Anyone stay at the Plaza Resort in Bonaire recently?

[midas6t6]

We've been thinking about a trip to Bonaire this September. One of my wife's requirements (doesn't dive) is that there's a nice beach where ever we stay. I know the Plaza is one of the few places with a beach she'd like. Anyone been there recently? I've seen some bad reviews, others noting it's undergoing renovation. Any help would be appreciated.

[mbs]

I was there last year around this time and will be there this Saturday! We stayed in a renovated room near to the dive shop and were very happy with the room. There was a lot of construction going on on the other side towards the tipsy seagull. Breakfast is now served in the outdoor restaurant which was fine with us. About the only thing that I found slightly negative was the pool was being used by local kids on some sort of day program. So it was a bit noisy, but then we don't spend much time there anyway! I'll post when we get back.

[midas6t6]

Thanks. I'll be watching for your update.

[Cecil]

For a little more money take a look at Harbour Village for a little less look at Eden Beach. Both have nice beaches. Not a real fan of the Plaza Resort just to big.

[Mike]

Will be there Sat morning, we specifically booked a ocean side newly remodeled suite, keeping our fingers crossed. The reviews for the place are scary.

[skydiver30960]

The wife and I were there in November of last year. I dunno if that's recent enough for you. Without a doubt, the poster above who will be there soon would be a better source of info, but in the meantime:

WHEN WE WERE THERE IN NOVEMBER (in CAPS because it's an important qualifier) the resort was definitely under construction. There were several areas of the resort where construction was taking place, but our suite was across the bridge from them and we were never bothered by any noise or untoward attention from workers.

The non-diving staff seemed amiable enough for the few times we interacted with them, which I guess is just how you want it to be: if you're spending too much time dealing with the front desk or the cleaning staff then you have problems you don't want to be dealing with, so passing marks all around there. The on-site breakfast buffet (provided each morning as part of our package) was very good, it was at the bar/restaurant by the pool. Other meals at THAT restaurant were a little pricey, and meals at the other restaurant on-site (out past the beach) were CRAZY expensive, so avoid it unless you're starving or loaded or both. We were in a suite so we had the chance to hit the supermarket and do a little cooking in our room.

The diving staff was, IMO, great. They took really good care of us and prices seemed pretty reasonable, especially when compared to other stuff at the resort. The DMs listened to our requests and tried their best to meet them; the only thing we didn't get to do was dive salt pier because a boat was docked so it wasn't their fault. There were plenty of opportunities for boat diving (how dare I mention it in the shore-diver's paradise?) if that's your style. Some was included in our package, but we ended up getting a few more trips added in because it was just so convenient. The "resort's" reef, 18 palms, was pretty sweet, especially in the morning and at night. It felt like a bit of a copout to dive it as much as we did, but the sights were great and the convenience was unbeatable. There are always fresh tanks ready to go at both entrances to the reef, and at the dive shop too so all you had to do was drive up, grab a couple tanks, and roll out to do some shore diving. My only complaint was they didn't have 100s, only 80s and 65s. Yeah, I'm a gashog.

Since you asked, the beach is OK, for as much as we used it. Which is to say, we walked across it on the way to go to the reef. There is a little tiki-bar right there so you can keep hydrated or buzzed, whichever might be mandated by your diving or not-diving plans. I don't think it would really compare to the beaches I've seen at bigger resorts in places like Florida or Cancun, though. The pool was clean, but it didn't have a reef in it so we didn't use it.

There is a car-rental place (a couple, actually) right on site, so you can rent a car and return a car with no hassle, it just takes a while if you're with a large group.

So, the dive shop and dive staff was great, and just about everything else was... OK, but... we took the time to visit some acquaintances of our organizers who were at the Buddy Dive resort and things just seemed more... polished, for lack of a better word. Pricing seemed to be on a par with the Plaza Resort, but things seemed a bit cleaner and better kept. The biggest difference I saw in the two dive shops was the Buddy's had 100s, but of course that was going to get my attention.

So what's my verdict? Based on what I saw in November, when my wife and I go down in the future (please please please let it be soon!), we'll probably book at Buddy's. But, the Plaza Resort has a lot of potential and if they've been working hard over the winter things could be much more "polished" to use my own word and they may be ready to rock your world. I wouldn't worry about changing your reservation, unless for some reason you feel like the construction was really going to turn you or your wife off. If you don't mind a little clutter here and there, you should do just fine.

