We would like an apartment or cottage without steps and easy access to the water. Does anyone have experience at the Aqua Viva Apartments? First time Bonair visitors planning two weeks in February.

Hi Bonnie and welcome to the board.

Off hand I can't think of a place that is very wheelchair accessible, at least as far as the water is concerned. Buddy Dive, Lions Dive, Sand Dollar and Capt Don's(not sure if CD's has kitchens) have ground level condo's so the living quarters are not a problem. There are others I am sure. The water access is more complicated. The shore in the resort areas tends to be 10 to 20 ft above the water level so steps are a necessity. I have not been there but I understand the the Plaza has a good beach area, it's beach may be wheelchair accessible. I don't know how the rooms are. An email to them may shed some light.

The island "beaches" are also a problem. They are mostly rough iron stone and coral rubble, only a couple are sand beaches. The iron stone and coral beaches are very rough and I would not think a wheelchair would do well on them.

I hope this helps some. Maybe someone else has some better suggestions.

I know the Divi Flamingo has ground floor studios with kitchens. Do you plan on snorkeling or diving?

Bonnie, I suggest a keyword search for wheelchair.

Aqua Viva Apartments is not on the water. They use the beach through Eden Beach Resort which is across the street and down a dirt road.

We stayed at the Aqua Viva last year, and that might work. The only problem that might you might have is once you get near the ocean - to get in the ocean you'd have to go though a beach, and I'm not sure how that would work with a wheel chair.

Darryl

(Message edited by dvleemin on January 2, 2004)

Bonnie, The Dive Inn has wheelchair access (to the apartments and water). We were there last October and there was a couple from Germany who needed the wheelchair access, so I know it worked OK for them. We are also going to be there Feb 7 to 23 and are again staying at the Dive Inn. They're great, so check out they're website: www.diveinnbonaire.com and look at their pictures.

Divi Flamingo has w/c access with kitchenettes in their studio/timeshare area and also has a 'drive-on' dive boat. Their dive piers have steps that I have seen being used by w/c people.

as Linnea says, Divi does have w/c access to both timehare (kitchettes) and regular rooms. They host numerous w/c diving groups throughout the year...the dive staff is well equipped and knowledgeable to provide assistance where necessary