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Accommodations: Question about Divi Flamingo
Bonaire Talk: Accommodations: Archives: Archives 2000 to 2006: Archive - 2006-03-01 to 2006-08-31: Question about Divi Flamingo
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Deborah Bennett (BonaireTalker - Post #18) on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 9:45 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

We are 4 ladies planning to com in Dec. 2 of us dive, 2 don't. One is my 80 year old mom. My question is: Is the view from the deluxe room (oceanfront) worth the extra $? Or is the garden view really a pretty view. I suspect my mom will be on the porch often. Would she enjoy garden or ocean? Would she meet people better with garden view? Or is it loud and obnoxious. Thanks so much!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2026) on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 10:05 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Personally, I love the ocean view the best. In the late afternoon the balcony can get rather hot so that is something to consider but the view can't be beat! The garden view is pretty as well. I have never found the Divi to be loud and obnoxious. The snorkeling is great right in front of the Divi.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Judy Workman (BonaireTalker - Post #19) on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 12:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Deborah, You might want to consider the timeshare units (you don't have to be an owner). They have both views in front of all the units and a screened in porch for the heat of the day. You also have lots of hummingbirds, parrots and chibi chibi birds in that area. We'll be there Saturday! Can't wait.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole B. (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5598) on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 6:15 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi, Deborah! Your MOm could always talk/wave to the snorkelers who swim by under the deluxe unit balconies! I Know I am always over there in the water. We love the Divi.

The Deluxe rooms are literally on top of the water/sea. The timeshare units (we are owners) are just a short few steps from the water/sea and the pool is right there, too. Nice little resting area with chairs, tables, hammocks and a little bar (it is new since we were last there) too.

It is not loud at the Divi and there a soooo many nice folks who work there and stay there I know all of you would love it.

Terrific snorkeling right there at your toes with a very small/intimate beach with chairs and some shade areas, too. East entry into the water, as well, which is important to me. You can see the fish before you even set foot into the water!

Nice restaurant for lunch and dinners...Chibi Chibi which is open air and over the water, as well. Breakfast is the at the Calabas Restaurant right at the beach. YOu can order lunch and they will bring it to you at the beach, too. (Calabas is not "on" the beach, actually, it is right above it! LOL.)

If you want additional room, space and a kitchen the timeshares are good (2 queen beds and a queen sleeper sofa, too). The deluxe rooms are on top of the water and you look at the many fish directly below the balcony. I think you can request a mini fridge for a daily fee in the deluxe rooms "if" there is one available. I know they try to accommodate anyone who has a medical condition with meds that require refrigeration.

So, I don't think you can go wrong at the Divi.

Let us know what you decide to do, OK? Ayo. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan - www.bonairecaribbean.com (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2234) on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 6:42 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

My 83 year young Mom loved the ocean view but it is hot at the end of the day...She loved Divi..didn't like paying 15$ for breakfast but there was not option for just toast and coffee..her only complaint...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Deborah Bennett (BonaireTalker - Post #19) on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 6:42 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank you so much. I'm thinking the studio might be a good choice for her with the birds and flowers and screened porch, especially if the deluxe gets hot in the afternoon.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole B. (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5604) on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 1:43 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Deborah....units 701, 702, etc. are close to the water/sea and little shaded table and chair area outside, too. Near the pool and the palm trees and other trees where the birds are. The higher numbered units on the first floor are over towards the road and parking lot. Units 721 thru 740 are on the second level of two levels with stairs to climb to access the units. It is an "L" shaped set up with 701 closest to the actual water and outside sitting area with cover from the sun, too. See if the lower numbered units on the first level are available. YOu can book thru Divi but can also follow up with the resort on Bonaire directly later on with your special request. We love 701, ourselves. We can find the direct number for Divi on Bonaire for you if you do book with them in NC headquarters or thru a travel agent. (lots of package deals with airfare and the room).

Keep us posted! Ayo. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gail Thomas (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1183) on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 9:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Carole - What does Ayo stand for? I couldn't find anything for it in the on-line dictionary - except for the Austrailian Youth Orchestra!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole B. (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5611) on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 1:10 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi, Gail....it's sort of like "Aloha" in Hawaii! Ayo...talk to you later....etc. cb

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lilian Markgraaf (BonaireTalker - Post #22) on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 11:17 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

It means goodbye.
I'm doing a course, Dosplak 'i boka.
Also looked it up in the dictionary that comes with the course.