EDIT TO ADD: Don't take this as a hands-down recommendation for Buddy's though. I only spent a few hours there. Also, I don't recall seeing any real beach at all to speak of at Buddy's, so your wife probably wouldn't dig it.


Hope this helps, drop a PM if you have any further ?s...

Ike aka "Hilma Hooker is DA BOMB"

[Mike]

Saying that Buddies is more 'polished' is really scaring me now! Yikes!

I'm hoping that from what I've heard the ocean side suites are stunning is going to hold true. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Having not been to the Plaza yet, but from everything I've gathered about it, the place just seems like it's ripe to be bought out by a major player in the international resort business and turned around into a major property. Seems like they have the location and space, just need an operator who knows how to be successful.

[Straegen]

If you haven't been over there Boinaire Talk is an excellent place to ask these questions as it has a pretty large pool of Boinaire locals and vacationers:

Bonaire Talk: Accommodations (http://www.bonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/24/24.html?1274357627)

As Cecil points out above Harbour is a nicer place. I have friends who go there a couple times per year and it is their favorite.

[dvrliz1]

Mike,

I was just there 2 weeks ago and got the chance to see the renovated rooms. I saw one of the oceanside suites. It was beautiful! Definitely take advantage of their Tuesday night BBQ on the beach, it is excellent. HINT: PURCHASE YOUR BBQ TICKETS AT THE FRONT DESK. They are $12,50 at the front desk, and $15.00 at the beach...

Liz

[midas6t6]

Thanks for all the info. I was in Bonaire several years ago as a cruise stop and we went to the Plaza, it seemed good from the beach, didn't get to check out the rooms. Im curious to see what mfinley919 has to say when he gets back.

[mbs]

Dunno bout mfinley, but our plan includes the tuesday nite bbq :)

[Mike]

Mike,

I was just there 2 weeks ago and got the chance to see the renovated rooms. I saw one of the oceanside suites. It was beautiful!
Liz

That's good to hear. Now I just have to hope they don't try anything hokey with our reservations. Those reports you read on trip advisor and such are all over the board from great to worst experience ever. Staff that was great, to staff that didn't have your reservation and couldn't care less.

The only consistant thing I ever read is that Toucan Divers is a great op.

[cstreu1026]

Its good to hear they are doing some major rennovations. My wife and I were there in October and left feeling rather disspointed. It was the second time at Plaza and third time to Bonaire. As usual the diving was great and as was the dive shop. Getting to the island has become a real chore. I thought the all day travel on American was bad but the red eye on Continental was far worse. On top of it the resort made little to no effort to accomdate the few us that had been up all night traveling. We were suppose to do our orientation dives that day but we couldn't get in to our until mid-afternoon. We got our dive in around 4:00 but were exhausted by time it was over. The last time were there in 2007 the rooms were basic but clean and in good shape. In October we had a 1 bedroom villa that was definitely showing its age.

I did just check out some pictures of some of the rennovations and it looks very very nice. I hope they keep it up. I always thought the resort could a spectacular place if they put the money and effort in to it. Now if only they could just do something about the flights to the island from the US.

[mbs]

I'll post more detail either later tonight or when I get home, but just finishing the week at the Plaza. For the most part I found it to be the same as when we were here last June. If anyone has any specific questions or wants photos of anything let me know asap and I'll take some before we fly out tomorrow afternoon. Toucan continues to be an outstanding op and the diving both from boat and our shore dives was great! We ended up here on the same week as a group from last year so we filled out their boat and had a blast. 21 dives, 11 boat and 10 shore dives including a night dive on salt pier. Following day we actually did a boat drift dive thru salt pier which was a nice contrast to the night dive!
The room is almost identical to what we had last year. It was renovated last year and is really large with 2 good beds, tv, ac, mini fridge, large safe, coffee maker, etc... Bathroom has a standing shower and a separate tub. This year we had ground floor junior suite (rm 2018) room and it has a nice porch facing the lagoon a short walk to the dive shop as well as the breakfast restaurant. Also a short walk to the pool area which has tanks for shore diving on the house reef - eighteenth palms. No signs of any major renovations going on, but one day we had a note left saying the following morning at 9am there would be drilling upstairs from us. Can't ask for more than that! during the week they were power washing the grounds and fixing broken tiles. Same minor annoyance as last year with the pool - on weekends they have local kids using it so its not a very restful spot. I really did not have much interaction with the hotel staff so can't comment on helpfulness... Folks working at breakfast were super nice and friendly. Breakfast is a relatively small buffet with made to order eggs and pancakes. Lots of fresh fruit, salads, breads pastries, cereal, juices. Not opulent, but u can certainly find something to fill u up before diving which is really what its all about :) We did not eat dinner at all here for no reason other than wanting to visit places in town. Actually now that I think of it we didn't even walk over to the Tipsy Seagull side of the resort :) Well ok, I ended up posting more than I expected - I blame it on the Brights! Anyway if you have any specific questions I'm happy to answer. We got a great package deal this year (the santa special) and I feel it is a very good deal for what you get!. I have no complaints whatsoever. YMMV

