Nice place to stay in Bonaire

[AnaBrooks]

Hey all. I know this has been discussed at length but ..

My boyfriend and I are going to Bonaire end of Sept-beg of Oct and I'm not sure where we should stay. We would like somewhere that is pretty, and maybe the tiniest bit swanky. We will be doing a lot of diving, but will want to do other things as well such as windsurf, tool around the island, sit by the pool, go to local bars and restaurants, shopping, etc. We also like to meet people... Where do you think we should stay? I like how Bamboo Bali looks, but think I want somewhere that is oceanfront. What about Den Laman? We would also consider Buddy Dine. Not sure where else... I would love some feedback.

 

[drrich2]

Will this be a one week stay, or longer? Have you priced a 7 day stay with 6 days of unlimited shore diving with free nitrox upgrade & breakfast for 2, trunk rental and breakfast buffet included, at Buddy Dive Resort?

I ask because that, plus your roundtrip airfare, plus around $80 to refill the tank of gas before leaving, the cost of groceries & eating out, and & cost of other activities, will give you a rough idea of 'the bill.'

Now, we don't know your budget. How much more are you willing to pay than the above, and for what amenities?

The main place I hear of described as more upscale, and that bills itself as a luxury hotel, is Harbor Village Beach Club Bonaire. Doing a quick 7 day stay end of Sept./start of Oct., I got over $2,400 for the pair of you. But when I click on the Club Dive special instead, it's a bit over $3,000. You get:

PACKAGE FEATURES

• Airport transfers to/from Harbour Village
• Beautifully appointed courtyard accommodations
• Full American Breakfast Daily
• 6 Boat dives per person and unlimited shore diving. Boat dives include tanks, weights, belts and chilled juices
• Unlimited use of the fitness center, tennis courts, kayaks and sailboats.

An airy and beautifully appointed room with access to the property's courtyards and peaceful pool area.
One king size bed. Ground or first floor.
Amenities:
LCD Flat Screen TV with Cable Channels iLuv ipod docking station Luxury memory-foam mattress toppers Complimentary Wireless Internet Telephone Central Air Conditioning Coffee maker with complimentary coffee Mini Fridge In-Room safe Iron & Ironing board Hair Dryer Bath Robes

And it's got a sandy beach, which isn't common in Bonaire.

But I don't see 'truck rental' listed. Be mindful renting a dive truck for the week can easily add another $500 to your package price.

I'm guessing the prices are for the 2 adults, not per person.

So I got to Buddy Dive, check low season 2014 package with truck rental and 6 boat dives, 1 bedroom (not the cheapest accommodation option), and get around $1,200 per person, so $2,400.

You should take a closer look online at both offerings and see what items I'm missing or misunderstood, but this might help get your started. Of the above, does what Harbor Village offers justify the higher price vs. Buddy Dive to you?

Richard.

 

[t4e]

Hey all. I know this has been discussed at length but ..

My boyfriend and I are going to Bonaire end of Sept-beg of Oct and I'm not sure where we should stay. We would like somewhere that is pretty, and maybe the tiniest bit swanky. We will be doing a lot of diving, but will want to do other things as well such as windsurf, tool around the island, sit by the pool, go to local bars and restaurants, shopping, etc. We also like to meet people... Where do you think we should stay? I like how Bamboo Bali looks, but think I want somewhere that is oceanfront. What about Den Laman? We would also consider Buddy Dine. Not sure where else... I would love some feedback.

i guarantee you will not be disappointed, we weren't, Dive Vacation - Bamboo Bali Bonaire Resort, Kralendijk Traveller Reviews - TripAdvisor

Bamboo Bali Bonaire boutique resort

one of the more luxury cottages is $900pp
includes


Pickup truck, double cabin, 4 doors, 5 seats, airconditioning, power steering, manual transmission.
Incl. CDW insurance & all taxes.
Free transfer from-to the airport.
1 Cottage (based on double occupancy).
Incl all taxes and goverment room tax.
6 days 24 hour unlimited shorediving with air or nitrox from Wannadive Divers:
incl. weights, belt and tanks.
4 fill stations on the island.

 

[diver 85]

We had a good stay @ Buddy's last August......

 

[drrich2]

I forgot to add the Buddy's includes unlimited shore diving, not just 6 boat dives, and I suspect nitrox will be a free upgrade. I'm used to unlimited shore diving almost being a given in Bonaire, and just realized I didn't specify it for Buddy's.

When I was at Buddy's again last May, the main thing I noticed was that easy ladder access to a good house reef led to me doing a few night dives over the course of the week, after supper when I was tired and didn't want to roam the island, but on the fence regarding whether to call it a day. Those extra dives added some value. And got me stung by jellyfish one night, but hey, it's 'part of the memory' as a friend of mine might say.

As for doing other things, drive through Washington-Slagbaai Park the long route one day, and people kite board around the Atlantis site on the west coast, at wind surf in Lac Bay out of Jibe City on the east coast. A visit to the Donkey Sanctuary is cool for animal lovers. You can drive up to Seru Largu, which has a Christian monument and a great view over the island for panorama photos. You could take some supplies to ECHO, which serves the parrots of Bonaire.

Richard.

 

[diverjen]

I think it depends on what you want...

I would look at Heaven Can Wait at Bamboo Bali, its pretty pricey but with a lot of perks. The pool is small there though but you probably won't care since you have a private garden, two headed outdoor rain shower and your own grill and jacuzzi. We stayed in the less luxe Honeymoon cottage there this May/June and its a nice place. Bamboo Bali is more of a romantic place and less of a meet people type accommodation.

Apartments Bridanda also looks nice with a great price and has on site bar and fabulous pool so that might be an option.

