Hello, I was hoping I could get some input from some w/experience on the island. As I have never been to Bonaire. Last year we stayed on 7-mile beach in Grand Cayman. My wife and I are planning a Thanksgiving trip to Bonaire for around 10 days, I am a diver, she is not, so I need a resort with a nice beach and ammenities of course for her while I'm diving. We've been looking at The Plaze and Divi, who has the better beach,and ammenities. And also what about the dive operator for each of the resorts. Thank you for your help.
Gary

Gary,

I deleted your duplicate thread - trying to focus any conversation that happens.

Anyhow, Plaza is quite a bit bigger than Divi, and also has more facilities (more bars & restaurants, etc.) and a larger beach. Divi is probably a little more intimate in comparison.

But, you'll shortly hear feedback from fans of both no doubt :-)

Jake

I have stayed at both. Divi is smaller and more intimate. Closer to town, nice little beach and great restaurant. My oceanfront room was clean and neat and FABULOUS with a little balcony overlooking the sea teeming with fish.

Plaza was divine for my family. 9 Year old Maggie snorkeled off the beach (amazing reef) and 78 year young Mom LOVED the long sandy beach. Huge resort..lot of walking..I only slept there but the oceanview grand suite was GRANDE..noise noticed from the bathroom vents from neighbor next door.


U cannot go wrong with either. Toucan is at Plaza and is supposed to be SUPER!!

Annie
Cape Cod

We have stayed in a junior suite and in a 2br villa at the Plaza. Didn't notice any noise at all. The beach is nice, large for Bonaire. Toucan is the best. All the divemasters are very helpful. We are returning in 80 days and once again staying at the Plaza.

We have stayed at the Plaza 2x just recently March. As far as I am concerned I will never stay anywhere else because Plaza has one of the few sandy beaches on Bonaire. Service is great, casino, restaurants, breakfast buffet daily, great dive shop,tennis, great pool,.Yes it is more expensive, but with all the amenities it is worth it. And you are and feel secure. Great reef off from their beach to snorkel. Have both times stayed in the ocean view grand suite and it is BIG. Town is a 10 minute walk. Divi is one block closer to town, that is all I can say about Divi as I have never stayed there. The airpport is a 3 minute drive. Sailboats, (small) available for rent at Plaza beach.

Gary, We also stayed on Seven Mile Beach last year. We wanted something a little less crowded this year. So we're headed to Bonaire in 8 days! We booked our first night at the Plaza and will decide where to spend the rest of our two weeks when we get there...it's part of the adventure! Being Innkeepers, we are a little picky and have been disappointed in the "sight unseen" bookings of the past. I'm a new diver and we're traveling with our 12 yr. old daughter so pool/beach are important amentities for us. I'll report upon return.

My husband and I also are trying to choose where to stay. We need a kitchen (we like to eat in at times) but seems like none of these are on the water. We like to snorkel so that kind of leads to the Plaza. Any comments on Eden beach?

J&J

I have not been inside Eden but Bonaire Pros owner Patty Hazen says it GREAT! The only concern I would have it having a room on the Bongos side. Music can go out into the night. The beach looked fab but I was there at Bongos..

Annie
Cape Cod

Joyce, Divi has timeshare units with small kitcens (full kitchens, however) 2 double beds and one pull out sleeper sofa (queen size) in them. Perhaps Divi can accommodate one of these units? The snorkeling is fantastic and there is a good restaurant/bar there, dive shop facilities, mini market, massage/therapy shop, small/intimate beach, tanning pier, etc. Two pools. Not as fancy as Plaza, but we love it. Carole

I wouldn't worry about the noise from Bongos, it usually closes down pretty early unfortunately. There was only one event night when it was noisy, and it wasn't really noisy, and I was in #36, right across from Bongos.

OOPSSSS..Patty Hazen is not the owner of Bonaire Pros..Anthony Rapetto is..Forgot Patty's biz name but Patty is the agent that has spoken to me re: Eden. Sorry Anthony and Patty...

Annie (who really needs a vacation)
Cape Cod

Patty's is The Sailboard Center.

And it is ANDREW not Anthony..

I will tell you what's what here..anyone from MA knows the schools have this horrendous testing called MCAS and I am responsible for testing at our school along with the other Guidance staff..along with KOTcape/Caribbean and well, other stuff..so ignore ANYTHING I say or do til May..LOLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Annie
Cape Cod

The Divi Flamingo is less expensive, the Plaza has a bigger casino (than the Divi).Food is about the same price at both; the Plaza seemed to have nicer restaurants, though. The Divi is closer to town by a block or so. The Divi is time share, or course. Bruce Bowker's Caribe Inn is across the street from The Divi, we stopped there and toured his facility. For about 90 to 110 a day you get a large clean room with Microwave, stove and Fridge. I might try that next time. Plaza only had cooking and fridge in the high price rooms, so did the Divi Flamingo. They are more than what Mr. Bowker wanted for a comparable type of accomodation. Richards By the Sea Restaurant between the Divi and the Plaza was a good quality place to eat. It ran about 40 to 50 dollars for a drink and entree for two people total.

