all hours of the day on the small airplanes (you know I love tiny planes!) of Divi Divi, Aruba Airlines, and others… and these airlines are usually not listed in the major flight search tools online, meaning you may never find them unless you look separately! (2019 update: One of the airlines I used, Insel Airlines, has since gone out of business.)

Thus, here is the trick for a cheap flight to dushi Curaçao if you can’t find an affordable flight from your city: Look for a flight deal from your city to Aruba on a major airline and buy that. Then, search the smaller airlines mentioned above and purchase the inexpensive inter-island flight separately. (Note: While it may be tempting to look for boat options between the islands, flights are far easier.)

This trick can save you a huge amount of money — just remember to leave enough cushion time between the flights to allow for delays. Enjoy!

What are Your ABC Islands Thoughts?

I’m curious to hear from you. Which of the ABC islands have you visited, which most intrigues you, and why? Do share!