The tiny island of Curacao has a big secret – an incredible Insta-worthy spa overlooking the turquoise blue ocean. If you’ve been following my Instagram (which you should if you’re not already!) you’ll know I love a spa day. Nearly every luxury hotel I’ve visited for a review has been followed with a spa treatment or at the very least a visit to the spa.

When we decided to move to Curacao I was worried massages and spa days might be a thing of the past. Thankfully, I was wrong. I stumbled upon 8 the Experience through expat groups on Facebook and was hooked from my very first visit.

In this post, I’ll give you my first hand review at 8 the Experience at Coral Estate and their new outpost, 8 in the City. Having been to both, I have thoughts about the differences between the two that may be helpful for anyone looking for the best spa experience on the island. Read on to find out!

Coral Estate Resort

Located around 40 minutes north of Willemstad is Coral Estate Luxury Resort. This large nature-filled property is home to both their hotel and villas. The villas are often found on Airbnb spread out across the property, and the hotel is located closer to the restaurants and pool. You’ll find a cafe and two restaurants near the hotel rooms, strategically placed by the large infinity pool. Coral Estate doesn’t really have a traditional sandy beach, though they do have beach chairs and access to swimming in the ocean.

About 8 the Experience

The flagship spa, 8 the Experience, is located inside the Coral Estate resort grounds by the main infinity pool. Driving from Willemstad is about 40 minutes without traffic – it’s not a bad ride, you’ll pass by cacti-filled hills, local food stalls, and  massive wind turbines. You’ll also pass by Daaibooi Beach and Playa Porto Mari which are excellent sandy beach options.

The spa lobby is designed like a luxury hotel with chic ambient lighting, zen wooden wall accents, and a large woven hanging light hanging in the center of the room. Aveda products are proudly showcased on the shelves in the lobby nearby the tea and water station. Upon check-in, the friendly staff (who, in keeping with the theme, sit on yoga balls) hand you a towel, bathrobe, and a key for the locker room.

Each booked treatment includes access to the sauna, steam room, and ice room, all of which are co-ed. You’ll also have access to their salt water reflection pool and two jacuzzis overlooking the ocean. These services are reserved for guests of the spa only, so it’s almost guaranteed to be a relaxing and serene experience. The spa offers hair salon and nail salon services as well, both with ocean views. Finally, since spa day is a full day commitment, you’ll be pleased to know you can order food and drinks to be brought to the pool area.

8 the Experience Spa Treatment

I’ve had several spa treatments at 8 the Experience so far and each time I leave wishing it never ended. The spa seems to take a page from the Aman spa experience offering journeys, such as grounding, refreshing, and purifying. These journeys include a body scrub, facial, and body massage with special blended oils pertaining to the intention of each journey. You can also book a la carte spa services from their expansive menu.

The best part of getting a spa treatment at 8 the Experience is the view. Many of the treatment rooms open to a panoramic view of the ocean and lush tropical foliage. The sound of birds and soft waves take the place of traditional spa music here. If you have an appointment on a busy day, you may hear some people on the beach down below, but I haven’t had an issue with that before. Because the windows are open to allow fresh air and take in the views, the treatments in these rooms are without air conditioning but there is a fan to keep things cool.

I have to note here that there are some rooms that are without views. My partner received a Thai massage in a room without a view, so it’s important to double check with the spa staff that you’ll be assigned a room with a view. The couple’s treatment rooms are limited so I would recommend booking those in advance!

8 in the City

Back in October, 8 the Experience announced a new branch opening called 8 in the City. This spa is located in the historic Kura Hulanda village in downtown Willemstad. I was so excited to read about this new location as the drive from my house would be only 15 minutes instead of the typical 40 minutes. An additional perk of the spa being in Kura Hulanda is that I can get the best burgers at Brgr.Haus after!

8 in the City has only 3 treatment rooms, including a couples treatment room, and a small open room for nail treatments. The spa is located off the cobblestone pathway and into a renovated historic building. The lobby poses a much different vibe to its sister property with concrete gray walls and minimal decor. There is no changing room, sauna, steam room, ice room, or pool* so upon check-in I was directed to my treatment room immediately.

* 8 in the City shares a pool with the adults-only Kura Botanica Hotel which also serves food and drinks. The hotel is a close walk from the spa, but isn’t connected as of now.

The treatment room at 8 in the City is the complete opposite of 8 the Experience. Instead of sea views and bird sounds, the treatment rooms have closed windows and more concrete gray walls. The rooms are on ground level so I don’t believe the windows will ever be open, however there is air conditioning in the rooms keeping everything cool. It felt like a pretty bare bones treatment room but my massage was excellent as usual, and my massage therapist had mentioned he works at both locations so the actual treatment was consistent.

I wanted to mention a few funny things that happened: during my treatment there would be relaxing spa music playing followed by jolting advertisements for the TuneIn app. Also, at the end of my treatment I was completely covered in oil and was informed there was no changing room or shower (only an outdoor shower) or towels to remove the oil. My massage therapist would’ve had to run to the hotel next door to grab me a towel to wipe off the oil which was a kind offer but I was only a 15 minute drive from home so it wasn’t a big deal.

I chatted with the spa staff about how the opening has been and any updates to look forward to. They were kind enough to give me a tour of the small property and show me the unique offering at this location, the cold plunge tub. I was informed that they are still currently planning how to incorporate the cold plunge experience into spa treatments, but for now it can be added as an a la carte experience.

8 the Experience vs. 8 in the City

Between the two properties, the quality of the treatments remain consistent which is excellent. The atmosphere and offerings, however, vary greatly. See my breakdown below:

Verdict

Ultimately, I have a feeling that 8 in the City is going to be a great experience with a little more time. The spa is still very much in its infancy and is figuring out what it wants to offer and who it wants to be. The properties themselves cannot be compared as they’re so different, but the treatments offered are of the same great quality.

One reluctance I have with 8 in the City is that the treatment prices are exactly the same as 8 the Experience yet you get significantly less bang for your buck at the new location. At least at the flagship spa at Coral Estate you can have access to sauna, steam, and ice rooms in addition to the private reflection pool and two jacuzzis. At 8 in the City, you pay the same price for the same treatment and you just receive the treatment, and not even a bathrobe! I’m hoping that they take another look at their pricing structure and make adjustments.

I would absolutely recommend 8 the Experience at Coral Estate if you have time to drive there and plan to spend your day there. I would recommend 8 in the City if you have a busy day and just want to get a massage and then get back to your day. Overall, I suggest giving 8 in the City some time to iron out their kinks but I feel optimistic they will come out successful.

Have you ever been to 8 the Experience or their new branch? How was your experience? Let me know in the comments below!