[skydiver30960]

... including a night dive on salt pier...

My laptop does not have enough keys to adequately convey my jealousy!

Ike aka "a goal for the next trip"

[mbs]

quick update, just took a stroll over to the tipsy seagull side of the resort and indeed the rooms on that side are still under major renovation (read: gutted). No idea if you were in a room on that side if it would be a hassle. skydiver, i'll post some photos of the pier to aid that jealousy :)

[dukeh20]

We are headed to the Plaza in 4 weeks. We we stayed there 6 years ago we had one of the regular rooms that overlooked the pool. This time we are staying in one of their villas with kitchen facilities. Has anyone stayed in one of those and how were they??

[dvrliz1]

Duke, not sure, but I can find out for you. The refurbished unit I saw (it was beautiful) was located in one of the buildings on facing the beach. Last I hear 62 units had been redone out of the 194 or so they have.

Liz

[Scuba Monster]

We stayed at Plaza, March 2009. Based on some information I found on SB, I specifically asked for a rennovated room through our travel agent and then again at check in. We had the Deluxe Ocean View Suite booked and lots of boat dives pre-booked.

They let us check in early at no charge, since we were checking in a 7am coming in on the red-eye. I asked the front desk if the room was rennovated and she "thought so." Well, it definitely was not! There was bird poop all over the balcony, the windows were dirty, paint was dingy, bed linens torn, tile was mauve pink and furniture blue rattan. However, with no argument they agreed to move us to rennovated room once one became available. We decided to go on about our business and check in after breakfast to see if the rennovated room was ready. After breakfast ... not ready. After a trip into town ... not ready. After a nap ... not ready. After a shore dive ... not ready. Around 4pm I called again, politely asking if our room was ready. The front desk had to check and call me back. About 5 minutes later, I received a call from the front desk saying "We have a really nice room that I know you will like. We're upgrading you to the Honeymoon Suite." Yay! The room had jacuzzi tub, new tile, fresh paint, no bird poop on the balcony (important), four poster king bed, clean linens, stand up shower, walk in closet, electronic safe, two vanity sinks. It was a HUGE upgrade ... I was happy!

The Honeymoon Suite was located on the end near the Tipsy Seagull part of the resort, where there were many rooms nearby being rennovated. However, the noise didn't seem to be really bad at all. We were out most of the day diving and the construction never started too early or ended really late. I would prefer a rennovated room over the old ones that were greatly in need of TLC, like clean walls and no bird poop.

In the evening, we could sometimes see in the updated Deluxe Ocean View rooms that had their lights on ... I would have been very happy with one of these too, as they looked nice and clean.

As for the dive op, Tucan Divers, they were great! They are a main reason that I would consider going back to Plaza. Hopefully, by the time we are ready to repeat Bonaire rennovations would be complete and therefore not a issue.

Overall, I had a great time, liked the resort, loved the dive op and staff, and was pleased with the rennovated rooms. Non rennovated room ... not so much.

Note: another couple was traveling with us and they chose not to move to a updated room. Their room was slightly better (cleaner) than our original room, but definitely still outdated. They were not as disastisfied as we were with the room and would go back either way.

[Mike]

Just got back, I'll be making a post in regard to the Plaza as some have PM me for.

Quickly for now -

Toucan Divers, is a good dive op. Nothing mind blowing, but friendly staff, good equipment, helpful, accommodating, a thumbs up, they do an adequate job at what they do. It's cattle boats with 1:12 DM to diver ratios which aren't really my thing but Bonaire is a bit different place I guess, since it's a self-service shore dive mecca where you do your own thing unguided anyways, the whole boat dive thing I believe reflects that, so is fine for what it is, and I suppose should be judged with a whole different set of bench mark anyways.

