Has anyone used gotobonaire.com for reserving a condo at Sand Dollar? We are going in May of 2005 and want a 3 bedroom unit that is closest to the ocean on the second floor. Other input regarding Sand$ is appreciated.

We stayed at Sand Dollar last September and will be leaving this Friday for a second visit. We'll be staying at Sand Dollar again. Love the place!

We make our reservations with a travel agency in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. You can get their toll free number from www.sanddollarbonaire.com. They have been great to work with and have some excellent packages.

Barbara, we stayed there our first trip to Bonaire. Great place, nice new dock, nice dive staff and Mango's restaurant is great! You will love it!

Barbara,
We have not been to Bonaire yet but our group from Alaska will be there in November. We made our reservations direct with the Sand$ US Reservations office at 1-800-288-4773 and worked with Sabah there. We unfortunately made it very difficult for her by having multiple arrival dates and room sharing arrangements which she handled well and with a fine sense of humor. If the property is as good as the service so far we should have a great time!

Hi,
A group (5) of us stayed in a main floor, 3 br condo on the most northern end of the property, in late April.
Other than an embarrassing "where's the 3rd bedroom" moment (it's not accessible from inside the suite, it has its own private outside entrance and bath....but after travelling all day we couldn't find it) we settled in and were very comfortable. Remember to turn the hot water heater on in advance of your morning shower, or it's a cool one. Security was never a concern or a problem. Dive operations with Bonaire Dive and Adventure were perfect...Andre (I belive the owner) went out of his way to make sure everything was right. Tim Peters at Fish Eye Photo is a wonderful person to talk to, he's got all kinds of suggestions to help the budding photographer. Dive staff were the best !!
Only disappointment was the house restaraunt...Mangos....not bad conch chowder, but nothing to write home about otherwise. Service was slow to North America standards. Prices were on the high side. I personally don't appreciate the "we add the tip to your bill" practice, and watch for the practice of "additional x% (I forget exactly) added for separate bills."

I would definitely stay at Sand$ again, but would not rush to dine at Mangos (there's lots of superb alternates within a 5 min drive).

Our travel (some flights, the condo/diving/car rental) arrangements were made through Larry at WorldDive (www.worlddive.com) and everything ran smoothly.

Enjoy your trip !!

Craigster

We stayed at Sandollar and booked it thru BonairePros. Everything was fine- all units face the water- but I cannot understand why the only restaurant/bar and pool are out by the road.
The place you want to be is out on the water watching the fish swim by as you eat, or enjoying a cocktail as the sun sets over the sea- not watching cars and donkeys cruise by on the road.
I thought for this reason the nearby Capt Dons, Lions Den or Buddys had a much better set-up with activitise and ammentities waterfront. My favortie location after checking out quite a few for "next time" was Divi Flamingo. Absolutly beautiful place, lovely beach and swimming/snorkling area, great waterfront restaurant and bars, two beautiful pools, gated and right in town by fun restaurants, shopping etc. The grounds at DIVI are also beautifully landscaped. They get my next stay.

Anne, I believe it is because the Green Parrot, which used to be the restaurant at Sand$, over the water was destroyed along with the dive shop and pier in 1999 from Hurricane Lenny. For insurance purposes, I understood it that they had to rebuild away from the water. It also took quite a few years to get approval and such to build the dock again. Now, if I'm totally off base, I know that Ruth or Glen can set me straight

Does Divi offer ocean front 3 bedroom units? My posted question above about gotobonaire.com was after researching several resorts. This will be our 6th trip to Bonaire, previously stayed at Plaza and Buddy's so I am fairly familiar with the resorts.

No- no three bedroom units.

The new Den Laman Restaurant, right at the south of the property where the dive shop is, will be opening by December for waterfront dining and cocktails, which will be a great addition for our guests. And we hope at some future date that Jan and Ruth will develop something on the platform where the Green Parrot used to be. They have such excellent food at Mango's that we know whatever they did on the waterfront would be an instant success!

Cynde has it right. The Green Parrot (and the dive shop) could not be rebuilt in the same location 'over the water' because of Bonaire law. After the platform and building were built (so the existing structures were 'grandfathered') rules were made forbidding that form of construction. It was coral boulders just sitting on the sand and rubble bottom supporting a concrete slab, just because of the possibility of wave action like that from hurricane Lenny that washed the sand from under the boulders and collapsed the slab and buildings.

