I am a 40 yo woman-travelling alone to Bonaire Jan 2-12- and just want to dive windsurf and relax. Where is an appropriate place to stay-with diving on premises.

Michele pretty much any resort on the west coast has diving on premises. That whole coast can be dove from pretty much any spot, just pick a place that meets your budget. All of the resorts are very good and I hardly ever hear anyone complaining.

You can check this site for info, http://www.infobonaire.com/.

i guess i would recommend coco palm gardens = relaxing, good for wind surfers and diving is across the street - at bachelor's beach


enjoy,

Hi Michele
There is plenty of accommodation that would suit your needs! I am with Bob on Coco Palm Gardens - while there is no diving on the premises itself, but only a couple of minutes across the street. The location (Belnem) would be good for windsurfing as well as you are only a 5 minutes drive from Lac Bay. Coco Palm is self-catering accommodation though..... http://www.cocopalmgarden.org/
Heike

Hi Michele
There is plenty of accommodation that would suit your needs on Bonaire! Many people have their favourites.... I am with Bob on Coco Palm Gardens - while there is no diving on the premises itself, it's only a couple of minutes across the street. The location (Belnem) would be good for windsurfing as well as you are only a 5 minutes drive from Lac Bay. Coco Palm is self-catering accommodation though..... http://www.cocopalmgarden.org/
Heike

Michele:

Ideally, where you stay will match with what is important to you. What is important to you besides on-site diving?

A 24 hour front desk? Pool? Small beach? Do you like small and more intimate or larger and more resort like? On-site bar? What is your budget? Will you have a car? Do you want to be able to meet lots of others easily or be left to yourself?

Said another way, what is about a particular place you have stayed before that draws you in, makes you happy, makes you excited?

We all have our own favorites that tend to best meet our *individual* criteria -- which may or may not be the same as your criteria. (My criteria include: clean, comfortable, affordable, directly on the water, great dive set up, pool, great house reef and good staff. I also appreciate smaller properties and water view from the room. On Bonaire, I also prefer to be south of town but within walking distance of town.)

I usually spend the first week of my trips to Bonaire solo -- you will have a great time!.

Dave

Like Michele, I plan on visiting Bonaire solo this year. My first trip to Bonaire was with a group of 30+ in 2002 when we stayed at the Sand Dollar. The group is going somewhere else this year, but I have been away from Bonaire for too long, so I'm jumping ship to go back to Bonaire. I would like to stay on or very near the water, but would like to avoid a huge "single" surcharge if possible. I will rent a truck and do mostly shore diving, but may do some boat dives on Klein also. I'm not into the party scene, but not a loner either. Meeting a small group to do some diving with would be nice. I am a 44 yo male and plan on coming in May or June, but have not confirmed the dates yet. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Steve:

How much are you looking to spend on a room per night? How comfortable are you going $35/night higher/lower than that amount?

David,

I am trying to keep my trip costs (for 7 nights) between $1100 - $1200 with my airfare running about $600 out of Houston with Air Jamaica. If I can keep my diving / driving / accommodations to around $500, I would be happy. I have browsed the package deals with Deep Blue View and Golden Reef Inn, but I suspect they would tack on a huge "single" surcharge for a solo traveller.

Thanks,

Steve

Dave,

I have sent you an email. Liz

Steve:

That is a pretty tight budget -- for a solo dive trip -- if it includes car, lodging and diving including taxes.

Take the case of a car rentals -- the business costs of renting you a car are pretty similar whether you are there by yourself or if you are with a friend. If you have a visa card that provides you with good insurance (allowing you to waive CDW, etc.), the best you can probably do is about $210/week (including taxes). Hence a $105 single supplement (if it were split two ways it would be $105 a person, instead split one way it is $210 a person).

So, $210 for a car plus $110 for diving plus lodging taxes of around $40-$45/week leaves not much for a hotel...

The only way I could keep it under $500 was Friars Inn with a scooter and breakfast. OTOH, CoCo Palm / Casa Oleander could do the stay/drive/dive package for $749 and they are close to the water and with a pool. That is really a pretty attractive deal...

Given your constraints, here is what I would suggest:
a) Peruse http://www.infobonaire.com/hotelbudget.html and email hotels you are interested in. They sometimes can quote you a pretty good deal if they are working directly with you -- especially if they are not very full. There are lots of less expensive options -- WannaDive Huts, Golden Reef, Yacht Club, CoCo Palm, etc.).
b) Contact Caradonna http://www.caradonna.com/caradonna/ and see what they can do for you, including airfare. While I have never used http://www.bonairecaribbean.com/ , Ann is a well respected poster here so you could check with her as well.
c) Respond to those who might contact you directly via email.
d) Examine the incremental costs of upgrading to the value -- sometimes a $1,300 trip is way better than an $1100 trip (and sometimes it is just $200 more...).

Steve:

On other thought: try and get at least a small fridge in your room if budget is a concern. You can eat pretty cheaply on Bonaire if you are so inclined and a fridge really helps (and a kitchen even more so...)

Dave

All,

Thanks for all of the good advice so far. I tend to think that you are right, David, in that I probably need to allow about $200 more to do the trip right. Even at $1300 - $1400, I think that this is an excellent value for a week of diving in Bonaire. I was just trying to cut corners since I am planning on taking my whole family to Florida (Destin) later in the summer.

Thanks again,

Steve

Steve:

I also agree Bonaire represents a very good value for the diver. For me, the ease, cost and freedom of shore diving are the biggest draw -- I can easily do 20 dives a week in Bonaire. And when you consider your budget includes diving, lodging, taxes and air...

As someone who goes every year (part solo, part not), I know how expensive the solo part of the trip can be. For me, the budget size tends to drive the length of my stay. One other note: always be sure you are comparing apples to apples on prices (i.e., are taxes included, are any service charges included, CDW on the truck, etc.).

To economize, one might consider the following:
a) See what an air inclusive package (w/truck) might cost from a place like Caradonna staying at their lower priced lodgings.
b) Look at airfare alternatives. Some have had luck using Priceline or Skyauction for airfare. It is worth serching for those threads as there are some very important caveats to be aware of.
c) Economize on food. It is fairly easy to eat cheap on Bonaire -- especially if you have access to a fridge. Shop and eat where the locals do. Or bring some cliff bars from home.
d) Use a credit card that provides car rental insurance. Note: This is an area of some controversy and you need to understand what your coverage is (and isn't) before you go. For example, pickup trucks are typically excluded.
e) Beg a buddy to come along.
f) Trim the trip back to six days.

Here is the deal at Coco Palm I was talking about earlier (I have only driven past but they are well regarded) as they are close to the water and have a pool -- http://www.cocopalmgarden.org/DivingPackages.html