My first post is an homage to the rest of you...now I get it! WOW.

Except for every room in our party experiencing a break-in or attempted break-in our last afternoon at the Plaza Resort, it was incredible. At the risk of boring the rest of you, I'll post a trip report later.

WOW.

Please! A trip report as soon as possible!! This sounds too exciting!!

Trip report sooner than later please!!!!! Wow on the break ins.....

John and Pat,

We're leaving for Bonaire on Saturday and would REALLY like to hear some specifics about the break-ins as well as read a full trip report if possible before we leave. I'll say please and even pretty please :-)

Belinda

Hi John and Pat,

Now you got my interest up! Can't wait for your report!

John, I'm sorry about your experience. We were at the Belmar until the 20th, heard nothing of this. If you would, please let folks know what happened, number one, to squelch rumors that may start, and two, to let those going down know what precautions they may need to take.

I look forward to your report, and am sorry about your experience...sounds like it didn't ruin the vacation though

Hi John & Pat,
Anticipation........
Can't wait for your report.......
We stayed at the Plaza late Feb. & had no problems nor heard of any problems. Anxious to read your report. What area of the Plaza was it (not that it matters) but was it close to the road? Where was security? So may ?????
Thanks,
Judy

Sorry for the delay. Here are the details on the break-ins and attempted break-ins. On the afternoon prior to checkout, each room was targeted. A couple of our group members left one day early - they were lightened of 2000 US. Agreed - that money should never have left the safe. But when that actual theft is seen in light of the next day, where every other room in our party bore evidence of attempted entry - cracked sliding glass door, trim around sliding door removed, and so forth - well, at that point, there's got to be either managerial incompetence, indifference, or (dare I say it) collusion.

Speaking of management - as the second group of attempts unfolded, the management couldn't have been more indifferent. They couldn't have cared less. They were slow to respond and utterly unhelpful.

As someone who's owned and operated hospitality properties, my best guess is that the landscaping crews are keeping an eye on guest behavior (or are being alerted by other staff members) and use that information to select rooms. All break-ins and attempts came from the garden side - even the 2nd floor rooms weren't exempt. A relatively simple task to keep an eye on things while a partner jimmies the doors. Most creative technique? removing the trim around the sliding glass door in hopes of inserting something to knock the security pin loose.

All in all, a disgrace to their property, a black eye for Bonaire, and a doggone shame (doggone wasn't my first choice, but, as a newbie, I'm not sure what sort of adjectives are permitted).

And with all that said, my son and I can't wait to come back - absolutely fabulous dive experiences, outstanding food, and cool critters (several sea horses, even one at the Plaza Resort shore dive reef; frog fish like they were common; tortugas to swim with; octopi to admire; barracudas galore; outstanding macro life; you know what I'm saying...). We're planning on making it a full family outing, so after I bore you with a couple of pictures, I'll wear you out seeking advice and counsel about where to stay...and for those who noted it, I haven't mentioned the food - but that's only because this post is already too long...great food!

Thanks for the opportunity to share.

Only 50 weeks until next time!

Peace,

John & Drew

John, maybe you should save your "best guess" for wheel of fortune. You are speculating and slandering all at once. How would you feel if I alleged your whole report was part of an insurance scam? It's usually never the thief you think it is.
As Jack Webb used to say, "Just the facts, sir"

Now, were the police informed, and a police report filed? Because the only thing needed for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing.

Sorta strong from an extraordinary talker - delared, professionally informed speculation (I said it was a guess and I have over a decade in hospitality services and have experience in eliminating internal hotel corruption) is none of the things you assert it to be. And go right ahead and allege that my report is part of a scam - that's the beauty of freely interacting free speech. Of course, were you to do so, I'd be happier if your background was in CID or insurance or something relevant...in any event, thanks for the bracing post.

Yes, reports were filed.

See y'all

John I never alleged your report was a scam,but you have been doling out the facts slowly, almost tantilizingly, and they come well wrapped in your speculations.
It always saddens me when a first posting here is a negative one. I'm very glad you enjoyed the island, and very sorry your pals were ripped off. I certainly want the perps found, but I think most working people are honest and deserve a presumption of innocence. Is it possible your previous experience has negatively affected your suspicions when you look at hotel staff?

Thanks for the doggone, it's a family friendly board here, and I suspect you have the vocabulary to avoid cursing. I'm glad you had a great dive vacation and hope you can take it all philosophically.

John: Pay no attention to the forum trolls you will encounter here. If you say anything at all negative about either Bonaire or any of the places on Bonaire the trolls will confront you. I learned this the hard way too!

Thank you for your report. Even your speculations are welcomed by anyone contemplating a first trip to Bonaire.

