We are coming to Bonaire for 2 weeks in May-June. I can't decide between the Belmar and the Sanddollar. We will have 4 adults, Mainly snorklers/resort divers and a 22 month old toddler.
Are one of these resorts better for a small child?
Thanks!

Kristin

Belmar - quieter location. Pool immediaately outside your front door for little one, you can supervise easily. Need a car to go anywhere other than the one neighboring hotel, restaurant. Aesthetically much nicer, newer, better landscaped, better access for shore diving as your room is feet from the water.

Sand$ - somewhat larger. In addition to onsite restaurants, immediately adjacent to Habitat, Buddy and their restaurants, bars. small grocery, ice cream place right there. If you are boat divers, your boat will leave from sand $. From Belmar, the Buddy diveboat only sometimes picks up. We stay at Belmar and have used their shop for shore dive fills, done boat dives with toucan which is much closer than driving to buddy dive to get the boat.Either way you'll need a car to get into town and to shop for groceries etc.

Sand dollar used to have the sand penny club for 2-4 year olds. don't know if it's still there.

David

Yes, Sand Dollar does still have the Sand Penny club and now they've initiated the Stinapa approved ReefBall project in full swing to encourage coral growth in the shallows. It's a first for the island! There is more information on it at their website. Have fun!

We do have a special children's pool (about 15'x15', 18" deep) across the street from the Belmar. It's open to families that are eating at our restaurant or drinking at our bar. Children require parental supervision. I don't know if the Belmar itself or the Sand Dollar have similar things.

I "think" you can still use the pool at Sand$ if you are eating at the Baraccuda Club. Kristin, the big difference between the pools at Belmar and Sand$ are that Belmar's pool is on the ocean, and Sand$ is set in quite a bit and part of the restaurant.

Belmar has no restaurant, but as Kevin posted, the Great Escape is across the road and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Thanks for the info about children's pool.

The new pool is owned by the Barracuda Club at Sand Dollar Resort and it is open free to all Sand Dollar guests as part of their guest package.

Linda, if you are not staying at Sand$, but eating at the Barracuda Club, can you use the pool?

Belmar has small kiddie area of pool attached to main pool I believe.

That sounds great - the pool at the Great Escape!
I may actually get some relaxing meals.
Is there a website with the Great escape menu?

I think we will do Belmar, maybe we will meet you Kevin, we will be in Bonaire May 20-June 3rd.




Thanks!

Kristin

David, is it the little thing to the right?

That would be it. About 18" deep, the separator in the pic is just below the surface. apt#4 probably right behind it.

David

Funny, I never put it together until now. I remember little kids in that part last March

Kristi I have never stayed at Belmar, but if diving in the immediate area is important, the reef at Sandollar is better IMO. Don't know which spot is better for snorekling. Maybe Cyn knows.
m

ok...those of you planning on diving into the pool from the upper floors...aim to the left.

Margarite, having stayed at both, I think the reef at both are very good. There is a longer swim out to the reef at Belmar, but there is a huge rock between the piers that house a LOT of critters, as well as the piers. Dylon and I saw a LOT of things in the shallows off Belmar (as you do at Sand$). Eels, octopus, etc. I think for snorkeling they are the same IMHO. You have the rubble piles off Sand$ that have a lot of interesting stuff as well, and snorkeling South or North toward Buddy's is always interesting if you stay along the wall.

Diving, I think they both have good house reefs

Pat, LOL!

I also think the reefs are fairly similar having stayed at both. We have seen as good a variety of fish and reef critters at Belmar as at Bari reef and there is no question that the Belmar house reef is less heavily dived. While the swim out is shorter at Bari reef, the entry, proximity of the dock to apts., and less boat traffic favor Belmar. That said, you can't go wrong at either.

David

Cyn,
The pool of Barracuda Club is still open to the public according to the SD General Manager. However, they are under new management this week so I cannot say if that will continue. The pool will always be available free to Sand Dollar guests as part of their guest package.

Linda, thanks. I knew the pool was open and free to guests at Sand$. I hope they continue to let patrons of the Baraccuda Club not staying at Sand$ use the pool while eating (I mean the kids use the pool while eating) LOL!

Funny, I thought that Barracuda Club owned the pool too. That's what they told me when I was there. They had to buy the pool too. Wonder who really knows the scoop?

I think Cyn is getting you confused, Debbie. Linda said the pool is the Barracuda Club's pool, is available to the public, and is available to Sand Dollar guests. Barracuda Club is getting new management, so Sand Dollar doesn't know what rules the new Barracuda club management will have. I can't imagine that the Barracuda Club will block access to Barracuda Club customers.

Thanks, Kevin, yeah, I was getting slightly confused, it doesn't take much. LOL! No, I don't think they would either.

Well, there I go again, mucking it all up...lol...Kevin, thank you. I guess I just "assumed" (I love that word, notice how "ass" is at the beginning, always gets me in trouble) lol, that the pool would be available to Sand$ guests...I hope the new management continues to do this. Guess it's time to send an "official" email to find out what the scoop is so I can post "accurate" info...again Kevin, it's fabulous to have you on the board!