By MONTY FORBESS (BonaireTalker - Post #31) on Thursday, December 1, 2005 - 2:01 pm: |
have stayed at cpt don's sand dollar(2) and buddy's (5) was thinking about belmar this time, wondered if anyone out there had stayed at both places and had a good comparison or preference between the two, only shore dive so the boat schedules aren't important, thanks for the help
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By Vince DePietro (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #139) on Thursday, December 1, 2005 - 4:35 pm: |
Both are great but I lean more towards BelMar (although I've never stayed in the units at Buddy but have done many dives off their dock), especially since you are not interested in doing boat dives everyday. I do a lot of diving on the southern sites & Bel Mar is convenient for this. The dive operation is the same as Buddy, so if you dive north you can drop off or pick up tanks at where ever it's convenient, Buddy Dive or Belmar.
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3527) on Thursday, December 1, 2005 - 4:43 pm: |
I love Belmar ! The rooms are very spacious and very clean, it's smaller, the pool is fabulous... I could go on and on. I am a huge fan of Belmar.
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By David Frank (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #220) on Thursday, December 1, 2005 - 8:24 pm: |
Just completely different atmosphere. Belmar is small, quieter, out-of-the-way, no onsite restaurant, whereas at buddy you've got 3 or 4 in walking distance. No hustle and bustle for/from the boats at BelMar (we pretty much exclusively shoredive too).Have stayed at Sand$ several times, never at Buddydive, but we are now BelMar devotees. We like the proximity to the southern dive sites also. Returning 12/20, count-down in progress.
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By Marcus L. Barnes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #412) on Friday, December 2, 2005 - 1:52 pm: |
Just returned from Belmar in September and booked again for June. This is 3d accomodation we have tried and we are planning to stay at the Belmar on yearly basis going forward. Belmar Rules!!
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By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15482) on Friday, December 2, 2005 - 2:11 pm: |
Ya know...I think we should all stop raving about Belmar...it's going to be hard to get a reservation there if we keep on raving about it...LOL! (or maybe not LOL!)
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By David Frank (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #221) on Friday, December 2, 2005 - 3:03 pm: |
Er...yup, absolutely dreadful place. Why do I keep going back? Just a glutton for punishment. The NOISE, the CROWDS, the cruise ships docked at the Belmar pier...the loud partying til 3AM...
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By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15485) on Friday, December 2, 2005 - 3:49 pm: |
David, thank you for posting the truth about Belmar...I absolutely agree...absolutely dreadful...and you're right about the cruise ships and the noise. I do wish they would find another place to dock!
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By Linda Stoltzfus (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #741) on Friday, December 2, 2005 - 5:05 pm: |
I was wandering when you guys would wise up! HA! Reservations are going to be tough.... no, wait, not for such a place in disrepair.....
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By Kelly Baum (GDLW) (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3529) on Friday, December 2, 2005 - 5:13 pm: |
And let's not forget the horribly rude staff. It's a crime how they treat you.
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By Linda Stoltzfus (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #742) on Friday, December 2, 2005 - 7:24 pm: |
And the photo opportunities...TERRIBLE
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By Dr. Director (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #112) on Friday, December 2, 2005 - 7:40 pm: |
Nice picture of "the agony of da feet". Too bad there is such a pretty lady blocking the sunset. Whoever took this picture should have asked her to move left or right. (Joke here, just in case you didn't understand my sense of humor.)
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By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15494) on Friday, December 2, 2005 - 8:11 pm: |
Linda...how did Megan suffer through it all? Man, that is the most disgusting picture I have ever seen...LOL!
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By Andy & Dave Bartlett (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #413) on Sunday, December 4, 2005 - 12:34 am: |
Monty, BelMar is smaller than Buddy's, it only has 22 apt. BelMar does not have a resturant/bar on site, but there is one across the street at Great Escape. BelMar is south and Buddy's is north. Check out BelMar through www.infobonaire.com We love to stay at BelMar because it is quite and laid back.
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By Kevin Wayne Williams (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #8) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 10:32 am: |
Just curious: isn't my restaurant and bar at The Great Escape as close to most of the rooms at the BelMar as the "onsite" restaurant is to the rooms at Buddy's?
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By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15569) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 1:37 pm: |
Kevin, yes, just look above at Andy's post...she does indeed mention the Great Escape right across the street...as many do when this question comes up. I had the pleasure of having coffee, and a chance to surf the net at your place ($5.00 for unlimited access all day is great) last time I stayed at Belmar. It was very convenient. Your staff is extremely accommodating, I also love the outdoor area where you serve breakfast by the pool In fact, I can still smell the salt air as I was walking across the street
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By David Frank (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #224) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 4:31 pm: |
Kevin,
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By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15582) on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 5:04 pm: |
David, it was convenient to have a cup of Joe and surf the net, looking out at the pool!
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By David Frank (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #225) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 12:58 am: |
Ms. Hoo,
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By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2597) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 10:23 am: |
Hi David! Have a great and safe trip! Jersey weather here is the pits lately, so go for it! Look forward to a trip report when you get back!
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By David Frank (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #227) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 10:43 am: |
Debbie,
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By Cyn Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15593) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 11:01 am: |
David, have a great trip! It was funny, I happened to go there by chance because we had NO coffee at our place...so I quickly remembered there WAS coffee right across the street...along with the internet access. The GE property is very nice
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By seb (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2485) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 11:58 am: |
Heck Dave, I been packing for WEEKS!
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By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2598) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 12:07 pm: |
David,
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By David Frank (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #228) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 1:53 pm: |
Hang in there; think of all the cigs you DIDN'T smoke!!
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By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2604) on Friday, December 9, 2005 - 4:17 pm: |
Thanks, David. Hangin' tough and keeping real busy with the holidays is a help. I will be thinking of you all over the holidays. You too, Seb and Mare! Very lucky people you all are! Can't think of a better way to spend the holidays!
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By Cynde Loo Hoo NMT2 (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15614) on Saturday, December 10, 2005 - 2:09 am: |
Hang in there Debbie...25 pounds is easier to lose in the long run than beating lung cancer...I know how how the extra weight makes you feel mentally and physically, but again, once you get off the cigs for good, the weight will eventually come off. And if it doesn't, there is more of you to LOVE AND, as David said, think of all the cigs you didn't smoke
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