We just got back from Bonaire and cannot believe what an awesome island it is. We read the board 6 weeks before going and had a lot of info togeather but had no idea that it would capture us the way it did. I thought before going that this PBD was just talk but I now know that it is truly a serious side affect of going to Bonaire! We loved all the nature, the snorkeling couldn't have been any better, the island was so well kept and clean. And yes we are planning a return trip as we still have places to snorkel and things we just didn't get to do because of lack of time. Planning to write a trip report as soon as I come out of my PBD some....Do I sound like a loon? We are even considering purchasing a place there...Yep we are hooked.

This is coming from a person who loves island with long sandy beaches!

Oh, dear, Oh, dear, Angela! Are you ever hooked, or what!? Bonaire does have her way with us, doesn't she? We ended up buying a unit at Divi on our first trip and look forward to buying some sort of home there, someday, too. That is our dream. So glad to hear you had a wonderful time. The snorkeling on Bonaire is so spectacular....I spend 8 hours and more in the water at one clip....just mezmirizing (sp?), indeed. Now you have the fun of planning your next trip...be careful...PBD can really set in harder after you have made your "new" plans and then have to sit back and "wait" until the time arrives. But, that's why we are all here...to help each other through the "hard" times in between trips! Can't wait to see your trip report. Welcome to the world of Bonaire Addicts. Carole

Who would have ever guessed that one would need a support group after returning from a vacation! Oh my gosh what has Bonaire done to us? Michael said there was a magic in the air and I think he was right. Someone else posted that you just have to experience it and boy were they right. I am just in shock that my husband has PBD too because he just isn't the type at all! I love it! He is actually as interested as me in retiring there. Not like him either!

We ate at Divi the first night, excellent place, Chibi Chibi I think (without looking at my journal). Carole how often do you all go to Bonaire? Is Divi a time share? We would like a place we have no limits to the amount of time we can spend there.

Angela, Divi is a combination hotel and time-share. What they refer to as studio's are the time-share units that they rent out when not occupied by the owner of that week. The studios have two queen beds, a queen sofa bed, a couch, chair, and coffee table inside, and a table, 4 chairs, and lounge chair outside in a screened porch. They also have a kitchenette. I haven't been there since June '01, but they were starting to refurbish the studios and enlarge the Casino. They had just completed the hotel side, front desk, and the Chibi-chibi area. The studios are on the town (north) side of the property.

I wasn't as quick to buy a time-share as Carole, I did it on my second visit (same year - two months later).

So what is the length of time a year you get to use your unit? Is it a fixed amount of time?

Angela, we would love to visit Bonaire twice a year, but we seem to be averaging two weeks in the Spring lately. We have planned fall trips that just were not meant to be....we love it at the Divi. It is not a "fancy" resort by any means, but it has a small beach with outrageous snorkeling right there in two inches of water. Of course it gets deeper and the Calabas Reef is right there, too, but you only have to stick your face into the water at Divi, literally, and the "show" begins for you! Two pools, Chibi Chibi, Dive shop, mini mart, massage parlor, etc, etc. They do have contracts which enable folks to use multiple weeks, but I don't know what your desires are. We own a timeshare at the Aruba Divi Village, as well (since the eighties) but no longer go there due to the overdevelopment and commercialism so we use both Divi weeks we own at one time in Bonaire. They have flexible weeks, too. We have other weeks we can "add on" to our existing weeks, but we cannot take the time from work at this point, to stay longer than two weeks at a time. One week on Bonaire is a "tease", for sure...you need to spend 10 days minimum to really enjoy her and her people. Welcome aboard! Carole

You pick your week, but you can change it to a different week within your price range for a smallish fee. They have silver, gold and platinum periods. At the time silver was all I could afford, but I can move around during the silver times if I want. And if you skip a year you can bank the week, which is what I do. I like to go other places one year and then spend two weeks on Bonaire the next. I plan on being there for Martin's wedding next June. Check out www.diviresorts.com for Divi info. Divi has other properties on other islands and is a member of REI. I think that several other properties on Bonaire also have timeshares.

Hi Angela,

As a soon to be returning Bonaire lover, I can only humbly suggest that if you think the snorkeling is good, you owe it to yourselves to get scuba certified and REALLY see why the island is so great. I dive the local cold Chicago lakes and quarries for most of the spring & summer (and whenever our water isn't solid) and found heaven on earth, and under the water, on Bonaire last November. I can't wait to be back there this November.

