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Accommodations: Plaza or Sand Dollar?
Bonaire Talk: Accommodations: Archives: Archives 2000 to 2006: Archives - 2003-05-01 to 2004-02-12: Plaza or Sand Dollar?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charles Smith (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 2:28 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

My family and I are traveling to Bonaire on July 29th for 7 days. We are really excited about going, but are torn between The Sand Dollar and Plaza. Does anyone have any recommendations or suggestions? Is there anyone 18-25 traveling there from July 29th - August 6th? Thanks for your help!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By C. Kritagent (BonaireTalker - Post #95) on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 6:51 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Plaza has a beach and dive operation. Best boats and offer a 2-tank trip. There are also a hotel and as such offer many "personal" services you will not see at Sand Dollar. I would choose Plaza over Sand Dollar each and every time.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Alan & Joan Zale (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #291) on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 8:16 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Plaza and Sand Dollar are two different types of operation. You will be happy with either. Plaza is more like a typical American hotel. Sand Dollar is run like a hotel but each unit is an individual condo.

A big advantage at Sand Dollar is that each unit has a very complete kitchen so you can save a lot of money on food if you choose to eat in. You also have very big rooms.

Some people make a big deal about two tank boat dives. It's something we don't understand. You go to Bonaire for the shore diving anyway so we're not sure if a two tank boat dive should make a difference. Besides you save a lot of money! We have not done a boat dive in Bonaire since 1995. The house reef, Bari reef, at Sand Dollar is great.

Sand Dollar has a brand new dock and gear storage facility. It's a very nice operation.

Some people might think we're partial because we own a unit at Sand Dollar but it is truly a great place. If you have any questions please feel free to call us.

Have a wonderful trip

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Betty Wills (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 9:59 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hey, Charles -- we stayed at Sand Dollar this past January, and loved it!! It was like being at home, only with the Caribbean in our back yard. We stayed in a 2 bdrm condo, and the rooms were huge, very nicely furnished. The view of the Caribbean was excellent. We also appreciated having a complete kitchen, so when we felt like dining in and just kicking back to watch a movie, we could. Eating in saves you quite a bit of money, too. As for the diving -- you can't beat it!! The organization, REEF, ranked Bari reef as the number one reef in the Caribbean for species numbers and diversity, and it's right out your back door at the Sand Dollar. It was quite a treat to be able to walk a few feet to the dock, and have everything waiting for you, including your gear. If you just want to do a boat dive, you can do that, too. We enjoyed our stay so much that we're going back in October, and staying for two months!! A group of friends are coming down to join us in November. I can't imagine staying anywhere else. Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Be safe - have fun!!

Betty Wills
NAUI Instructor #39071

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7645) on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 10:08 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Betty, 2 months? Consider my green with envy! Have a great time!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Angela Strozier (BonaireTalker - Post #38) on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 9:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I agree with the Zales, you will be happy with either place. It really depends on what you are looking for. We enjoyed the Plaza last year because it had a beach. It is a large spread out resort type hotel. However we went by the Sand Dollar and they looked very nice and well kept. Again it just depends on what your personal prefferences are. We will return to the Plaza in September but it is what we want. Where ever you stay if it's on Bonaire it can't be all bad! Good luck.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By deborah prinsze (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Sunday, August 24, 2003 - 2:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post



(Message edited by dprinsze on August 24, 2003)

 


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