Ayo ;)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole B. (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5614) on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 12:10 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks, Lilian! cb

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Blanchard (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #188) on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 6:17 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We have also stayed at the Divi for many years and I would recommend a time share unit on the lower level. These are rooms 701 through 720. That way your mom would have access to a kitchen to make breakfast or lunch while you dive. Also, there are always people at the pool or near the dive shop to talk to. The screened porch will be handy if it gets too hot for her.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lorraine Meadows (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1009) on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 7:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I agree about the lower timeshare units. It is so nice to be able to be out on the screen in patio and over looking the pool and the gardens and the ocean. Great place to read a book or do people and birdwhatching. The convience of having your own kitchen is nice too. Like a small studio apartment.
The Divi resort is not that expansive where you are that far away from everything they have to offer whatever room you choose.
I like 711 thu 714 myself.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Deborah Bennett (BonaireTalker - Post #21) on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 7:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank you so much for the info. We booked thru Cardonna Dive adventures, and I'm going to request that area you suggested (low 700s)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Deborah Bennett (BonaireTalker - Post #22) on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 7:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

One more question: If we took an upstairs unit instead of a ground floor (studie), would the view be significantly better? Thanks!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole B. (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5620) on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 10:37 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi, Deborah! I Would imagine the view upstairs would include more of the water/sea than downstairs. If you don't mind going up the stairs with things you need to carry then it should be fine. The tall palms might block some of the higher view, tho.

Again, unit 721 would be second floor but on the end closest to the water/sea. That one might be good. Corner unit.

Let us know what you decide to do. Caradonna is the best way to go for help planning your trip. You can request a specific room when you book the trip but direct contact with the Divi Flamingo on Bonaire by email and phone call is the very best way to ask for a specific unit/area. They will try to accommodate you if the owners are not booked for the same time you will be there. Ayo. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike O'Brien (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 12:23 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Why go through Caradonna? I'm thinking about the deluxe rooms over the time share 701 or so. Also, concerned about the non-diving wife, but she didn't have a problem in an OWB on Tahiti earlier....

Other comp is Eden Beach, but it is tough to get a feel from the sies I have found. No overall resort map or real wide-angle photos.

Also, heard that the reef off of Divi sustained alot of damage a couple of years ago and off of Eden did not. Any input???

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron Gould (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #524) on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 9:47 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

The reef damage that you speak of is the other way around. That is why they call the Front Porch divesite "Edens Rubble". The Divi (Calabas) is in good shape... Ron

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Freddie (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7371) on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 9:50 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ron is right Mike BUT and there is always a but, the last time we were there and dove "Edens Rubble" along with being on the underwater cam and seeing Willie we found 3!! countem THREE !!seahorses.. Sometimes rubble diving is the way to go!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Grasshopper (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #18149) on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 10:05 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I agree with Freddie, I've had some phenomenal dives at Eden. I can't even name all the things I've seen. If you look, they are there. Baby scorpion fish, eels, juve spotted drums, chronoids, jacks...I need more coffee so I can think...lol! Where's Tom, he can help me...lol!

Divi and Eden have different pluses too. Eden, nice big beach. Bongo's is right there in the sand to sink your toes in and eat and have drinks and watch the sunset. Divi is larger, more restaurants, more of a "resort" feel (IMHO). I don't think you would be disapointed with either:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Griffith (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Saturday, May 20, 2006 - 10:21 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Greetings, we are back from our trip and liked the Divi. I might be able to assist with some decent feedback for you Mom.
Our 4some got to experience both units the last week of April.
We had some drama upon check in where we where moved from our booked studio's with Kitchen to the "upgraded" oceanfront rooms... we of course wanted a Kitchen unit not the non kitchen oceanview rooms so we had a few concerns with management but they eventually found us our "lost unit" and we took one of each unit.

The ocean front, view was great but the porch is small espically if you are thinking about having 4 people on it. It won't really work well.
Bathroom is nice, much bigger than studio units, tub&shower, decent for privacy.
Negative on it as well was we found the ity bitty bitting midges to be really bad on the oceanfront units vs our screened in porch on the studio unit.
Finally if your mom has an issue with stairs she won't really like these units. You have to either go down stairs or up to get to the rooms. So if this access is at all a concern go with the Ground level studio units.
That said the studio unit, has much smaller bathroom facility, a stand up shower only but decent equipped kitchen. It is also a much larger room than the oceanview it even has a small lounge area and your screened in porch.
We easily fit our foursome on the porch for lunch & dinner on several evenings.
So since I have the benefit of Hindsight I would go with the ground level studio unit.

Happy diving!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lorraine Meadows (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1016) on Saturday, May 20, 2006 - 9:02 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Glad you like Divi Ruth, and I think your comparison about the rooms and the studio is very good.
I like to hear about it from a person who is not a timeshare owner like myself. Sometimes I think I'm a little one sided about the timeshares. Happy to hear everything worked out and you had a great time.

 


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