David
It seems to me that you are a little green to be calling people "trolls" on this website...Seb has been nothing short of great to me when I was asking questions before my first trip...AND, he makes a valid point that you should have more evidence than speculation before you accuse a resort and it's staff of theft...if you spent more time reading this forum, you would see that it is a group of friends, whether they (we) have met or not....I am personally offended that you, after what appears to be a couple of glances, can make so harsh a judgement on a person who has been on this website way longer than you...Seb...you go man!

Thanks Cam. This thread started off with a troll like post from John seeking attention.
David, I objected to John's slanderous guesswork referring to the hotel staff, which he buttresses by citing his vast experience in the hospitality business. John prefers to present noise rather than information; the fact that he filed a police report had to be dragged out of him. I suppose his avoidance of facts could be an occupational hazard.
Anybody who has two grand lying around their hotel room has more money than sense and is asking for trouble.

Hello All, this is a great web site for information and I am sorry to hear what went on at the Plaza. To me it does not matter who did this but that the Plaza knows and reacts quickly. They should lose business if this continues. There is no excuse for theft. With security in place I would hope they would take care of the theft quickly. I am going to check this resort out and I hope I do not become a victim of this type of trouble. I represent a large diving group in the midwest (USA) and this type of news has some of my diving friends asking questions about the Plaza and Bonaire in general.

Paul

I think that this is going way too far....First, Bonaire (in general) is a fantastic place....you only have to read all the other threads/comments to see that...sure bad things can happen, but that's true about all dive destinations....the only way to totally avoid that is to go on a liveaboard dive trip....if you are really THAT worried about the Plaza, there is a long list of other places to stay. This, to me, it appears that it was a rare occurrance (see other posts above and other threads) rather than a chronic crime spree....what "large diving group" do you represent anyway, and what does that have to do with anything (gasp, not a boycott!!!???...I can see it now...."Midwest Boycotts Bonaire, NYSE Reacts and Hits All-time Low....Chinese Invasion Imminent").....lighten up guys!!!!....Seb is right....what is the point of having two grand out in the open when you can take money out at any number of ATM's on the island (ever heard of Traveller's cheques?). Leave $2,000.00 sitting on your dashboard in Happyland, Anywhere and you'll come back to a smashed window (in Cozumel they'd take the car too). This thread started out great, and was valuable to new and old BT'ers as a reminder to be diligent (on ANY trip in ANY place), but them morphed into accusations and inuendo, and now we have the Midwest up in arms...I wouldn't want to be a maid at the Plaza right now I, for one, am counting the days to getting back there.

Harumph Harumph

John,

Sympathy for the breakins and lost money. No one on a vacation should have to go through that, whether the thieves get money, goods or nothing.

Speculate all you like - in my opinion, it is the resort's obligation to make sure events like this do not occur, whether they or their staff are involved or not. And sadly, they do have security 24 hours a day. And even worse, when they don't act quickly and with care and compassion, you just want the trip to be over.

Glad you found Bonaire to be as wonderful as most of the rest of us do, and will entertain thoughts of returning.

Carl

We posted a message a few months back after staying at the Plaza. There were breakins at that time. Even though our sliding glass door was "locked", the lock mechanism had been removed, and the door was useless as protection. Thank goodness my husband and I had the sense to check the entire room out. There were 3 break-ins the week we were there, and these were first hand from 3 couples who were on our dive boat for the week. If 3 couples on one boat had break ins, think how many others may have occured. And I must say, the management was apparantly VERY indifferent to their concerns. The management was also very indifferent to our concerns of a dirty room, and even the broken door complaint seemed to be an annoyance to them. We made them change our room completely. I think the Plaza most definately needs a wake up call.

We also wanted to add, on a positive note, that we really do LOVE Bonaire. We love the diving, the people. We had made 6 trips there, and want to go back again in the near future. We really doubt we will stay at the Plaza, though, unless there is a major overhaul of attitude, and less breakins. We love Toucan Dive, the staff is wonderful, and even if we stay elsewhere, we will dive with Toucan.

Just a question, because I've never stayed at the Plaza. I have lived in lots of houses with sliding glass doors. Is there a way to use a stick (broom handle, etc) to block the doors shut? If so, that might be a good step to take in the future. (We always have a stick to block our sliding glass doors when we are out of the house).

Again, with the double sliding glass design, I don't know if that's possible. But spending a buck or two on a broom handle or large dowel might give a lot of peace of mind.

Cathy, some places I've stayed at in Bonaire have a hole in the frame of both the sliding glass door and the outside frame. You slide a little 'pin' in the hole and the door cannot be moved. With the broom handle, one can still lift the door out of its frame, thereby bypassing the broom handle.