I just returned from a weeks vacation at Capt. Don's. What an enjoyable experience. We were in the Oasia cottages and enjoyed it very much. The food at Rum Runners was very good also and most was inexpensive compared to others on the island. I would reccommend Capt. Don's anyday. The only issue was the front desk clerk tended to be very abrasive an not very helpful at times. Thanks again.

Rick,
We also LOVE the Oasis Cottages and will be returning in March. "Our" cottage (as WE refer to it but don't own) is just like home to us and we feel like we've made friends at Capt. Don's through the years. There are others on this board that feel the same way. Glad you enjoyed your trip.

Thanks for the information. Glad you enjoyed Capt. Don's.

We will be staying at the Flamboyant Cottages at Capt. Don's. Has anyone else stayed there? Any information about these cottages will be appreciated. Is there a/c? Is there a full kitchen? Balcony or patio? How's the view?
Thanks,
Geoff

Welcome George, I can't answer your question as we always stay at the cottages by the pond at Don's but I'm sure someone will be here to answer your question shortly.. seems to me that Keith and Sue also had dealings with the Flamboyant Units and someone privately emailed them from the board...
Keith are you out there???
Again Welcome

My wife and I spent the first week of January in a Villa Studio. We were a little disappointed in the overall condition and furnishings of the room.
The bed consisted of two twin beds shoved together. While that was do-able, the bathroom wasn't quite what we are used to. It showed its age and wasn't exactly spic and span. Plus, there were no drawers to put any clothes in and the closet wasn't large enough to put even half of our clothes in.
The maid service on the other hand was pretty good. She even washed our dishes everyday.
Besides the poor accommodations, we were pretty disappointed in some of the staff. They were often not very helpful and some of them often complained about the others even to us. One poor woman that me met there had asked them to help her with her weighting. As a result, she wound up with an extra 8 pounds!
My wife and I both took classes while we were there. We were never informed about when they would start though. When we finally went and asked, we were told that we were supposed to have started them that morning. As a result, we had to cancel the boat dive we had signed up for that afternoon. For my wife’s course, she had to use a metric course package because they didn’t have an imperial package. For my course, I didn’t even receive a course package!
The store was another sore point. It was closed more often than not and was very poorly stocked. After 3 days of trying to catch it opened, we gave up and went elsewhere to buy diveskins.
The dive boats were pretty nice but we were a little surprised that they don’t carry any sort of save-a-dive stuff. One of my wife’s regulator hoses came loose and they had to borrow a wrench from another diver to tighten it with. That taught me to carry more stuff along though so, it was a lesson learned.
The restaurant was the best part of the whole place. They had great food at reasonable prices.
Come checkout time, we found out that the dive shop doesn’t coordinate anything with the front desk. So, they had charged us for everything. Even the stuff that was included in our package. Then it was up to us to get everything rectified because the people at the front desk wouldn’t even pick up the phone to straighten things out.

I regret to say that we will not stay there again. Nor will anyone else that we talk to.

Well, I've had plenty of positive experiences with Captain Dons. Enough that it will be our 8th return there this April 30-May 11. I can't imagine going anywhere else - Jack Chalk and his team are first rate.

Yes, some beds are those 2 twins/shoved together setup. Not just at Captain Don's though... have you stayed anywhere else?

Some rooms are better appointed than others. It's the luck of the draw no matter where you stay. But you don't really need a lot of clothes on Bonaire - shorts, tops, hawaiian shirts, bathing suits, maybe a pair of jeans, a dress (for your wife) if so desired... you aren't there to make a fashion statement.

I don't suppose it occurred to you to ask "when does the class start?" or to read the pamphlet provided in every room, where it asks you to get your dive bill 24 hours before checkout (and since you can't dive those 24 hours, it's not a big deal) so that you can make sure that the charges are accurate?

Why should the dive boat necessarily be equipped with with tools to maintain equipment that presumably has been checked on your checkout dive?