Plaza Resort - if all you did was stay in the newly remodeled room and never left it you'd think you were in a 4-5 star hotel, unfortunately the rest of the place is 2-3 stars at best. Unkempt, neglected grounds show the ownership is in full milking mode of this place, doing the very least they can get by with. The feeling of the neglect of the place is cumulative in all the small things, for instance the old signage is everywhere for the old casino, restaurant etc... take it down, get new updated signage... or just leave it and save the money and forget about the appearance it presents.

Any resort with this massive of a foot print requires a full-time maintenance and gardening operation just to keep up with it. The Plaza instead is going the band-aid route.

Resort Staff - this place rates up there with some of the most wildly variable customer service I have ever witnessed. From sullen faced, hating life, you're bothering me, bad eggs all the way to very nice, very accommodating, caring, customer service oriented staff members and everything in-between. In-consistency in the staff is the biggest consistency. I witness and experienced things that would have gotten you fired in many other resorts on the spot.

Maybe it's a Dutch thing, but the room service was difficult at best and dirty plates sat outside your door in the heat for 24 hours before pick up, this is after the iguana’s have scattered the dirty dishes outside your room and you step over them all day long and call repeatedly for them to be picked up, which they simply will not do.

Relaxing on the beach you are approached daily by the activities director who doubles as the beach patrol, demanding you show a beach pass that guests are apparently required to keep on their persons at all times. It's a slip of paper given upon check in. Apparently they allow non-guests access to the beach and collect 10 gilders when they discover them on it. It’s a bit off-putting at best, rude at it's worst, to be approached for your ‘papers’ on a daily basis to prove you belong there, and it's not a simple situation, the girl stands there demanding your papers, which nobody has with them. You go through the daily routine of no I don't have it, or what is it you're asking for? I'm in room so and so and she stands there as guest after guest goes through the same routine. :shakehead:
The practice of driving automobiles around the walkways is a bit disturbing, but what is really alarming is the different staff members in the golf carts going at full bore on the resort walk ways.

The beach bar is a nice hang out, they do a happy hour from 5-6 with reduced beer and wine only. Nice place to relax, bar tenders were pleasant.

If you get a newly remodeled room and all you do is sleep there, take a shower, grab a few drinks at the bar and dive, dive dive most of the Plaza's short-comings will go un-noticed.

The diving

Using the Plaza as our base for shore diving worked well with it's central location, it made things a bit easier with the issues of not being able to pack anything in your rental car you didn't take with you underwater risking it getting stolen, so you could zip back to the Plaza on your way from the south sites to the north sites and pop in to get something.

They always had tanks available at the house reef in two locations and fills were consistent 3000-3200 psi. Loading up in the morning was easy at the dive shop as the tanks and lockers are right next to where you can back up for easy loading.

The dives we did:

18th palms
Joanne’s Sunchi (boat dive)
Rock Pile (boat dive)
Bonaventure (boat dive)
18th palms (night dive)
Hilma Hooker
Salt Pier
Captain Don’s Reef (boat dive)
Salt Pier (night dive) A better day dive then night dive for some reason.
Karpata
Bari Reef
1000 Steps
Invisibles
Soft Coral Garden
Willemstoren Lighthouse
Red Slave
Jerry’s Reef (boat dive)

We saw many turtles a few sea horses, an octopus during the day in three feet of water off the beach at Bari, a few eagle rays and all the rest of the usual suspects on the reefs. I’d have to say that the Willemstoren Lighthouse dive was my favorite of all the dives, they should rename it 'Fan Forest' or something similar. It was a fantastic dive and the fans, coral and soft coral growth, size and coverage is simply astounding, add to that the over-sized sea life, the schools of black durgeons, a loggerhead turtle and the awesome rush of flying underwater using the current to skim and zoom in and out, up and down and around everything on your way back from your turn around point and it’s a dive I will remember for a long, long time.

If we return I think I would like to spend a bit more of our time on the more 'advanced' sites that round the south end of the island, as they were far from intimidating and yielded some real pleasant experiences.

Overall, you have to make the best of it at the Plaza, they aren't going to knock your socks off currently, unless ownership changes hands or changes mentality. It's a great location, a huge, but neglected property, the staff is very inconsitant and customer service is very inconsistant outside of the dive shop. Don't expect maid service every day and expect to make a lot of treks all the way across to the front desk for anything you want as the answer you get after you're done arm-wrestling them for anything is to come to the front desk. Maybe it's a Dutch thing, I don't know.

