This could probably go elsewhere in the Bonaire Talk site, so Jake, if you want to move it, feel free... We're looking to make our seventh trip to Bonaire this winter and are considering some of the luxury villas available. The open concept of the porch and kitchen areas trouble me a bit regarding the safety issue. We've had first hand experience of both beach theft and break-ins and we're a bit worried how secure these grand home/villas are. I would expect they'd have reasonable security measures, even just the "stick in the door track" but otherwise I'd think these homes would be a greater target for thieves. What are the opinions out there?

Hi Freda, this is the right place, you're asking about accommodations. A suggestion would be to email the rental company of the villa you are looking at renting and ask them what security measures there are at the villa (security system, Wo Wo Di Bario, bars on the windows, etc.). You might also want to ask them if there have been any break-ins at that particular property. That is really the way to get the most accurate information about a particular property. A lot of the villas have installed security systems, put bars on windows, and have taken extra measures in the last couple of years to make the property safer against would-be break ins.

Hi Freda, we have stayed in a few luxury villas and the security varied. If you give us a few places that you think you might like to stay folks will chip in with the info you want. Personally we bring very little of value and won't stay anywhere there isn't a reasonable size safe. We also have a portable motion alarm.

It might surprise some of you but some of the people who actually own and live in those "luxury villas" are some pretty ordinary people. Not only that but as you probably realized most of the people on the island do not live in a state of siege. Not only that but if there was actually a significant problem with this there would be a glut of these things on the market for sale.

Look at it this way none of the neighbourhoods that you are coming from are totally crime free. Reasonable precautions are going to produce a reasonable level of security. There are many places in the US that if stuff is left in cars it gets ripped off.

Bonaire is absolutely one of the safest islands around and a stay out of town is an experience not to be missed. Your biggest problem is that it might get expensive when you find that you also just gotta have one ;)))))

david

superd...I completely echo your comments. I've traveled throughout the Caribbean over the last 25 years...Perhaps the one "safer" island I found was Little Cayman, but there really isn't much there (outside of the Iguanas)!
So freda use everyday prudence, put your essential documents in a safe & get out and enjoy the island. Cynde's advice to you is excellent.

Thanks, everyone, for your comments. We're still a little twitchy about renting outside of a resort. We stayed at LBR in '02 and had an attempted break-in during the night. I heard a slight noise and came down to check. Turned on all the lights but didn't see anything amiss. In the morning we found that screens had been cut on two windows in an attempt to get in. The police came and did their police thing but said it happens often and we were just lucky. While we're there in January or February this year, we'll personally visit some of the other places which are of interest to us. That way we can talk with someone there and find out what the security issues are. I'm also interested in Julia's portable motion alarm! Never heard of one but it sounds worth exploring. Thanks again, guys, but I think for this season we'll stick with a known entity. I know, I know, there are probably the same risks associated with a Sand Dollar unit, but it feels safer with more activity close by.