Looking at a trip to Bonaire May 2010 over Memorial day for 10 days or so.
We like a nice place to stay right on the water, preferrably right on the sandy beach with nice palm trees, beautiful water, you know the stereotypical tropical island theme, need the hotel type place (room service and all that). We will be diving but we also will spend time not diving so would like a nice place to veg out on a nice beach soaking in the wonderful tropical environment, read a book, sip a cocktail.. etc...
Sometimes it's easier to describe us as liking to go on vacation and dive while we are there, not necessarily take a dive vacation, if that makes sense.
So far I've looked into the Plaza Resort, they seem to have some rooms called "grand suites" that might fit the bill. However reviews of them online seem to be very in-consistant.
Harbor Village looks pretty pricey from what I have seen, not sure we need to spend that much to be happy.
Buddy Dive seems to get great reviews but not sure this is more of a diver place then we are looking for.
dvrliz1
January 2nd, 2010, 08:50 PM
You may want to consider Eden Beach Resort, they have a lovely beach......though NO PLACE on Bonaire has room service, but they do have a nice restaurant and bar on the beach...
Tom Smedley
January 2nd, 2010, 09:01 PM
Wannadive is a way cool dive op too! Ten days would be hard as airlines generally are Sat to Sat.
DeputyDan
January 2nd, 2010, 10:23 PM
Welcome to Belmar Bonaire (http://www.belmar-bonaire.com/)
My wife's favorite.
dvrliz1
January 3rd, 2010, 07:24 AM
Depending on where you are coming from mid week is not at hard as it used to be....Insel Air or American out of Miami, then a hopper over.
Ed and I are more for a bargain and don't mind changing planes, etc, but I guess you have to be that way. I just got a RT flight from Curacao to Atlantic City Airport for $400 RT per person....go figure!!!!
Liz
Wannadive is a way cool dive op too! Ten days would be hard as airlines generally are Sat to Sat.
Tom Smedley
January 3rd, 2010, 09:22 AM
Liz
If I were coming alone or with a friend I would consider the Curacao shuttle. However, with a group there is the potential for disaster. I really liked the Wed to Wed flights before. It is great fun to be in Bonaire on the weekend. I like the street party in Rincon on Saturday morning and to dive when everyone else is doing the airport shuffle.
When Bon Bini was still in business they took me out by myself on a Saturday afternoon. How great it was!
diversteve
January 3rd, 2010, 10:10 AM
need the hotel type place (room service and all that). We will be diving but we also will spend time not diving so would like a nice place to veg out on a nice beach
Welcome to Belmar Bonaire (http://www.belmar-bonaire.com/)Belmar has neither...there isn't even a restaurant on the property.
What you want is the Marriott - on Curacao....nice beach, same diving as Bonaire, room service, pool/bar complex, diveshop onsite, good beachfront restaurant, small casino etc. Or if you don't mind being more remote (45mins. to town) Lodge Kura Hulanda - one of the leading small hotels of the world.
Except for Harbour Village, that's not found on Bonaire.
DeputyDan
January 3rd, 2010, 11:01 AM
I didn't think anyplace in Bonaire that I am aware of would fit the OP list.
Mike
January 3rd, 2010, 01:20 PM
Okay, screw it, I can give up room service if I have too. :) But gotta have a nice beach, nice beach bar, nice room all that stuff. I spent some time looking at the Plaza last night, seems close to what I'm looking for, but my Lord the reviews of that place are hot and cold.
Interesting comments about Curacao. Why does Bonaire get all the hype if Curacao is so comparable?
DeputyDan
January 3rd, 2010, 01:49 PM
Interesting comments about Curacao. Why does Bonaire get all the hype if Curacao is so comparable?
As Diversteve said the Marriott on Curacao will fit 95% + of all your needs.
That is why it was mentioned.
keithdiver
January 3rd, 2010, 02:07 PM
You won't have a much fun in Curaco as in Bonaire!!! That is just MIO
reefdiva
January 3rd, 2010, 02:30 PM
Interesting comments about Curacao. Why does Bonaire get all the hype if Curacao is so comparable?
Bonaire is all about shore diving in lots and lots of spots. In Curacao you can shore dive but need to drive farther between sites. Curacao has more night life and bigger, full service resorts that sound like what you are looking for. Accommmodations in Bonaire are truely geared towards divers. I have been diving Bonaire for over ten years and for about three of those spent time in Curacao on business. Stayed at the Marriott and it was lovely. As posted above, it may fit your needs much more than anything on Bonaire.
dvrliz1
January 3rd, 2010, 10:30 PM
Mike,
Ok, then I would recommend Harbour Village.
Now the difference between the two islands. I have been living down here for over 5 years and have been to Curacao often for long weekends.
I guess it all boils down to what you are looking for. Bonaire is more rustic, no stop lights, no highways, no big glam and glitz. Curacao is more "modernized" and more metropolitan. The major city Wilemstad is about a 25 minute drive from the airport. If you want a more secluded area with a 4 star place, look at Kura Hulanda Lodge in Westpunt, but you are about 40 minutes or so from town.
Bonaire is more laid back. If you want to hang out at the beach, get a drink from the bar, read a book its great. Its also great if you want to go horseback riding, mangrove snorkeling, sunset sailing and just basic chilling, we do have a casino on island, as well as great spas, so you can do that too. I do have to say, that we do, IMHO have the most amazing restaurants on the island as well. You can also walk around at night without fear, everyone is extremely friendly.