Finally, Bonaire is a small, kind of out-of-the-way island and they sometimes run out of things. I don't know what course you and your wife were taking (you don't say) but isn't it conceivable that any other dive operation also could have run out of the course materials for it? You aren't in the States, where everything is a FedEx away, you know.

In my experience (7 trips so far) the store is open during the posted times. While there were occasions I wished they were open other times, they were pretty consistent on being open when they said they would be.

I love Captain Don's. I don't expect to be pampered or catered to - it would embarrass me. But the personal touches I've gotten from them - including everything from an incredible on-the-house 5th anniversary dinner, to the welcome-back hugs and smiles from the staff whenever we return, makes going there something I look forward to each and every trip.

I really didn't expect to have to explain myself as I was giving an honest assessment of my experience at Captain Don’s. However, here goes:

I haven’t stayed anywhere else in Bonaire. That was my first trip there. I booked into Captain Don’s because of all the fantastic stuff that I saw posted about the place. I was sorely disappointed when I got there because I really expected it to be much nicer than it was. I only wish that people were more honest in their assessments so that first timers such as myself know what to expect.

I am glad to hear that you like the place and enjoy yourself there. However, people’s tastes are not always the same. I don’t consider myself to be overly picky but I do know the difference between a place that is run down and a nice hotel. Captain Don’s, in my opinion, is ran down.

By the way, who is Jack Chalk? I didn’t meet him.

Some rooms are better appointed than others? I can understand that perhaps the paint job is a little fresher in one room than another but under no circumstances can the total lack of basic furniture be excused.

The clothes that you mentioned pretty much describes what we brought. My point wasn’t about what to wear; it was the fact that there wasn’t anywhere to put whatever you brought.

It did occur to us to ask when the classes would start when we signed up for them. We were told that we would be informed later. Then we weren’t informed until after the classes were supposed to have already started and we took the initiative to go and hound them about it. They even had the gall to act as though our not showing up on time was our fault! We weren’t the only ones that were treated this way either. Nobody showed up for the classes when they said that they were supposed to have started.

We did read the paper in our room that told us to get and examine our bill 24 hours before checkout. However, when we tried to, we were asked to come back later. When we went back later, there was nobody there! So, when we went to check out, we discovered that we had been drastically over charged. Guess what happened then! The front desk staff were of no help at all and there STILL wasn’t anyone in the dive office! We finally tracked someone down but it wasn’t exactly convenient.

We didn’t expect the dive boats to have an extensive tool and parts kit for overhauling every different kind of dive gear under the sun. We are used to dive boats having a few things on hand though. Those guys had nothing at all. You mentioned that our gear should have been checked out during the checkout dive. Well, it was. That was about our 10th or so dive since we had arrived. Plus, it wasn’t a major deal, just a loose hose on her regulator. All it took to fix it was a half a turn with a wrench. I don’t know where you usually dive or how often you dive but I want to tell you: these things happen.

I understand that Bonaire is small. I also understand that any business that doesn’t keep up with stocking what they need to run their business eventually goes out of business. There is absolutely no excuse for them offering classes that they have no materials for. Not to mention the fact that part of the course price covers the cost of the materials. So, we were ripped off.

I am very happy that your experience with the store was better than ours. However, I stand by what I said about it. It was closed more often than not even during the posted open hours.

By the way, the word going around while we were there was that the place had been sold. Also, there were plenty of other people there during that time who said they had been there before. They too were grumbling about how bad the place was and commenting on how much the place had changed since their last trip.

Good luck on your next vacation. Please let us all know about your next experience there.

For my next trip to Bonaire, I going to the Plaza.

The fact that you want to go to the Plaza speaks volumes to me - we toured it once, and found it too sprawling and impersonal, and frankly - snooty without any real good reason. We could barely get anyone to even talk to us, to direct us to what we were trying to find. And much too "resort"-y - not my cup of tea at all.

