Hello to all the Bonaire talkers - this is my first post.

Your board came highly recommended by the people on scubaboard.com who have been helping me in my quest to find a diving holiday. Having a quick look about - I can see why!

I am very excited, we have bought air tickets to Bonaire and are planning to go in August. We have a pretty tight budget but the accomodations places have been pretty good at offering deal prices (because there are 3 couples going for two weeks, I hope rather than anything bad about B in August!).

The best value for money offers we've had so far are from Eden beach and Deep Blue view and we need to make a decision soon. Can anyone help? Anyone stayed in either/both of these places before?

Eden beach seems to be a favorite of the ladies because it appears to be literally ontop of a sandy beach, (and the divers don't mind cause it's right near dive sites and wanna dive right?) but is it a nice place to stay - will we be disappointed by the studio apartments?

Deep blue view looks v. nice and lovely accomodation, but is a little further from the action I think.

I'd appreciate any opinions/advice.
Kind regards and thanks
Bex

PS. How do you pronounce Bonaire? Bon-air or Bon-ar-e or Ben-air?

I am surprised you did not get a better deal at Buddy Dive or Plaza or Carribean Courts? They usually run very good specials on their 3 bedroom units.

I know you can get excellent deals at Carribean Court for a lovely 3 bedroom unit and you have an on premises dive shop that is first rate. Send them an e-mail & i think you will be happily surprised with the rates.
I have stayed at Eden Beach and the units are nice. But there was a serious security problem during the 2 weeks I was there. Numerous room thefts, some while the people were sleeping in an adjacent room.
If the security has improved at Eden Beach, it's a good choice. If it is the same as before, I would keep looking for something else.
I have not stayed at Deep Blue, but by all reports posted on this board, it's a winner.

Hi,
My name is Olivier Domingo and I am the managing Director at EDEN BEACH RESORT, altough i do not think i should intervene in this type of board, because of my obvious interest, i want to keep a certain degree of veracity,Ms. GREENBERG stayed with us during high season and when i saw her message I was very surprised, since in my 33 months as director I have never had room thefts, EDEN BEACH RESORT is one of the only resorts on the island with 24 hours security, and almost all guest leave their front porch doors open, in any case I have sent messages to my guest that stayed at EDEN BEACH RESORT during MIMI's stay
to invite them into this discussion so we can see more than one view.
I thought this question was between EDEN BEACH RESORT and DEEP BLUE VIEW, the biggest diference is that EDEN is on the beach and BLUE is on the mountain.

Olivier F. Domingo
DIRECTOR.
EDEN BEACH RESORT

As you can see Olivier, Mimi seems to be a busybody and as usual has her facts screwed up and bases her comments on heresay and inuendo. I am surprised any resorts still accept her reservations. I would take exception however to your comment that you are the only resort with 24 hour securitity.

Michael,

I think you missed "one of" -- Olivier didn't claim to be the only one.

I have no idea where Mimi's statements originate from, but if Olivier can prove them false, I'm surprised he's not suing her for libel. I guess she should be glad he's Bonairean and not American.

Right you are...missed the of...Olivier is French and Venezuelean...and too much of a gentleman to sue for libel...

I am glad to see Olivier has the opportunity to defend his business and hope that the facts are somehow presented. If as he states the comments made are incorrect it is sad to think that this site could effect his future business. And, Olivier, thank you for your honesty in identifying who you are and your position at the Eden - certainly shows an admirable level of professionalism. And, one more comment regarding this topic; Here we go again, I for one am getting very tired of this topic. While I love this web site, this is one reason I had started to lose interest - sorry :-( I'd rather blow bubbles than waste time reading bashing without facts provided again; sorry - I just had to say it

I can't understand why Mimi keeps going back to an island that she has so many complaints about!!!! I know if I was that unhappy, I wouldn't be a repeat customer!!! I hope it doesn't hurt the businesses of Bonaire and deter newbies away!!

I don't understand it either, but her BT postings are true to form with respect to postings by her last year on another Web-board I found.

Anyhow, please move any and all bashing and rebutting of anyone and everyone, etc., as well as any jokes others don't get and may be insulting, to a new topic in Community Chat as such content certainly doesn't belong here. (And for that matter probably doesn't belong there either.)

These sorts of comments (and yes, I'm guilty of responding to them in an occasional heat of passion) are the sort of thing that should stay out in the free for all, insult-ridden Internet newsgroups, and not BonaireTalk.

Thanks,

Jake

OK now, does anybody have more info for Rebecca to help her decide on where to stay? Rebecca, I've never stayed at either place. I've always stayed at the Divi - 4 years in a row. But I can say that I expect you will have a great vacation on Bonaire. Our first visit was to be a once in a lifetime vacation and we then went back 3 more times and can't wait to go again. Enjoy! ( and I pronounce it as Bon-air ) anybody else say it differently?

Whoa, I hope Rebecca isn't frightened away. Usually it's a lot calmer around this board! Of course coming here from Scubaboard.com I'm sure Rebecca has seen some rather heated threads. I love Scubaboard.com!!

Rebecca,I too have researched accommodations in Bonaire and will be staying at Capt Don's. Since I will also be in Bonaire in August, it will be too late for me to help you out with my experience there. However, I have received several very good comments about Capt Don's from folks on this board.

I also was confused about the correct pronunciation of Bonaire. I've heard it pronounced Bon-air with the Bon sounding like Bon-Bons (the confections) or with the Bon sounding like Bone (as in dog bone). I'd love to know which is more correct, Bon-air or Bone-air?

