By LvSun (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 11:01 am: |
Where to stay in Bonaire? Main requirement: great (not just good)snorkeling right off the beach/shore in front of the place we stay. Main thing we are interested in going for is the snorkeling.
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By DARLENE ELLIS (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2196) on Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 11:17 am: |
Snorkeling is good in Bonaire no matter which resort you stay at. I am a fan of the waterfront rooms at the Divi Flamingo. The resort is a ten minute walk to town and the snorkeling there is awesome! They have a cement pier that tons of fish life in it. There is a little sunken boat just to the right of the pier in about 15 feet of water that is really neat too as well as under there southern most dock. The Woodwind also sails from the Divi which is an added convenience.
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By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4993) on Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 12:41 pm: |
Welcome to BT. I have to agree with Darlene, the Divi would be your best bet. You are going to find a world of difference between Aruba (nice beaches but pod people, traffic and spring breakers) and Bonaire (off the beaten track, laid back, amazing underwater).
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By LvSun (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 7:50 pm: |
Thank you. I will check these out.
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By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4999) on Wednesday, September 6, 2006 - 7:48 am: |
The bed of the truck is the key, it's a place to throw wet things and the gate is great to sit on will getting ready. The trucks on Bonaire are all the extended cab style small trucks. So you can still carry 4 adults if needed.
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By Susan (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1714) on Wednesday, September 6, 2006 - 7:55 am: |
Don't get your hubby's hopes up too much - those trucks aren't exactly "monster" - think small 4-door sedan with a short bed.
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By C Poteet (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #402) on Wednesday, September 6, 2006 - 12:49 pm: |
LvSun -
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By Kent Gerber (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #143) on Wednesday, September 6, 2006 - 8:35 pm: |
Lvsun, We have been to Aruba 11 times and last Feb. we tried Bonaire for the first time. We stayed at the Divi in a ocean front room. Its not fancy but its nice and clean. The snorkling is great. My wife is not a snorkler but she snorkled everyday with me. She said it was so calm that she loved it. At Aruba it is always rough and she gets sea sick. We never rented a vehical. We did the woodwind one day and twice Renee picked us up to go snorkling, and 4 nights we did a night snorkle with Dee or Renee. That was the high light of the trip. Trust me. Everyday I would snorkle in front of the Divi and I would snorkle down to the plaza and back. Its probably a mile swim each way because I go clear down to the inlet where the snorkling is the best. Every night we walked into town for supper. We got the breakfast deal at the Divi. Everything was great. I vote DIVI!!!!! Kent
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By LvSun (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Wednesday, September 6, 2006 - 10:01 pm: |
Boy have we flip flopped in what we were looking for. Thank you for your posts - the posts have been a huge factor in changing our minds.
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By David Johnson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #204) on Wednesday, September 6, 2006 - 10:06 pm: |
Given your criteria, I would also consider the Carib Inn -- at ten units it is small. It is next to the Divi, on the water and with a small pool. It is in a very nice spot, has a great house reef and is not fancy resort. No restaurant on site (Divi and Richards are close, town is further -- probably a 15 or 20 minute walk). Most rooms have a kitchen (all but #4 and #5 -- they have fridge, toaster and micro).
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By Josie (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1228) on Wednesday, September 6, 2006 - 11:30 pm: |
The Carib Inn has a tiny beach, but the people there are wonderful!!
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By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5007) on Thursday, September 7, 2006 - 7:48 am: |
The Grand Suite Ocean View rooms at the Plaza are to die for. Just please make sure you get a second floor room. These are just one room, but it's a huge room. It actually kind of funny, it's a long walk from the bed to the dresser. Then again that is the Plaza, it's a long walk to everything. Then again it's a beautiful walk.
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By Margarite and Jim Hix (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2165) on Thursday, September 7, 2006 - 9:03 am: |
LVSUN, I don't know if you have been to Bonaire before, but you might want to consider this. If you are looking at an all in one room situation, the airco will cool the entire room. If the accommodations are a bedroom and a living area the airco will, most likely, only be in the bedroom. Just a heads up.
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By Andy & Dave Bartlett (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #594) on Sunday, September 10, 2006 - 11:04 pm: |
Check out BelMar Apts, they are small, 22 units, 1-2-3 bedrooms with either a balcony or patio and all unit are right on the water, not great but nice snorkeling and diving. But you can snorkel/dive all of the resorts, just check in at the dive shop. And with a truck you can snorkel a lot of places, drive down the road and when you see a yellow painted rock there is a dive/snorkel site that is within easy reach of shore. Have a good time. Andy
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By ysal (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #10) on Thursday, September 14, 2006 - 11:31 am: |
Sand Dollar. If you are looking for a QUIET place that meets all your other requirements, I recommend Sand Dollar. They don't have a beach side pool, but their huge grounds along the water front have lounge chairs. The Bari Reef (fantastic for snorkeling too, saw octopus almost every time we went out) is RIGHT in front of the condo. All rooms have an ocean view, a porch(s) a full kitchen. Their grounds aren't as fancy as some of the other places, but rooms are very nice and very quiet/private.
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By Bill T (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - 10:19 am: |
I'll add another vote to Sand Dollar. We just returned from there and could not have asked for a better time. Pleasant grounds to walk on, shore and ladder access to the water, convenient to town (literally a 5 minute drive), and the dive shop and office staff can help you arrange most anything you want to do. Enjoy!
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