homerdoc
Contributor
Just spent a week, flew the direct Atlanta flight Saturday to Saturday. Luckily my car wasn't broken into while stored in the garage there.
Transport there and back
Rented from Avis, right by the airport, my only dismay, and made me go back and get insurance, was they gave me a brand new truck, in Bonaire, are you kidding? I was like this thing is dead first parking lot I park in. I was protecting myself from paying x dollars for door dings. It wasn't that much (I think 200 bucks), but sure enough, first night at captain dons, we get the double ding on the driver side. It was easy to pick up, and easy to drop off right at the airport.
Passport control is very easy, there is a Dutch line and an other line, it moved very quickly. Customs is no hassle, I think unless you look like Tony Montana loaded for bear they aren't going to mess with you.
One tip, flying back, there is a decent (for an airport) restaurant on the ground floor (before security). We killed an hour there drinking a couple Amstel Brights. Lunch was like 10 bucks (sans beers) The gate can get crowded.
The lodgings.
Easy check in at Captain Don's, as some earlier folks had noted. You have to pay 6$ to rent a safe there. We promptly messed it up and had to have the maintenance guy reset it. You would think 3 engineers could figure that out. I didn't ask, but I am guessing they don't actually own the safes and a company is subletting them there. It was strange the 6$ wasn't imbedded in the bill.
We stayed in a two bedroom bungalow. Pluses, it was on the ground floor, awesome parrots iguana and doves. There was a sea grape tree right by our room that the staff would grab off the tree and eat as they went by. (I never got the nerve to do that). It was also different that each room (including the living room) had an A/C unit. Housekeeping was nice and did a good job cleaning.
I had read somewhere that all the plugs were two prong, so I had brought an adapter, but actually they were three prong, so didn't need it.
Towel exchange was easy and they always had them. I had trouble with BD last time I was there, so had brought some, I didn't need to.
Internet was awesome (well not streaming awesome), but had an easy password you only had to put in once. At BD, you would get kicked off and have to put in a long password.
Bring clothespins for hanging your clothes-we brought a pack of 50 and shared.
If your significant other exercises, sign up at bon bida, it is a short walk, there is a convenient grocery store (walk out to the left or drive) Zhung Kong
Diving
We had paid for boat dives, but didn't actually do any, they were pretty crowded and my traveling partners don't like crowds. There were two huge groups in the resort, so good for them. So I cant comment on boat diving at this resort, but all the folks we talked to loved it. However, the dive group was efficient, but if you want a group to hug and kiss you maybe it isn't them. I remember on the check out dive, I had changed 4 tanks due to them leaking. Even got in the water with one. My oring kit was at the room so I didn't want to get it. I asked a older guy with the dive shop some advice on tank picking, and he said, if I cant hear it from here you are just being anal. So armed with that we started diving with that rule (worked for us, we only changed one oring (that I could hear from 5 ft away.)
We dove the house reef several times-
La Machaca - head left from the dock, its right there, small boat in 30-40feet, you can continue on and do buddy's reef and see the cool coral restoration.
The cliff - head right, and it is a really cool small wall that has a monument. We also got to watch a lazy turtle that was cool. In 15-20 feet of water we saw a really cool octopus.
We did two night dives there (my first ever), and the tarpon made sure we didn't see many fish. They were cool the first night but annoying the second. I did squeak like a little girl when a tiny blue fish jumped me out of the machaca wreck. I bet that guy is still talking about how we ran the mean bad big diver off.
With kids, snorkeling at night with lights is exciting for them to see the tarpons hunting.
Pink Beach - easy entry, not all that exciting
Salt Pier - I loved this dive, and we did several times. Saw 5 turtles grazing. Miles of fish and a moray chasing a parrot fish off. This also has a very easy entry. I was ticked I didn't bring my compass, this was the one dive I really needed one, we ended up following a turtle and having to swim a ways back to the entrance.
Alice in Wonderland - look for a channel on an entry. We only explored the first reef.
