my wife and I are contemplating a trip in Sept/04 my wife really wants a more traditional "Beach" that is sand from what I see in pics alot of bonaire is more rocky/graveley are there any places where they have a sandy beach for her to park it when she just wants to kick back with a cocktail and a good book? and if there is such a place where the snorkeling is good at the same place that would be even better.

thanks
Eric

Head South to Vista Blue or Atlantis. Sandy beaches and fairly easy walk in to the water. Even better are the kite surfers, you can just sit there and watch em go !!!

Eric, you can "park" your wife at 18-th palm as well, this is the beach at plaza...

Divi Flamingo, Plaza Resort and Harbour Village are all resorts (very small ones) with small, intimate beaches great for sunbathing and reading and for swimming and wading and snorkeling, too. Good luck! Carole

PS Otherwise, Aruba has the seven miles of sandy beach......not for me tho! LOL.

Eric,
If you are into a luxury resort go for Harbour Village, if not go for the Plaza. The beach at the Divi is not very large and only place for a beach chair is on a pier. We snorkeled right off the Plaza resort. It is not very easy to get into the water along the beach though as far as swimming goes. You may wish to use the ladder where the snorkelers go in. Good Luck.

lighthouse beach resort has a nice beach for its residents. email me if you would like more information. our place is available in september.

Cindy,

Divi has numerous beach chairs on their sandy beach...nice beach

Hi Eric.

I am also a sandy beach person. I like (in order of preference...) Vista Blue (or the fisherman's hut to the right of it more specifically), Sorobon Beach (where the windsurf competition took place), Old Blue, and Boca Cocolishi. Snorkeling good at all but Boca Cocolishi but there the view and aura is so good it doesn't matter. As mentioned above, the resorts (Plaza, Divi, Harbour Village) have good beaches also....only they're a little too manicured....if your wife is looking for the natural real deal without the added crowd....she could try the ones I've mentioned. I'm sure there are more....but old habits die hard :-)

Eric, are you diving? If so, you may want to consider the Plaza, or Harbour Village (Divi does have a "small" beach). Sorobon is on the other side of the island and you are a little farther away from the dive sites on the other side of the island....just something to consider

We stayed at the Plaza last two years, but noticed that for a small fee people from anywhere else could use the beach, pool, etc. for a price per day - was it $10 or $20? I don't remember. Maybe someone else knows?

Carl

Having the beach, cocktails,and snorkeling right outside your room sounds like it would make your wife happier than "parking" herself at a dive sight in the hot sun. Harbour Village is the perfect small resort that usually is not crowded that time of year. The beach has palm trees and a restaurant/bar. Most people who don't stay there don't know that the snorkeling is excellent, especially very shallow (2-4') with a very easy entry.There are millions of baby fish, sometimes an octopus, squid,and flounder, etc. They have a new wreck just off the beach in 50'. Their dive shop is very convenient and friendly.

Nadine,

Don't you own one of the units at Harbour Village?

Jake

Can anyone confirm Carl's comments about getting access to the Plaza's pool for $10-$20? This may solve a particular need in our group as well! Plaza is also one of the resorts with a casino right?

The Plaza casino is temporarily closed. I don't know if you can pay a daily fee to use the pool.

We stopped off on a cruise last year and for a few dollars had use of the beach and were told that we could use the pool.
We also had lunch at the restaurant.Of all the fantastic caribbean islands we experienced Bonaire was our favourite as it was so unspoilt.
We return for a two week holiday next Wednesday.I am EXCITED

Sorry I forgot to say that it was the Plaza. The sight of the Iguanas roaming around the resort was amazing, also to see the beautiful fish swimming in the marina. I hadn't been at all well but the tranquility certainly helped me so we are returning for a second helping!

Hello Janice! Patty and I will be arriving next
Wednesday as well, Air Jamaica Newark to MB to
Bon. Probably see you... Stayed at the Plaza the
last two years but will do the Divi to save some
$$ and use the Plaza facilities one or two days.

Carl

Carl,

Not sure which facilities you will be using at Plaza but Divi has a beach, pools, exercise room, casino, diving, snorkeling and sunbathing piers

Hi Gregg -

Just the convenience of the beach/reef for
snorkeling. :-)

Carl

Carl,

You will be quite pleased at the Divi...beach/reef etc... your rooms will be closer to the water...Please let us know after your visit how the facilities compared

Carl, the "show" begins at the water's edge at the Divi....you can even catch the show while standing in two inches of water! I'm not joking, either. I think you and Patty will enjoy the Divi...at least I hope you will. If you do want a small fridge, you should ask for it before you get there. Email or call them ahead of time to see if they can arrange it before you check in. There is a small daily fee for it, but it will come in handy as you will be in the hotel side and not the timeshare side of the place. They don't have that many of them to go around, so it would be best to request it now. Divi is intimate and casual and convenient. I think you will be pleased.

It was so great to meet Patty at work the other day....small world folks...we discovered we work for the same employer and didn't even know it. Leave it to the good old BT board to "introduce" us way up here in New Jersey. Simply amazing.

I can't wait to hear your report on #7 Kaya Turkesa....looks like pure luxury. June will be here for me and Joe soon.

Have a great time next week and think of all of us freezing our buns off in the Northeast! Yeh sure! LOL. Ayo. Carole