My husband and I are making our first trip to Bonaire next week. We're staying at the Sand Dollar and would love to hear from others who have stayed there. How is the view from the units? We understand that they are all oceanview - any suggestions on particular unit requests? (We have already requested 2nd floor.)
We have been to lots of other islands, but have only been to Provo in Turks and Caicos for the last 8-9 years and we're ready to check out a new place. We don't dive, but we snorkel; we love the beach, but realize that Bonaire isn't distinguished by white powdery beaches - any suggestions for some beach day trips? How about the casinos? Do they have crap tables? ..or is it just roulette, black jack and slots? Has anybody been fishing? Any suggestions as to charter boats for deep sea and/or reef fishing?
We're psyched and would love to hear from those of you who have really "done" the island.

Welcome to the board and enjoy Bonaire..I can't help much with the "other" island activities....we eat,dive and sleep which is why we like Bonaire. Most of the rooms at SD have some form of view of the ocean, there are some rooms on ground level that the view is not that good but then again, why are you in the room? There are a couple of beaches that have fair amount of sand, Pink Beach and Windsock are 2 that come to mind. If you don't have hard soled booties, I would highly suggest you consider a pair, the ironstone and coral rubble on most beaches is very rough on the feet.
There is a "regular" meeting every Tues evening at 6:30pm of the members of this board at a small local restaurant called Gibi's. It's always loads of fun and it's nice to put a face with the name. It's a "don't miss" for us. Gibi's has great food and is the kind of place you would miss otherwise.

Go to Sorobon on the east side and snorkle the bay...you will love it...it is a baby reef fish nursery. Park at the abondoned fisherman's shack before the nudist resort.

Go to Lac Cai on Sunday afternoon for dancing and after that follow the purple rocks to Jos' place in the outback for BBQ and bonfires.

And Gibi's on tuesday night....and bongoes on fiday nights.

There is a casino?

Elizbeth,
We are going for our 7th consecutive year in 39 days; have stayed at Sand$ each year. Go to this site, http://www.bonairelodging.com/zale/ to get pictures of a second floor, two bedroom unit. The bottom picture is the typical view toward the sea. We've been renting from the Zale's for several years and totally feel 'at home' in their unit. I have no idea if their unit is available next week, or if you want a two bedroom.
Find Jerry Ligon (naturalist at Bonaire Dive& Adventure) and do his fish ID and snorkel; it's a really great intro to the reef life of Bonaire.

Elizbeth:

Wally Eva have good ideas. Do as they do. Also, just take a drive around the island. Check out the salt ponds to the south. A couple of decent beaches are to the south near the Airport.

Ol Blue to the north is a great snorkeling spot with a decent beach. Thousand steps is great snorkeling, but a coral rubble beach (Still worth it).

Tour the park to the north. Take all day to do it, and take plenty of drinks. It is very hot and bouncy.

Try windsurfing at Lac Bay or just watch and have lunch at Jibe City. Great beach there.

Welcome to the BT board, Elizabeth! As far as casinos...Divi Flamingo Beach Resort might be the only one open (out of two) right now. I read somewhere on the board the casino at the Plaza was recently closed.

I do not believe there are any craps tables. Very, very small casino....lots of slots, some card games, too. Bingo has a big nite, there, too!

You will love Bonaire. Have a great time! CArole

I second the snorkel at Sorobon (and the fishing hut is the perfect place to go out from), Washington Park, Ole Blue, windsurfing....and would like to add...Jeff Davis !! Going to the north...it's a great sandy entrance, good snorkeling and a wonderful place to frolick in the sea :-) Have fun !

What to do, What to do:

Washington Park:
Take the day and go to Washington Park it is 10 bucks to get in and you will need a car or truck. Bring your camera, snorkeling gear, and a picnic lunch.


Kayaking:
at Bonaire Dive & Adventure you can rent kayaks. They have guided tours of the coastline or the mangroves(You may want to take mosquito repellent).


Windsurfing, Mountain Biking was fun, and you must see the Donkey Sanctuary.

