Curaçao: One of 2011's Hottest Destinations

WILLEMSTAD, CURA�AO - January 2011 - Cura�ao is popping up on jetsetters' travel radar for the New Year. The colorful Caribbean island has been selected as one of the 'Hottest Destinations for 2011' by AOL Travel and one of the 'Destinations to Watch in 2011 ' by SmarterTravel .

"Cura�ao is proud and honored to be on the top destination lists of two of the world's most respected, trusted travel news sites," says Cura�ao Tourist Board Marketing Manager North America Andr� Rojer. "Travelers are excited about discovering exotic, off-the-radar destinations, such as Cura�ao."

"Our new country status, hotel developments and increased airlift are helping to propel the island forward as an increasingly emerging destination for Americans."

AOL Travel describes the Cura�ao's stunning capital as a Caribbean fairytale, adding, "The island became a self-autonomous region within the Netherlands in October 2010, and its citizens will be celebrating all year. Not that they shouldn't celebrate every year. Curacao offers exceptional diving, charming plantations (landhuizen), and eco-centric activities in its cunucu (countryside)."

Cura�ao was also the only Caribbean destination on SmarterTravel's short list that included unique, global locales such as Iceland and New Zealand, and hot spots a bit closer to home, such as New York City and Atlanta, Georgia.

SmarterTravel praises the azure-blue waters and colorful architecture of Cura�ao, writing, "It's not every day the world gets a new country. But 2011 will mark Curacao's first full year as an autonomous nation within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, adding a new chapter to the island's rich history. Among its first orders of business is making itself more accessible to Americans and Canadians."

USA Today , one of the top daily newspapers in the U.S., also picked up on SmarterTravel's recommendations for travel in 2011.

Last year Cura�ao was chosen as a 'Top 10 Destination for 2010 ' by Microsoft's Bing.com, one of the hottest new search engines on the Web.

The unique island paradise of Cura�ao has an ideal locale, situated between Aruba and Bonaire, just 35 miles north of Venezuela. Unlike many Caribbean islands, Cura�ao enjoys a prime location on the fringe of the hurricane belt, making for a spectacular vacation any time of year.

Both AOL Travel and SmarterTravel are top online travel resources for providing trusted travel news, deals, expert advice, as well as travel guides for destinations across the globe.

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For more information or to book your trip to the island of Cura�ao please visit Curacao.com .