If I understand you correctly, the room you were in was probably owned by a private party and managed by Captain Don's. As such, they have no control over the furniture or lack thereof.

And I think you may find that the Plaza has as many faults as you've found at Captain Don's. They all run on island time, and if you can't deal with it and go with the flow, you end up getting aggravated and sour.

Yes, things happen. For all you know, there might have once been the tools for dealing with them on the boat, but they developed legs.

In Bonaire, you are in the "home of diving freedom", and with that freedom you also get to be responsible for yourself. Your wife was lucky - someone else on the boat was responsible, carrying the tools required, and she didn't have to abort the dive. What's the beef?

As for the rumour of it's being up for sale: that may be. Or it may even be just a rumour. Thank you for passing it along without corroboration.

Jack Chalk is the manager at Habitat, by the way. He may have been off-island while you were there, though.

As I said - we've been there 7 times. The last time was October. The next time is May. I expect to enjoy myself immensely.

People, particularly the first time, have varying expectations in regards to Bonaire. I thought David's report was an honest assessment of what he found. We all want to hear about the fantastic times people had, but we should also be open to the negative reports people give.

Susan, if you can't imagine going anywhere else but Cap'n Don's maybe you are no longer qualified to offer an objective response to someone honestly sharing their opinions and experiences. David doesn't care who owns the room he stayed in; if it was provided by Don's, then they are responsible for it's quality. He doesn't get assigned the nice room you probably get because they know you there, but he pays the same for his run down room as you do. I've never stayed at the plaza, but I would not be surprised to find folks who love it as you love Cap'n Don's. You might not want to know or dive with them, but that does not make them evil people. They might feel the same towards you. Different opinions are what makes horse races.
Sometimes having a mind like a steel trap means it's rusty and closed.

David, Thanks for the report. It is actually nice to see opinions such as yours. Everyone has a different perspective and it is good to see all sides.

PS, if your room is awful, don't take it, go back to the desk, and see more rooms until you find one to your liking. Not always possible, but you never know 'til you try. It's not always the luck of the draw, sometimes it's the pluck of the raw that leads to the brass ring.

Seb and Mary,

I don't dispute his honesty as far as his impressions (though I think his expectations might be a bit unrealistic and would be for any island not of the tourist-trap variety). I chose to read between the lines a bit, and see someone who hasn't quite figured out island time yet.

I believe I've stayed in the room he's speaking of - I remember there being no bureaus in one of the rooms I've been in. It may even be the room I'll be in this coming May - 301. It's clean, there's good maid service, it's right on the water with a wonderful patio deck where you can sit and look out on Klein Bonaire and watch the sun set. Are there rooms like that at the Plaza?

I disagree that Don's has any say about the furniture - they're acting as agents. If I remember correctly, the same is true at other resorts - Lighthouse, Sand Dollar, for example? I've heard about units being of varying degrees of shabbiness at those places. This was always attributed to the owners not updating the furniture. Why should Don's be any different?

But... you're in Bonaire, in a nice roomy place with a kitchen, bedroom, deck, and lovely view. But no bureau. How horrible.

If anything, I think that "rusted shut" crack applies more to him than to me. I KNOW there are reasons why some rooms might be nicer than others (such as the cost of bringing in new furniture to a remote island) at EVERY resort. I know that people treat you better when you aren't complaining all the time, too.

I feel very strongly that people on this thread should be able to post things as they find them. I read the threads very carefully before booking a villa last year after the security scares. We had a great time but went back to Lions Dive in October. We have stayed there many times but the change in management did not suit us. If asked I would give my opinion as I know that it suits other people much better now, we will not be going back.
I want people to stay in the 'right' place for them on Bonaire so they enjoy the island as much as I do. Perhaps Plaza lovers should get in touch with Dave. I personally would never go there because I am sold on private villas now but that's just my choice.

