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Curacao Car Rental - Advance Carrental - Fantastic!

VideoTech

By VideoTech,
in Curacao

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VideoTech

VideoTech

Posted
Posted

Just wanted to put up another good word for Celestino at Advance Car Rental in Willemstad, Curacao. We couldn't have been happier with our one day rental during an NCL Epic cruise stop in Curacao. 

 

All the preliminaries were handled promptly and efficiently by email. Celestino meets you at the port with your car, gives you a programmed GPS unit to use in the car (and he'll enter any destinations you're interested in if they are not already in the GPS). He also gives you a pre-programmed cell phone that can be used to call him if you should happen to need it. He'll give you a nice map, and discuss your tour plans with you, making recommendations as to the order you might want to visit them, and tips about things you may not know, such as early closing times. The car (a recent model Nissan Versa) was clean and well maintained. 

 

Driving in Curacao (and indeed in all the ABC's) is easy, particularly if you're from the U.S. as they drive on the right hand side of the road. Signage is clear and easy to decipher, and all the other drivers are uncommonly courteous. The GPS (or Maps.Me running on your cell phone) is definitely needed, as many of the secondary roads do not have signs. 

 

Perhaps the only hitch in the whole process is refilling the car before you return it. There is a gas station near the port that only takes credit cards, but I could not get any of my credit cards to work in the reader. I ended up paying $US at another station, and of course got the change back in the Netherlands Antilles coins. But they'll make a nice souvenir. 

 

I highly recommend Celestino and Advance Carrentals if you're looking to do your own thing on a cruise stop or vacation in Curacao.

 

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bigrednole

bigrednole

Posted
Posted

thanks for this information. If we switch to the cruise going here, we will have 12 hours in port. I read in another post about renting a car from this place. They said it was great for a trip to the North side to swim with turtles, a drive to a nice place for lunch, then another guy to go to the Blue Room. If we go this route I have to do a lot more research.

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Russ Lomas

Russ Lomas

Posted
Posted
On 3/15/2020 at 4:25 PM, VideoTech said:

Just wanted to put up another good word for Celestino at Advance Car Rental in Willemstad, Curacao. We couldn't have been happier with our one day rental during an NCL Epic cruise stop in Curacao. 

 

All the preliminaries were handled promptly and efficiently by email. Celestino meets you at the port with your car, gives you a programmed GPS unit to use in the car (and he'll enter any destinations you're interested in if they are not already in the GPS). He also gives you a pre-programmed cell phone that can be used to call him if you should happen to need it. He'll give you a nice map, and discuss your tour plans with you, making recommendations as to the order you might want to visit them, and tips about things you may not know, such as early closing times. The car (a recent model Nissan Versa) was clean and well maintained. 

 

Driving in Curacao (and indeed in all the ABC's) is easy, particularly if you're from the U.S. as they drive on the right hand side of the road. Signage is clear and easy to decipher, and all the other drivers are uncommonly courteous. The GPS (or Maps.Me running on your cell phone) is definitely needed, as many of the secondary roads do not have signs. 

 

Perhaps the only hitch in the whole process is refilling the car before you return it. There is a gas station near the port that only takes credit cards, but I could not get any of my credit cards to work in the reader. I ended up paying $US at another station, and of course got the change back in the Netherlands Antilles coins. But they'll make a nice souvenir. 

 

I highly recommend Celestino and Advance Carrentals if you're looking to do your own thing on a cruise stop or vacation in Curacao.

 

Thanks for posting this.  I was looking for a vehicle rental for our upcoming cruise that stops in Curacao.  I contacted Advance after reading your review and Celestino replied to me within minutes.  If our August cruise actually sails and we are able to be on it, I am almost certain we will rent from Celestino.

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Fouremco

Fouremco

Posted
Posted
On 6/22/2021 at 11:44 PM, Russ Lomas said:

Thanks for posting this.  I was looking for a vehicle rental for our upcoming cruise that stops in Curacao.  I contacted Advance after reading your review and Celestino replied to me within minutes.  If our August cruise actually sails and we are able to be on it, I am almost certain we will rent from Celestino.

