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Accommodations: First Timers to Bonaire....Any advice on Accomodation?
Bonaire Talk: Accommodations: Archives: Archives 2000 to 2006: Archives - 2006-01-01 to 2006 03-01: First Timers to Bonaire....Any advice on Accomodation?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lucy McMahon (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 1:23 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi

My boyfriend and I are thinking of going to Bonaire in April which we are both really looking forward to. I think the weather is fine then but does anyone know? Will the diving visibility be good?

I have dived for years but my boyfriend has only been a couple of times. It seems that people tend to go off on their own to dive....we would want to dive with a group or instructor. Would that be easy to sort out? Anyone used 'Wannadive' before?

We were thinking of staying in a studio or low budget style accomodation, somewhere that we could be on our own (ie, not a large family resort) but also not too isolated so that we can get out to meet people too. Where would you advise for a young couple who just want to dive, eat / drink and chill out to stay?

Also - do you think 3 weeks would be too long on the island? I thought staying in two places would be a good idea to break it up a little..I think it looks brilliant but I just want to check as it would be a shame to go to the wrong place.

Any advise would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Lucy

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Julia Graves (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #815) on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 1:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Lucy, welcome to another UK BT'er. :pic I wish I could get three weeks on Bonaire! I would think that you would like Eden Beach and Wannadive very much. There is a nice beach bar ? restaurant and the rooms are good. If you want to ask specific questions e mail me direct.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Taft (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #597) on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 2:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Lucy, most folks would love the chance to stay in Bonaire for three weeks! If you do some keyword searches here you will find info on the topside attractions as well. I usually am in Bonaire in April and the vis and water temps are great as is the weather. As to diving with a group, you could do boat dives or hire a divemaster but the shore diving is sooooo easy that once your boyfriend feels more comfortable you will probably want to take advantage of the ease of shore diving -- no set schedule, sites you choose, your own depths and times. Navigation is very easy on Bonaire and you do not have to go deep to see wonderful things. My husband and I had very few dives in our log when we first dove in Bonaire and followed this advice: swim to the marker,take a compass heading to shore, drop, note the depth of the cement block, go left or right (usually not much current to check but always a good idea), turn back at your predetemined time/air consumption, find the marker and head in. Email me if you want specific information about dive sites or do a keyword search here for information.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Francesca & Paola (BonaireTalker - Post #30) on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 11:10 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Lucy,
what a luck to stay 3 weeks!!
We are snorkelers and we stayed in a fast new lodge in the south Bonaire,Belnem. It was very clean, not expensive and the owner organised bbq evening so the guests (in total 2 accommodations for 6 people)can meet and have nice chat on the big porch. You can surf on the infobonaire.com accommodation pages for low budget an search for Aquarius Lodge. For diving, yes Bonaire is really different, you rent your tanks and you go on your own, but diving centres offer you also guided dives.
have a great fun in Bonaire!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Kaye (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #129) on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 11:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'll add a recommendation for Black Durgon Inn, a budget-priced ten-room inn on the ocean just north of the Sand Dollar/Buddy Dive/Captain Don's resorts. (Be sure to ask for an ocean-side room; the others look out on the street and car parking.)

Everyone has breakfast (included) at the oceanside in the morning. At other times, the kitchen and dining area (roof for shade and weather protection, but open on the sides) is communal - you can cook there if you wish, make your drinks - all makes it easy to meet and make friends with other guests. The eating area is at one side of the landscaped courtyard. A locked cage for dive gear storage is at the other side. The inn provides tanks for diver guests. Rooms are "basic" - beds, dressers, small TV, airconditioning, fans, bathroom with shower, no phones, tile floors. Most oceanside rooms have a small patio sitting area by the room. We've never felt we needed more. We'll be back there for our fifth visit next month. (On our second trip to Bonaire we stayed at Sand Dollar - lovely, much more costly, and no chance to meet your fellow guests - our next trip we hurried back to Black Durgon and we've never stayed anywhere since.)

David

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Josie (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1161) on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 9:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Gotta put in my recommendation for a family-owned budget accommodation (where I am currently for 5-1/2 weeks --- definitely not too long...): check out Bonaire Town Homes, www.bonairetownhomes.com

It's in a quiet neighborhood, lovely fully-equipped bungalows (one one-bedroom and two two-bedroom units), with great outside areas for hammocking, eating, etc. The owners, Benny and Ester, are delightful and their only goal is to make sure their guests have a great time on the island they love. This is my seventh stay here, so I must like it....

If you have specific questions, you can even email me (Benny is happy to let his guests use his computer) --- email address is info@bonairetownhomes.com. Put "For Josie" in the subject --- I get all my email down here!!