The lake - had to walk over iron coral with urchins in it. There was fire coral from 6-10' so be careful coming back. I really liked this dive, it had the two reefs really close so you could dive in the middle and feel like you are in a canyon. Saw sea anemones there also, they were cool looking and a really big spiny lobster
Weber's joy - decent entrance, I loved the fact that this place had tons of little fish. Pick a spot and just hover and it is amazing.
Dining and other stuff
The breakfast was a buffet line, honestly it was okay and they don't have the bird problem BD did when I was there. There is a cool one legged bird I always walked a ways away and gave him a treat. Trust me, by Thursday you are done with the breakfast, get you some stuff for the room for the last couple days. It is the same stuff every day.
There is a Korean (?) grocery zhung kong, that is good for snacks and liquor, the fresh meats etc seemed sketchy, we threw away some salami. Van Den Tweels is like a target, the warehouse is like a walmart (not in a bad way). I think the warehouse had better bread.
We ate at rum runners several times and got take-out pizza. The pizza was really good. The food was pretty good, but I just got annoyed with the flys, by Wednesday we either ate in the rooms or went to indoor restaurants.
Blennies had the same issue, so this isn't a location issue, just a condition on nature. I had just had enough when I looked down at my sandwich after taking a drink and seeing 10 flys on it.
Speaking of that, between two buns (just past the rotunda on the left before captain dons) is actually everything folks have been saying about it. Clean, cool, new, reasonable. I just had a random sandwhich and it was great.
There is a fairly new Chinese restaurant that was pretty good also Wei Taai. It is on the right on the way to Captain dons from town.
The cadushy brewery is a great place to pay a lot for liquor and get some good stories, but we needed some surface time. It is actually pretty cool to visit.
Pure silliness, the donkey farm, I honesty have never laughed so hard. 7 bucks a head to get in and 3 dollars for carrots.
Divi Flamingo casino - small, has blackjack and roulette and tons of one arm bandits. Didn't gamble enough to tell what its vibe was (dad won 60 bucks, I lost 120). I didn't want to go, but he was a non-diver so I took one for the team.
Transport there and back
Rented from Avis, right by the airport, my only dismay, and made me go back and get insurance, was they gave me a brand new truck, in Bonaire, are you kidding? I was like this thing is dead first parking lot I park in. I was protecting myself from paying x dollars for door dings. It wasn't that much (I think 200 bucks), but sure enough, first night at captain dons, we get the double ding on the driver side. It was easy to pick up, and easy to drop off right at the airport.
Passport control is very easy, there is a Dutch line and an other line, it moved very quickly. Customs is no hassle, I think unless you look like Tony Montana loaded for bear they aren't going to mess with you.
One tip, flying back, there is a decent (for an airport) restaurant on the ground floor (before security). We killed an hour there drinking a couple Amstel Brights. Lunch was like 10 bucks (sans beers) The gate can get crowded.
The lodgings.
Easy check in at Captain Don's, as some earlier folks had noted. You have to pay 6$ to rent a safe there. We promptly messed it up and had to have the maintenance guy reset it. You would think 3 engineers could figure that out. I didn't ask, but I am guessing they don't actually own the safes and a company is subletting them there. It was strange the 6$ wasn't imbedded in the bill.
We stayed in a two bedroom bungalow. Pluses, it was on the ground floor, awesome parrots iguana and doves. There was a sea grape tree right by our room that the staff would grab off the tree and eat as they went by. (I never got the nerve to do that). It was also different that each room (including the living room) had an A/C unit. Housekeeping was nice and did a good job cleaning.
I had read somewhere that all the plugs were two prong, so I had brought an adapter, but actually they were three prong, so didn't need it.
Towel exchange was easy and they always had them. I had trouble with BD last time I was there, so had brought some, I didn't need to.
Internet was awesome (well not streaming awesome), but had an easy password you only had to put in once. At BD, you would get kicked off and have to put in a long password.
Bring clothespins for hanging your clothes-we brought a pack of 50 and shared.
