Traveling to Curacao next week

[Double-V]

This will be the first time traveling with my Rolex.*
Im fairly new to the forum and newly acquired gifted 16600-M from my wife during our wedding. Now its off to Curacao for a little R/R and be disconnected for 1 week.

I know most of you here are avid travelers with your Rolex. Any major pointers you can give as this will be my first time traveling with this fantastic watch. I fly out of Chicago O'hare. I was planning on not even wearing the watch during security check but rather stuffing it in my carry on ( wrapped in a watch case in a small backpack) I prefer to have it on my wrist at all times but fear if the alarm goes off, they will make me take it off immediately and have it run through the scan, fearing a quick nab by someone, during the transition past the scanners.

I plan on doing some watch shopping during my time in Curacao. Has anyone gotten any good deals here?

Would it be advisable to take a photo copy of my watch receipt with me as well? Just thinking in case i get haggled on the way back into the US. Has anyone done this?

Iv been lurking here for nearly 2 years before becoming a member and I know some of you are avid divers here, My wife and I have never been to Curacao and wanted to kindly as if any of you have any secret hidden gems or spots worth seeing during my visit? Any good restaurant recommendations? *Night life or fav beach? I will also be traveling to Aruba and Bonaire for 3 days but will mainly be staying in Curacao.

Leaving in a couple days, cant wait to get the SD in the water. Most of all glad to finally be part of the Rolex SD Family.

Cheers
Vince

[sandalgirl]

Welcome, Vince. I have no words of wisdom about traveling to Curacao, but I always remove my watch and put it safely and deep within my small carry on. I put it back on once I get to the terminal. I also travel with my receipt. I've had two friends stopped and hassled about their watches. The receipt will help in case that happens to you.
Enjoy our R & R.

[slashd0t]

I generally tuck my watch deep in my shoe (try and do it quickly and stealthy so people don't see )

As for customs, why should you have to print out a receipt? You aren't breaking any law by wearing your watch down there and back home again. If hassled by customs on the way home just state "this is my watch and I had it before I left". They can't prove otherwise, so, you may be questioned, but, as long as you are answering honestly, that'll be the end of that conversation.

I travel EVERY week and sometimes twice a week. I cross customs between Canada and the US at least twice a month. The key is always be honest while crossing - what else can they ask?

I personally wouldn't make a copy of a receipt just based on principle that I shouldn't have to.

Same issue when I come home from the US back to Canada.. Sometimes I'll get a Canadian customs agent ask me "What were you doing in the US". My response has always been "I don't believe I have to divulge what I was doing abroad, that is my personal business". Usually I get a weird look, but, fact is, I don't have to tell Canadian customs what I was doing while out of the country.

You have rights and I'm blabbing so I'll stop

Enjoy your trip

[pab805]

Ive always worn my watches through and never had any problems about where i got it from.

If you dont make a big deal about it nobody else should.

[Annan]

I've been to Curacao several times in the past 4 years. The first time I did not take my Rolex but did each time afterward because I felt safe there. I went into one place I presume was an AD in Willemstad....don't recall the name (Gandelman?) but you will find it if you go "downtown" in the area known as Punda. They had a good selection, prices similar to USA but I was not buying so had no discussions. Many beautiful beaches but my favorite is Porto Marie because it's not crowded. My second favorite is Mambo Beach.The island is Dutch so that influences the cuisine. Like the USA, you can find everything from burgers and fries in cafes on the beach to high end dining in the big hotels. I'm pretty low-key when it comes to dining but my favorite was the beachside restaurant (once again don't recall the name but it's the only one) at Porto Marie. Talking about Curacao makes me want to go again. Have a great time!!

[ingoodtime]

idont travel out of the country much but do travel within th U.S. via airplane. When going through security, if asked to remove our watches, my spouse will give me hers and go through the scanner. I'll hang back until she is through, put our items in a tray and send them through to her. This works well.

[brkanand]

Welcome to TRF. Congratulations and wishing you a pleasant and a safe trip. Waiting to see pictures!

