RICHinNC
Contributor
There will probably be a bit of disagreement over this trip report as; we considered this vacation as the trip from Hades.
At this time I do not plan to identify any particular business I speak about negatively. I have learned from being on SB a long time that if you say hotel X_Y_Z sucks, or restaurant A_B_C sucks, there will be at least 50 people that will come back and call you all kinds of names and disagree with you in a hostile manner. So, I am just going to simply lay out what happened and let you be your own judge. Do your own research. In fact, I have no problem with the mods moving this to the rant section as it is probably as much of a rant as a trip report.
Ok, so months out in advance we made reservations at a hotel we were familiar with. We had stayed there once before. We had even recommended it to others. Their website touts many events taking place during the week in the evening at the hotel and that was one of the main reasons we went back. As many of you know there really is little to do in Bonaire in the evening so any kind of an event at your hotel is good. At least you can have some fun and drink a little and not have to drive.
The day came for us to make our flight to Bonaire with Delta and things went pretty smoothly. We were delayed getting out of Atlanta for over an hour because they were waiting for three airplanes that were late to arrive and let three passengers get on our flight. I had no problem with that what so ever. It would have been another whole week until the next Delta flight so essentially their vacation would have been toast. And, having been stranded twice by US Air, like I said, no problems waiting.
We arrived in Bonaire and got in the customs line .one of four. After about 10 minutes the customs agent in our line got up and walked away and never came back. We waited and waited and waited ----- he just disappeared. The people in the line next to us finally took pity and let us start to meld into their line and we really appreciated that gesture. Thank you all so much for that kind gesture. If you were some of the people in the back of that line I apologize to you for cutting line. I know you probably had no idea what was going on.
We got through customs and headed over to the luggage conveyer. I got one bag accounted for within 10 minutes and it took another 30 minutes to get the other two. There was a worker there that was taking the bags off the conveyer and stacking them before they could even make one revolution around for people to get and people had no idea their bags had shown up. Once word got out on that things moved quicker.
We got all our bags and headed out to hopefully meet our hotel representative. I had an email from one of the hotel owners indicating that the rental truck was being handled differently now and I would pick it up at the hotel. Cool .no long rental lines like last time. As we came out we saw our hotel rep and she indicated we had to go over and get in line to get our truck. I told her about the email and she said, no, that was wrong so off we went to get in line. As I indicated, the email had been sent by the hotel owner. The truck we got was unreal. Almost brand new and not a scratch on it. I never even dove up North because I wasnt about to take that truck through some of the thorns and bramble up there!! That truck made mine look like a POS.
We got to the hotel and paid the remainder of our bill. We had already paid a deposit. Entering our condo ,as it is advertised, was like walking into a furnace. Man it was hot. It took us over 15 minutes to open the back door. Later in the week the owner came by and tried to open it and ended up stating it must be the wrong key. No, it was just a crappy lock. One of the many things on the list for repair or replacement.
As normal after a long flight, my first destination was to the bath room. I found feces on the toilet bowl. The sink was dirty and hairy. In the kitchen, it looked like the dishes and cups were used and just put up dirty. We spent the rest of the day there cleaning up the place. I thought about moving but my lady said we could take care of what needed taking care of. I am not that forgiving.
After cleaning up the messy place we went out to dinner. We got in too late to do the dive orientation and that was scheduled the next day at 0830. Dinner was pretty good and when the bill came, I asked for the price in US currency. It was higher than the price in Guilders. To be honest I travel a lot and am used to the dollar being crappy in some countries, but I thought it was stronger than the Guilder. I especially thought this when the second night out to dinner it was the same. Example, we had one dinner where the price came to 44 Guilders. We were told the US equivalent was $65. So we paid it.
Sunday (second day) we got up early and had breakfast. We found out at check in there was only ONE other guest than us at the hotel and he didnt do breakfast. So every day it was just Lynn and I for breakfast. Breakfast was the only thing that went well, if you dont count the totally burned bacon every morning. No swine flu off that bacon believe me!!
After breakfast I got my gear together and we took off to the place that where I would get my orientation. I met the guys and gal running the place and when they found out I had been there before and could spout the rules they didnt even make me sit through the class. They said I could do a check dive or not, up to me. I got my weights and did the house reef to be sure all was working well as I just had some gear come out of the shop. All was good. They even filled up my pony bottle decently.