Mary, Corney Ann, and Seb: Thank you for your comments.

Seb: I did go back to the front desk and asked about another room. They told me that they are all the same and that there were no other rooms available. So, we were stuck with what we had.

Susan: As Seb said; “if it was provided by Don's, then they are responsible for it's quality”.

When I went there, I didn’t expect to be pampered as I would in a five star hotel. However, I am not a wealthy person. So, when I spend $7k on a one week vacation, I do expect to at least be treated well by the staff of the place that I am staying at.
When I ask a question of a staff member and their reply is “that’s not my responsibility” I feel the same way that you evidently did when you checked out the Plaza. I wont go back.
You evidently just don’t get the purpose of this board. This isn’t a place where everyone is supposed to give free advertising for the place of his or her choice. This is where people come to so that they can gather information and make informed decisions about how they want to spend there vacation and money. Everything you have said here so far leads me to believe that you only come here to defend Captain Don’s against any criticisms. Maybe you are even part of the management staff of Captain Don’s. I don’t know, or care. I gave my honest assessment and that is that.

7K??? That figure astounds me. I cannot imagine HOW you could spend that much for a week at Captain Don's.

Anyway... No, I don't work for them. I can however say that I have never ever been treated badly by any of their staff - even when I was a complete newbie to Bonaire and to diving. On the contrary, I have always been treated quite well - and I think perhaps it may be because I don't expect to be treated well because of how much I spend. I've never heard "that's not my responsibility" from anyone there, and I know that had Jack been made aware of it, the person saying it would have heard from him.

I know perfectly well what this board is for. My opinion is as valid as your's and I'm as entitled to speak it as you are. You had what you felt was a bad experience, and told the reasons why you felt that way.

I dispute those reasons being particularly specific to Captain Dons - and although I have not stayed elsewhere on Bonaire I've visited a lot of other places, and I think some may be nicer and some not; but ultimately your vacation is what you make of it.

I personally would not have let the things that bothered you ruin my vacation.

Susan, I too felt you were being defensive. It's great that you love Cap'n Don's. But I felt as though you were implying that David's comments weren't valid. His experience was his experience.

I have planned several trips from this website, and have found the info, both negative and positive, to be valid. People need to have accurate information in order to use it.

Your experience is just as accurate. But people need to know if others have had a different experience, so they can make informed choices.

Susan: You are reading between the lines again. I didn’t say that I spent the whole $7k at Captain Don’s. I said that I spent $7k on the vacation. That includes everything.
Nor did I say that my vacation was ruined by the poor accommodations and sorry service. I dealt with it and kept right on rolling along. All in all, I had a great time and will certainly go back to Bonaire. I just wont stay at Captain Don’s again.

Stop trying to assume what I mean and just read what I said. You are being way too defensive. So just chill out.

Furthermore, how can you dispute anything that I said? You weren’t there with me!

Your experiences have absolutely nothing to do with mine. I don’t doubt that you like the place and have had many good times and experiences there. To that, I say; good for you! I am actually glad to know that you have been completely satisfied every time you have gone there. I don’t dispute that matter at all.

I wish you a nice day, and a fruitful life.

Sheesh, can anyone read for comprehension (including myself, apparently)? I've had so many lovely vacations at Captain Dons that it actually shocks me when someone says they did not.

I regret that David had an unpleasant stay. I am saying that many of the things that he found unpleasant are not uncommon on a Caribbean Island where people aren't always hurried, aren't necessarily paid as well as you or I, and where imports are expensive. And sometimes people have bad days, and/or just screw up. I know I do.

---

quote:

I dispute those reasons being particularly specific to Captain Dons

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David: I've stayed at the Plaza the last 4 trips and have loved it - Big rooms, good beach and outstanding dive operation. I agree with those who seek an honest assessment even if its negative - it provides good food for thought when trip planning. Glad to read you will return to Bonaire.

