Hello everyone! I've been a BT lurker for several years (since we started diving in '02). Well, we've FINALLY booked our first trip to Bonaire for May 12th through 20th, 2006!

We're pretty sure that the best place for us to stay is Buddy Dive, but I have a question regarding some of the room/apt. types...

Just wondering if anyone can tell me about the "Hotel Rooms" they have at Buddy Dive. If it ends up being just me and my husband (we're hoping to travel with another couple we know), I can't really see us needing more than one of their hotel rooms, since those include a small fridge. My only reservation would be if they are in a crappy location or if they don't have patios/balconies. It doesn't mention much about them on the website...

Our other option would be the studio apartment (still considering this, as they are only a few bucks more than the hotel rooms).

Any input is greatly appreciated!!!!

If you're looking for answers to some specific questions about Buddy Dive, try reservations@buddydive.com. This email address takes to right to the resort and to what I have found to be a very helpful staff.

We've been to Buddy's about 8 times now over the last six or seven years, and we've always stayed in the one bedroom apartments. The added features of microwave, stovetop, sink, dishwasher, and refrigerator are quite handy. Keeping the fridge loaded with cold water and drinks is great, and even if you're not gonna do any cooking, having a microwave is great for heating up leftover dinner food for lunch. We've always stayed in building 4; poke around on their website and you'll see a map of the premises, and definitely email them directly for answers to any of your questions.

Hi Rebecca my husband and I just returned from our first trip to Bonaire in September and stayed at the Lions Dive side of Buddys. We loved it so much we have already booked a return trip in January. I agree with Scott the advantage of having a kitchen is great and I don't cook on vacation. It's worth the little extra money! I hope you enjoy your trip, I know I'm an addict after only one, and can't wait for January to come. Have a wonderful vacation!

Thanks Kristin, for your reply!

I did end up emailing Buddy Dive with my questions and they were very helpful.

Was wondering, though, about the size of the safes in the rooms--do you recall? Are they big enough to fit some electronics in, or just big enough for cash and other small items?

Also, if you don't mind, were you able to leave personal items out on your balcony/patio while you weren't around (for example, wetsuits/towels/etc) or is that not a good idea?

Thanks again for any insight you can give us...

The room safes are big enough for wallet, cash, passport and perhaps a few other small items. My PDA fits in it fine, so I'm sure an I-pod would, but certainly not a portable CD player and probably not most cameras.

I feel that Buddy Dive is pretty secure -- there's always a security guard around, and there's not really much in the way of non-guests milling around most of the time. That said, the degree of security an individual takes is most definitely a personal choice. While my opinion is that there's not much risk in leaving stuff outside for short periods of time (and certainly NOT overnight), there absolutely IS some risk. It doesn't take a full time theif from the island to steal something -- all it takes is one jerk guest wandering by who says to himself "I want that". The gear room at Buddy Dive is pretty secure and has room to hang wetsuits. It would also depend on whether you're on the first floor (less secure) or an upper floor.

Rebecca, if the difference in cost is not a deal breaker, I would go for the rooms with the fridge, stove, microwave...very very handy to have as an option to eating out all the time (could pay for the cost difference right there)

For a view from room 8, building four (second floor), check my profile.

Hi Dean!

Thanks so much for your input. The room that you posted the pic from...was that one of the hotel rooms? Just curious.

We like the fact that the Hotel rooms are on the 2nd floor, but the ammenities of the studio apt. would be nice to have, too.

We may actually end up sharing a 2 BR with some friends of ours who are trying to work it out so they can join us. (They have an 11 month old).

Thanks again for your input!

Hi Rebecca we had a one bedroom apartment and the safe held quite a bit. 2 cell phones, 2 ipods, a small cd player, small digital camera plus the usual passports, etc... I wonder if the size of the safe varies from room to room. We were very careful to not leave things out, but definitely felt very safe at Buddys. In fact we felt very safe on the island itself. We did notice people leaving wet suits and towels on their patios, and it seemed fine, however I would second the suggestion to not leaving anything out at night. And of course second floor units are usually safer. We were on the first floor and never had any problems. Feel free to respond if you have any more questions!

kristin, i agree. bonaire is a very safe place but crime can occur anywhere. by now everyone has heard the warnings about not leaving valuables in the cars, leave the windows open and the car doors unlocked. we've never had a problem...but we are careful. i don't know of anyone, man or woman, who has ever told me that they have felt unsafe walking alone anywhere on bonaire at anytime of the day or night.

but just because it's a safe place doesn't mean you don't have to take precautions. take your gear in at night and lock your doors when you're gone. leave the lights out too (anyone breaking in will have to use a flashlight which might attract attention). and remember, it's not always locals who are stealing stuff...some tourists steal stuff too. i remember a few years ago talking to a woman who had a video camera taken from her car at slagbaai. she thinks another tourist who was parked near her took it.

Hi Pat great advice! Believe me living in NYC I am over the top about crime and taking precautions. We practiced the same while on Bonaire. Having been to Curacao(sp?) the previous year, we definitely did not feel safe walking around and had to take cabs virtually everywhere. Completely different feel on Bonaire. But we heeded all the good advice we got on BT and had a wonderful trip with no problems. And so looking forward to our January trip!!PBD is hard to take!