Did the research on where to stay, can't decide.

[prosdog]

Need help on this. My first trip to Bonaire in late August, going with my 19 year old son. I've narrowed it down to 4 places, Buddy, Capt Don, Coral Paradise and Divi. Price is an object but from what I'm seeing, all will be within a few hundred bucks of each other. But, cheaper is better.

I did some research on this. I'm leaning towards Divi since I have the 19 year old son and I figure a bigger resort will have more things for him to do and people to meet his own age when not diving. I also like the fact that the dive shop, tanks and house reef are a few steps from the resort. Studio rooms have kitchens so we can save some money by eating in. Drawbacks are internet and nitrox are not free. Don't plan on doing any boat dives, but haven't ruled it out completely.

I'd appreciate input from those that have stayed in some of these places. Is there anything I'm not considering or overlooking?

Thanks.

 

[tkaelin]

I have been to Bonaire four times, a family of 4 divers, two teens. Last year it was just my wife and 19 yr old daughter. We have stayed at CP each time diving at Capt Dons. I have been diving once at the Divi but never have stayed. Same with Buddys. Been diving on the reef, eaten at their restaurant (which has since closed but may have reopened or reopening soon). If this is primarily a dive trip, I would think any of your 4 choices would be fine. I am partial to CP and the diving through Capt Dons. The folks who own CP are right on site and they are wonderful. Although a small place, everytime we have been there we have met nice people and typically every late afternoon folks returning from a day of diving hang out by the pool for a swim, drinks and snacks. Very informal and fine if you don't hang out but the point is there are folks around and opportunities for interaction if you choose. The restaurants and bars at Buddys and Capt Dons are within walking distance and provide more options for meals, drinks, places to interact. We find after a day of diving everyone is pretty well wiped out by the time we have had dinner and the most we are up for is reading, a little tv or just hanging out. I would think as long as your son has a tv, wifi and a laptop, ipad or whatever 19 yr olds have to stay connected he should be fine at any of the 4 places. My preference though would be CP. Good luck and have fun.

 

[diversteve]

One advantage the Divi has is it's walking distance to downtown. City Cafe has live music some nights if he's looking for something to do. And Divi has the barefoot casino. Plus there's a larger choice of other meal options nearby. BobbeJan's downtown is takeout BBQ and excellent.

IDK how it compares pricewise but the Plaza Resort has a full AI option now also. It's even bigger than the Divi. Might be more for him to do there, there's a large pool, much larger beach than Divi's, beach bar and quite often volleyball. Their Tuesday night BBQ is worth going to even if you don't stay there, lots of food, lots of people, live music. Sunday night they have a Beach Bash with a DJ. I understand it's pretty popular.

Between Buddy and Habitat, I'd pick Buddy's. I can't exactly say why. Maybe I liked the way the resort is laid out more. Also you can't beat the convenience of the drive-thru tank pickup.

For reference, I've been to all that I named in this post, dove at 2/4 but stayed at none of them.

 

[Lorenzoid]

From what I know of these, you can't go wrong with any of them. If you're going to have a rental truck, everything is just a few minutes' drive from any of these. I like Buddy's house reef, but as far as I know you can dive other resorts' house reefs regardless of where you are staying.

 

[jimw]

My preference is Habitat and a few boat dives to Klein on Habitat boats--or Coral Paradise which is literally feet away from the Habitat diveshop. We have been diving on the Buddy house reef but never stayed there and dove the Divi house reef when staying next door. Our preference as to house reefs--Habitat and Cliff which is to the north. North is also the CP and Hamlet Oasis and a newer Dive Friends shop and entry for the Cliff divesite. We were just at Habitat and looked around a little. CP has always looked good, but now is painted a putrid color and there is a new building going up that hems the place in. The area is worse for it............

There are certainly crappy rooms at Capt Don's Habitat. The newest rooms are oceanfront Junior Suites and they look good. My next choice for 2 people; would be a 1 br bungalow--there are only 2 of these and they are close behind the dive shop---not oceanview. The oceanview rooms over by the pool are the oldest and most in need of new beds and bathrooms--have only a tiny fridge, etc. The other rooms mentioned have a kitchen............

Shorediving the house reef at Habitat couldn't be easier, air tanks are available in front of the lockers--no steps up and down anymore, but nitrox is still upstairs. Nitrox does cost either $60. or $120/week. The lockers are at dock level, so on the boats or stairs into the drink..........I have made about 15-20 Bonaire trips since 1986, staying at Habitat about 3/4ths of the trips.

 

[gbf]

Of no interest to an old scudder like me, of course, but for a 19 year old...

some years ago we stayed at the plaza on our first trip. As it turned out the plaza was also where the KLM flight crews would lay over. Their sunbathing habits are very "European".

 

[oly5050user]

Buddy Dive...at Buddy's rental truck included in dive package so no waiting at the airport to get one....has kitchen,but reality is it is cheaper to eat out than to spend time shopping and cooking.breakfast included and free nitrox....diving there cannot be any easier ..book at the right time and get 1/2 off at the restaurant ..
at Divi no rental truck included no free nitrox..at Habitat no rental truck included..I have stayed at Flamingo Beach resort(divi) many times in the past, Habitat,sand Dollar,Plaza and only consider Buddy dive now as "home"...

 

[handben]

Need help on this. My first trip to Bonaire in late August, going with my 19 year old son. I've narrowed it down to 4 places, Buddy, Capt Don, Coral Paradise and Divi. Price is an object but from what I'm seeing, all will be within a few hundred bucks of each other. But, cheaper is better.

I did some research on this. I'm leaning towards Divi since I have the 19 year old son and I figure a bigger resort will have more things for him to do and people to meet his own age when not diving. I also like the fact that the dive shop, tanks and house reef are a few steps from the resort. Studio rooms have kitchens so we can save some money by eating in. Drawbacks are internet and nitrox are not free. Don't plan on doing any boat dives, but haven't ruled it out completely.

I'd appreciate input from those that have stayed in some of these places. Is there anything I'm not considering or overlooking?

Thanks.

I think it depends somewhat on the needs/likes of your son. I've been traveling with my teenagers to Bonaire for years and we typically rent a condo (next time actually a big house). If he is really into the diving then the big resort amenities probably won't be that important to him. If you are looking for a more lively social scene for him, I'd consider Eden Beach. They have a newly renovated Spice Beach Club that is basically a bar adjacent to beach and pool. It is frequented more by Europeans than Americans - at least by what I could tell from my limited sample. I used Wannadive on a previous trip down and had a couple of drinks during the week at their bar. It seems to be a pretty lively social scene for the 20-30 year old crowd.

 

[robint]

I don't think you are going to find too many kids his age to hang out with anywhere on Bonaire. It just really doesn't have that kind of resorts, with activities for young people.. Sorry, just my opinion.
As far as recommendations... we love Buddy's... FREE nitrox, drive thru tank pickup station, easy entry dock, FREE buffet breakfast, truck rental included in package. It meets our needs perfectly.

We always go down to grocery store the first day, pick up lunch supplies like bread, sliced meat and cheese, sodas, water, fruit, adult bev for after dive day. Take with you in your suitcase a couple of boxes of granola bars for between dive snacks. We also always take a pkg of gatoraid powder, great for after dives while driving back to resort.

 

[wwguy]

...reality is it is cheaper to eat out than to spend time shopping and cooking.

Huh?

Somebody should explain this to the locals. They've probably been wasting money for years buying groceries at the store! /sarcasm