I'm planning a trip to Bonaire this June. We are currently making reservations w/ Divi Flamingo. I've read past reports about this property that wern't too favorable. Has there been any changes in the last year? Is it safe for famlies? If you've been in the last 6 months, I'd love to hear your opinion. Thanks

Sounds if there are lots of changes. I'd check some of the trip reports and accommodations postings. You could also do a search on Divi. There have been lots of mentions of peoples' stay there.

We stayed there for 2 weeks From Dec 21 to Jan 5. Very nice hotel I would go back without any hesitation. You can walk to town but it is still quiet. The timeshare rooms are being renovated so avoid those but otherwise go for it. Try and get a deluxe ocean front room if you can they are nice. I got a much better rate through email than from some of the packages offered. I contacted them through diviflamingo.com

Have a good trip!

Chris,

Did you mean www.divibonaire.com?

Jake

our stay in nov. of2001 was ok. since then they have opened the casino.i had a problem with the security there stealing ciggarettes and money out of my dive bag during a night bag. i understand new security has been brought in though.the room were average the view from the deluxe room is awesome but be sure to keep the screens closed to avoid moquitoes from coming in. the rewstaurant is somewhat overpriced. the room have no refrig. or microwaves be prepared for that.

Divi Flamingo for the money is great and a real taste of what Bonaire used to be like, since it was Captain Don's original haunt, if I'm not mistaken (if I am, I'm sure I'll be corrected).

The beach isn't much more than a postage stamp, but it's very nice, the new rooms are great, the restaraunt is nice and the location is unbeatable...And the diving, well that goes without saying.

Since the Sunset Beach closed down this & CARIB INN are the two hotels remaining the with old feel, I'd say (and Carib is hard to get into but well worth it if you can).

IMO, DIVI is more 'Bonaire' than the rest & I'd never hesitate to recommend it.

Divi's motto is 'barefoot elegance'. Definitely barefoot, but the elegance is not the same as the Ritz Carlton or any of Cayman's Seven Mile Beach palaces. I would call it neat, clean, friendly, and relaxing. The timeshares have stoves, 'fridges, dishes, flatware, and pots and pans, and there was talk of microwaves when I was there last May. I don't know how far along the timeshare renovations are though.

We are heading to the Divi next week and are staying in a studio unit. I'll let you know what we find when we get back the week of 2/18.

Last time we were there (3 years ago) the studio units were a little rough but the location is wonderful and diving and snorkeling were great. We are very anxious to see the units since I own an independent travel agency and would love to book a group or two there next season if everything is as improved as they tell me!
Marcia

This is in anticipation of a trip report---which may be long in coming---but here is a current take on Divi (yes, I am favorably biased...we own there, and have been 8 times in as many years).
All of the above posts give you a pretty good idea.
The hotel rooms are very nice...it is not palatial...it is very much Bonaire...it is close to town..I have just said some of this in my posts in the "Divi Flamingo: Attn Carole Baker, etc." thread above.
Most of the negative stuff of the past years is definitely gone, and there is a real positive attitude around the place. For what it is worth, all of the long-time repeat visitors who come each January for the first weeks of the year are VERY pleased with the changes! The timeshare rooms now getting their turn at renovation, new air conditioners were in place during our stay, and the kitchen appliances were new a year ago in our unit.We hardly use the air conditioner, preferring to leave the room open to the breeze. Mosquitoes were not too bad, most times, but this is a seasonal thing. Yes, the clothes dresser and cabinets are a bit beat up in the timeshares (they are 15 years old), but I don't need to live in them, and the beds are new. God help us, they are even talking about putting in TV's, but you can throw a towel over it.
It is definitely safe for families---I let my 9 year old daughter have the run of the property without concern day or night. She loves the place, goes to the beach, does snorkeling, hits the pool, etc. I recommend the Aquakids Program at the Plaza (8:30 -12:30 activites daily, 5 days $120), to give yourself some time off if you are with young kids. We have had great experiences with this two years running.
A new security service has been employed, although we have never really had any problem.They are more visible, especially in the evenings.
The new management on site is a plus (although we like Stevo very much, too). Frits and his wife Jenny are doing a lot of the right things, and you can see it in the attitude and the attention. Very enthusiastic, upbeat, realistic, service-oriented. Cannot say enough good things about them. A big private group of 70 from Finland were there at Divi for a week, company incentive reward-team building type thing, and you could see Jenny right in there making sure that things went right.
Dive operation is going gang-busters...three pivate groups in during the time we were there, and in addition to private boat for them, we also had a two-tank 8:30 and a one-tank 10:00 boat, and a one-tank 2:30 boat to choose from...although we did shore diving and just falling off the pier out front many times, too.(Big tarpon are still hanging out, just as last year, at 75 feet under the dive boat moorings just in front of the ocean front hotel rooms. We had to go visit them several times.) Serge and all the dive operations people doing a GREAT job. Gert has new engines in the boats, and they hope to have all five boats back into operation by summer, so as to rotate them out of the water for refurbishing and repainting.
New casino (post-renovation) is very nice, outside and in...larger, but still "barefoot"---nicely informal. Multiple slot machines in various permutations, roulette table, two $5 minimum blackjack tables, and two 3-card poker tables (hardly saw anyone at those---I wonder if they don't change them out after a while). Never really crowded, but often busy. Free drinks.
Next to come is complete renovation of Calabas restaurant area, according to Frits, and then refurbishing of the pools (one at a time).
If its any measure, we are planning to go back in August again, rather than just wait until next January.

I was sorry to see the mural gone from the Divi hotel area pool last time I was there. I was told that the paint was starting to peel. It would be nice if the mural could be re-done or a new one created.

I will be gold-membershipping after I get this years vacation to a non-Bonaire location paid for (I'm not a traitor, I just get two weeks a year and spent every other year on Bonaire). Only 4 years to retirement and I hope to have a condo or house on Bonaire by then and be able to spent a lot of time on Bonaire.