[gqllc]

I haven't been in a while to Curacao. I use to do business over there. The natural aquarium where you can swim with dolphins was pretty cool. The floating bridge, the Casino's, Willemstad, The oldest temple, The Riffort...We stayed in the same hotel while Tom Cruise, John Travolta etc ( the whole scientology crowd was there at the same time) were there and that was a bit of a ruckus. I did not find any special deals on watches at all. I would always ask where it was OK to go or not. I have pictures of people living in beautiful homes and people living in card board boxes. The diving was ok nothing spectacular

[GerardoG]

I agree on the security @ airport issue; if detector goes off you will be forced to take your watch off and throw it in one of those pesky plastic containers; good idea to put it in your carry on through security.

As far as Curacao, I have never ever had a problem wearing my 2T sub there. Enjoy your vacation and post pics!!!!!

[krzspeedstr]

I travel very often both domestic and international and unless you are in a very small old airport all the new screening machines are calibrated to not beep with a watch. On Monday morning I flew out of Logan and I was wearing my Daytona and just went right through. I never take off my watch, wedding band or grad ring aside from that no belt, coins, wallet or phone on me and its perfectly normal.

In regards to traveling in the Caribbean most of the islands of the Netherland Antilles (Aruba, Curacao, Bonarie, etc) are fairly safe. In a resort no one hassles you, the downtowns and shopping areas are safe since tourism is the main industry.

As long as you stay away from seedy places, or walking late at night by yourself instead of taking a cab or being intoxicated you will be fine.

I have never had someone from US Customs or the local customs agent ask me about my watch or watches if I am traveling with a few. They are looking for drugs, cash (money laundering), and other illegal things. Anyone that may have been hassled is one in a thousand if not more rare.

[jimrock187]

I finally planned a trip to Curacao. Does anyone have any pricing info with Gandelman?

They are the only AD on the island i beleive.

thanks.

[azguy]

I came off a cruise ship about 3 years ago and as i was leaving the ship the customs guy asked me "how long I had owned my watch". I said "two years" and he laughed and said "I hear that all the time"....

Still not sure what to make of that whole exchange and in a million years I would not have thought to bring a recipt with me

Enjoy your trip and take plenty of pics

[Annan]

Originally Posted by jimrock187

I finally planned a trip to Curacao. Does anyone have any pricing info with Gandelman?

They are the only AD on the island i beleive.

thanks.

When I was last there about a year ago prices were very close to USA. They had a fairly good selection.

[gwozhog]

Originally Posted by Double-V

This will be the first time traveling with my Rolex.*
Im fairly new to the forum and newly acquired gifted 16600-M from my wife during our wedding. Now its off to Curacao for a little R/R and be disconnected for 1 week.

I know most of you here are avid travelers with your Rolex. Any major pointers you can give as this will be my first time traveling with this fantastic watch. I fly out of Chicago O'hare. I was planning on not even wearing the watch during security check but rather stuffing it in my carry on ( wrapped in a watch case in a small backpack) I prefer to have it on my wrist at all times but fear if the alarm goes off, they will make me take it off immediately and have it run through the scan, fearing a quick nab by someone, during the transition past the scanners.

I plan on doing some watch shopping during my time in Curacao. Has anyone gotten any good deals here?

Would it be advisable to take a photo copy of my watch receipt with me as well? Just thinking in case i get haggled on the way back into the US. Has anyone done this?

Iv been lurking here for nearly 2 years before becoming a member and I know some of you are avid divers here, My wife and I have never been to Curacao and wanted to kindly as if any of you have any secret hidden gems or spots worth seeing during my visit? Any good restaurant recommendations? *Night life or fav beach? I will also be traveling to Aruba and Bonaire for 3 days but will mainly be staying in Curacao.

Leaving in a couple days, cant wait to get the SD in the water. Most of all glad to finally be part of the Rolex SD Family.

