Hey all, i am considering moving down there to take over the timeshare dept. at Flamingo Divi. What can you tell me about the Divi, the island, the former leaders of the Flamingo? I need golf, is there golf?

No real golf in Bonaire; maybe consider an occasional flight to Aruba.

Hi Rick & welcome to BT..
We first stayed at Divi in '85 and naturally it's gone through several changes over the years.

If your a golf fanatic, Bonaire may not be the island for you. Here's the website of the only course on the island.. Maybe it's time to learn how to dive?

http://www.piedraso.com/

Rick, just ask Sara Matera, the GM at the Divi. She's straightforward, and also loves golf. IMO, she's probably one of the best bosses here. However, if you "need" golf, you're probably going to be restless (unless your income/lifestyle affords you to fly to Curacao and Aruba, where there are big, green, traditional golf courses). If you can transfer your golf obsession (since your user name is Golfpro...) over to diving, snorkeling, windsurfing or kitesurfing...you'll be ok.

On a more practical note, also investigate your health insurance situation (I doubt local insurers will cover you due to your age, and even the national health care-if you'd be eligible-will exclude pre-existing conditions).

Just ask yourself what you're willing to live with, and without.

Visit and look around before deciding. If you are a person that needs a lot of man-made amenities rather than nature-made surroundings, or a lot of civilization, bureaucracy or complexity to keep you going this is not it. We love it because it has all the opposites, IMHO...but that's just us. Oh yeah, if you can't communicate with reef inhabitants, well I don't know..

No offense to you but I am a Divi timeshare owner since 1986 and am a bit alarmed that they would employ someone who knows absolutely nothing about Bonaire to run the time share division. Things happen in a very different manner than any where else!

And Rick wouldn't it be in your best interest to visit the island, get a feel for it YOURSELF rather than ask others? Your opinion is the only one that counts when it's a major decision like this.

Sorry, I just find this a bit odd.

Hey La Femme Nikita-

I have not taken the position yet and it has not been offered to me really, either, yet. I am planning on coming down in the next week or so to check everything out. the challenge for Divi in hiring a sales manager there is to find someone who knows the island as well as can find a place to live. at the present time, there are no rentals for homes until the end of April. I am looking at buying a million dollar home there, so a place for me is not an issue, but is for many others.

The reason I posted this is to get information, like what I have learned from you. I appreciate you taking the time to help get me up to speed and if you live there, maybe we can have a cup of coffee? I think I can learn much from you. Thanks again, rick

My god, RosAnne.....can't we leave you alone for ten minutes? We turn our backs on you for just a second, and it's "Hello Sailor!"......










Just teasing, Rick....

Rick, not sure if you are being facetious or not but maybe I mis-understood. It came across as if you had never been to Bonaire and knew very little about it. But since you already have a plan to buy a home you must have been there before, no?

I do not live on island but over the years have spent a lot of time there and have seen many changes with Divi and the island overall. I had thought I wanted to live there at one time but after spending an extended holiday there, decided against it. I grew up in a city...I felt trapped and claustrophobic after a month! You may want to give it a trial run before making such a big decision.

Good luck in whatever you decide, if you have specific questions you can e-mail me through this board.

CB!!! You are killing me here! LMAO!!

Rick, she's just a crazy cat lady...just like cat woman in the Batman movies! hahahahaha

Yeah, but with a few more litters under my belt....

Well, i'm not a sailor but I do like cats! I also like movies, please tell me there is a movie theater there?

There is. The movies are pretty up to date. They sell beer.....







Oh, Rick, I'm just a tourist too, although a fairly frequent one.

Somebody local out there?

what about red bulls?

i don't drink, but with some of the movies i have seen lately, a beer might be good

No Rick, the movie theater closed a few years ago. It did sell beer (almost every place here sells beer, even my KFC). Cable TV is pretty good, and there is a DVD rental store (and a bowling alley!). Red bull is available, as are rental homes/apartments/condos, etc. (not sure what you mean about no homes avail till April...?). Have you been here before?

Rick, I think you'll soon find that you won't need the Red Bulls on Bonaire-slowing down, not speeding up is the goal on island. And as I think you can already tell you won't find more wonderful, bright and friendly people anywhere else.. That goes a loooog way.

Haven't bowled in years but would be fun again. Ruth, I have talked to a bunch of realtors who all tell me in unison that no rentals available there, especially in winter. we have 3 dogs, all awesome- George, yellow lag; grace, part artic wolf; and hoover, an english cream golden retriever. they are our kids and will be with us. so, need a home with a yard and according to all i have talked to, nothing available, so i will be forced to buy. i am excited about meeting everyone, am pretty tired of the wasteland of colorado, mostly california transplants.

Well, my Duh on the theater, Ruth.


Don't forget channel 131...

Hey Rick, If your gong to buy that million

dollar home..I'll rent a room from ya!


Good luck

with your relocation decision. Keep us posted!

Rick, they're probably talking about vacation rentals, and not about resident rentals (which many realtors don't represent because the houses/apts are owned by locals & rented out at way lower rates than vacay ones; the owners of these homes simply don't want to contract with a realtor because of the commission). I'm talking about the rentals posted on the walls at the grocery stores, listed in the local ad paper "4-Sale" etc., though you may be right that you might not find a landlord willing to accept 3 dogs. Bonaire Sunshine Homes is a realtor that does rep long-term resident style rentals-check them out when you're here.

Also, you'll have some homework to do to see what airline will transport your dogs to Bonaire. A lot of people struggle with this, so if you find out who will transport 3 dogs at the same time, please post back & let us know.

More homework--make sure you have the necessary papers in order for immigration here, for a residency permit. Divi may do this for you, but you'll still need to get your papers ready-like birth certificate (a recent one w/raised stamp), letter of good conduct from your local police, letter from bank certifying you have sufficient funds available (I forget the current amount required), certificate of good health from your doctor, etc. If you have the necessary papers with you when you visit, Divi may be able to start the process for you.

Good luck!

Ruth, when did the movie theatre close? I went to a movie maybe four years ago? Oh, and that's when they sold chilled red wine...lol...

Rick, good luck if you get the job...

I think it closed about 2-3 years ago.

Hey Ruth, i will contact Sunshine Homes and thanks for the other info. I guess we could swim from aruba, yes?

Sure, it's only 100 miles from Aruba.

Rick, We bought our Divi timeshare in '86 when they were first built. They looked very different then (there wasn't even a pool)! They've gone through a rollercoaster of times/changes but have always kept the laid-back convenience of ocean front diving and lounging. We obviously love it there and I hope you will too. We've just booked our two weeks in May so hope to see you then. Although we've dreamed of living there, it truly would be challenging to be there long term unless you are very adaptable to different living conditions.

My dad was a fanatic golfer and I never could persuade him to come to Bonaire, because of the lack of golf. We're fanatic divers, so, no issues

No Movies, but excellent desserts... stop in.

Even if you do not work on BON and are not applying for a work permit, this web site lists all documents necessary for the residence permit, which you definitely need if you want to live on BON longer than 90 days and here is the most important fact: you have to be off the island while the papers get processed on BON ( 6 to 10 weeks). We hired a local person to take care of it.
http://www.bonaireeconomy.org/

Hey Chris, thanks for the info. i guess i could just go to aruba and play golf for the 6-10 wks and see every movie that is playing to get caught up! And, YucatanPat, i will stop in for the dessert.