Susan: Sorry if I was rude. I admit that I am starting to get defensive. I never expected to have to defend myself here for posting my experience at Captain Don’s.
I purposefully waited for a month before I posted my experience here in order to somewhat blunt my emotions. I will indeed try and chill out.
It’s too bad we aren’t closer together; I would invite you to sit down and perhaps have a drink. I admire your passion even if I disagree with what you may say sometimes.
I think that our room number was 305. Not 301. It was a ground floor Villa Studio located just past the ongoing construction of a new wall.

David, we stayed at Plaza two times. I think it's a nice place, with more people from Holland than in Don's. When we were there the people were very nice, friendle, and personal! We knew everybody at the diveshop and school. But of course, there are a lot more rooms than DOn's. So it is impossible to be personal with every staff member! We love it there, espacially the beach!

I guess I strired up a pot. I was only trying to post my experiences at Capt. Don's. I agree with the suggestion that everyone "chill out". Have a rum cooler on me.

Sometimes a pot needs to be stirred!

I'm making my first trip to Bonaire in March(20th to 27th) with my local dive shop (Staying at Buddy Dive) and have been reading these boards for a couple months. I've got to say I enjoy reading the trip reports so that I know what to expect. I think true-to-life reports, negative and positive, are very helpful as they let you know what to expect. Sometimes reading a few of the negatives that other first timers have with a location can help me to avoid those same pitfalls. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't stay there because of a negative experience someone had, just like I wouldn't choose a location solely because of a positive experience someone had. Both types of posts help me, as the first time Bonaire visitor, to find the good experieces and avoid the bad.

It seems that you've stayed at Capt. Don's 7 times Susan? I've been there zero times. I've been to Bonaire zero times. I think that David's post wasn't geared to people who have stayed there 7 times and love it. He had some legitimate concerns, and if they were things that were important to me, I'd want to know about it. You would be much better off posting about your good experiences as you have in the past. I can't relate to everything David said because some of what he was concerned with isn't important to me, but at least I can take something away from his post. From your post I can only take away that if Capt. Don's regular's (7x guests) attack others simply for sharing their opinion, like yourself, it is NOT the place for me.

As someone who is interested in all reviews and appreciated David's outlook on his experience, I was offended. Please don't discourage people from posting their experiences, good or bad, simply because you have a different opinion. Post your good opinion, let them post their bad, and let ME decide what's important to me. He's not trying to discourage anyone from going, just telling them his story.

Well said, Will. As someone who is pretty familiar with Bonaire (been 3 times, certainly not an expert) I still like to read about accomodations, etc. In fact, for our fourth trip this May, we changed from where we usually stay based on comments, then private e-mail from a BT talker.

Oh, and welcome to the board!

The only thing I'll reply to that, Will is this: I did not attack anyone. David and I have made our peace - I think anyway.

Please read the archives. I've posted links to my trip reports multiple times.

Welcome to the Board, Will.

Thank you for your post and it is duly noted. Maybe we'll see you in Bonaire. We'll be there March 22nd - April 6th and will be staying at Capt. Don's....just a few steps from Buddy's!

Have a great trip!

sept will be number 4 at the captain's. no need to stay anywhere else since the diving and rooms are the way we like it( laid back). no stress there. now if we can just find a way to get there!
monte

Will makes a great point. As I am a first timer, and am planning to stay at Captain Don's, I'm thinking about sending an email to the dive shop a day or two before our arrival to give them a heads up on our dive plans. We are not planning to dive every day but want to do our check out dive the first full day we are there.

Is the dive shop responsive to emails like this?

Thanks,
Debbie.

God, I love Lion's Dive!

Deborah,

As long as you get up that morning and attend the orientation (required in order to receive the marine park tags which themselves are required to dive in Bonaire), there's no reason to contact the dive shop and give them a heads-up. Once you've finished the orientation, you pick up your weightbelts and weights, grab a tank and you're good to go.