We grabbed a couple tanks and took off to a new dive site. The whole time in Bonaire I could find no one to dive with so I dove solo. It was wonderful. I saw things I had never seen before. The reefs in some places have had a good battering and it shows. Animal life was way down from last trip. I finished the dives and we headed back to the hotel.
That was the second night we got taken to the cleaners at a restaurant again by being over charged and didnt know it yet. But before going out to eat I went to the back area of the hotel where there was an equipment cleaning station. I like the one from our last trip better. It had a pole where you could hang your BC and hose it off versus having to hold the heavy thing up or lay it in the dirt. This area was all concrete with no pole and two wash bins. I called Lynn over as I wanted her to see the two wash bins. The water looked dark and oily and there was at least 1/8 th inch of mold growing on the inside of each bin. Lynn reached in and came out with a mold covered finger. Needless to say I didnt clean my gear in those bins. I got one of the owners attention and asked for some bleach so I could clean the bins. I never met this guy before so I dont know if he reacted normally or whatever, but he made me feel like I was asking for the world. When he got the bleach container he held it up high in the air and said loudly he had the bleach and would clean the bins for me. Like I said, never met him before, probably just me.
The next day, third day, we got up and had breakfast, used to burnt bacon by now, and headed off to turn in empty tanks and get new ones. I did a couple dives down South and Lynn did her snorkeling. For what it is worth, we had no problems with people and the truck at the dive sites. But Lynn was in the area the whole time snorkeling while I dove.
I finished my dives and we headed back toward the hotel. On the way back, just past the traffic circle, there is a new (not there on my last trip anyway) wine and liquor store. We stopped in to check out the wines and pick up a bottle of rum. It was there the light came on about pricing. Each label on the bottles had a Guilders price and .a USD price. Every time the Guilders price was higher than the dollar price. HUH??? There was a fantastic lady there. We went back to the store several times and she was always a ball to deal with. Anyway, I called her over and said if I had a bill in Guilders for 44 .what would that be in US currency? She said divide the 44 by 1.75 or 1.78 and that would be the answer. Yep, we had been taken to the cleaners by both restaurants. When I told her what had happened, I feel she was truly upset and wanted to know the two restaurants. I declined that info as it would have been then .like now .simply a he said she said situation. We just voted with our dollars and never ate at either one again. Dont PM me, not saying who they were.
Food has really gotten ridiculous on the island. I heard not only a number of tourists, but locals complaining as well. Our one and only hotel neighbor went out one night and bought a medium pizza and two beers and it cost him $64 USD. Unbelievable, at first I thought he was teasing me considering our little adventure, but he was serious. The pizza place everyone recommends was not open at this time. I dont know where he found the pizza and at $64 I didnt even ask.
Most of the time we ate at the Casablanca. Their menu is in Guilders and USD. There is no mystery. Since we were there only a week, the menu was more than diverse enough so we didnt have to repeat any meals. Just be careful if you decide to visit Bonaire. I find integrity and honesty has gone out the window.
I was reading the info board near the breakfast table the next morning and a key point came to light for me. Remember one of the reasons we chose this hotel was because of the events scheduled during the evenings. There are times I admit I can be a little slow but reading the board it dawned on me, NONE of the evening events that were suppose to have taken place by now (that were clearly advertised on the hotel website) had taken place. Nothing but the sound of crickets ..actually .buzzing mosquitos!!!!
I asked one of the employees that day had the events days changed days and got the answer of my life. Oh no, I was told, there are only two of you so it doesnt make sense to do them for just two people. *** MATE???? I paid FULL freaking price and had selected that hotel not because of my last experience with it as much as what I thought it would be like now. Needless to say we were not happy. In fact, I get set off pretty easily, but my lady has the patience of Job. She would make him look like a terrorist. But by now, she was so upset with the hotel and the island in general it was not funny.
We continued the same routine .breakfast, morning dives for me snorkeling for Lynn, afternoon exploring or shopping for Lynn and me, supper and back to the boring hotel. We went to a couple of bars and I have seen more activity from a dead body.
I had a talk with one of the employees of the hotel when asked how we were enjoying our vacation. I was honest and at the end basically said we would never be back to this hotel for sure and probably never back to Bonaire as well. She must have said something to one of the owners because it was requested I come to the back office for a discussion.
I met with one of the owners and basically laid out my feelings on how things had gone with the room conditions and the lack of advertised events and was told things should not have gone the way they did. Long story short, and I mean long story, I was told two things. One, that 25% of my bill would be refunded. Two, we had a choice of two free hotel T-shirts or a $25 gift certificate at any restaurant on the island. I indicated I would like to talk to my lady about the offer.