Other properties rebuilt existing piers, etc., in their old locations quickly; no new permits needed. Because André was building his new as a new structure, he needed new permits; It took a long time.

The Mangoes location was a fallback to achieve some sort of restaurant on site; the whole question also involved other ownership matters that are not germane here.

Everyone has hoped that something can/could be done on the slab because it is such a wonderful location. I have understood that nothing permanent can be done there by Bonaire law, and, as Cynde said, the insurance companies will not insure again. I would think that especially true now because I believe the present level of the slab is a few feet lower than it was originally for GP/SDD&P. I am with Carol in hoping but...

Thanks for the history everyone. I loved Sanddollar in every other respect and even enjoyed sitting on the "slab" and skipping rocks with the kids or sharing an apple with the Iguanas (hope that wasn't illegal).

Perhaps just an inexpensive temporary set up of lounge chairs and umbrellas with some tiki torches would bring folks down to the area to mingle and watch the sunsets........just a thought- I mingled mostly on the dive pier and enjoyed it. The people were all wonderful- sharing advice on places to go, inviting us on a night dive that was absolutely awesome with feeding Tarpon surrounding us right at the Sanddollar pier- how cool! Then we were hooked and wanted to dive again the following night- two total strangers loaned us dive lights and said just leave them outside our condo when you're done. (I didn't- I've heard way too much about theft so I made sure they were returned in person.) I don't even recall their names but they were with a large group from Atlanta- Thanks guys!
Anne

Barbara, I've used gotobonaire.com twice now for our reservations at Sand Dollar. We just returned from staying a month in one of Brad's units. Feel free to email me if you have any questions!

After much negeotiating, in late June, we (Mango's) were finally been able to drop the added service charge, which was kept in place by employee (and labor board--along the lines of those sorts of 'grandfather' clauses) demands. We were not the only restaurant to have service charges, but at least when we did, we stated it plainly, and all of it did go to the staff, which I cannot claim others do.

It is not fair to judge any restaurant here against 'North American' standards. Bonaire's an island, in the Dutch (read: not American) Caribbean. It's a different culture and lifestyle here than anywhere in North America, which is why I suppose people travel here as opposed to traveling to the Florida Keys to dive. Not that things aren't slower in the Keys...

Also, in ANY dining establishment, if you have a group of 10, who want 8 separate cheques (and this happens all the time), don't be surprised if this slows things down.

BTW, only my name is Dutch. I was born and raised in the US, but my home and heart are Bonaire, since 1990.

Ruth,

Kudos on getting the "service charge" dropped. I do hope it is pointed out to your customers so your staff are properly tipped. Having myself worked as a waiter/bartender my only concern regarding Bonaire's "service charge" was as you stated, that the staff received it.

Regarding quality of service/food, every restaurant has off days. I usually give second chances.

When on Bonaire I absolutely enjoy the no worry - no hurry atmosphere. Especially when it comes to enjoying some leisure time with my companions after my meal, with my having to request my bill or "reckoning" instead of having it plunked down as soon as I finish my coffee.

Ruth, My only complaint with your establishment from my trip this past February, was that you had no Tuna (no one did)! I had to suffer with Wahoo - twice for dinner and once for lunch;-{)} I will be at Mangos in approximately ninety-three days and hope you have corrected that issue.

Thanks Tom. I haven't had tuna in ages, and miss it too. A lot of the fishermen consider tuna worthy of being only bait to catch the 'good' fish with, and you have to beg them to save one for you, and not chop it up, if they even catch any. Amazing, eh? Give me a head's up before you arrive & I'll do my best to convince the fishermen to get us a tuna, ok? It's late, I can't count out 93 days from now, but it sounds like you'll be here mid-October?

The "no tip/service charge added" blurb is on our menus; whether this translates into tips we must wait & see. Our bookkeeper and accountant are thrilled!

Ruth,

Service charge or not, we still love Mango's - especially when Jan is introducing us to all those fabulous Dutch beverages.....

We'll see you in late October with a couple dozen Krispy Kremes.

YEAH!!!!!!!! I felt bad that KK stock went down, due to all the Atkins dieters...so unfair. See you in October Dave!
Ruth