PS: Currently the tags cost $10 for a year. After April 1st they're going up to $25.

Thank you for the welcome.

Susan -> Yes, you have written about your trips, I agree. And I have read the archives. Hence the reason for the fourth sentence in my second paragraph "You would be much better off posting about your good experiences as you have in the past." where I noted that you had written helpful reviews about how much you enjoyed Capt. Don's in the past, meaning archives. Sorry for any miscommunication there, I'll try to be more clear next time.

I can sympathize with with David, I spent about 7k total on my first vacation to Bonaire. That was the February following Lenny. I tried to get into Capt. Dons but it was booked, I then tried Buddy Dive but they were booked. I ended up staying at the Sand Dollar.

Although we loved the island we had some issues that we had to deal with. We did have a great studio room but the service was not up to what we expected for what we had paid. Lenny had done a lot of damage and we were inconvenienced and received no discount in price. We got food poisoning from a market that has since closed and 36 hours that we were there was spent very uncomfortably between our bed and the bathroom.

We went out to dinner at Zee Zicht and had to wait for out check for 45 minutes (I was stewing because we had other things to do).

We were inconvenienced because most shops close between 12 and 2pm.

Groceries cost too much.

I had to wait for donkeys to cross the road.

The beers are small.

Yadda Yadda

All of this was before I had found BT. When planning my second trip, I found BT and asked about some of these issues. This is when I learned of a term called “Island Time”. I also learned that most of the waiters will wait to be asked for the check thinking you are relaxing and as long as no one is waiting on the table, why hurry. The term “Island Time” sure made some of these issues less of an issue the second, third and fourth trip.

Each time we go we try to stay for longer. The first trip was 10 days at the Sand Dollar, the second was 11 at The Great Escape, the third was 14 at Coco Palm Garden and the last was for 17 at Hamlet Oasis. I believe the longer you stay the closer to “Island Time” you get. Remember, the locals have been on “Island Time” a lot longer than we have and we just need to take things in stride.

Out next trip will be for 20 days and finally we are going to be staying at Capt. Dons. I can only hope that what David had experienced was just an isolated incident and will not be the norm from here on out. I take good post with bad and hope I can learn from others.

Aquaman

Aquaman,

Good post.

This coming trip for me will coincide with my 50th birthday, so... I have been exercising my rights as a very-nearly-official curmudgeon in this thread. I reserve the right to be equally curmudgeonly in the future. Don't say you weren't warned...

I'm all but certain that all the ground floor rooms in the Villas have numbers ending in "1", so it very well may be that I'll be in that same room as David and his wife were in.

Oddly enough, it seems every time I get to Bonaire the curmudgeon goes into hibernation (yes, I've been practicing for the official status for quite a while now - one needs to if one really wants to excel at something ).

So even if I don't have a dresser or bureau or someplace to put things away I know it won't bother me, because there'll be 11 days of beautiful sunsets outside the back door, and 9 days of diving in clear, warm water with fishes all colors of the rainbow surrounding me, mesmerizing me.

This is not to denigrate David's experience. I'm sorry he has such a bad taste in his mouth about Captain Don's, because I really think they are a first rate place to stay. I wish he'd been able to talk to Jack because I feel certain that Jack would have gone out of his way to deal with his issues.

My first time to Bonaire I didn't really even want to be there - I'd learned to dive solely because my husband enjoyed it so much, and he'd tried horseback riding (which was my passion).

I had done my checkout dives in New England in November, mostly hating the whole thing. I dutifully went to Bonaire, and had equalizing problems for the first few days, making me even more miserable. I couldn't imagine that slimy scaly fishes, and uck! eels! would be anywhere near as interesting to me as furry creatures, and I was so miserable that I couldn't even focus on anything that was around me.

