I'm thrilled to be heading to Bonaire for a couple weeks over the new year!
I was wondering if anyone has stayed at the Tropical Inn, how'd you like it?
I'm pretty sure that I'll be diving with Photo Tours ( my agent is keeping me posted) and I'm travelling on my own. I was hoping to hook up with some prospective Dive Buddies who wouldn't mind a third wheel (that DOESN'T squeak!).

Julie
I was just killing time at work (end of friday) and came across your first post that got no responses. Last year was our first trip to Bonaire and, trust me, you'll love it. I'm not sure where Tropical Inn is but the "old Inn" restaurant (i got that from their website) is, I think, kind of across the street from Bonaire Plaza, which houses Toucan Divers. If you can't find a buddy through Bonaire Talk or through Photo Tours, they have a board at Toucan that you can put your name and contact info up and other solos can contact you. I was solo last spring and hooked up with a couple of good buddies through the Toucan board. You might also want to book some boat dives (even though you can get to almost every boat sight except Klein Bonaire from shore) ....a good way to meet fellow divers and maybe find a buddy or buddyette (friday is "make up a new word" day at work)

there...now you have a response to your first post

enjoy
joe

Thank you Thank You Thank You Joe!

I was starting to wonder if I'd placed this post in the wrong BT category!( I probably did, but you folks were just too nice to rap my fingers

I'll definitely check out the Toucan diver board for potential buddies/buddiettes(love that word!) for some shore diving. Thanks for the advice... and helping out a rookie. Julie

Your all the way to 4 posts already.....you seem to have developed the BT fever. If your not hooked up with Photo Tours, you might want to check out Toucan for diving too. It's in the same proximate area as Photo, I dove with them last year and I'll probably use them again in Mid January when we return to Bonaire. Top flight operation.

enjoy
joe

I'm definitely hooked on BT! Been reading all about the trip reports, and the photo galleries are amazing. It's a great way to get a feel for Bonaire.Been going to the webcam site every morning for a "fix".
My dive package is already booked with Photo Tours, as they're the company my dive travel agent deals with. Had to get everything organized before the Christmas crunch at the restaurant. I opted for an agent as this is my first time to Bonaire, but, by the sound of things, I'll be returning again, and again. Next trip, I'll take matters into my own hands.

57 days and counting...

Julie

Maybe there is a need for a North American pastry chef on Bonaire...... :–) Have fun.

There are some nice ladies (and others) in and around Toronto who love Bonaire. Maybe time for a BT cell or a Mini BT North....

I like the sound of BT North!
BUT I LOVE the idea of being a pastry chef on Bonaire.... it'd be a ton of fun! My two passions all in one place! AHHHHHH the sweet life

Maybe I should have said. ' BT Canada' or 'BT Ontario' since all of us here in NA are BT North!!!

You might start with Fionna Rattray here on BT; she lives a bit west of T and is one of the good people I alluded to above. Search on her name in 'Keyword Search' for contact. And check the 'New England Mini Meet' thread for the do today here. Have fun, both places.

Another thought for buddies: Tuesday night BT dinner at Gibi's. More of the good people from BT.

I moved this thread here from Trip Reports, as it didn't belong there.

And yes, Tropical Inn is next to the Old Inn and run by the owners of the Old Inn. It's brand new, so people who have experienced staying there will be few at this point.

Jake

Thank you Jake for moving my post to the accommodations board. Hopefully someone will try out the Tropical Inn and let me know what they thought. Otherwise... I'll be posting my own review for them when I get back!

Glen, to get in touch with Fiona, should I go to the community chat board and start a thread? Or should I just send her an email?

Julie

My thought was go direct since you are both so close. As you undoubtedly know, click on her name in a message header after a Keyword search on her name as author to get to her profile: her email address is there. She is friendly so I suspect she won't mind my boldness in making the suggestion. Worst she is likely to do is not answer (can't imagine that, though) or send me a bomb. She chimes in here occasionally so she may be lurking aboot. :–)

Julie,
It sounds like you are going to have a great time in Bonaire. We will be heading back to Bonaire Jan 10-21. We love to dive with Photo Tours. They also have aboard to put your name on for Buddy searching. I am sure if you email them or go to their web site and leave a message about needing a dive buddy they will hook you up! Bas (or any of the other Dive masters) give GREAT dive tours. Have a Great 1st time visit....you will be hooked on Bonaire diving!
Yanagirl

Glen,
I sent an email off to Fiona,hopefully she won't kick yer butt for the suggestion.

Julie

Didn't!!! All is still well. Get together there in T's Chinatown.

Glen,
can't thank you enough for hooking me up with Fiona. She's a veritable wealth of information about Bon and a wonderful person. It's funny that you should suggest Chinatown...I was just there last night for some late night birthday celebrating after we left the bar. Talk about deja vous.......

You are most welcome.

Had some good food there in the days of Underwater Canada.

Better get Fiona to come in before winter sets in out there in the wilds. As I have told her, the image that immediately came to my mind from her description of Elora was the scenes in Dr. Shivago when he and Lara go to the house out on the steps in the dead of winter. That house was encased in ice-- inside and out. She has dogs but I am not sure about a sled.... Maybe that is why she stocks good single malt....

Enjoy.