We're looking to go to Bonaire with another couple in late February or early March of 2009.

We're looking at staying at Eden Beach, Buddy Dive, or the Sand Dollar.

Opinions, good or bad, would be appreciated for all three, please.

Hi Howard, Welcome to BT! If you go to the bottom of the page and click on Keyword Search, then type in any of the above places, you will find a lot discussed on all three of the places you are considering as they are have been discussed a lot here. It may also help if you give us a little more info on what you are looking for in your vacation so folks can tell you more. Like, are you divers, snorklers, have you been to Bonaire before,what you would like your accommodations to offer kinda thing.

Howard, welcome to Bonaire Talk Debbie's right, a little more info as to what is required, pool, kitchen, etc., that will help.

I've stayed at Sand Dollar, rented the Zale's condo. It is a 2 bedroom 2 bath, screened in porch and furnished beautifully. There are a few other BTers who rent from them as well. Here is a link to their website for more info.
http://www.bonairelodging.com/zale/index.htm

Sand dollar has a great reef, and the Den Laman restaurant next door is great as well. BDa dive shop on the premesis has a nice dock, great rinse tanks, shade over them (important in the heat). I hope this helps!

But the Zale's condo is booked for "late February - early March"! Jean and I have it!

I can speak to Eden, we have stayed there four times now. It's not 4 star but it is clean, has everything, inexpensive and convenient as they get. We keep looking at other places but always come back due to the above reasons.

For ourselves, we want ocean front, a beach to lay on, and not to have to walk miles for a pool, restaurant/bar, dive shop/tanks or parking lot. Eden is really the only one that has this all.

I love Sand Dollar and Buddy's....Buddy's has my heart for the great staff, great service and good food. Sand Dollar has a great reef and isn't quite as expensive. Buddy's has all new rental vehicles..and they pick you up and drop you off at the airport.

Hi HIV...I stayed at Eden and loved it! I agree with Cecil's post!

Eden deach can be a "zoo" when a cruise ship is in town. would personally avoid it if going during the cruise ship season. love wannadive the onsite dive operation but even that can't save the place for me when a cruise ship is in port.
i'd choose one of the others--imho

bob

oh thats so bad...sorry Howard...

I've stayed at Eden and Buddy.

I loved Eden for the laid back atmosphere and the amazing view. Wannadive is awesome, but there isn't much of a house reef... rubble with TONS to see but it's not a "glorious" reef. Rooms are modest but clean.

Buddy's is a "bigger" resort, great house reef, amazing dive shop as well. It's a great place to stay and my dive shop will be going back there next March! Great truck rental fleet as someone else mentioned and a great drive through tank pick up/rinse station. Very convenient!

Never stayed at Sand dollar.

Hope this helps, and welcome to BT

Thank you all. I looked all over for the search button, and missed it.

Thank you for the responses. We're looking at 4 adults, 2br with a kitchen. I don't mind cooking.

First trip to Bonaire for any of us. We're all divers, and looking forward to the trip.

(Oh - and lol at the HIV thingy.) :-p

Oh - a pool is a plus!

Hey Howard, Welcome to Bonaire Talk!!!

I have stayed several times at both Eden Beach and Buddy Dive - they both are nice places. Haven't stayed at the Sand Dollar Condo's but, the ones I visited were nice as well.

One thing that you, Stacey and your friends might like is the swim-up pool bar at Buddy's. It is so uncivilized to have to exit a pool to obtain libations while on vacation

You will love Bonaire!!!

Well HIV it's not a place on your list, and I have stayed at all of those hotels/resorts in the years I have been going to Bonaire. I agree with all the posts that you have received so far, but let me throw this into the pot. I have been staying at Belmar my past few trips to the island and absolutely the place. A perfectly located pool right outside most everyones unit, the reef there is pretty nice, and the staff is great. Ohh and the diving is run by Buddy's staff so you can get tanks at their famous drive thru.

Poor Howard, look what we've done and he's new to the board ;-) (HiV - that comes from "Kobi in Virginia, we call her KIV)

Howard, I agree with Jim about Belmar. I've stayed there a couple of times, and it's great. No on sight restaurant, but the condos are beautiful, the pool is great, and they have 2 docks. One for sun bathers and one for doing cannon balls after your dive. here's a pic of the pool from one of the upper units. They also have a dive shop on the premesis. Roomer's is right across the street if you want a restaurant.


