Hi,

My wife and I are going to be spending a week in Bonaire in mid-January. I am an avid skin diver and will probably do some scuba; my wife isn't so interested in snorkeling. So, the Divi seems like the place for us since it is an easy walk to town and appears (from most reports) to have great snorkeling on-site. The location would allow me to go for a dive in the morning while the wife sleeps in, and she could walk into town if she gets bored while I am enjoying life underwater.

So here are a few questions:

1) Does the Divi sound like the right place?

2) Is there anywhere other than the Divi that fits this bill that we should consider? Eden seems interesting but sounds like it is a long walk from town and that the on-site snorkeling isn't as nice as at Divi?

3) How is the view from the studios? We can't decide between getting a studio (so that we have a fridge for leftovers and cold drinks and a kitchen for the occasional meal) or going for the great ocean view that the deluxe waterfront rooms have. The view from the deluxe rooms seems pretty spectacular but the web site mentions the studios as having ocean views?

4) Should we reserve a car before we arrive or just rent when we arrive?

Thoughts?

Thanks,

E

to Bonaire Talk Edward. I am sure all your questions will be answered by the morning.. To me the Divi sounds like the perfect fit for you and your wife... I am sure you will have a great time no matter where you stay...

Ed..You may also want to consider the Plaza which has a great beach & also very good snorkeling. Also, I think there's a bit more to do there. There rooms are pretty large & do have a small fridge.
If you're renting a car or truck, why do you have to walk to town? It's pretty hot walking on the island at mid day!

You should rent your vehicle before arrival as you will be in Bonaire during "high" season.

The view from the Divi deluxe waterfront rooms is awesome. You can request a small frig for these rooms but would not have the cooking ability. But there are restaurants on site at the Divi and you can easily walk to some restaruants in town and with a rental car you can eat at any of many great restaurants. I have stayed in both the studios and the ocean front rooms. We prefer the ocean front rooms.

Night snorkel around the rocks and the piers can be geat if you stay around the rocks and the piers/docks.

Enjoy !

When will you be there? We have a small group that will be at the Divi January 20-27, 2007. We're all in the oceanfront rooms and requested the mini-fridge, if there's enough to go around. It's our first trip to Bonaire, can't wait!

We thought about the plaza but heard a couple of things that discouraged us:

1) Jet noise might be a problem for light sleepers. My wife is a very light sleeper and was worried about the reports from other light sleepers that have stayed their that the red eye arrivals woke them up (my wife likes to sleep late)

2) A long walk into town.

What do you think about these?

Hi, Ed! If the full, unobstructed ocean/water view is a priority for your decision then go for the deluxe hotel side room. We are owners on the timeshare side and love it over there but you really won't have the "in your face" waterfront view as much as the Deluxe rooms. Maybe the second floor on the timeshare side has more of the water view but with the new lounge area by the dive shop (very small area with hammocks, some tables and chairs, etc.) I have a feeling the timeshare water view will not be totally unobstructed. Full water view is on the Deluxe hotel room side. We do love the convenience of the kitchen appliances and a more room to move in the studio but the final decision must be yours.

You will love the snorkeling at the Divi. We get into the water there and just float and hover and soak in all of the underwater beauty and marine life...totally awesome! Be certain to swim in both directions when snorkeling by the Divi....so many great spots to see the "show".

Have a wonderful time! Carole