When I proposed to my fiancee, her #1 request was a honeymoon in Bonaire. We both love to snorkel so we already know that Bonaire is the place for that. I want to make this a special trip and I have heard that Harbour Village is the place for that. Money (within reason) is not a limitation. Just want a great, clean room, nice beach front, and a clean bathroom (LOLOL). The HV staff said they could do it. Does anyone have an experience or opinion on this? Thanks!!!!

Personally I would head towards Plaza Resort, http://www.plazaresortbonaire.com. Super beach, great accomodation and service. Harbour Village was closed for quite some time and I am not sure to what extend it has been "re-opened".

Harbour Village has been refurbished and reopened as a luxury resort, we have heard very good things from someone who stayed there last month.

It is also well away from the airport, if you need more please let me know.

Brian, anything you can tell me about Harbour Village would be appreciated. Also, I am finding out that dining out is the way to go to avoid the overpriced meals at the hotel. I hear that a car is also a good idea because it's at least a mile from town plus we want to go to Lac Bay as well to windsurf (HA...try).

We stayed at the Harbour Village two months ago.. September 2003. WOW! What a first class place. We have stayed at the Four Seasons in Chicago, Maui, and The Big Island in Hawaii, as well as many other lovely places. The Harbour Village is right at the top! Our room was GORGEOUS! THE BATHROOM WAS TO DIE FOR!!
The staff couldn't have been more helpful. Our only complaint was that we can't LIVE THERE!! With three kids to put thru school, we are saving our pennies for them.. and our dollars to return to the Harbour Village. Ok, that's an exaggeration.. but only slightly.. we are saving for their college! Winter and Spring breaks are made for diving and staying at the Harbour Village!! We can't wait to return.

We stayed at the Harbour Village two months ago.. September 2003. WOW! What a first class place. We have stayed at the Four Seasons in Chicago, Maui, and The Big Island in Hawaii, as well as many other lovely places. The Harbour Village is right at the top! Our room was GORGEOUS! THE BATHROOM WAS TO DIE FOR!!
The staff couldn't have been more helpful. Our only complaint was that we can't LIVE THERE!! With three kids to put thru school, we are saving our pennies for them.. and our dollars to return to the Harbour Village. Ok, that's an exaggeration.. but only slightly.. we are saving for their college! Winter and Spring breaks are made for diving and staying at the Harbour Village!! We can't wait to return.

AS Far as dining goes, The food there was wonderful. THE BEST FOOD ON THE ISLAND IS AT THE LIGHTHOUSE NEXT DOOR! A Culinary delight! The Tuna Ceviche is a state secret. We had to have it every other day!! Some people say that Bonaire is great.. the food ok., They obviously haven't been to the Lighthouse! Go there your first night.. so you can return again and again!!!

Thanks Sandy! I was looking for something along those lines before I shelled out a few thousand for the place. I have to admit, I am a bathroom freak. If the bathroom is a mess, I am turned off. This sounds like our place. We just booked the plane tickets!

If you can afford it, HV is the most beautiful and luxurious place to stay, IMHO. When are you coming?

April 11-18

I stayed ten days at the Harbour Village in early September. It is as described above, an exceptional place. But, if you snorkel rather than dive this may not be the place. The house reef is on the other side of the Harbour. You get there by following a cable on the sea bottom (40feet) that runs across the opening to the harbour, thus it requires diving. The area directly in front of the resort is not very good for diving or snorkeling - not much to see. If you are not going until April, I highly suggest you get certified before you go or get certified through the Harbour Village dive shop. FYI - IHMO, the food at harbour was not expensive in general and especially not for this level of a resort. But, for a honeymoon you will be hardpressed to find a better resort, quiet, imtimate, beautiful and 5star all the way.

please comment on the bottom of the beach?? Is it coral or sandy??

If you are renting a vehicle, your snorkeling is not limited to the Harbor Village. You have unlimited opportunities all along the beautiful shores of Bonaire. You can snorkel at Lac Bay also. Carol

P.S. As far as restaurants, try the Mona Lisa. The food is to die for. My husband and I have been visiting Bonaire for over 10 years now and Mona Lisa is still our absolute favorite.

The bottom of the beach around the Harbour Village is sandy with some small rocks/coral. When I entered the water I wore my booties and then put on my fins so I am not sure how rough the bottom is on barefeet. It is a nice beach with palm trees and lounge chairs. The hotel restaurant is also on the beach at one end of the hotel. As John & Carol stated, there is plenty of snorkeling opportunities on Bonaire. Harbour Village would be my first choice for a luxury vacation. I just wanted to point out their house reef is not directly in front of the hotel.

As far as romantic at HV, the chef will do a private romantic dinner on the beach with tiki torches, etc. It's wonderful.

Snorkeling in front of the resort is very good if you really look. Many tiny tiny juveniles, sea snakes, urchins (definately bring booties), we have seen squid, large octipus, and in July there was a star fish in 6' of water off the beach. There is also a new wreck directly off the beach that you can see when the water is clear. The afternoon dive boat will take snorkelers as it is always a shallow dive.

Sea snakes == Sharp tailed eels (most likely). We don't have sea snakes in Bonaire's waters, and the only snake on land is a 6-inch blind one that's more like a worm than a snake (never seen one first hand though).

Jake

Jake, that must be why I love Bonaire so much...I don't like snakes one bit...not one little bit!