We just returned Aug 3 from 8 nights at the BelMar. This condo was the prettiest and cleanest and most pictoresque place we have ever stayed at. The management was friendly and Butchie the 24 hr. security guard was very firiendly. We were on the second floor room12 and it was so airy and white and clean. Could sleep 7 easily. My son slept on the airy balcony every night. It was so pretty that I saw many families do take out from the restaurants and eat it on their balcony. Us included. This was really a family condo unit. I would definetely stay there again. Even though we were held up in San Juan airport for 2 days for maintence plane problems and when we got to the condo our side of the island lost power than the next day our side of the island lost water it was a very relaxing stay, very safe.

Glad you enjoyed BelMar, it is a great place to stay. We have stayed 2X's and love it. Andy

We stayed at the Belmar this summer (July 13-20) and I have to say that it was undoubtedly the best place I've ever stayed on a dive trip. We were in room 11 on the 2nd floor, and everything about the apartment was fantastic. It was a sheer delight to be there, and the staff (including Butchie) were incredibly helpful and nice. It was GREAT!!

Does anyone know where Irene ended up after she left Belmar?

Great girl and excellent manager and I hope she found good work on the island because I know she didn't want to leave.

David, I THINK I remember someone mentioning that she went to Sand Dollar. Maybe someone can confirm this.

David, I did a search and according to this thread, she is at Port Bonaire.

http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/24/200487.html

David...Irene is at Port Bonaire and Tasmi is at Sand Dollar!

Wow, looks great on the website. Rooms 11 & 12 - what type of rooms are they?

How is the diving operation? Tanks available 24/7? Quality of car rental?

Looks like a definite contender for March 2006 trip....

Thanks in advance!
Jim

Jim, it's better than it looks! We stayed there on our last trip, and the condos are fully stocked and beautiful. The furniture (to include patio furniture) is top notch. The dive op is run by Buddy's and tanks are available 24/7. they have lockers for your gear, and tanks down by the docks. there is also a tank hold by the road that you can access 24/7. You get a key when you check in with the dive shop. For more pics, here's my trip report.

http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/1022/220428.html?1113436478

We are planning to go to Belmar for the first time in February 2006. Would you recommend staying on the first, second or third floor? It sounds like most people are reporting on stays on the second floor.
Thanks

Jay, any of the floors are good. The first floor units have dive lockers by the doors. However, they have dive lockers on the property (literally steps from your unit). The views are all pretty much the same (spectacular). I belive the only 3rd floor units are the 2 Penthouses. We stayed in #22 in March, and it is spectacular. We'll be staying there for a few days in October.

We have stayed in units 4 & 6 and loved both of them. We get a 2 bedroom on the ground floor, it is the same price as the 1 bedrooms on the 2nd floor. We use the 2nd bedroom for our dive gear and photography gear, that way it is not spread out all over the living room. Besides you don't have to go up and down stairs, just walk out of your patio doors and you are only feet away from the ocean and the dive piers. But it really would not matter which unit we were in they are all great.
Andy