British citizens and people of other nationalities will need a valid passport. All visitors must have a return or ongoing ticket off the island. Most visitors dress up for dinner or a night out at one of the various bars and casinos on the island. Some casinos may require men to wear sports coats. The water on Cura ao comes from a large desalination plant and is safe to drink.
Many hotels have transformers for European appliances.
The Netherlands government is in charge of the kingdom's defense and foreign affairs, while other government tasks are carried out by each island country. Dutch is the official language but Spanish, English and Papiamento are widely spoken on Cura ao. St. Elizabeth Hospital in Willemstad is regarded as one of the most modern medical facilities in the Caribbean. The largest of the Netherlands Antilles, Cura ao is 37 miles long by 9 miles wide. To call Cura ao from the U.S., dial 011, plus the country code 599, plus the area code 9 and then the four digit number.