Finally, we realized that my husband (who was a master scuba instructor and had been diving since he was a teen) and I did not have the same size eustacian tubes, and I would have to take it slow and easy. Well, my husband realized it, but you know that thing about not teaching spouses? It's true... I was anxious about diving in general, and I had to stop feeling that I was holding him up when I hung on the mooring line with my fingers clamped firmly around my nose, waiting for the pressure to be relieved.

That was the turning point for me. I started to look around, and... oh my god, it was incredible!

We ended up extending our stay to make up for the days I'd been too miserable to enjoy myself. In extending our stay, I got to spend the first birthday as a HAPPY diver on Bonaire, too. I loved Bonaire, I loved the people, I loved diving. My husband couldn't find his copies of Humann's books before we went down, and I went to the dive shop and bought new ones.

This was at Captain Don's. The following trip, all the dive masters and the people in the office and in Rum Runners recognized us and welcomed us back with hugs and smiles.

We've had some problems over the years (mostly with Maduro, though - so we don't even deal with them anymore). We were once charged for bike rentals, when it was pretty obvious at least one of us would not be renting a bike (it was before my husband had his hips replaced). I just reviewed the bill, told the girl in the office that there was a mistake, and after calling around a bit she took it off. I didn't take it personally, I just dealt with it and moved on.

I am not castigating David for not doing this. I think my point is more that Bonaire is like a drug - the more you go there, the more mellow and relaxed you get when you get there. Things happen? They can be fixed. Just relax...

David just hasn't been to Bonaire enough times yet. Wherever he stays when he next goes to Bonaire, I think the Bonaire syndrome will get him. It's only a matter of time.

Hi Susan
You mentioned that "M" word. Don't do that again it gets me extremely upset. Our anniversary-dive vacation was almost destroyed by Madura until Jack saved the day. Can't wait until July when we will again be visiting Don's. No more "M" words please!

A few observations from the peanut gallery:

BARRY:
$7k for a ten night trip staying at Sand $? How did you spend that much? I am truly interested.

BONAIRE LODGING & EXPECTATIONS:
Whenever someone asks where they should stay on Bonaire, I try and find out what is important to them. For Susan, Captn Dons clearly met those needs. For David, it clearly did not. It is clear that both have different expectations as to what the want in lodging.

Another factor in play: Susan has many positive memories of the place and David had high expectations. When something sub-par happens, Susan will temper that based on past positive encounters. For David, anything sub-par is all part of the first impression.

CHOICES FOR DAVID
Have you considered Harbour Village? While I have not checked out the rooms, the grounds are very nice and the feel seems super deluxe. In terms of luxury, it would easily top the Plaza (and the Plaza would probably be in second place).

All of the things that Susan mentioned (limited transport to the island, high cost of furnishings, etc.) can be remedied -- but at significantly increased lodging rates. David's priorities are not mine but they are equally valid.

CHOICES FOR ME
For the most part, my tastes align more with Susan. The twin beds, less than ideal furnishings and limited closet space would give me nary a pause. As long as the location is right, the rooms clean and the diving is good.

OTOH, I didn't especially like the feel of Cptn Dons and found it too large, too crowded, expensive and too impersonal. For me Carib Inn is the ideal (David would probably hate it and I know Susan strongly prefers CD).

BOTTOM LINE
Bonaire offers lots of lodging and many of us have our favorites. They key is matching your lodging choice with your level of expectations. Island time is a real thing and places do run out of things (and they still stay in business!). That said, I cannot imagine any property would be happy to hear about lapses in communication among their staff (the dive shop billing, dive shop not clearly stating when classes start, etc.). I hope you let them (i.e., Jack) know!

David....Great post! My original Trip Report was from an Innkeepers perspective and mentioned that everyone has different needs and desires when it comes to lodging. As in...my needs may be different when we no longer travel with a teenager.

We typically pay $10K for our annual trip to Bonaire.....but this also includes our Inn-sitters while we're off property. Airfare and at least one overnight layover is expensive from our home. So Barry spending $7K doesn't sound unreasonable to me.