If you need ocean front I would suggest looking at some of the options at Harbour Village as drrich suggests - it looks like have some pretty fabulous options and I think its one of the few places you can get an actual bath tub.

Nothing against Buddy Dive, but I think the other two sound way more on par with how you are describing your needs for something swanky, but it would definitely have the "meeting people" thing going as it seems pretty social and to have great "dive vibe". Maybe they have a suite that would suit the swanky part of your needs?

The downside I see to all of these are that they aren't walking distance to downtown. If you want downtown though, I am not sure, maybe someone else can throw in a suggestion. I am not sure if Divi or Plaza might have a luxury suite? Those might be better for walking access to restaurants/bars and meeting people at your accommodations.

I am interested to hear what others, say too.... For our return trip next Spring we are looking at Bamboo Bali, Apartments Bridanda, or Den Laman as they all seem to offer great value for nice accommodations near our favorite dive sites. We however, are really into the dive, dive, eat, dive, dive, eat, sleep, repeat, thing when we are there.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I wouldn't consider Buddy Dive especially "pretty" or even "the tiniest bit swanky" unless you're judging these things against other dive resorts in Bonaire and not against resorts elsewhere. Bonaire is a pretty laid-back place. It's not, say, Aruba. We spent our honeymoon at Buddy's, but we were okay with the idea that it's not some kind of luxurious resort. It's clean, oceanfront, has good diving facilities, and a nice bar area for happy hour, but by and large, people are there to dive rather than sit around the pool and be served drinks with umbrellas. From what I've seen of Bonaire accommodations, "swanky" just isn't very Bonaire. I suspect there may be smaller places (Bamboo Bali?) I haven't seen, but that's been my observation of the most frequently named places.

 

[drrich2]

Lorenzoid:

Good points. I hope I didn't come across as implying that Buddy Dive Resort was swanky. I put it out there to establish a pretty good value for money mainstream recreational diver resort with a good package deal & some varied housing options showing package prices, in an oceanfront resort with a good house reef. My intention was that other options, perhaps more swanky in the case of Harbor Village, could then be compared against that, so divers could decide what the price tag on swank was, and whether it was worth it to them to pay it.

Nothing unique to Bonaire. Considering a dive trip to Jupiter, Florida, with some non-diving family in tow, I was weighing Jupiter Beach Resort vs. Jupiter Waterfront Inn, for a difference of maybe $500. Spent awhile on Trip Advisor reading reviews and mulling over value for money. So I'm looking at the latter, which is cheaper, but somebody else with the same info. might go the other way.

 

[diversteve]

Swanky is Harbour Village as mentioned. It's really the nicest resort on Bonaire - small villas/rooms lead directly to the beach. Priced accordingly. By far the nicest beach on Bonaire. And the marina there so there's usually something going on. They have their own dedicated dive operator also just for their guests use.

There's no pool at Den Laman. There's also not much of a beach at Den Laman if that's of interest. The area left of the dock is shared with Sand Dollar Condos as that's all they've got to use as well.



I agree with the previous two posters about Buddy Dive - slightly swanky is not a word I'd use to describe it - or Habitat. They're both old, well-used, well maintained dive resorts. On the flipside Buddy's Bar is probably one of the best places to meet divers now that City Cafe closed. The other probably being Karel's downtown. Of course on Bonaire everyone not a local is a diver - or with one.

The other Buddy affiliated properties - Caribbbean Club to the north or Belmar to the south are nicer than Buddy's And I believe cost more. Both are more condos/villas than rooms.

Caribbean Club is slightly out of town north and is hilltop - about a block walk to the water. There's a pool bar there but most food would be at least a short drive back to the dive resort area near Buddy's etc.

Belmar has a nice pool. Kind of a tight property (parking etc.) if they're full. Food is a 5min. drive to town from there. The nearest bar is probably Coconut Crash at the Plaza also. The resort fronts the ironshore so it's really oceanfront, just about 20' above the water. There's steps down to the dive docks - one of which Buddy's brings a boat down to as needed. We stay there, I liked it but it's quiet.

The Divi might be another option. It's just south of town so you can walk to restaurants. They're just rooms though and not even slightly swanky - except the view is right off the ironshore out to sea. They do have a pool and a small beach (sometimes) I believe it gets washed out periodically during storms and is replaced. The only casino is at the Divi also. It can be done as a full-AI if you buy the optional meal plan.

The Plaza farther south of town has a pool, a nice beach, several bars/restaurants on-site. It's also a larger resort than any of the others except maybe Buddy's. Coconut Crash is beach front, has volleyball and they do a weekly BBQ worth going to even if you don't stay there. I think it's Tuesday night. Plaza now offers the only true AI program on Bonaire - most of the others bundle room/truck/diving and sometimes breakfast.

Just south of there Waterlands Village is a swankier villa complex. It's lagoon-front - not oceanfront though. Probably about the same level of "swank" as Bamboo Bali. No restaurant there. When they say "beachfront" - that's kind of a stretch. They mean there's some sand along the lagoon in some areas. You wouldn't catch me swimming in it.

The southern resorts get you closer to Lac Bay and Atlantis where most of the wind/kite surfing is done. Trade off is there's really no food options south of the airport. Or bars.

 

[t4e]

I think it depends on what you want...

I would look at Heaven Can Wait at Bamboo Bali, its pretty pricey but with a lot of perks. The pool is small there though but you probably won't care since you have a private garden, two headed outdoor rain shower and your own grill and jacuzzi. We stayed in the less luxe Honeymoon cottage there this May/June and its a nice place. Bamboo Bali is more of a romantic place and less of a meet people type accommodation.

that's the one we stayed in and OMG, you also have your own jacuzzi and backyard with the canopy bed
the outdoor shower is unbelievable lol, could have easily just leaved in the back