We are going to be returning to Bonaire this Feb. for our 3rd trip. In the past we have stayed at the Zales Sand$ condo. (very nice!) However this trip it is booked for the dates we are looking at. I would like some thoughts on either Belmar or Port Bonaire...pros and cons. I have done a keyword search but did not find many posts for Port Bonaire. The pool at Port Bonaire looks larger then Bel Mar and you can use the grounds of the Plaza....a plus! But I am concerned about the plane noise. Bel Mar looks to have great views but kind of a small pool. We are bringing our 11 year old twins...so a pool is important! Thanks for your advice.

Lise,
Such a long time since your last post! Welcome back.
Belmar would be my choice of the two. Port Bonaire - think "airport hotel" as it's just right across the street from the airport and actually quite a distance to the Plaza unless you swim the channel. I was leaning towards Post Bonaire when booking our first trip and was sooo glad I didn't.

message deleted by the moderarators because it was selfpromotion

Lise,
We continue to stay at Capt. Don's Habitat -Oasis Cottages - two bedrooms, two baths. My daughter (now 15) loves the pool and the entire property. Read my trip report listed on my profile for the many reasons why we stay there.

We stayed at the Plaza Villas, 2 bedroom, last December. My sister would hear the plane at night, but she did not seem bothered with it. We are sound sleepers and never heard it. Plaza is very nice and a great beach area. We are returning to Bonaire in May, decided to give Sand$ a try, we like the area and we wanted to be beachfront. We are renting from the owner's webpage, gotobonaire.com. They've been very helpful.

We love Bel-Mar. The pool isn't HUGE but it is pretty adequate and the property is fabulous. We'll be staying there for our 3rd time at Christmas this year.

Lise: We are booked at the BelMar over Thanksgiving and are taking our 7 year old twins. We stayed at the Plaza in February and the only reason we aren't returning is because of the airport noise, but we are still using the Plaza for the kids program and Toucan for diving. My daughter and I are both light sleepers so it just wasn't going to work for us. Port Bonaire looked very nice, but it is even closer to the airport. I'll let you know how the situation pans out at the BelMar.

Claudia

Thanks for your messages...we have decided to book BelMar. I think it has what we are looking for. Claudia...we have already contacted Caren about her children's program...Sea & Discover. We used both programs last visit...Aqua Kids and Sea & Discover...we really liked Carens program a lot. Aqua Kids was good also...but the girls just fell in love with Caren and her 2 cute little girls!