Scuba is much more available to a wider cross-section of folks thanks to recent equipemnt improvements. I certified 4 years ago at age 49 and have been kicking myself for not taking the "plunge" sooner. But the last 102 dives have been pure magic. And the style of diving that Bonaire offers is so easy that everyone can truly enjoy it without fear.

Just a thunk on a chilly Chicago Tuesday night.

I was at the the Divi timeshare in July and they haven't made any improvements from what I can see. Of course it was my first time there, but several things were broken including the lock on the front door, a kitchen faucet that was about to come loose, and there was no TV in the timeshares. I gotta have my TV late at night! The A/C also didn't work that well.

I spent one night in the timeshare and then asked to be moved over to the hotel part and I was soooo much happier with that! Loved the Divi then...they really need to work on the timeshares, they were also dark and dingy.

I think you meant RCI Linnea. And the other time share through them is at the Lion's Dive. I'm going to check them out when I go back end of November.

some of the timeshares have been remodeled. Mercy was stuck with one of those that was in dire need. They are trying to finish them as soon as possible and it looks like if you do want to stay at divi, you have to say no time share that is not updated or you want the hotel side.

Angela, I am glad to hear that you loved Bonaire. She is truely magical!!! I know as soon as I get home I start trying to find a way to get there again!!! It truely helps with the PBD to already have another trip booked!
I loved the Divi too and I find the snorkeling around the cement dock incredible!!! Another plus with the Divi is that Renee sails the Woodwind from there and we love her sailing and snorkeling excursions!! Did you sail with her while you were there? If you didn't, I hope it is on your list for the next time!!

We stayed at the Divi in August 2002. and the time share unit our friend was in was very nice! AC worked great, and had a TV, screened in back porch. We were in the Delux Ocean View room and it was very new and beautiful.

So you caught the "Bonaire Bug" like the rest of us on this board! Bon Bini!! Just one visit does it.
After our first visit in '86 we came back and bought our first week at Divi, then bought a second because a week just wasn't enough time for us there.Now I like to have at least 3 weeks. Over the years we have stayed at other places too when we've come other then our weeks.
This little place has a way of getting to your heart. I would come again and take a serious look at the different opions available.Renting places is an idea too.Stay at differnt ones to find out which appeals to your tasts. Divi is improving things and if you wish you can trade for other places they own on other islands.
We love having our own little piece of paridise we can come back to.

I agree Darlene...loved just the one trip I took with Renee on the Woodwind! That lady knows her stuff. I loved it when the little fishes follow her as she feeds them bread out of her fanny pack while snorkeling! We're going to have fun going together with Renee this time when we meet up in Dec!

I'm thinking Dec 8 now for the party...really can't do it any later...we'll talk. I may start gathering a list of BTalkers that will be there then....

Our PBD has just gotten worse. We got our pics back yesterday... close to 900 slides, on even more stunning than the other. We'll do our best to make a selection, scan them and put them on our site as soon as possible.

Oh boy, I have it..a way to make money...I plant myself in BON (Am a licensed therapist) and conduct groups on how to avoid PBD, dealing with it, working online for a support network..wow, got to go plan...and of COURSE I would have to re locate there..

Hmm...

I regret I will probably not be able to accept third party insurance but barter will be good (KK, bagels,..you know, the Michael/Jake kind)..

Oh this group is too funny!

I too lived and loved white sandy beaches...If Montserrat (only one white sandy beach) was still an option I would live there but ..) Bonaire has seduced me and I am forever in love..

Annie

Marc - Can't wait to see those pictures.

Ann - I must agree with you. Bonaire has seduced me as well.

Debbie

I own timeshares at Divi and just returned this weekend from a week at Divi...our group had two rooms...This is the first week I have ever stayed at Divi when everything was OK...I was extremely delighted and surprised...a.c. was good, toilet did work, appliances all worked. Our only disappointment is that Divi now installed t.v.'s and telephones in the rooms...we go to Bonaire to get away from that...I am sure our rates will go up next year.

Gregg...glad to hear your update on the Divi (timeshare side). I guess you can just unplug the phone and the tv and then they will not intrude on one's lifestyle on Bonaire. They really have been working hard on the timeshare side. What rooms were you in? We own 720 but prefer to stay in stay in a different unit due to parking lot noise, etc near 720.....As of last May 2002 the "other unit" we stay in was the only room which was "cable ready" and just needed the tv. We like to have a tv there for whenever we do wish to watch some tv in the evening, etc.