The next day I got back with the owner and indicated we had talked and decided we would prefer the gift certificate versus the T-shirts. I was told that was fine and a certificate would be made up and brought over to our room.
About 15 minutes later, one of the owners came by the room and handed me a $100 bill and said go out and have a good meal on the hotel. I indicated that was too much, but was told, no, things didnt go well, go out and enjoy your meal. So we did. ( There was never a comment that this was part of my 25% by the way. )
The next day was our flight day so I went by the main office to check and see if I needed to do anything with the bill that I paid in full the first day. I got the bill and I couldnt understand it. I paid a deposit (have proof) and upon arrival paid rest of bill (have proof). I had been told in our meeting I was going to get a 25% refund. My total bill was $1131.00 and I got a $131.25 refund. No matter how I do the math on any portion of the bill .deposit or remainder, that does not equate out to 25%.
I went to the owners office and still came away confused. So instead of continuing the agony there at the hotel, I decided to wait and upon arrival back home I called American Express, challenged the bill and have left it in Amexs hands for handling. Whatever they come up with I will live with, but be sure, I will never stay at that same hotel again or recommend it to anyone.
Bonaire has changed a lot since my first trip about 3 years ago. The house/apt/condo building is amazing. The infrastructure can hardly handle what is going on now with residents and tourists and once all these new places fill up; the infrastructure is just bound to collapse.
On this trip I met so many tourists that said this was their last trip to Bonaire I couldnt believe it. On my last trip I never heard that comment. I met a number of locals, to include my hotel owners, who indicated they wanted to move off the island. At the airport waiting for out flight out, I overheard a number of negative conversations about how Bonaire has changed and not for the good.
The Dutch government is coming in and really shaking things up. They are supposed to switch over to the US Dollar relatively shortly. There is a lot going on and very little is spoken well of by anyone we met there.
I may go back to Bonaire some day, but I highly doubt it. Right now, I see Bonaire as a tourist island that hates tourists. There are just too many other places to go to that not only welcome my hard earned money, but welcome me as well. If Bonaire is your place of choice, then fine, I am glad you like it. I used to like it too.
At this time I do not plan to identify any particular business I speak about negatively. I have learned from being on SB a long time that if you say hotel X_Y_Z sucks, or restaurant A_B_C sucks, there will be at least 50 people that will come back and call you all kinds of names and disagree with you in a hostile manner. So, I am just going to simply lay out what happened and let you be your own judge. Do your own research. In fact, I have no problem with the mods moving this to the rant section as it is probably as much of a rant as a trip report.
Ok, so months out in advance we made reservations at a hotel we were familiar with. We had stayed there once before. We had even recommended it to others. Their website touts many events taking place during the week in the evening at the hotel and that was one of the main reasons we went back. As many of you know there really is little to do in Bonaire in the evening so any kind of an event at your hotel is good. At least you can have some fun and drink a little and not have to drive.
The day came for us to make our flight to Bonaire with Delta and things went pretty smoothly. We were delayed getting out of Atlanta for over an hour because they were waiting for three airplanes that were late to arrive and let three passengers get on our flight. I had no problem with that what so ever. It would have been another whole week until the next Delta flight so essentially their vacation would have been toast. And, having been stranded twice by US Air, like I said, no problems waiting.
We arrived in Bonaire and got in the customs line .one of four. After about 10 minutes the customs agent in our line got up and walked away and never came back. We waited and waited and waited ----- he just disappeared. The people in the line next to us finally took pity and let us start to meld into their line and we really appreciated that gesture. Thank you all so much for that kind gesture. If you were some of the people in the back of that line I apologize to you for cutting line. I know you probably had no idea what was going on.
We got through customs and headed over to the luggage conveyer. I got one bag accounted for within 10 minutes and it took another 30 minutes to get the other two. There was a worker there that was taking the bags off the conveyer and stacking them before they could even make one revolution around for people to get and people had no idea their bags had shown up. Once word got out on that things moved quicker.
We got all our bags and headed out to hopefully meet our hotel representative. I had an email from one of the hotel owners indicating that the rental truck was being handled differently now and I would pick it up at the hotel. Cool .no long rental lines like last time. As we came out we saw our hotel rep and she indicated we had to go over and get in line to get our truck. I told her about the email and she said, no, that was wrong so off we went to get in line. As I indicated, the email had been sent by the hotel owner. The truck we got was unreal. Almost brand new and not a scratch on it. I never even dove up North because I wasnt about to take that truck through some of the thorns and bramble up there!! That truck made mine look like a POS.