Definitely, three weeks is NOT too long onthis lovely island.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rich Penksa (BonaireTalker - Post #69) on Saturday, February 18, 2006 - 9:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Consider the Eden Beach Resort and on site operator (WannaDive). It's laid back, the rooms are nice and the bar is the best on the island.
When I saw your question on the visibility, I just smiled. I think SCUBA magazine rates Bonaire number 1 or two in the world for vis.
As far as diving w/a group or instructor, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised how easy it is to hook up w/other divers or sign up for a boat w/ Wannadive; but I think you will be mostly surprised at how easy and fun it is to dive with just the two of you. The shore diving is so easy. If he doesn't get the hang of entering from shore, there are sites where you literally walk off the end of a dock or down the docks ladder to the best diving in the world. Navigating is also very easy there. Which is why this Pollack loves Bonaire the most. The sea slopes gently right back to the shore, so you always no which way shore is. We just enter, swim to the dive site which is usually marked w/bouys, go down and head right or left for half a tank, then back and out. I'm heading back to Eden Beach this July and I wouldn't stay anywhere else. Also pick up "Bonaire Diving Made Easy". It's a great book to pack with you and help you decide where your going to dive and how to get in and out from the various sites.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lucy McMahon (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 7:20 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks a lot for all the replies. What a help you all are! I am busy checking out all the accomodation sites on the web now.

I am getting increasingly excited about our trip and any worries of us both diving on our own have now disappeared as it seems easy to do that or dive with others too.

Hurrah!

Thanks again.
Lucy

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michael Stanfield (BonaireTalker - Post #41) on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 10:30 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I would second David Kaye's recommendation to consider the Black Durgon. Great diving at the Small Wall dive site which is just off the dock. We like being able to do a dive at any time because all our gear is just a few feet from the dock or drive if we want more variety. The owners are on site many times during the day so if there are any needs for guests they are handled quickly. I had a small problem on my regulator last trip that they solved quickly and kept us diving for the day. Doris's breakfasts are the best. She did consider limiting me to 6 pieces of French toast last trip but my wife shared hers so everything was great. We will be returning there in June.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lorraine Meadows (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #964) on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 10:58 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

We have stayed for at least 3 wks for awhile now.
We own 2 wks timeshare at Divi and usually rent a villa for the rest, but I have stayed 4wks in row at Divi.Was really spoiled with maid service.
The troulble with it, is that you really never what to leave LOL
Black Durgon is a great place for a causual atmoshphere and easy diving, though never been but have heard lots of nice things about.
You might want to try Bruce's Carib Inn. It's on the same casual style,easy diving and a short walk to town.(other side) again by heresay.
We all have our favorites here.
You migth want to try Larry's Wildside diving for a dive "on the other side" of the island for something differnet.
For 3 wks you will most likely rent a car or a truck, see what the deal is for 3 wks , it might come out to almost the same, you have to ask.
You will find your way around easily and it will feel like home in no time.
We been coming to Bonaire over 20yrs and always have our own new experiences each time.
Easy to be! Have fun!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3071) on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 12:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Lucy, welcome to Bonaire Talk. I don't believe a three month visit would be too long! I have been increasing the length of my visits and am now at 16 days each trip.

All of the recommendations our fellow BTers have given you are excellent. The only thing I would like to add, is that Bruce Bowker also provides trips to the East Side. He has been doing it since 1973. See: http://www.caribinn.com/diving.html

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Margie Condon (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 12:23 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Lucy, 3 weeks is NOT TOO long at all! We have been going to Bonaire for about 12 years now. We stay anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks at a time, AND we have been bringing our children since they were 5 months old. They are now 6 and 10 and can't wait to come back next year. We rent a house on the water and stay there the whole time. We have stayed in Hato, and Belnem, and have loved every place we stayed. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the place you pick. Have a great time!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By eugene grimes (BonaireTalker - Post #41) on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 2:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We just did a week at the Black Durgon..It was our 3rd trip back! it is a Small inn, Simple rooms, in a great spot...Beautiful diving right from there dock..Very Easy..Your boyfriend will be very comfortable diving there!!

http://www.blackdurgon.com/

Pix from the reef @ the Black Durgon
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/grimes34/slideshow2?.dir=/9537&.src=ph&.beg=0&.spd=2

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nanette Oselett (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 9:13 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We just returned from our first trip -2 weeks visiting Bonaire. We wish we had stayed 3 weeks. If you are looking for a reasonably priced, small, clean, nicely located studio consider Hamlet Oasis unit 27-4. It has a great view and good location that an easy walking distance along the ocean front to Don's & Buddy's. The unit is really small (european standard) with 2 twin beds that we pushed together. It is listed in For Rent by Owner and through Bonaire Partners. Too be honest,even at 62, during our 2 weeks I missed some nightlife so walk to Don's or Buddy's and party a little. Sand Dollar and Den Laman also have nice studio's but check if Sand Dollar has screens.

 


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