My vote has always been with the Divi Flamingo, but then again we're timeshare owner's. Divi is a more intimate and casual palce. Newly renovated and a shorter walk to town. Both have great dive shops. One of our favorite places to dive is right off the pier at Divi. It's easy to be there. Wherever you choose, cann't go too wrong! Have fun.

Hi there, Lorraine! Good to see you back on the board. Yup, we love Divi, too. Carole

Hi Its Joyce again. Still trying to decide where to stay. Looking for help. Here are the priorities:
1. Best place to snorkle right at the hotel (we are not divers).
2. Need a kitchen for eating in at times.
3. Would like at least a small beach.
4. If possible, a room on the ocean.

Questions are:
Is the Plaza worth the extra $'s?
I understand Eden has the best beach but what is the place like?
How does the BelMar and Divi compare to the Plaza?

I hope someone can lead me down the right path as our time is getting short. We plan to go in July.

Thanks for any suggestions you can give.

J&J

Based on what you are looking for, Divi is the only place....get studio, 50 ft to pool and ocean...piers at your doorstep to watch sunsets, swim etc; easy walk town...Plaza, long walk to their beach...snorkeling is very good at all the resorts

Eden Beach has studios or 2 bedroom (multi-floor) units. The pics on the website look like the units I have seen. Beach is very nice and they have a pool. I don't know about snorkeling right there - have not done it. The major difference would be the extra amenities that Plaza or Divi offer - casino, spa, multiple bars or restaurants (onsite or easy walking distance) - both are larger resorts.

I am a tried and true Divi man. Since they have made the renovations, I even love it more. We walk over to the Plaza on non dive days, and just hang out for a while. Although I like the Plaza, the Div just has that Caribbean feeling that I love.

My sentiments exactly, James.

I'll be at the Plaza next month for my 2nd time.
I will never stay anywhere but there.
I did look around several other resorts when I was in Bonaire last time.
Hands down the Plaza is the only 5 * resort on Bonaire. The rooms are HUGE. Well worth the money. The reef behind the resort is the best for both snorkeling and diving. (I do both) Not a far walk at all to the beach.
And the breakfast buffet is outstanding. It's only 76.00 for the whole week.
Let us know when you decide.

Natasha,
We are going to Bonaire next month also for the first time and staying at the Plaza. What type of room did you stay in when you were there last time? I am used to big beach islands so wanted to stay where there is some beach. Started snorkeling 5 years ago and hear it is great in Bonaire??? Looking forward to just getting away. We have been to Anguilla the past 3 years, a small island and we really like the casualness of small islands. Anyway if you have time was just curious about what type of room you had?
Thanks
This BT board is excellent help on planning our trip. I have never seen one of these on islands before!

Angela, you can't go wrong staying at the Plaza. We are staying in the oceanview jr. suite and the rooms are very large. This Thanksgiving trip (Nov 22-29) will be our 9th trip to Bonaire and our 5th time at the Plaza. We were there last, June 24-July 1,2002. It is only 14 weeks from this Friday. The Sat flight out of Bonaire on the 30th was booked on AJ. For the BT's that are there for Thanksgiving, we should try a get-together. We have had over 2" of rain, the last three days here in Houston. It has keep the temperature below 90, first time since January if think???

Gary,
Thanks for the info on Plaza. It amazes me how many people have been to Bonaire over and over. I can't wait for my husband and I to go. We leave Sept. 11 and really need the break. I am anxious to see why it is such a repeat island for so many. We have been to Anguilla the past 3 years and love it because it is small and casual. I am a real beach person but have just got into snorkeling more. This BT site has been unbelievably helpful. Thanks again.

Angela

P.S. Can beat you on the 2" rain, we have had 9" Mon. & Tues.

Angela, we can't top your 9" of rain, but we did have 4" from 6AM to 8:30AM this morning.

I am going to Bonaire for the first time mid september. I am staying at the Plaza Resorts. I am certified but my friend is not. Does anyone know about receiving OW certification ? Any advise for my trip...
Thanks
Steph

Contact the dive shop where you are staying for all your options: info@toucandiving.com

You may also want to see if your friend can do some of the pool/class work where you live, so that you don't have them lose time while on Bonaire doing mundane things.

Jake