We got to the hotel and paid the remainder of our bill. We had already paid a deposit. Entering our condo ,as it is advertised, was like walking into a furnace. Man it was hot. It took us over 15 minutes to open the back door. Later in the week the owner came by and tried to open it and ended up stating it must be the wrong key. No, it was just a crappy lock. One of the many things on the list for repair or replacement.
As normal after a long flight, my first destination was to the bath room. I found feces on the toilet bowl. The sink was dirty and hairy. In the kitchen, it looked like the dishes and cups were used and just put up dirty. We spent the rest of the day there cleaning up the place. I thought about moving but my lady said we could take care of what needed taking care of. I am not that forgiving.
After cleaning up the messy place we went out to dinner. We got in too late to do the dive orientation and that was scheduled the next day at 0830. Dinner was pretty good and when the bill came, I asked for the price in US currency. It was higher than the price in Guilders. To be honest I travel a lot and am used to the dollar being crappy in some countries, but I thought it was stronger than the Guilder. I especially thought this when the second night out to dinner it was the same. Example, we had one dinner where the price came to 44 Guilders. We were told the US equivalent was $65. So we paid it.
Sunday (second day) we got up early and had breakfast. We found out at check in there was only ONE other guest than us at the hotel and he didnt do breakfast. So every day it was just Lynn and I for breakfast. Breakfast was the only thing that went well, if you dont count the totally burned bacon every morning. No swine flu off that bacon believe me!!
After breakfast I got my gear together and we took off to the place that where I would get my orientation. I met the guys and gal running the place and when they found out I had been there before and could spout the rules they didnt even make me sit through the class. They said I could do a check dive or not, up to me. I got my weights and did the house reef to be sure all was working well as I just had some gear come out of the shop. All was good. They even filled up my pony bottle decently.
We grabbed a couple tanks and took off to a new dive site. The whole time in Bonaire I could find no one to dive with so I dove solo. It was wonderful. I saw things I had never seen before. The reefs in some places have had a good battering and it shows. Animal life was way down from last trip. I finished the dives and we headed back to the hotel.
That was the second night we got taken to the cleaners at a restaurant again by being over charged and didnt know it yet. But before going out to eat I went to the back area of the hotel where there was an equipment cleaning station. I like the one from our last trip better. It had a pole where you could hang your BC and hose it off versus having to hold the heavy thing up or lay it in the dirt. This area was all concrete with no pole and two wash bins. I called Lynn over as I wanted her to see the two wash bins. The water looked dark and oily and there was at least 1/8 th inch of mold growing on the inside of each bin. Lynn reached in and came out with a mold covered finger. Needless to say I didnt clean my gear in those bins. I got one of the owners attention and asked for some bleach so I could clean the bins. I never met this guy before so I dont know if he reacted normally or whatever, but he made me feel like I was asking for the world. When he got the bleach container he held it up high in the air and said loudly he had the bleach and would clean the bins for me. Like I said, never met him before, probably just me.
The next day, third day, we got up and had breakfast, used to burnt bacon by now, and headed off to turn in empty tanks and get new ones. I did a couple dives down South and Lynn did her snorkeling. For what it is worth, we had no problems with people and the truck at the dive sites. But Lynn was in the area the whole time snorkeling while I dove.
I finished my dives and we headed back toward the hotel. On the way back, just past the traffic circle, there is a new (not there on my last trip anyway) wine and liquor store. We stopped in to check out the wines and pick up a bottle of rum. It was there the light came on about pricing. Each label on the bottles had a Guilders price and .a USD price. Every time the Guilders price was higher than the dollar price. HUH??? There was a fantastic lady there. We went back to the store several times and she was always a ball to deal with. Anyway, I called her over and said if I had a bill in Guilders for 44 .what would that be in US currency? She said divide the 44 by 1.75 or 1.78 and that would be the answer. Yep, we had been taken to the cleaners by both restaurants. When I told her what had happened, I feel she was truly upset and wanted to know the two restaurants. I declined that info as it would have been then .like now .simply a he said she said situation. We just voted with our dollars and never ate at either one again. Dont PM me, not saying who they were.
