Hello everyone,
My wife and I are planning our first two week trip to Bonaire in September. We are avid divers and like to snorkel. We are looking for a nice and clean Apartment/Studio with kitchen close to (or at the) shore/beach. We would like to get one of those stay, drive and dive packages. We have done lots of reading and researching about accommodation and found many places that sound pretty good (e.g. Windsock, Sun Oceanfront, Divers Paradise, Lions Dive, Ocean View Villas, etc.). And that is the problem...there are just to many choices. I am looking for your opinion and what you liked and disliked about the place where you stayed. The more info the better...
Thanks

Gary -

I'm sure you'll get some individual responses with good feeback.

You can get a head start by using the "keyword search" feature at the bottom of this page. Just type in the place(s) you've heard about and/or want to know more about. You soon will have a good feel for the experiences of others on the board.

What a thrill: first trip to Bonaire. Bon bini na Bonaire!

Charles Poteet
Dallas

Some people might say we're partial, we own a two bedroom unit there, but you might also want to check out Sand Dollar Condo resort. They have very complete studio, one, two and three bedroom units all with complete kitchens.

Everything you need is right on the grounds. Bari reef, the house reef, has been rated best fish life in the Caribbean.

We have been going there since 1995 and love the place. Please feel free to e-mail us if you have any questions.

We loved the Lion's Dive. Great dive shop on site, small pool and man made beach, spacious condos-and a small operation-only 31 villas. Diving right off the dock...although there's a lot of that in Bonaire. If you need more specific info, feel free to e-mail me.

You can't go wrong in Bonaire. It is a WONDERFUL place.

Gary, you didn't mention your price range. Some accommodations are less expensive than others. We have stayed at the Zale's condo at Sand$, and it was wonderful. Last time I stayed a couple of nights at Diver's Paradise, and it was a nice clean one bedroom, nice livingroom and dining table, and pretty well stocked kitchen. It isn't on the water, but right across from the Richter's. They use Buddy's as a dive op and they will deliver tanks to your door!

Jim and Kathi McPeak can speak for the Dive Inn. It is over by the Divi. We hung out with them one evening after dinner, and did a dive at the reef right there another day. It is right on the water (street between you and the water). It looked like a great place and they had nothing but wonderful things to say about it...so again, it may depend on your price range.

Another vote for the Dive Inn here.

I stayed the last week of June and LOVED it. The kitchen doesn't have an oven just two stove elements...but I didn't come to Bonaire to bake a cake so I was okay!

They also have a large gas barbeque for the guests to share if you prefer out door grilling.

Very large bathroom, walking distance to town, friendly staff and proximity to excellent snorkeling will keep me coming back. See my trip report for more details about the sights and sounds of the Dive Inn here: http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/1022/97598.html?1057065117

Lisa in Montreal

Ditto for the Dive Inn. We stayed there last October and it was everything we needed. I like basic living, no crowds, has it's own house reef, very clean and the people are great. The dive shop is right next door and Babs will arrange a rental vehicle for you. I'm not into spending hundreds of dollars on a room that I'm not going to be in very much. We are booked again at the Dive Inn in Feb/04. It does certainly depend on your budget but the Dive Inn is a good bang for your buck. Check out their website www.diveinnbonaire.com

Trying to get a mental picture of the Dive Inn's location..Is it next to the Divi? I know we seen the place, just can't remember where exactly it is.

Almost eggsactly, there is a house between Divi and Dive Inn on the shore road to Kralendijk. You can hear and see their parrots when walking into town from Divi. And there are also many good restaurants within a short walking distance from either Divi or Dive Inn.

Lisa and Lorraine (and others), thank you for the information, particularly regarding Dive Inn. We've been unsuccessful in receiving a response from anyone at Dive Inn over the past two weeks. We've attempted contact two ways: 1) submitted a couple different reservation request web forms at www.diveinnbonaire.com and 2) sent an e-mail message to info@diveinnbonaire.com. In both methods, we explicitly requested a response and received no "bounced" replies so we are reasonably certain these messages were properly delivered. Perhaps there's a problem with the form on the web site and their e-mail (may be one in the same). Any suggestions before we go the phone route? Thank you in advance.

Hi Brent,

Maybe they are having internet problems. I had no trouble communicating with Mathilde from the Dive Inn via email.

I used a travel agent to make the reservation though. I wouldn't hesitate to call them, everyone is very nice there.

Lisa in Montreal

Thanks Lisa. I'll call them.