Hi! My husband and I will be going to BON 5/6 - 5/13. We're hoping to find a place with AWESOME sunsets from the deck, and mellow and quiet, yet convenient to dining, diving, etc...

We've considered Buddy Dive, but are worried that it may be too "big" for us, and they won't guarantee ocean front.

We're thinking of Belmar, but can't tell how close it is to dining, diving (and do you have to drive to Buddy Dive for all boat dives anyway?)

Any suggestions?? Ideas? This board ROCKS! so helpful! THANKS!

By convenient to dining, diving etc. do you mean walking? Bonaire is small enough that everywhere is convenient if you have a vehicle. I would strongly recommend the Belmar to you from a diving and view standpoint. We stay there and won't even consider anywhere else. I have to stop doing this - the Belmar BT'ers aren't gonna like it. Good Luck.

Rachel,
My wife and I have stayed at the Black Durgon Inn the past few years. Sunsets are great from either the dock or the patio. Diving is right off dock and just a few yards to the Small Wall dive site. There are only 8 or 10 rooms so everyone gets to know each other. Breakfast is provided but if you need to eat out you have about a one mile walk to town. If you are renting a car then you have many choices just a few minutes away. The owners are on site at the hotel so even small requests get fast attention.

Black Durgon sounds like your place...you'll likely need a car, though.

Two great dives right off the pier...Small Wall to the left and the house reef to the right.

The sunset from the dock is at the end of this slideshow:
http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewalbum.html?bm=90101

The Belmar is conveniently located next to my hotel and restaurant, but there aren't any other dining choices within walking distance. You do generally have to drive to Buddy Dive to do boat dives.

Black Durgon is great (our fifth stay there coming up NEXT WEEK), but be sure to ask for an oceanside room. The land side rooms look out over a narrow walkway to the parking lot and nearby road, and you have to walk around the building to the beautiful courtyard. But that's only three of the ten rooms (#1, #4, and #5). Our experience is that they will tell you exactly what rooms are available for your dates, and that you will get the room that you have reserved. (Our favorite is #6, which has a slightly elevated private porch overlooking the courtyard, but we've happily stayed in others of the nine rooms numbered 1 through 10, but who's counting?)

At Black Durgon, the included breakfast is served in the covered waterside dining area. At other times of day it's a communal kitchen, which you can use for your own meal/drinks/snack preparation as you wish - and without missing the sunset! If you don't want to dine out every night but you don't want to cook, there are local food takeout places where you can buy a generous dinner plate and bring it "home" to the inn. (We're going to mix it up, with some meals brought frozen from home, some takeout, and some restaurant meals.)

David

Another option is the Carib Inn. Small, 10 rooms, 4 on the ocean, most with kitchen. Wonderful reef right there great five masters and expert fish iders if you are planning on lots of boat diving.

A five minute walk to town, so some folks who boat dive and do the house reef do not rent a vehicle. Sunsents and a drink are the 'big' social event of the day. Quiet, laid back. Hope that helps. BTW, staff if wonderful, if you want more info, email me. Lydia

David - #6 - that's MY room!

Sorry - back to Rachel's questions.....

"AWESOME sunsets from the deck, and mellow and quiet, yet convenient to dining, diving, etc..."

Yep - that's the Black Durgon!

Some good opinions here I'm surprised the Belmar fans haven't posted Hee hee ;-)

The rooms at Belmar are nice and have a full kitchen. The view from all of the balconies are fabulous.

The kitchen at BD is an open air community kitchen by the water. That may make a difference to Laura. Also, Cap Don's would be the closest restaurant to Black Durgoen, too long of a walk for me in the heat IMHO (since I hate the heat) but might not be bad for someone that doesn't mind heat. It's what, a half a mile (keep in mind I am terrible with distances) lol!

What dive shop does BD work with? Do boats come to their dock?

HI Cyn to answer your questions...

We handle our own diving and have our own dive shop (equipment, repairs, air, weights, etc.)- and arrange boat diving for guests if they choose to do so - not from our pier at this time.

And Captain Don's is less than 1/2 mile (about 10 min walk) - but may feel longer for you Cyn since you like to walk in the heat

Hey Rachel! My wife and I will be there during May 6-13th as well. We decided to try Buddy's...hoping to get the oceanfront room we requested. From what I hear the diving is great as is the food at the pool bar and restaurant.

Hope you have a great and safe vacation!
Shane

Hi Rona, thanks. DUH...I now remember you telling me that you have your own dive shop at Black Durgon (I must have not had my coffee when I posted, I apologize). And yea, I don't like the heat so ANY walk more than to my car is too much for me...lol! I am still amazed at your guest "Stan"...

I also have to say that Small Wall and the dive site in front of the BD is one of the best dive sites on island (IMHO). And if you click on Rona's name Rachel, you will see the beautiful eating area and view at the BD

Rachel..Do stay at the Black Durgon. We just returned home from a 9 day stay in David's favorite room #6. We were leaving as he and his wife were arriving. We relaxed many an evening on the dock with a cocktail or beer watching the glorious sunset. In the morning we enjoyed delicious breakfasts prepared by Doris and watched the show on the water: full rainbows, fish jumping, arrival of local shore birds, etc..
We had fun sharing the days events and stories with fellow guests. And, of course, we loved the hospitality of Rona, Rick and darling Emily.

The diving is wonderful and easy off the dock. Dining is easier to get to by car, but it would be a nice walk in the evening for dinner since it is cooler when the sun goes down and there is usually a breeze. There are some nice places within a mile or so from the BD.

No matter where you stay or what you do you will enjoy Bonaire!

Cathy and Ron