Cheers
Vince

What you have is a high class problem. Trust me it is a good problem to have. I wander how many other people in line at airport security are trying to figure out how to smuggle there wrist treasure in.

[Cyberintercept]

Haven't been to Curacao, but have been all over the Caribbean - I am sure you will have an excellent time.

As for the watch, you can take the original receipt, or a picture of yourself with the watch and a prior day's newspaper (lol) or fill out the official CBP-4457 prior to departure (Which is proof that you owned the watch and CBP verifies this with their seal). At the end of the day, like Slashd0t mentioned, honesty always works. They are really overworked down at customs, so hassling someone coming back from the Caribbean with a nice watch is not the highest on their priority list, I'm sure - but they are doing their job to enforce duty taxes, etc.

[Slinkey]

Just before I go through security I take my watch off and put it in a small, soft lined zipper compartment in my carry-on. Once the bag clears the scanner I put it back on. No problems.

[david_ord]

My carryon is relatively small, containing some documents and an ipad, since I usually travel on day trips. There is no where "deep" enough for me to "hide" my DSSD!

What should I do?

I was thinking of approaching the TSA agent and telling them to strip search me or do what ever they have to. However, I would refuse to take my watch off. I'll let them take my underwear and socks off, but not my watch! Have you guys ever done anything like that?

The problem with that approach is you have to arrive an hour or two early in case they detain you.

[jimrock187]

I read online that the only AD in Curacao has closed their doors and are no longer on Curacao..
Is this true about Gandelman??

[Speed]

Just wear it.

[AuMDLST]

At least from the standpoint of the metal detector-your watch will set them off

I made the mistake of trying to get through once in Orlando and was asked to send it through
There was quite a line and would have been unable to keep visual contact with the watch so I refused to take it off
I had to go through the whole patdown procedure

Now I just put it in carry on bag and don't proceed through until I see bag go into scanner
I am through the metal detector and waiting for my bag to emerge and immediately put the watch back on as well as shoes

[azguy]

It amazing how much time we spend talking about how to travel with a watch

I flew to Dallas from Phoneix last week, then flew to Tulsa, OK and then back to Phoenix and wore my Rolex through all security check points and nothing "buzzed" and nobody asked me to take it off.

[Avs Fan]

Airport security setting can vary, but in my experience, large airports - no problem with SD setting off alarms. Small airports can go either way, and seem to be more sensitive, so I usually secure my watch inside a carry-on when passing through them.

[sprtrlx]

wear my rolex thru all airport security and never set the detector off.ss or gold.

[gwalker]

Originally Posted by pab805

Ive always worn my watches through and never had any problems about where i got it from.

If you dont make a big deal about it nobody else should.

Here is the answer. I fly about 3-4x month. Never take them off. If you go through a full body scanner the security usually takes a look to see if it's working. Just wear it. No need to take extra steps and add stress to what's supposed to be a vacation.

[John in MA]

I take mine off and stow in my bag. Watch my bag go into the scanner before walking through the body snatcher.....scanner and am normally waiting for my bag on the other side.

[dicin]

Jamie,

You are totally right!

[vipmn]

i always leave mine home in the safe. Travel with my less expensive watches on vacation.
Less worry about airports, hotels thefts, etc and less hassle and helps me in shopping for my next Rolex. lol
Enjoy your time on Curacao.

[hsfrank]

I have travel thru airports many times since owning my Rolex. I always
ways wear it on my wrist. It may be unique to my experience but it has never set off alarms. On the few times I carry more than one watch, I carry it in my carry on. Never do my eyes leave that bag except when it is thru the x ray. Although I have not been questioned, I do carry a copy of the warranty card and receipt when I travel abroad. Why worry about a problem when an ounce of prevention will do.

[Keeperoftime]

Originally Posted by pab805

Ive always worn my watches through and never had any problems about where i got it from.

If you dont make a big deal about it nobody else should.

+1

Even through the scanner a watch will be cool/no problems.

[Ebruner]

"It rains fishes" in Bonaire is a great restaurant.

-Eddie