Hi, I am going on my Honeymoon in Jan. 2006. I plan to spend 3 days in Bonaire, and a week in Aruba...(don't boo me...free Aruba accommodations).

Any recommendations on a place to stay? I have looked into Harbor Village, but it is pricey....heard anything about the Bellafonte? Any romantic places for up to $300 a night?

Is BonaireExcel reliable to get to Aruba from Bonaire?

Thanks for your help!

Will

William, do you want something on the water? I would think that Harbor Village, Bellafonte (no pool) or Belmar might be good choices...if you want to spend top dollar I've driven by Bellafonte and it looks very nice...I've sure others will have feedback as well. I've stayed at Belmar...if you can spring for one of the Penthouses, they are beautiful, and open air...get the jacuzzi...that will wow your new wife! Here is my trip report http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/1022/220428.html?1112901432

Having previously stayed multiple times each at Harbour Village, Plaza and Belmar (our current choice based on many factors pertinent mostly to us), I would recommend HV over Belmar and Bellafonte for a honeymoon. Don't know anything about Bellfonte except to pass it often on our way to/from Belmar.

While Belmar has lots of space not found at HV except perhaps in their deluxe suites, plus the benefits of a kitchen and very close (as in just fall in the water) access to its house reef, the ambience at HV is ideal for a honeymoon. It has a beach (which neither Belmar nor Bellfonte have) and the beach is both beautiful and almost always deserted. The grounds at HV are secluded, quiet and beautiful, and HV has restaurants on premises as well as nearby. You can easily walk to town for dinner from HV (about a mile, most of it along the brick-paved and well-lit coast road), which you can't do from the other two places. And they used to have a very nice spa, although I do not know if it is currently operating.

Now for the reasons we like Belmar:
- Spacious apartments (we take a ground-floor 2-bedroom regardless if it is just my wife and me, or our adult daughter joins us)
- Beautiful setting; well maintained property
- Not as expensive as HV, but not inexpensive either
- Ability to have a vehicle for shore diving, something we hardly ever did at HV except on their house reef
- Ability to have breakfast and lunch on our shaded patio
- Friendly/accomodating on-site staff (both apartment and dive shop).

Biggest negative to Belmar is you will need to drive to get to the boat at Buddy Dive (or elsewhere) unless they are picking up at Belmar (depends on the sea conditions and the number of people doing boat dives). I do not believe Bellafonte has any dive operations on site. HV has a on-site shop, but I am not certain as to whether their boat is currently running. Suggest checking with each place to determine their diving arrangements.

Regardless of which resort you choose, you should be pleased. And best wishes on your upcoming wedding and honeymoon.

I stayed at the Plaza for my honeymoon. We really enjoyed it but haven't stayed there since and that was in 10/02 so not sure about how things are now.

Dr. Director, when we stayed at Belmar a couple of weeks ago, the boat was picking up and dropping divers off at the dock. I assume, there were enough folks staying at the resort to make it a full boat. We didn't do any boat dives (with them) anyway...

Kids, unless William filled out his profile wrong, he's no diver

Thanks for the responses, and yes, I am not a diver yet. I am planning to get certified in a few months. My fiancé will just snorkel. I plan to dive and snorkel, if that helps with the recommendations.

Thanks again,

Will