Hi I'm new to BT but not to Bonaire. I'm taking my husband back to Bonaire for his 50th b-day this August and wanted to stay at a different resort. We've previously stayed at Sand Dollar and the Plaza twice. I've narrowed it down between Bellafonte and Den Laman and was hoping for opinions from people who've stayed at both places. We usually rent a car and just do shore diving and love to be able to snorkel right where we are staying. Thanks in advance.

Hi Denise, Welcome to BT! Both places have been discussed here and trip reports from both. Do a Keyword search on both places at the bottom of this page and you will get lots of hits. Lots of recent posts on both.

I hadn't noticed the bar at the bottom yet to do a search. Thanks for the info.

Denise, welcome to BT We stayed at Belefonte last January and LOVED it. We stayed at Sand$ years ago, but never at Den Laman.

Bel has no on site dive shop, but Wannadive is one house down and they also use Port Bonaire. We had no problem with getting tanks. It is very quiet. A lot of windsurfers and Europeans stay there from our experience. Robbert the manager is a gem. I can highly recommend the place if you like quiet. The house reef heading left was disapointing, but heading toward windsock was great. I'm sure you will come up with some of my pics, and Jerry's pics when you do a keyword search. Some of the suites do have jacuzzi's on the balcony. We were a bit worried about the airplane noise, after jumping out of bed the first morning at 4am when klm took off, but never woke up again. We actually would hear the planes coming, and would run out on the balcony to watch them come in and land, and would go to the front door to watch them take off...it became sort of a ritual "there's the 330 DAE flight, here comes AE, KLM, Delta, lol...and the noise really wasn't bad (except for the first morning when we woke up and thought it was an earthquake)...

Den Laman - you know the house reef, has a restaurant, all reviews have been grand, so I really don't think you could go wrong with either.

Denise..welcome to BT.. I've been in both places & if it were me, I'd chose Bellafonte. No dive site on premises but that's really not a problem. The area is quieter then Den Laman which sits on top of a restaurant. All the rooms at Bellafonte are oceanfront, not so at Den Laman.

But really this is a personal decision. One caveat, if you stay at Bellafonte I do not recommend you stay in the junior suite as even a sardine can has more room. Stay in the grand or senior or if you can afford it the penthouse.

Vince, I'm not sure you are without bias. Peter

There is no dive shop at the Bellafonte but there is diviing out front. There is entry into the water by ladder. We used to stay there before the Bellafonte was there and had good dives there.

Denise, for snorkeling in front of your place as a consideration that you noted in your post, I would go with Den Laman. You are located great for dining, ice cream, Sand Dollar grocery, Chat N Browse as well. I have never stayed there, but that's my 2 cents on the snorkeling end of it. We snorkel and dive and I really like south side of the island a lot for diving and snorkeling that time of the year. Will be on island ourselves in August. Congrats on your hubby's 50th. I just had mine this past April.

Debbie's right about Bari probably being a better house reef, however, I have to say I had two of the best night snorkels I've ever had at Bel last January, no lights cause it was a full moon and LOTS of bioluminesence. The experience still stays with me it was so fun. I have night snorkeled as well at Bari, which is also great, just thought I'd throw it out there that Bel does have good night snorkeling There were 2 resident tarpon that came up each night to hunt in the lights off the property, so one night Jerry and I got in the water (michael was in bed already...lol) and decided to play with them.

Denise, congrats on your hubbies 50th (I guess...lol...had a rough time with mine, debbie, glad yours went well? lol)

Boat Chick, It sure did, my first grandchild was born on my 50th.

Boy, you guys aren't making my decision any easier (LOL). I'm leaning toward Bellafonte but know my husband may be concerned that there is not a dive shop on site (which I know, once we get there, won't be a problem). I guess whatever one I decide on, I'lll just have to go back next year and try the other. I realized it's been five years since we've been to Bonaire and I'm anxious to see what's new and anxious to get reacquainted with what's old!

Denise, if not having a dive shop is the only thing holding you back from Bellafonte, don't let it stop you. We own a place just down the road from there and we use Photo Tours which is really, really close to you. Nice to just drive up and get your tanks and drive away. They also have a boat if you want to do any boat dives. Like when you are at the airport, directly across the street is Port Bonaire, where Dive Friends Dive shop is, just a hop, skip and jump is Bellefonte, so shouldn't be a problem for you.

Hi Denise..having been going to Bonaire for over 20 years, Debbie's post is right on the money. You really do not need a dive shop on the premises. If you don't want the Dive Friends Shop I can heartily recommended Buddy's at Belmar a scant 3 min drive from Bellafonte.
Which ever you chose enjoy your trip!

Denise, we stayed at the Bellafonte several weeks ago. This was our first trip to Bonaire. We could not have been happier with our choice. The condos were clean and comfortable. We were looking for a quiet place to relax and it fit our needs perfectly. Not having a dive shop on site was not a problem at all. We used Yellow Submarine, which was about a two minute drive away. Picking up and dropping off the tanks was not a problem. They have a rinse tank, shower, and storage for after your dive. We did a dive off the pier and it was a great dive, both left and right of the pier. Good luck...you'll love Bonaire....we will be back.

Debbie, good lord, how could i forget that your first grandchild was born on your 50th...lol I swear, my menopause moments are coming more and more often...lol!

Denise, if you do stay at Bel, Wannadive now has a shop that is just one door down from Bel. If you click on the link below, you can see the arial shot, in fact, you can see it from Bel too lol!
Wannadive Windsock Location

you really can't go wrong with either choice. I do think however, that you will be surprised at how much growth has taken place on bonaire, much to a lot of us bonaire lovers shagrin

(Message edited by cyndelee on June 22, 2008)

okay I haven't stayed at either place but have visited both. No comparison to me. If i had the cash the Belafonte is the place. of course my opinion only. but i don't really see them as the same. Would be happy to stay at either place just don't see them as equal.

We'll be at the Bellafonte for the third time on July 6. We've stayed there every time we've visited Bonaire, so I can't compare it directly with any others. We get tanks & weights at Dive Friends Port Bonaire location last time and this time, the first trip we used the Photo Tours Caribbean Court location. There is a locked area for scuba gear down on the south side of the property, next to the rinse tank.