Now understand I LOVE going to Curacao because I can get things on Curacao I can't get on Bonaire...like eating at Denny's, McDonalds or Burger King (lol). I also like the shopping as well as the upper scale resorts (Hey, I own one here...not on the scale you are looking for, but I like a little pampering once in a too!) I do have to tell you the only negative thing I heard from the locals on Curacao that it is normally not safe to walk around at night away from the resort, but we did walk about 10 minutes from the Renaissance to the Denny's on a well lit main road in Punda, and didn't have a problem, then again hubby is a big guy and looks like one of those WWF wrestlers...lol..
Like I said it all comes down to what you are looking for. If you are looking for a more "Touristy, Americanized/Modernized/Cosmopolitan type vacation, you may want to consider the Renaissance (they have a great beach bar, amazing salt water pool, as well as fresh water pool with beautiful beach), and talk with Mark and Suzy at the Dive Bus (they provide great personal service) for your diving.
Now if you REALLY want personalized service on Bonaire, I do have to recommend La Pura Vista. It is not on the water, but up on the hill with AMAZING views, lovely pool and has amazing 5 star service.
It truly is all about what your expectations are. Enjoy!
Okay, screw it, I can give up room service if I have too. :) But gotta have a nice beach, nice beach bar, nice room all that stuff. I spent some time looking at the Plaza last night, seems close to what I'm looking for, but my Lord the reviews of that place are hot and cold.
Interesting comments about Curacao. Why does Bonaire get all the hype if Curacao is so comparable?
Tom Smedley
January 4th, 2010, 12:54 AM
I saw Curacao as Atlanta with a beach.
RJP
January 4th, 2010, 05:45 PM
Sometimes it's easier to describe us as liking to go on vacation and dive while we are there, not necessarily take a dive vacation, if that makes sense.
Makes perfect sense! In fact, here's how my wife describes Bonaire and Curacao:
Bonaire is a place where divers go to vacation
Curacao is a place where vacationers go to dive
Been to Plaza Resort on Bonaire once and to the Curacao Marriott twice. Would go back to either in a minute, but it does sound more like you want the Curacao Marriott than anything on Bonaire.
Mike
January 4th, 2010, 07:46 PM
Okay, so now we have to go to Curacoa too now. Oh the agony. :D
This is pretty much what we like:
I guess it all boils down to what you are looking for. Bonaire is more rustic, no stop lights, no highways, no big glam and glitz.
Bonaire is more laid back. If you want to hang out at the beach, get a drink from the bar, read a book its great. Its also great if you want to go horseback riding, mangrove snorkeling, sunset sailing and just basic chilling, we do have a casino on island, as well as great spas, so you can do that too. I do have to say, that we do, IMHO have the most amazing restaurants on the island as well. You can also walk around at night without fear, everyone is extremely friendly.
We like to dive but we also like to chill, but we like to do it in nice digs without the smell of stinky musty 'divers' resort. For example Fantasy Island on Roatan would be like a prison sentence to serve out to me. :depressed:
Been checking the flights down to Bonaire, looks like anything over 9 days doubles the flight cost and about tripples the flight time! Looks like 9 days will be it. Would love to do 2 weeks but can't leave the rats to play while the cats away that long yet.
knives
January 4th, 2010, 08:52 PM
Deep Blue View, intimate resort. Dive Bonaire in the Dutch Caribbean (http://www.deepblueview.com/)
it does not have a beach , but is lovely....
keithdiver
January 4th, 2010, 08:57 PM
Beautiful place, way off the beaten path!! Has a great view of the city.
Tom Smedley
January 4th, 2010, 09:47 PM
There's a rum store in Williamstad that has over 700 varieties and they have tasters.
GlassBender
January 9th, 2010, 08:29 PM
This may have been said a thousand times before (if so, sorry) but you are gambling on your happiness if you take the DAE puddle jumper from A to C to Bonaire, etc.. The only time that we took them turned into Luggage Lottery. They loaded all of the people on the plane, then announced on the PA that not all the baggage could go because we were overweight.
Now DAE wouldn't/couldn't check your bags to your final destination, so if they weren't on that plane, you were basically hosed. In our case, it was through Aruba, and US customs is actually in Aruba. We lucked out, but know of a family with little kids that was going to miss at least a flight or two waiting.
elbee
January 24th, 2010, 11:29 AM
Deep Blue View...can't beat it!
Jersey
January 27th, 2010, 05:57 PM
Bonaire is a place where divers go to vacation
Curacao is a place where vacationers go to dive
I may need to appropriate this quote! People often ask me about the allure of Bonaire is if there is no high end resort w/ a concierge floor, no beach, no casino, no theatre, no night life, no shopping (heaven forbid!!) and we come back bug bitten, scratched and dinged up from shore entries gone awry. It's not for everyone...and thank God for that!
chauncy19
January 28th, 2010, 12:22 PM
Well I'll be able to talk to this " Bonaire is a place where divers go to vacation,Curacao is a place where vacationers go to dive" after my November trip to Curacao. While I am no expert on Bonaire I have been there 10 times in 9 years. Might even get a chance to go back this spring for a short trip (hoping).
Although I am trying to recreate my Bonaire experience by staying out on west end of Curacao. Not sure I could ever talk to high end of anything so never mind... :-)
Personally I like staying on the water, so I am sure deep blue view is great (pictures look fantastic) it wouldn't be an option at this time for me.
