Loved it! Read on for the details!

TRIP THERE:
We flew Air Jamaica and were late leaving New York City due to snow storm, so we missed the connection out of Montego Bay. Jamaica Air put all 22 of us up overnight at an all-inclusive resort. Boy, do I ever NOT want to be in an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica again! Their beach was about 3 feet wide and the ocean was roped off after about 3 yards. You couldn't do anything in that water but paddle. The beach had noisy, smelly snack bars, and a loud bingo game was being broadcast over the microphone near the (tiny) pool. Almost everyone we saw was very, very fat. There was nothing to do but smoke, drink, and eat. We were very happy to get out of there the next morning. It seems very sad to me that there are so many people who like this sort of thing.

We got to Bonaire the next day, Yay!!!

HOTEL: We stayed at the Divi Flamingo and loved it. Walking onto that property was just so nice. It is quiet!!! All you hear is the sound of wind and waves. The landscaping is beautiful. We stayed in a Deluxe, right on the water. You can stand on the balcony, look down, and see fish right there in the water.

CAR: We used total Car Rental. The van was fine, worked great, and the people were nice. One of the TRC staff kindly drove ahead of us to show us where the Divi was (I hadn't driven a stick in 9 years and was freaking out at the thought of tryiing to find a hotel and also think about how to drive!)

One thing that made me nervous was that I didn't understand the road signs.

FOOD: We loved the food every place we ate. Service was s--l---o---w everywhere. I suggest people take a book to all meals. Worked for us. One thing I did not like was the deafening roar of motorcycles and cars on the main streets where most of the restaurants were located. We learned quickly to avoid them altogether and just eat at restaurants away from those roads. (Has Bonaire ever heard of the MUFFLER?)

We esp. enjoyed eating at Lost Penguin on a Sunday afternoon when there was very little traffic. This may well be the best food for the most reasonable price on the island, and they are really nice there. Unfortunately, when we went back during the week the No Muffler Brigade was out on the streets again.

We also recommend Richard's, a great waterside location and the most immensely fantastic "MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKE" in the world. Call first to make sure they're serving it that night, and then GO!!!!

SNORKELING: It was really beautiful. We esp. enjoyed the trip on the Woodwind. Klein Bonaire has the best of the best snorkeling, and when we go again we will be sure to take a water taxi and spend more time there.

1000 Steps was great--saw two turtles and a lot of fish.

Weber's Joy was great.

Pink Beach was a lot of fun too. We snorkeled right over some divers, passing through their columns of bubbles--magic!

At all these places we saw endless fields of enchanted-forest coral and swirling clouds of little fish swimming up from the invisible depths of the deep blue drop-offs and clusters of candy-colored fish haunting the undersides of coral in the shallower areas. Clarity was amazing. Water seemed quite cold to me, so I bought a full length 3-mil; would have been even happier with a 5 mil, but Mike was fine in just his swimsuit.

TRIP PLANNING: Larry at World Dive did the package for us---I think he got us a very fair price, and he was a pleasure to work with.

SUNSETS: Gorgeous.

The one downside to Bonaire is that you cannot sit on the beach and read a book in between snorkeling dips. Well, you can sit on the coral rubble, but who would want to? Nevertheless, the underwater scenery is truly beautiful and well worth a trip to the island.

Hi Mermaid.

What a great trip report !!! I usually don't toot my horn when someone compliments one of my desserts served by different restaurants....but with that description of the molten chocolate cake, I had to say "THANK YOU" !!!

Glad you liked it :-)

Annette

We'll have to try some of those restaurants there May 22. Your report is making me even more excited about getting back to Bonaire.

Wow, Annette, YOU are the creator of Molten Chocolate??!!! Oh my, please tell me who you are--do you live on Bonaire and make desserts for several restaurants? I have to tell you this was one of the VERY best desserts I've had in my life, and that includes the desserts I had in Paris.

I'm so glad you posted, it is very pleasant to be able to thank the cook "in person"!

We went back a second night just for dessert, but they were out of Molten. The waitress said that everyone was asking for it.

Hi Mermaid,

You just have to be in a different frame of mind to enjoy an all-inclusive on Jamaica. When my husband and I vacation we enjoy Bonaire and places like it where we rent a private villa and get away from it all.

When we take my husband's two children and our grandson we go to Wyndham Rose Hall in Montego Bay. They have an awesome water park and it is so easy for the kids to be able to get their drinks whenever they want. It is also nice to not have to leave the resort every meal.

Once our grandson is older (he is 2 now) we plan on taking them to Bonaire but right now it would be really hard for us to enjoy Bonaire and keep him entertained too.

It is all a matter of what works for a particular vacation. To condemn all people that go to all-inclusives is an unfair generalization.

Belinda

Hi Mermaid, Glad you had such a great trip!!! My wife and I love Bonaire. Actually, we've been to a couple of the nicer "all-inclusives" on Jamaica that weren't so bad. Actually right nice. And VERY relaxing. But we've decided that Bonaire is just MUCH nicer all around. True you have to have a bit more self-directed fun, but worth it. And the reefs are just so much more healthy.

Dear Miss Annette, could you please tell us some restaurants where your desserts are served? Do you have a shop? (I know we're not supposed to be commercial here but I know there's TONS of folks out there who like a good baked good!)

Hi Mermaid and Jamie :-)

I serve a few different restaurants, Richards, Pasa Bon, Rum Runners, Flamingo Beach, Lost Penguin, etc etc..... I also serve visitors but only with whole items...The Last Bite Bakery is advertised in the Bonaire Reporter...just call for ordering :-)

I'm looking for a shop and have a few leads but have to get exactly the right spot :-) LOCATION - LOCATION - LOCATION.

Anyway, thanks for making my very hard work worth while :-)

PS..I also do savory items (crawfish pie, lasagna, etc) and private chef work :-)

Jake - I hope this is all ok to say???

It's okay to say :-)

Jake (also a fan of Annette's Molten Chocolate Cake!)

Hi Belinda,

No condemnation was intended. The resort where they put us seemed to have a tremendous amount of drinking, smoking, and gambling going on---that seemed sad to me, but to each his own. Sounds like you and some other posters have found much nicer places to stay than the one where we were!

Mermaid, I can relate to the "all inclusive" experience. Last year AJ had to put us up in MB overnite at the Holiday Inn....lots of kids running all over, loud "live" band music blasting all night long, blackouts on and off all night, etc. Not Bonaire by any means. We could not wait to get out of there.....

Looking forward to tasting some of your treats in June, Annette!

Great report, Mermaid...we love the Divi, too. Can't wait to be back down there in a few weeks. It is so close to heaven.....CArole

Mermaid, I can relate to the "all inclusive" experience. Last year AJ had to put us up in MB overnite at one of the all inclusive "resorts"....lots of kids running all over, loud "live" band music blasting all night long, blackouts on and off all night, etc. Not Bonaire by any means. We could not wait to get out of there.....

Looking forward to tasting some of your treats in June, Annette!

Great report, Mermaid...we love the Divi, too. Can't wait to be back down there in a few weeks. It is so close to heaven.....CArole

Hi Mermaid,

Thanks for your nice response but I really didn't take your comments personally.

I hope those people that enjoy that sort of thing keep enjoying it so that they don't all start going to Bonaire :-)

One visit and I've become protective!

Belinda