David: Very well put. I do travel a lot so my expectations are probably a little higher than some people's. Also, thank you for the suggestion of checking out Harbour Village. I will certainly look into it for perhaps either my upcoming Fall or Winter vacations (Spring and Summer trips are already booked elsewhere).

For the most part, I have found the people on this board to be very friendly and helpful. Despite appearances, Susanf and I are even back on decent terms and I wish her only the best.

LINDA:
Thank you for reminding me that vacation time has a value! For some (like you), it directly equates to cash (those who own a business and must hire a temporary replacement, self employed who give up business during that time and those who can cash out their leave).


TRIP COSTS:
My trip costs (ppdo -- I tend to go with my brother) are around $2,300. That gets me: air (from Seattle -- I can make it in one day), two weeks in a two bedroom, 1.5 bath unit smack on the water (back deck 30 ft to the pool, front deck 30 feet to the beach), unlimited shore diving, taxes, and a pickup truck. For me , that is the lap of luxury: great location, lots of space, a huge deck almost right on the beach, and a bedroom all to myself.

Food is the only extra and I spend almost the same there as I do at home (I tend to eat out a lot at home and actually eat in more often on Bonaire).

DAVID:
Thank you. I would add that I think most on the board do have high expectations -- it is just that they are different expectations. I am brutal about location, feel, fairly clean, and value. And I like a pool.

I'll skip the nicer linens, granite kitchen, beautiful gardens and furnishings, and great bed if it means I can stay 50 feet from the water for three weeks instead of two. For others, time is more the constraint than money (few are blessed by having lots of both) and the luxury touches really make the trip and help them slip into vacation mode.

I pretty much have to have a pool and be near the water -- even if that means a shorter trip. That is the great thing about Bonaire -- they have lodging choices that suit a wide variety of tastes.

What are you other planned trips?

David: I'm with you on the pool. As much as I enjoy diving, I would still rather lounge around a pool than the beach.
I'm heading to Cancun and Cozumel for a few weeks in April. Then to N. Carolina for a week in July to check out the wreck diving.

David J.

Most of the 7k spent on the vacation was because it was the first time my wife and I had been there and every since I was first certified in ’82 at 17 Bonaire was the one place that I wanted to go, so I spared no expense.

The room cost $150 per night plus tax.

I rented a truck for the entire time using my Hertz Club Gold card and paid way more than I should have.

The dinner for Valentines Day at Den Laman was $160.

I also included the rental for the regulators and computers the wife and I brought from out local dive shop in Denver and other dive stuff bought for the trip.

Also included was the rental of a camera and the $275 dollar wide angle lens that we lost.

We bought 2 boat dive a day of which we only used about 4.

We bought lots of souvenirs

Lots of beer and other adult beverages.

The wife and I dove with Jerry Ligon for our Dive with the Naturalist class and also dove with him for our PADI Underwater Naturalist Specialty.

Lots of gas at Bonaire prices, we loved to drive around.

And probably lots that I can’t even remember

Aquaman

Our very first stay at Capn Don's was the week before Lenny passed by and we had a few issues as we did not get how things worked. However we went back because the diving freedom was excellent and the staff were helpful and friendly. This year we will be back twice in September and at Christmas for our 10th and 11th visits to Capn Don's; the format there really suits us and we feel at home. Rum Runners is now a top flight place to eat and the bar and restaurant have one of the best views on the island with very good staff. The dive crew are first rate and are very good when you tell them what you want to see. Our preference that works for us is the Junior Suites as they have loads of storage space, we don't want cooking facilities as we are on holiday and want to eat out. We also like the photo operation with Ernst and Wilco and we have taken photo courses with them that have made massive improvments to our pictures. I can't think of a more well rounded resort that is in tune with divers. I really missed seeing the Captain last year and we are looking forward to his show and mischievous humour this year now that his leg has been operated on.