Laura

Think Bon. Definitely not Bone.

I have moved Mimi's response, which IMHO again wasn't particularly polite to a group of people, to http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/23830/35207.html

Please keep the bashing/insults/etc. out of this topic. Thanks.

Jake

I've moved more messages into the above thread. Sigh.

Jake

Laura said :Whoa, I hope Rebecca isn't frightened away. Usually it's a lot calmer around this board!

I believe you (though most wouldn't!)
No don't worry I am not frightened so easily as to be put off by a minor flame war. :o)
Although I am far too frightened (right now as a newbie) to ask "who the hell is Mimi"!

I really was just after someone (preferably someone neutral) reassuring me that these properties were pleasant to stay in. It's hard to make a difficult holiday decision like this (although were it not for the Internet we'd probably never find so many options in the first place) and you are just looking for reassurance and checking that no-one says "no they are building a brand new pier there - do go this year" etc. etc.

Also to answer the cries of (why not Buddys, Lions, etc etc - I've contacted plenty of places and most either have no availability at the time we are coming or they are asking for more money i.e. the same price for a 3 bed roomed villa. My feeling on this would be if there is nothing substantially better about other accommodations to these; then why would 3 couples want to stay in a 3 bed roomed apartment for the same price as they could get 3 single roomed villas?).

I'm pretty happy with my quotes from Eden and DBV (and now I know all the proprietors are on this board I'll be discrete and not name prices !).

Plenty of people replied to me privately (after the flaming started) and reassured me one again that it's probably difficult to go wrong with accommodation on Bonaire and that both places were reputed to be nice! So I am happy. Also getting more and more excited.

Together with the others in our party I think we can decide from here. Olivier - don't worry about Mimi's response putting, at least, this potential customer off (your response was considered and intelligent) and I'm sure that if we're coming to Eden you'll look after us - although I will expect your 24-hour security guard to be posted right outside our doors at all times! ;o) wink

I'm going to go and look at safer areas of the board for a while now - behave yourselves whilst I'm gone please.

I've also booked myself in for a Nitrox course! Getting excited - coming to Bonaire - hooray!

Kind regards and best wishes to you all
Becky

Rebecca-

My wife and I were married in Bonaire last July. We brought 30+ people with us and all stayed at Eden Beach. We have no complaints. The condos are in nice shape, the beach is a nice touch, WannaDive folks are a blast, and there is a bar on the sand not far from the front door....and when I say "in the sand", I mean the barstools and the bartenders are standing in the sand. My one wish would be for the dilapidated resort next store to be either restored or demolished...it's a bit of an eyesore. But I digress, whenever any of us had a need, Eden Beach was quick to respond and cooperative. I cannot comment on Deep Blue since I have not stayed there...

PJ

There are a few photos taken at Eden Beach at my website: http://www.musc.edu/~bakerpj

Sorry about this late post. I am a repeat visitor to Bonaire, it is my favorite destination.

In defense of Eden Beach, I was there for my FIRST visit with a couple other repeat Bonaire visitors this past March. I initially chose Eden Beach due to my friends Bart Snelder and Roeland "Bob" Labott's dive operation "WannaDive" being located there.

I had received an e-mail from Mimi warning me of the "recent thefts" and numerous other problems she experienced at different facilities during her visit.

I was reassured by Bart and Bob that they had heard of no thefts at the apartments in correspondence we shared prior to my arriving on Bonaire.

During our stay my friends and I enjoyed ourselves and felt very much at ease (as we always do on Bonaire). Oliver, Sherrin and a young gentleman named Reagan were extremely attentive. Every time we would meet, they would ask us how our visit was going, and, if there was anything they could do to make it better.

Concerning being secure, I am an early riser (4 a.m. if I sleep late) during my seven pre dawn walks on the grounds, the only people I met were the resort's staff. Also, during one of our outings, I accidently left our back door not just unlocked but open. When we returned the lovely housekeeping lady told me she had closed it. Nothing inside including extra dive gear, digital cameras or money was missing.

I know this is getting long winded, and I apologize for this. But it irks me to no end to see such a great operation bashed.

How great do I like it is summed up with this final statement. I have booked eleven personal diving friends including four members of my staff and of course, myself to return to Eden Beach for another eight day stay in February 2003. And have referred other friends to the Domingo family's resort since my visit.

Tom Cousino, Manager, Victory Sports, Colchester, Vermont

We have been trying to confirm by email and telephone a reservation with Divi Flamingo.

The latest was (3rd August) "Salima won't be available until Friday to confirm your reservation"

Anyone else having a similar problem.

We are considering the Edem Resort as an alternative, or does any one have other suggestions.

We are planning our vacation for the first 2 weeks on September.

Jenni Stewart
Loughborough
UK

Hey folks, I am so impressed with the above comments, it has won my vote, I have booked two weeks at the Eden in december all through christmas. What does WORRY me though, is how the hell is father christmas going to get past security to give me my present!!!, and please keep your answers clean. Any suggestion for a single female for places to eat in the evening?.
look forward to a reply.

Paula

Paula,

Enjoy yourself.

Concerning Father Christmas, I think he can get by security no problem. He always gets by my 7 and 10 year old children without them even hearing him.

Stop by the Garden Cafe for dinner, and you'll understand how Father Christmas will make it there...

Faith

Our two favorites: Cappricios and "It rains fishes".