Do you know if they had the "extras" (both the tv and the phones) hooked up in ALL of the timeshare units? How about the glass sliding doors separating the room from the porch areas?? The only unit that had the solid wall of glass sliding doors was up on the second floor, room 738, I believe it was, as of last May/June 2002....have they installed any more? I think they have to inport all of the glass doors, etc, and it is taking a while to get all of the necessary pieces of glass onto the island and actaully installed by Divi. Glad you had a greata trip! We had a new a/c unit and appliances in our unit, too. The pool was much nicer as was the whole casino and outside pool area, too. It is taking time, but things are definitely improving on the timeshare side of the Divi! Ayo. CArole

Wow, 900 slides! I thought 438 pictures was a lot(not including the 75 digi pics I haven't looked at yet). How long were you there to take that many slides? We were there 10 days but that includes 2 travel days so really only 8 real days.
And I agree once we looked at them we really missed Bonaire even more.

Yep, Annie, love that thought process. You know it just may work!

You guys are all great and this board is my new addiction!

Ang

Carole, I was in one of the timeshares at the Divi this past July and I must have had one that wasn't renovated yet. No TV, no sliding glass doors, several things broken and not a great A/C. I moved over to the hotel part and liked it much better. Obviously, many of their timeshares are finished, I just didn't get to enjoy one.

How come I never hear of anyone staying in, or buying a time share at the Lion's Dive??

Hey Annie, I think that's a great idea, go for it girl...I'll be your first patient!

Carol:
We were there the first two weeks of August...We own 718 and a visiting friend had 719 for the two weeks...I got all four weeks using the Divi Diversity Weeks offer, so it didn't take any time off the contract. (P.S. I recommend this program for any Divi owners---a great deal if it fits your schedule.)
The only room with the sliding glass doors was still # 738 (right above us). The idea is for glass door and sidelights on the street side, and double sliding doors with glass sidelights on the porch side. Frits said that he was hoping to make a big push for installation during October-November, since he was planning some vacancies throughout the timeshare side at that time...of course, I always factor "island time" into these equations. The work will also include replacing the bathroom window, also on the street side. The "big picture" also includes redoing the tile work in the bathroom and on floors as needed, replacing all plumbing fixtures, and (if I recall correctly) removing or replacing the small counter opposite the kitchen sink. I did not hear anything about redoing the built in furniture. However, our unit did have new sleep sofa (I think that is done throughout), good A/C, ceiling fan also, new mattresses and other soft goods as did #719. Cable has been run for TV in all rooms, and the TVs are in some; and the phones are installed...we could do without either, thank you very much. What the hell, we love the place anyway---always have.
Also newly completed and inaugurated while we were there is the Calabas Restaurant, refurbished and opened for breakfast buffet. The old Calabas kitchen has been demolished and that whole area opposite the Calabas and the beach is opened up. They plan to put a recreation area in there. Also, the old rooms at the far back (street side) of that area were under reconstruction for the installation of a fitness center/exercise facility. Frits seems to be working hard (with what he has or can get at his disposal) to get things done. We return in January for our usual two weeks, so we shall see. Oh, also almost completed is the promenade along the waterfront from the back gate into town---makes that walk all the more enjoyable. Looks quite nice, too.

As for photos (changing subjects), I can sympathize with the numbers mentioned in earlier posts. Since switching to a housed digital, I put 75 shots on a 128 mb card each dive (nearly). Take that times 20-25 dives, and I don't know when I'll find time to review them all. Fortunately (?), most of them are sufficiently lousy that I don't have to agonize over whether or not to trash them: delete, delete, delete! :>)

Bob, thanks for the great update on the Divi progress. Sounds like things are rolling along nicely. That will be great if they can put in fitness and exercise rooms, too! Air conditioned, of course! LOL. As you said, Island time takes its own course, so we must be (and are) patient. Just in the few years we have been owners we can see a huge improvement. We love the Divi and always will. Now, if Joe and I could just find a way to reside in a unit permanently.....heh, heh, heh.... Carole

PS digital photography is sooo much fun, but can be dangerous in the hands of camera addicts like us! I feel your pain...of having to sort thru all of those shots...you poor fella...NOT! cb

It's great to hear that Divi is keeping it's promises. Coming along "island time"!