If your significant other exercises, sign up at bon bida, it is a short walk, there is a convenient grocery store (walk out to the left or drive) Zhung Kong
Diving
We had paid for boat dives, but didn't actually do any, they were pretty crowded and my traveling partners don't like crowds. There were two huge groups in the resort, so good for them. So I cant comment on boat diving at this resort, but all the folks we talked to loved it. However, the dive group was efficient, but if you want a group to hug and kiss you maybe it isn't them. I remember on the check out dive, I had changed 4 tanks due to them leaking. Even got in the water with one. My oring kit was at the room so I didn't want to get it. I asked a older guy with the dive shop some advice on tank picking, and he said, if I cant hear it from here you are just being anal. So armed with that we started diving with that rule (worked for us, we only changed one oring (that I could hear from 5 ft away.)
We dove the house reef several times-
La Machaca - head left from the dock, its right there, small boat in 30-40feet, you can continue on and do buddy's reef and see the cool coral restoration.
The cliff - head right, and it is a really cool small wall that has a monument. We also got to watch a lazy turtle that was cool. In 15-20 feet of water we saw a really cool octopus.
We did two night dives there (my first ever), and the tarpon made sure we didn't see many fish. They were cool the first night but annoying the second. I did squeak like a little girl when a tiny blue fish jumped me out of the machaca wreck. I bet that guy is still talking about how we ran the mean bad big diver off.
With kids, snorkeling at night with lights is exciting for them to see the tarpons hunting.
Pink Beach - easy entry, not all that exciting
Salt Pier - I loved this dive, and we did several times. Saw 5 turtles grazing. Miles of fish and a moray chasing a parrot fish off. This also has a very easy entry. I was ticked I didn't bring my compass, this was the one dive I really needed one, we ended up following a turtle and having to swim a ways back to the entrance.
Alice in Wonderland - look for a channel on an entry. We only explored the first reef.
The lake - had to walk over iron coral with urchins in it. There was fire coral from 6-10' so be careful coming back. I really liked this dive, it had the two reefs really close so you could dive in the middle and feel like you are in a canyon. Saw sea anemones there also, they were cool looking and a really big spiny lobster
Weber's joy - decent entrance, I loved the fact that this place had tons of little fish. Pick a spot and just hover and it is amazing.
Dining and other stuff
The breakfast was a buffet line, honestly it was okay and they don't have the bird problem BD did when I was there. There is a cool one legged bird I always walked a ways away and gave him a treat. Trust me, by Thursday you are done with the breakfast, get you some stuff for the room for the last couple days. It is the same stuff every day.
There is a Korean (?) grocery zhung kong, that is good for snacks and liquor, the fresh meats etc seemed sketchy, we threw away some salami. Van Den Tweels is like a target, the warehouse is like a walmart (not in a bad way). I think the warehouse had better bread.
We ate at rum runners several times and got take-out pizza. The pizza was really good. The food was pretty good, but I just got annoyed with the flys, by Wednesday we either ate in the rooms or went to indoor restaurants.
Blennies had the same issue, so this isn't a location issue, just a condition on nature. I had just had enough when I looked down at my sandwich after taking a drink and seeing 10 flys on it.
Speaking of that, between two buns (just past the rotunda on the left before captain dons) is actually everything folks have been saying about it. Clean, cool, new, reasonable. I just had a random sandwhich and it was great.
There is a fairly new Chinese restaurant that was pretty good also Wei Taai. It is on the right on the way to Captain dons from town.
The cadushy brewery is a great place to pay a lot for liquor and get some good stories, but we needed some surface time. It is actually pretty cool to visit.
Pure silliness, the donkey farm, I honesty have never laughed so hard. 7 bucks a head to get in and 3 dollars for carrots.
Divi Flamingo casino - small, has blackjack and roulette and tons of one arm bandits. Didn't gamble enough to tell what its vibe was (dad won 60 bucks, I lost 120). I didn't want to go, but he was a non-diver so I took one for the team.