Food has really gotten ridiculous on the island. I heard not only a number of tourists, but locals complaining as well. Our one and only hotel neighbor went out one night and bought a medium pizza and two beers and it cost him $64 USD. Unbelievable, at first I thought he was teasing me considering our little adventure, but he was serious. The pizza place everyone recommends was not open at this time. I dont know where he found the pizza and at $64 I didnt even ask.
Most of the time we ate at the Casablanca. Their menu is in Guilders and USD. There is no mystery. Since we were there only a week, the menu was more than diverse enough so we didnt have to repeat any meals. Just be careful if you decide to visit Bonaire. I find integrity and honesty has gone out the window.
I was reading the info board near the breakfast table the next morning and a key point came to light for me. Remember one of the reasons we chose this hotel was because of the events scheduled during the evenings. There are times I admit I can be a little slow but reading the board it dawned on me, NONE of the evening events that were suppose to have taken place by now (that were clearly advertised on the hotel website) had taken place. Nothing but the sound of crickets ..actually .buzzing mosquitos!!!!
I asked one of the employees that day had the events days changed days and got the answer of my life. Oh no, I was told, there are only two of you so it doesnt make sense to do them for just two people. *** MATE???? I paid FULL freaking price and had selected that hotel not because of my last experience with it as much as what I thought it would be like now. Needless to say we were not happy. In fact, I get set off pretty easily, but my lady has the patience of Job. She would make him look like a terrorist. But by now, she was so upset with the hotel and the island in general it was not funny.
We continued the same routine .breakfast, morning dives for me snorkeling for Lynn, afternoon exploring or shopping for Lynn and me, supper and back to the boring hotel. We went to a couple of bars and I have seen more activity from a dead body.
I had a talk with one of the employees of the hotel when asked how we were enjoying our vacation. I was honest and at the end basically said we would never be back to this hotel for sure and probably never back to Bonaire as well. She must have said something to one of the owners because it was requested I come to the back office for a discussion.
I met with one of the owners and basically laid out my feelings on how things had gone with the room conditions and the lack of advertised events and was told things should not have gone the way they did. Long story short, and I mean long story, I was told two things. One, that 25% of my bill would be refunded. Two, we had a choice of two free hotel T-shirts or a $25 gift certificate at any restaurant on the island. I indicated I would like to talk to my lady about the offer.
The next day I got back with the owner and indicated we had talked and decided we would prefer the gift certificate versus the T-shirts. I was told that was fine and a certificate would be made up and brought over to our room.
About 15 minutes later, one of the owners came by the room and handed me a $100 bill and said go out and have a good meal on the hotel. I indicated that was too much, but was told, no, things didnt go well, go out and enjoy your meal. So we did. ( There was never a comment that this was part of my 25% by the way. )
The next day was our flight day so I went by the main office to check and see if I needed to do anything with the bill that I paid in full the first day. I got the bill and I couldnt understand it. I paid a deposit (have proof) and upon arrival paid rest of bill (have proof). I had been told in our meeting I was going to get a 25% refund. My total bill was $1131.00 and I got a $131.25 refund. No matter how I do the math on any portion of the bill .deposit or remainder, that does not equate out to 25%.
I went to the owners office and still came away confused. So instead of continuing the agony there at the hotel, I decided to wait and upon arrival back home I called American Express, challenged the bill and have left it in Amexs hands for handling. Whatever they come up with I will live with, but be sure, I will never stay at that same hotel again or recommend it to anyone.
Bonaire has changed a lot since my first trip about 3 years ago. The house/apt/condo building is amazing. The infrastructure can hardly handle what is going on now with residents and tourists and once all these new places fill up; the infrastructure is just bound to collapse.
On this trip I met so many tourists that said this was their last trip to Bonaire I couldnt believe it. On my last trip I never heard that comment. I met a number of locals, to include my hotel owners, who indicated they wanted to move off the island. At the airport waiting for out flight out, I overheard a number of negative conversations about how Bonaire has changed and not for the good.
The Dutch government is coming in and really shaking things up. They are supposed to switch over to the US Dollar relatively shortly. There is a lot going on and very little is spoken well of by anyone we met there.
I may go back to Bonaire some day, but I highly doubt it. Right now, I see Bonaire as a tourist island that hates tourists. There are just too many other places to go to that not only welcome my hard earned money, but welcome me as well. If Bonaire is your place of choice, then fine, I am glad you like it. I used to like it too.