I've rented cars in Curaçao several times, and the last time I rented from Avis, which now has an office right at the Mega Pier. Very quick and easy pick up, and you can drop the car off whenever you want, even though the office will probably be closed by time you get back. A short walk back up the pier and you reboard.

 

Although I've dealt with small, local companies in Curaçao previously without any problems, the Avis rental was very competitively priced and offered the convenience of being able to book through the Canadian Avis website. https://www.avis.ca/en/locations/an/otrobanda/wm2  There is a gas station just a few minutes from the pier, so I filled up before returning. There were no additional charges after the rental.

 

Just another option for you to consider when planning your cruise. 

 

 

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Russ Lomas

Russ Lomas

Posted
Posted
21 hours ago, Fouremco said:

I've rented cars in Curaçao several times, and the last time I rented from Avis, which now has an office right at the Mega Pier. Very quick and easy pick up, and you can drop the car off whenever you want, even though the office will probably be closed by time you get back. A short walk back up the pier and you reboard.

 

Although I've dealt with small, local companies in Curaçao previously without any problems, the Avis rental was very competitively priced and offered the convenience of being able to book through the Canadian Avis website. https://www.avis.ca/en/locations/an/otrobanda/wm2  There is a gas station just a few minutes from the pier, so I filled up before returning. There were no additional charges after the rental.

 

Just another option for you to consider when planning your cruise. 

Thanks for the comments.  We have booked with Advance for August.  I have a group going in March again to Curacao on a cruise.  We have booked 5 vehicles with them for that cruise as well.  If our experience in August is not entirely positive, we will consider switching to Avis in March.

 

I had contacted Avis for August previously but they could not offer me a vehicle that held 6 comfortably.  The said they would not deliver the minivan to the pier, only at the airport.  They offered a Kia vehicle that is a version of the Rondo that you can squeeze 6 into, so that was not an option for us.  In march we will only have 4 so I may contact them if needed.  Thanks again.

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consmarci

consmarci

Posted
Posted

Have been looking to rent a vehicle for a port day. Advance Auto with Celestino looks promising, but paying cash is making us a bit uncomfortable. Usually our credit card offers rental car insurance. Our State Farm policy in the US doesn't cover the Caribbean. If you've used him, did he provide a certificate of his insurance? Any experience with issues in this situation?

 

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bup1224

bup1224

Posted
Posted
48 minutes ago, RocCruisers said:

Mea cupa.  Brain farce there.  So what is exciting to see if we rent a car?

Westpunt beaches - Grote Knip,  Cas Abao (abou), Porto Mari are just a few

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lixogab

lixogab

Posted
Posted
On 3/5/2022 at 8:21 PM, bup1224 said:

He meets you at the port

Yep. Had a very nice experience with Celestino.

He met me at the gate, the car was right there, the paperwork took less than 5 minutes. 
Paying cash was not a big deal since the insurance is included with 0 deductible.

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bajathree

bajathree

Posted
Posted (edited)

Rented a car from Celestino Sept of last year....he was great...met me at the port with the car. Filled out the paperwork and he even gives you a preprogrammed cellphone if you need to call him. We also had navigation with preprogramed destinations included with car. I paid for the car upon return in cash when he met us at the port at the predetermined time. All went great and smooth....there is a gas station just a few blocks from the port to refill the gas tank before return....cash only for gas and must be prepaid at cash booth before pumping. We visited a few beaches and all had no issue parking. We just arranged another car rental from him for next month again. Insurance is included with car. 

Edited by bajathree
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bajathree

bajathree

Posted
Posted
On 11/7/2022 at 8:20 AM, brzymom said:
Is Celestino with Advance? I tried to contact them through their website and haven't had a response--its been two weeks. How did you communicate with them to arrange?

email him  info@advancecarrentalcuracao.com

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