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Accommodations: Divi flamingo - room preferences
Bonaire Talk: Accommodations: Archives: Archives 2000 to 2006: Archives - 2004-08-04 to 2005-05-09: Divi flamingo - room preferences
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Maureen Peters (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 1:01 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi. Thank you for all the great info so far. I'm looking at the Divi. I like the fact that their studio rooms have full kitchens as one of my kids is a notoriously picky eater and it's easier all around to make her meals ourselves. However the divi's studio rooms are fully booked for march break. So my questions to you:

1. Your opinions on the food. Is the kid menu really kid friendly and is the food good in general. In short, should we bother with their menu plan?

2. Are the oceanfront balconies usable at night - or just too buggy (they're not screened in as the studio porches are)?

3. Are the beds comfortable?

4. Are there common lounge areas, where we might take some games to play at night?

5. I see that the island is known for its windsurfing. Is it generally quite windy there? We love to just sit by the ocean and read -- would the wind make it too cool or uncomfortable?

6. Is there topless sunbathing there?

7. They have very small beach - during march break, would it typically be crowded or would most every guest be off diving? Is the pool heated?

If you're still reading after all these questions, thanks in advance for any info you can provide!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bridget Waldbaum (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Tuesday, December 21, 2004 - 12:03 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Maureen;

My husband and I just stayed in room 204 - an oceanfront room with a king bed on the 2nd floor... the beds were comfortable - we slept very well each night.

A perk of the oceanfront room is the prime view of the georgeous sunsets!

Another perk of the oceanfront room is the sound of the ocean surf on the rocks under the balcony. We knew a couple that stayed in 201 that had the same layout - maybe better, though, as our room was next to a bar called the 'Flamingo's Nest' that wasn't in use when we were there (don't know how much noise there would be if it was open).

Floors in the bathroom/room/balcony were tile, and there is no mini-fridge. We liked our room, and it was a good size for 2 people - we didn't have any children with us. I'll post pictures of the stunning view from our balcony.

At least 1/5 of each meal we had at the Chibi Chibi ocean-front restaurant went over the railing to the fishies who swarmed in to eat our bread/fries. The Chibi Chibi lunches and dinner we had were very decent - but we weren't on a meal plan. After eating there a few times we figured out that the tip was already included in the bill.

We did not see any topless sunbathing, and our last two days we did see a number of children enjoying the (very small) beach and swimming out to a floating platform.

I have mosquito-bites all over my legs - but several different local people told us that was unusual - that a couple of weeks of recent rain had brought on the mosquitos and usually they don't have a problem.

We're definitely looking forward to going back, and we would love to stay in an oceanfront room again - the only thing we could possibly wish for would be a mini-fridge.

I hope you enjoy your visit!!

p.s. we rented a pickup truck from the Hertz office at the Divi Flamingo and were very happy to get an extended-cab 2004 model chevvy s-10. It was manual transmission (stick-shift), in excellent condition, and made the drives we took through the national park very fun :}

room 204 view
room 204 balcony view south
room 204 balcony view down
room 204 balcony view north

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly Baum (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2123) on Tuesday, December 21, 2004 - 9:40 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Bridget, I have stayed in the same room as you I think... several times in fact! All you have to do is request a mini-fridge from the front desk, and they'll bring one. I think the additional charge is $6.00 per night.

Love that view !! I also have stayed on the lower level, and loved that as well. From the lower level, it's easier to watch the crabs close-up when they are playing on the rocks each morning and evening. :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Blanchard (BonaireTalker - Post #56) on Tuesday, December 21, 2004 - 4:18 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Maureen, to answer a few of your questions. We have been going to Bonaire for 10 years, 3 times with our grandson who was 3, 4 and 6 on the trips. We stayed in the Studios but know people who have been ocean front and loved it. The food at the Calabas is more to kids liking but the Chibi-Chibi is also very good. We never had any trouble getting him to eat. The beach is small but kid friendly and usually there are other children to play with. There are at least two common areas where we played games every evening. We have never had a mosquito problem but there are "no-see-ums" and Of seems to work for us. You will love the Divi.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly Baum (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2128) on Tuesday, December 21, 2004 - 4:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Maureen, I second that. You will love it there.

The beach there is especially kid-friendly, since it's mostly a sandy bottom, as opposed to hard coral of other places w/ beaches. Great for little beginning snorkelers !

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly Baum (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2129) on Tuesday, December 21, 2004 - 4:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

One more comment, about the common lounge areas. There is a bar called the Flamingo's Nest, right above the oceanfront rooms, and it's all open air. It's not being used as an official "bar", except for the manager's party (someone jump in and correct me if I'm wrong). This would be a great place to play board games with the little ones and watch the sunset.

When I go with my dive group, we take our drinks up there in the evenings and we all watch the sunset and talk about our days!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Raymond Sauve (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Wednesday, December 22, 2004 - 10:27 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Maureen,

My family has stayed in the upper rooms over the last 12+ years. Never a mosquito problem. Sometimes no-see-ums bother me at the restaurant but my wife has never had a problem. Bring bug spray. Love to sit out on the balcony to watch sunset or stars at night.

Flamingo's Nest used to be active but it has been quiet for quite a while. Kelly is right in that it is a good place to watch the sunset.

Many good restaurants within walking distance (plenty of kid food, fried chicken, pizza, burgers, etc) but may want a car if kids are small. (5-7 minute walk to town) I always get a car because it is just easier to go here and there for late afternoon drinks and/or dinners elsewhere. We get the breakfast plan at the hotel and branch out for food from there.

Beach is kid friendly as discussed above. Wind is not an issue on this side of the island.

Ray

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bridget Waldbaum (BonaireTalker - Post #11) on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 5:21 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Kelly - you know, it never even occurred to us to ask about whether a minifridge could be rented! What a great idea - thanks for the tip :} Next time for sure :}

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly Baum (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2147) on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 11:24 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Bridget, it's just the right size for some lunch meat and some cold Pepsi and beer! :-)

 


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