By John Matheson (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Monday, February 9, 2004 - 5:46 pm: |
Hi, What a wonderful treasure of advice this board is. Unfortunately, I think I’m at that paralysis by analysis stage now. After reading the mouthwatering descriptions from this board over the last year a bunch of us are headed to Bonaire for the first time from our local dive shop in Alaska in November. For most it will be their first warm water dives after tons of drysuit diving. Most of the group will be staying for just one week and have just about settled on the Sand$, mostly for the price and access to Bari reef. My wife, 10 y/o and I are going to stay a second week and I’m trying to decide where to stay for week two. Like most Bonaire places, I’ve heard both good and bad about Sand$. I’d appreciate opinions from folks who have been there in the last six months or so about the latest situation there. We are pretty easy to please so we’re not expecting the Ritz. We intend to dive pretty heavy with the group around the island in week one but will probably stay closer to a hotel in week two just relaxing, snorkeling and diving the “house reef”. My 10 year old will be certified as a Jr. open water diver and won’t be able to go below 40 feet so an easy location at the hotel is a big plus. The wife, while a good diver, is just as happy to sit by the pool with a book and umbrella drink and watch us cavort in the water for hours. With the pool being removed from the ocean at the Sand$ she kind of has her sights set on Eden Beach or the Belmar which both seem to have more than their share of fans on this board. So, your thoughts? If we stay at Sand$ can she still have a comfortable place to hang out and “chill” while my son and I dive, snorkel and sunburn our lily white Alaskan bellies off for week two? If we move to the Belmar is the “house reef” accessible and typically calm enough to let him snorkel around (strong swimmer) while still allowing her to hang out at the pool and watch? How about Eden Beach as a compromise between the two? Any and all advice is welcome. The information I have already gleaned from BonaireTalk has been invaluable. Thanks to all who make this site so active and worthwhile.
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By Linda Stoltzfus (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #169) on Monday, February 9, 2004 - 8:41 pm: |
Sounds like a cottage at Capt. Don's would be ideal for your second week. Read my 2001 trip report for details.
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By mary pequinot (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #357) on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 7:56 am: |
Or think about Lion's Dive. Both are located at Bari reef, which should be a FABULOUS place for your son to dive.
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By Dean Botsford (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #296) on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 8:37 am: |
...or Buddy Dive. In order heading north you have Sand Dollar, Buddies, Lion Dive and Capt. Don's.
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By Randy P (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #193) on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 11:47 am: |
I cast my vote for Buddy and Lion's as GREAT choices. Sand$$ is a fine destination as well, but I really enjoy having my morning after-dive coffee and breakfast at Buddy's restaurant at the water's edge, watching the dive boats heading out and feeding my scraps to the fish below. Same goes for lunch and dinner. And sunsets with a frosty cool Polar in hand can't be beat. The food at Mangos (Sand$$) is fantastic, the goat stew can't be beat, but it is on the road away from the water.
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By Mark E. Anderson (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 1:55 pm: |
We stayed at Lion's last May, got a good deal on airfare + hotel on Expedia.com. Great place, dove the house reef 6 times 2 night dives, great dive shop, can't wear swimming suits in restaurant though, my wife had a nice fake beach right on the water to read and wait for me to come back from my boat dives and she liked the snorkeling there. She saw lots of stuff in the shallows toward Captian Dons. Lions is between
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By Cynde (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #10450) on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 2:08 pm: |
John, it seems to me by your post that you would like a pool by the ocean for your wife to relax the second week in while you and your son are diving...unless my cold medicine is playing tricks on my memory, Buddy's has a pool by the bar on the waters edge, right?
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By Linda Stoltzfus (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #171) on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 5:31 pm: |
John ,
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By John Matheson (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 6:38 pm: |
Once again the folks on this board come through. Thanks so much for all your input. I take it no body has any current sad stories from Sand$ so I can't see any reason to try and talk my buddies out of that for week one. Week 2? Decisions, Decisions? I wish I could stay at all of them. Bottom line is they all sound a whole lot better than home in Alaska in November. Let's see, 52 weeks in a year, one week at each resort, I wonder just how open minded my boss really is???
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By Randy P (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #194) on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 7:07 pm: |
Jeepers Cinde,
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By Cynde (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #10468) on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 7:15 pm: |
Randy, that would explain the fish with ears and large noses...as for the orange slice, it kind of hurt and took me off guard...I was like "what the hey?"
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By Cynde (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #10469) on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 7:21 pm: |
John, to see the pool by the sand at Buddy's, here is a good link...scroll down a ways, they have 2 pools. One in from the shore, and one next to the shore...
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By Yana girl (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #149) on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 7:30 pm: |
John,
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By Jim Thompson (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 2:08 pm: |
Does anyone know what happened to the pool at the Sand Dollar?
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By Cynde (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #10470) on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 2:52 pm: |
Jim, the pool is at the center of the Restaurant Mangos which is on the Sand$ property (Ruth, correct me if I worded it wrong! LOL!...RUH ROH)
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By Carol at Sand Dollar (BonaireTalker - Post #49) on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 2:56 pm: |
Jim - Cynde is correct, the pool is still in its original location, which is right next to the tennis courts and Mango's Restaurant.
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By Jim Thompson (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 3:49 pm: |
Thanks, I guess I misunderstood John's message of 2/9. thanks again
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By Cynde (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #10475) on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 7:45 pm: |
Carol, thanks It is a great location, right next to the bar and all
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By Marvin Lowman (BonaireTalker - Post #21) on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 11:13 am: |
I can't recommend an alternative for your second week as we have been to Bonaire only once and stayed at Sand Dollar. If I could spend two weeks in Bonaire, I wouldn't hesitate to spend them both at Sand Dollar. We were there last September and had a very positive experience. The accommodations were very adequate, well maintained, comfortable, well-equipped, and private. We enjoyed the quiet atmosphere. By the way, their new restaurant should be completed by the time of your trip.
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By v.cioffletti (BonaireTalker - Post #29) on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 1:29 am: |
I haven't stayed at Sand Dollar so can't comment but one charm of staying "closer in" to me and my friend was the ability to be able to walk into town at a moment's notice, and esp. go meandering down the oceanside walkway to go find supper at whatever time we felt like it - or lunch - or just find chocolate! <g> So a second week at Divi or Plaza may be interesting just for the comparison? Have fun either way!
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By Jay Hinze (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 12:11 am: |
This is a great message board with lots of positive people giving useful information. What a great way to plan a trip to Bonaire!
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By Carol at Sand Dollar (BonaireTalker - Post #50) on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 8:33 am: |
Hi Jay - the construction is not on Sand Dollar property, it is just off the southern end of our property on the far side of the dive center. The construction began in August, and we have not had any complaints of noise disruption from any guests, not even those in the building closest to the construction area. The work being done involves the laying of concrete and support structures for the most part - which does not generate a great deal of noise. The property owners also constructed a wall between the construction and the dive center, which further sheilds it from Sand Dollar. If you look at the top image on our home page at http://www.sanddollarbonaire.com, you can see the Sand Dollar property layout. At the very tip in the far right corner, you can see a part of the dive dock. The construction is still further "right" of this. So I think you can see that it is quite some distance from most of the condominiums. I hope this helps, and we can look forward to welcoming you and your friends here in May.
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