We are planning a trip to Bonaire for 4 families, each have 2-3 children ages 4-10 yrs. We are looking for 2-3 bedroom villa, condo or apartment type rooms with kitchen and living areas. This is the tricky part, we need a beach for the kids to play in the sand, swim & snorkel in the ocean, a swimming pool and a dive shop. We would like a place where the rooms, beach and pool are pretty close together. Any suggestions?

Well, I have 2 kids, ages 6 and 10 and we have a timeshare at Divi and it is pretty much exactly what you describe. Not a luxury property but meets all your needs, nicely kept and not too expensive. Check out the website at www.diviresorts.com. I'm sure others will chime in with suggestions, there are many options.

i agree with ra. when my children were young they absolutely loved divi. they could snorkel right there around jetty. and dive piers. used to see everything we saw diving and sometimes more. they are now divers and no longer children but they still enjoy snorkling and we still go to divi.
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Thank you for your help. We were looking for accommodations where the kitchen and living areas are bigger than the Divi suites-so the group can gather for games and meals. Any thoughts on apartment or condo sized units with beach & pool close by?

Captain Don's has great oasis cottages...2 bed 2 bath with a nice kitchen and a great outside porch area.. all cottages are close to each other and they are just steps from the pool and ocean.. there is a restaurant and a dive shop on site

Lots of people like the Sand Dollar, has a small sandy beach, pool and dive shop. They have 3 bedroom units that are great for families with kids. We have 4 kids and it work out nice for us! The diving/snorkeling at the house reef "BARI REEF" in front of the resort was fantastic! Check them out on the web.

Nicole, welcome to Bonaire Talk. I agree with Steve, Sand$ does have a nice reef and is kid friendly. The pool is not on the ocean, it's by the road if that makes any difference.

Another place to try if you don't need an on site restaurant would be Belmar, no beach, but wonderful pool at the waters edge.

There are vew beaches on Bonaire. Plaza, Divi (small one), Eden Beach (where the cams are), and Sand$. Here is a pic of the sandy area at Sand$



the pool at the belmar

Great information-thanks for your help.
What is BelMar close to, Buddy, Captain Don's?

Belmar is on the South end of the island, about five minutes from town. Buddy's and Cap Don's is about five minutes North of town, it's a small island. now, i KNOW someone is going to tell me that it's 5 1/2 minutes, but you get the idea...lol...

I would definately take a look at Buddy's. there are 3 pools...not really a beach area per say, but lots of sand and a gradual sloping ladder to go into the water to snorkel

Ed, where is the sand at Buddy's?

At the bottom of the ladder at buddy's dock! The only sand there!

Ron, that is what I was thinking, thought maybe I missed something...lol!

There is a small beach like area between the pool and the water on the original Buddy Dive side. It is adjacent to the water, but on a raised area, so the water is not accessible from the beach. There are tables and chairs and lounge chairs and it is kept up very nicely. We napped there after the red eye from Houston. For folks who would like to lie out in the sun, it is very nice.