In the Rodale's Scuba Diving magazine January/Febary 2004, there is a wright up about Bonaire and they are talking to Jerry with Bonaire Dive & Adventure.

rob

We have been going to Bonaire over 15 years and every year we find more to love and hope someday to have a home there We feel you can go almost any where on the island and find wonderful diving and snorkeling If you like the land the museum and the people and caves and lac bay and all are just wonderful

We also have been to many islands and swore we could understand going year after year to the same island We did most of the places you have and some others then BONAIRE and that was it

To answer your fishing question, "Piscateur" fishing charter is good. Chris is the capt. You can go for a half day or full. You have a good shot at catching snapper & baracuda.Baracuda is safe to eat here. If you want to keep your fish, what we do is arrange with one of the local restaurant chefs to prepare our dinner for that night. When you drop your fish off, you tell him what time you will be back for dinner. A romantic idea is to do a torch light dinner on the beach at Harbour Village. The chef, Alberto, loves to do special dishes. This must be arranged ahead of time.

This is a fantastic site! Thanks so much to all of you who have responded to my post. Your suggestions for snorkeling, beaches etc are greatly appreciated. I can't imagine that we will have anything but a wonderful time.
As far as the casino goes, Carole, that was my husband's question...all I care about is good food, fun people and super snorkeling!
Corney Ann - we will definitely go to Lac Bay, but will be quite content to watch the other windsurfers while we lunch at Jibe City.
Sounds like everybody pretty much agrees on the beaches and snorkeling site, but Annette - who is Jeff Davis?!?
All of your enthusiastic replies have added to the excitement of our next adventure in the Caribbean. Keep those posts and pictures coming!

Elizabeth, I've stayed in the condo that Chet is talking about (Zale's). The Sand$ is a great place, and if your on the second floor, you should have a great view! The dock and dive shop has just been newly built/redone, and it is great. Bari reef, which is the Sand$ house reef is one of the best in the Caribbean...last summer saw a nice hawksbill turtle there There is a little sand spot with a couple of lounge chairs by the dock, if you want to kick back a bit...you will have a fabulous time!

P.S. make sure to leave nothing in your vehicle, windows down when you park and snorkel or hike. I repeat, leave NOTHING that you would not want to part with

Elizabeth, go here and scroll to the bottom. It is a list of other folks that will be on the island, and directions to the Tuesday night dinner at Gibis
January BTalkers

Hi Elizbeth.

I have to admit ... I don't know who Jeff Davis is (except perhaps our old Jefferson Davis???). I'll ask some of the old timers here (Capt. Don) ... maybe he can shed some light :-) But as far as the site goes....it's a wonderful little yellow rock marked sight going north...great sand between your toes, nice swimming and pretty good snorkeling too. Note tho that it takes a little bit of a climb down to the water (really just a little bit...) Will follow up if I get an answer on who exactly Jeff Davis is :-)

tuesday at 6PM jesse armacost does a fish ID presentation at the Old Inn...and it's over in time to get to gibi's. wednesday is the sea turtle slide show at buddy dive at 7PM. i second the suggestions about the kayak tour...take the road toward lac cai..the rental place is on that road. we did the 9AM tour and were back in time to dive in the afternoon. definitely go to the donkey sanctuary. drive around the island. go to rincon. stop at seru largu for the view. check out the waves on the east coast. see the lighthouses, slave huts, salt ponds, etc. take a full day (and a lot of water...and some food) and tour the park (use a truck or vehicle with high ground clearance). go out to klein and snorkel and walk the beach (take some plastic bags and collect trash). watch for the green flash at sunset. relax.
we will be there for about two months this time and have friends and family visiting for part of that time. we have always thought that even someone who doesn't dive or snorkel can easily keep themselves occupied on bonaire for a week or two.
enjoy your trip.

Elizabeth...
Just reading all the suggestions above for things you and your husband can do has made me terribly homesick for Bonaire. We're due to make our next trip in March and I'm definitely even more anxious for the time to pass than I was before. My husband and I have been going there for over 10 years and it's our favorite vacation place. Such a small paradise, but so much to see and do. You'll also find many fine restaurants...in all price ranges. The people are extremely friendly and you can safely walk the streets in town at night. Relax and enjoy!
Carol