[jcroy66]

Ok this sucks. SB ate my reply twice. And typing on the iPhone sucks.

Try #3:

Questions:
1. Are there restrictions on the hours you can get nitrox tanks? I like doing night and early am dives.

2. Will the boat dives go to sites like Klein Bonaire that aren't accessible via shore diving?

3. Anyone know if we have to spread the 12 boat dives in our package equally during the week or if we can concentrate our boat dives on 3-4 days of 3-4 boat dives a day?

TIA!

[Mike]

I'll try to help you...

Nitrox, I didn't use, but I believe the nitrox tanks were kept under more supervision then the air tanks. I can't remember seeing fresh nitrox tanks at the two shore locations at the resort. I do recall seeing empties. Take this with a grain of salt, somebody who used nitrox there will have better info, hopefully they will answer.

I'm not sure if you are asking if they will go to Klien or if they will go to areas on Klien that are not official dive sites?

As far as I know, all boat dives are going to go to official sites on Klien or otherwise because they use the mooring balls at the sites. No mooring no dive I would think.

If you are asking will you get to dive Klein, the answer is you won't easily avoid it. As far as I could tell every 2:00 pm boat dive goes to Klein no matter what, and the only other boat dive we did was the morning one and they were both at Klein. (The next day they did go to the Hooker and Blue Vista using their biggest boat) We were shore diving the Hooker and saw everybody from the previous group on the wreck.

There was no restrictions on the boat dive arrangements. In fact you are basically on for boat dives the moment you arrive, since they automatically put your names on the boat dive sign ups on the side of the building at the dive shop, and you have to erase your names on the days you don't want to boat dive.

I jumped on most of my boat dives totally unscheduled, as long as there was room on the boats they didn't seem to care one way or the other.

[jcroy66]

If you are asking will you get to dive Klein, the answer is you won't easily avoid it. As far as I could tell every 2:00 pm boat dive goes to Klein no matter what, and the only other boat dive we did was the morning one and they were both at Klein.
Yep, that is what I was asking. Great, sounds good. I can't wait!!

Hopefully someone else can chime in about availability of nitrox tanks. What about air tanks? Certain hours or 24/7 availability?

Thanks!

[mbs]

They are pretty flexible as to which sites to visit. We went to Klein a bunch. The dm's were very concerned when the group wanted to go to a site they knew we dove from shore. Of course we don't care! I can dive some sites over and over! So make it known you plan to do a lot of shore dives and prefer to do Klein. As long as other folks agree you'll get to go there.
We also only dove air, but the air tanks were available 24x7 for sure. I'm pretty sure that you would need to take your nitrox tanks before the dive shop closes in the evening - 5:30-6pm.

[RJP]

1. Are there restrictions on the hours you can get nitrox tanks? I like doing night and early am dives.



Depends on where you're trying to get 'em from... (Hint: you can fit three in one of the 24hr access dive lockers... and tanks left in your truck over night are perfectly safe.)

:D

[jcroy66]

Yeah that's what we ended up doing when we stayed at Sand Dollar. But since we had to get them by 4:30 at SD, it meant we sometimes had to cut our afternoon dives short in order to get back in time.

Thanks all!

[RJP]

Yeah that's what we ended up doing when we stayed at Sand Dollar. But since we had to get them by 4:30 at SD, it meant we sometimes had to cut our afternoon dives short in order to get back in time.

Thanks all!

Get three, put em in the locker. Get more, put em in your truck. Go diving. Get back, take tanks from locker later.

We'd always have three tanks each in the truck and the locker.

[Scuba Monster]

Yep, that is what I was asking. Great, sounds good. I can't wait!!

Hopefully someone else can chime in about availability of nitrox tanks. What about air tanks? Certain hours or 24/7 availability?

Thanks!

I would say Nitrox is available 24/7. You just have to analyze your tank before they close the Nitrox room. I don't recall the time they lock the room - we didn't have any problems accessing tanks. If you want to do a shore dive at their house reef using Nitrox, they will drive the tanks down to the shore dive area for you as well. Air was always available at the shore dive set up areas.

[jcroy66]

Thanks everyone! So I take it the dive shop is cool with taking that many tanks? Or is it a "what they don't know won't hurt them"? :)

[RJP]

Thanks everyone! So I take it the dive shop is cool with taking that many tanks? Or is it a "what they don't know won't hurt them"? :)

We got a sort of "don't ask, don't tell" nod from them when we were there, and always swung by to drop off the empties on the way past.