As an FYI, Buddy's is one of the largest resorts on island, Eden get's a LOT of Cruise Ship traffic (and Feb/March is peak season for cruisers). Sand$ is much much quieter. Belmar is even more quiet, which is what we like.

(Message edited by cyndelee on May 15, 2008)

Howard, welcome to BT. I own a studio at SD. Sand Dollar Facts-ALL SD units are oceanfront (sunsets) with patio or balcony, ALL units have complete (just like home) full size kitchens, the dive operation and shore dive pier are steps or a short walk away depending on which building you are in, the pool, tennis courts and restaurant are in the back of the property and just had major renovations, they are not oceanfront but I like this, nothing in front of my view or "pool noise". From the other resorts I have looked at before I bought at SD, the SD condos are some of the largest on the island. These are NOT rooms, but condos. My studio is about 500 sq ft.

I know Alan Zale personally, he is a gentleman and his condo is well maintained/beautiful and perfect for four adults. I would not hesitate a second in recommending his unit.

Patrick

I'll have to stop by and see you sometime Tom, for more info.

Now, Belmar looks nice too. So many choices!

Is there a house reef at Belmar? If so, how is it?

Howard, pretty much anything on the water has a "house reef." We have rented private homes on the water and loved diving in our backyard. I have only done one dive from Belmar but it was, like all dives in Bonaire, wonderful. Welcome to BT from another New Englander (just don't let Tom get started on my traitorous choice of where I now call home)

Howard, Belmar house reef is good. It's a little longer swim than Sand$ and Buddy's, but there is a lot to see on the way out, octopus, eels, all kinds of stuff. Makes for a good night dive as well.

Eden, I know I'm going to get flack for this, but Eden's house reef is rubble. No coral (OK, yes, bits), there is a lot to see in the rubble, if you are looking for a lush house reef, Eden is not it. There can also be incredible currents there (been in a few). So you might not be able to dive it daily.

BC, I'm with you. The wreck is worth seeing, as is the webcam, but its definitely rubble. I think the yellow rock even says "Eden Rubble".

Buddy's has the lush house reef. We've stayed at Buddys twice and will be there again in a week. Easy access, clean fresh water at the dock to wash salt off equipment, great place for night diving with tarpon that will swim with you and use your flashlight to hunt by, breakfast lunch and dinner right on the site...

I haven't been to the other two choices. Maybe we'll check them out on our next trip. One week is never enough.

Belmar's house reef is also nice for a night dive. Have stayed there twice and liked it a lot. No restaurant on site but there is one across the street at Roomers. Even though there is not a beach the piers are nicely laid out and the pool is just big enough. All condos are ocean front with either patio or balcony all at a slight angle to provide some privacy. Small but nicely laid out kitchen with a dining bar setup for 4. Check their website they have several different styles of condos ranging from 1 bedroom to 3 bedroom and 2 penthouse condos.

The search button is labeled Keyword search right at the very bottom of the page.

Hi Howard,

I've been to Bonaire once and stayed at Buddy Dive. Loved it & am planning to return. They pretty much had everything we needed, and what BD didn't have we got at Chat'n Browse or Cultimara.

(Message edited by natskidive on May 17, 2008)

Hi Howard

I have stayed at both Buddy Dive and Sand Dollar and I would have to say that over all I like Buddy Dive a little better. Both resorts had there strong points but I liked the grounds and over all layout at Buddies a bit more than Sand Dollars. They have three pools counting the Kiddie pool and the Pool Bar and they are more secluded than Sand Dollars pool which is close to the main road. I also thought that their house reef and dock setup was a bit better than Sand Dollars.

That being said I admittedly did like the privately owned condos which are cheaper in price and better equipped at Sand Dollar better and I also preferred how they decided where the boat dives would be at. The first one that signs up for a particular day gets to pick the location and it is then posted so you know where you are going before you sign up. As apposed to Buddy where you don't really know where the boat is going for sure until the last minute.

The staff at Both Sand Dollar and Buddy Dive are friendly and helpful and although I prefer Buddy Dive for their over all layout and grounds, I have to say that if I couldn't get the dates that I wanted at Buddy Dive I would not hesitate to stay at Sand Dollar again either.