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Accommodations: SUPER cheap month stay
Bonaire Talk: Accommodations: Archives: Archives 2000 to 2006: Archives - 2001-07-12 to 2002-10-06: SUPER cheap month stay
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Christopher Wheeler on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 12:07 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'm a student wishing to due marine research in Bonaire. I plan to come in July for a month. I was wondering if anyone new of super cheap rates. $1000 US dollars for the month is my cap and thats pretty high, so something cheaper would be more ideal. I'm willing to camp out in someones backyard if I can use their bathroom and kitchen. I'll housesit. Just looking for as many cheap options as possible. If anyone's got an inside scoop I would most appreciate it. Thank you!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 7:55 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Friars Inn should be open by then. Look at the site http://www.friarsinn.com . It is located in Kralendijk so it is central to most places.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Sulsona on Friday, June 7, 2002 - 9:18 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi there folks! I have about 6 divers that want to come in September for a week of diving, and I wanted to hear your suggestions for accomodations...maybe a house, or even the new B&B being built? What do you think...?
Thanks for your help.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Josie on Saturday, June 8, 2002 - 9:37 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

You could use the two units at Bonaire Town Homes: one one bedroom bungalow and one two bedroom bungalow, next to each other. Not on the water, but quiet location, budget but high quality, and great on-premises owners. The units have double beds that can be put together or taken apart into two singles, I believe. Full kitchens, great sitting outside area (with hammocks), and gear washing/hanging area.

We're planning our fifth visit to Bonaire next February and found them on our second visit. No place else for us....

You can check them out at: www.bonairetownhomes.com

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Sunday, June 9, 2002 - 10:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jim,

The least expensive place to stay will probably be Friar's Inn, which opens soon. The rates on the site (http://www.friarsinn.com) don't include the required nightly tourist room tax of $5.50/person per night (which I know they will be charging & paying).

I should also note that there are some rental services which do not list or charge the tourist tax (I've seen at least two Dutch rental sites in the last week that fall in this category), which is illegal. If any of you are offered a rental and are told that no room tax is due, paid for, or charged, look elsewhere, as that place is not legal, and therefore is not checked by DEZA (business/economy department) to make sure they abide by all local rules and regulations for accommodations, which protect tourists and hoteliers/innkeepers alike.

Similarly, car rentals should be accompanied by daily tax of $3.50, and there are subject to a 5% sales tax too (lodging is not subject to sales tax).

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cheryl Gregory on Friday, July 5, 2002 - 11:10 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Greetings from Florida! I was wondering about the Friar's Inn. It labels itself as a Bed and Breakfast, however, looks like a hostel. Do you know if they have any rooms with private bathrooms? Thanks in advance! Cheryl

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan at Bon Bini Divers on Saturday, July 6, 2002 - 6:52 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Cheryl,

You may wish to look at http://www.travellersinnbonaire, which has economical studio apartments with private bath, and also just opened.

Susan

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor on Saturday, July 6, 2002 - 7:55 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

The URL is http://www.bonairelodging.com/friarsinn/
Really nice people who run it!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Saturday, July 6, 2002 - 8:52 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Yeah, but is it a hostel or a B&B? :-)

Seriously - is there a text book definition difference between the two?

I know B&B's in New England which don't have private baths (and I don't believe any room at Friar's Inn has a private bath)...

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cheryl Gregory on Saturday, July 6, 2002 - 1:31 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the info! Jake, I guess I have a preconceived idea of a B&B being very private [no bathroom sharing]. We are looking into staying at Belmar or Lagoen Hills. Our 14 yr old is doing her check out dives next weekend in West Palm Beach, and then in one week, we go to Islamorada where our 10 yr old is getting her Jr Open Water Cert with Lady Cyana Divers.
Does anyone know of good 'children friendly' dive outfits on Bonaire? I'm sure they all are, but any that you would recommend over another? We found Green Submarine, but no one has commented on them here, that I have seen. Thanks for any input. [{:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker on Saturday, July 6, 2002 - 2:57 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

From the photos on the site, it appears there are bathrooms in one location....correct me if I am wrong. It looks like a nice place, tho! I wish them well. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian J. Walsh on Sunday, July 7, 2002 - 8:02 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Cheryl,
We have had good luck at Sand Dollar, two of our children did their checkouts there with Ann. They were 13-14 at the time.

Last summer there were no rooms at Sand Dollar so we tried and loved Belmar. Our 11 yr old did his check outs there with Monique and had a great time. The boat dives from Belmar are on the Plazas boats. We did one and it was nice, but we do almost all shore dives.

Brian

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cheryl Gregory on Sunday, July 7, 2002 - 11:31 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Brian,
Thanks for the info! We just want their experience to be 'first rate'. It seems from this chat area, that I would have to work hard to have a bad experience on Bonaire! That gives us just the confidence we need. Krissy [14] will be certified by the end of this week, and Megan [10] should be certified at the end of this month in Islamorada, the Keys, here in Florida. We just want to be sure we aren't in a rushed, environment where we are packed in.
Would you recommend a rental if we stay with Sand Dollar, Capt Don's, etc?
Thanks,
Cheryl

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cheryl Gregory on Sunday, July 7, 2002 - 11:34 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Carol, I was thinking the same thing about the bathrooms, according to the construction photos on their website. Cheryl

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian J. Walsh on Sunday, July 7, 2002 - 2:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Cheryl,

If you mean car rental yes. Besides the shore diving you will want to see the park. We do a mid trip no dive day and go to the park with a lunch. It take a few hours to do the park right. We also eat out a lot and use the auto for dinner.

As far as crowds I would not worry. At many dive sites we are the only ones in the water. On the August boat dive there were 10-12 divers but 6 were my family.

Brian

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rita Daggett on Monday, July 8, 2002 - 11:06 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

re B&B vs hostel, in UK and possibly rest of Europe, at one time a B&B would have almost certainly not had private bathrooms - B&Bs were run largely by people with a spare bedroom (or more than one) letting it out to guests. If they had more than one bathroom, then all the guests might share one while the family used the other. Hostels were usually dormitory-like accommodation - so no privacy for sleeping even!
But standards are changing, and a lot of B&Bs now provide some sort of private bathroom (tho it may be a shower and WC carved out of the bedroom).
And I think even hostels have gone upmarket, tho dormitories are still likely.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech on Monday, July 8, 2002 - 12:20 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Frairs Inn is more dormitory style with bunk beds in some rooms. For a classic American style B&B complete with pool look at Deep Blue View.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Jota Villa on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 6:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

John J. Villa (icq:15122145)
Hi,

I'm looking for a place to stay in Bonaire for about six months, so, i'm looking for the best offer. please contact me at jotalink@bonaire.com or jotalink@msn.com

Plus, if anyone can help me giving me information or advices about the lifestyle there, what kind of clothes should I carry there to be confortable with the weather, where i can buy the food at a reasonable price or the like, I will really appreciate. Thank you very much

Buen dia:

Busco un lugar para quedarme en Bonaire por alrededor de 6 meses, por lo cual, estoy buscando la mejor oferta al respecto. por favor contactarme a jotalink@bonaire.com ó jotalink@msn.com

Ademas, si alguien puede proveerme informacion o consejos acerca del estilo de vida alli, que tipo de ropa debo de llevar alli para estar comodo con el clima, asi como donde puedo comprar comida a un precio razonable entre otras similares, en realidad lo apreciare muchisimo. Gracias,


John

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 6:48 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

John,

You really don't need to post the same message more than once. It's already been posted in this area for (scroll up, go to Accommodations, and look at the top-most topic, subject is "Six month stay").

Jake

 


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