Help! I used frequent flyer miles for a trip to Bonaire. I now need a very inexpensive place to stay. I will be there for 2 weeks starting April 19. I've been to other places and could always find a reasonable place once I got there, but I don't know about Bonaire. It sounds pricey. I hope someone out there can give me a tip. What is the least expensive place there. I don't want to have to come home early.

Check out coco palms/casa oleander Brig and Marion are the greatest

Marci,
I am interest in what you find out. I am looking at a solo trip sometime this fall.

Have stayed at the black durgon inn five times. Relatively inexpensive but could/would require a truck rental. great shore dive right there but only one. if you want to get to other places you need a truck. But it is only one on the water!

Other places I have looked at are blue divers (not on water could do boat dives there or with other vendors)or rent a truck.Haven't seen much about them on this site.

WannaDive Hut dive with wannadive and also rent a truck. But didn't see any kichen facility.

Also golden reef highly though of but need a truck.

I am looking at doing it as cheaply as possible as well but also as a solo diver thinking may have to do boat dives. For me Black Durgon inn is in the lead but its not clear cut.

Anyway will be interested in what you come up with.

I'm traveling solo to Bonaire 4/18-4/25. I was unable to secure a room at Den Laman and the Golden Reef Inn so I booked at Seaside Apartments. The studio was affordable and the dive package included a rental truck. However, the truck was manual so I wimped out and rented a car from Budget (they deducted the cost of the truck from the package). I haven't driven standard in almost 20 years.

Eric,
Please let us know how your trip goes! Have a great time.
bob

Eric,
just checked their website and wondering if you got a "special" deal or if you paid listed price?
Listed price is not what I'd call "affordable" but "different strokes for different folks". Based on listed price I'd be looking else where for places on Bonaire.
bob

Marci..Check these inexpensive places out..
http://www.infobonaire.com/hotelbudget.html

I paid $1100 for the studio (2nd floor ocean view)for 8 days and 7 nights, unlimited shore diving with free nitrox and 6 2 tank boat dives. I got my airfare for $345. From looking at other places this was a good deal. Not the cheapest, but I didn't want to share my living space and wanted to be "on the water" with some creature comforts. If I "manned up" and took a standard it would have been another $100 for the truck for the week.

Originally I was going to do the Den Laman solo diver special in September, but the airfare was prohibitive. $1200 my @$$.

oops

(Message edited by cowfish on April 7, 2009)

Hi Marci-the last part of your trip falls over a very busy local holiday weekend, so if you find something you like, book it (especially if you find a vehicle available after April 29th).

Eric,
I am sure it was a pretty good deal. Great airfare! Please let us know it goes. Enjoy!
bob

Marci,

Try Yachtclub Apartments. I just returned from my first trip to Bonaire and we stayed there. It was inexpensive and excellent.

Eric,

I hadn't driven a standard for 20 years either. I hopped in and drove away! I didn't stall it once in 10 days! Like riding a bike, you never forget how!

Thanks everyone for the tips. How do I reach these places? Can you find inexpensive restaurants or is it a good idea to have a kitchenette? Are there cheaper hotels in town, not on the water?

Eric, how did you find such a good airfare? What city and country is it from? That's fantastic.

Marci

Try Buddy Dive. You could ask for a studio or 1 bedroom. There packages are drive, dive, stay. Include a truck with package and a daily buffet breakfast which is great. That alone can save you $$.

Marci, you can get contact information, including websites, at www.infobonaire.com. In the accommodations section there is a list of budget priced lodgings. A kitchen is always helpful for saving money. There are many relatively inexpensive places to eat: Pasa Bon Pizza, BobbeJan's Mi Banana, China Nobo, El Fagoen, Wattaburger, KFC to name a few.

Marci,
if you have a car or truck there are inexpensive local places to eat also a way to sample different cuisine. But if cost is a major factor I would want access to a kitchen and atleast cook some of my own meals. To do Bonaire on the "cheap" you will have to sacrifice something on your vacation IMHO. But ofcourse it all depends on how you define "cheap" :-)

Marci

I booked the airfare off the American Express travel website. I just kept checking different dates and got lucky. The flight is from JFK (NY) to Bonaire with no stops.

9 MORE DAYS!!!

Eric get the truck, BON is ALL About the shore diving. The car won't really work for you with tanks and all.....I mean really....get the truck.

Marci the above post should provide you with enough sources to get the place at the cost you want.

Jim

Affordable accomodations on Bonaire = Tropicana and BonaireFun Apartments. The apartments are great, the price is right and the owners, Roland and Irene, are the best I've met when it comes to friendly property owners on Bonaire. When I'm on solo missions to Bonaire, this is where I stay. I've stayed at some others - this is the one that wins hands down for affordable accomodations on Bonaire. www.tropicanabonaire.com or www.bonairefun.com

I always recommend Bonaire Town Homes --- Sorry, Marcus, I just think and KNOW that Benny and Ester are the BEST. I've stayed there 12 times, and have recommended MANY friends, who have all been delighted. My friend Caroline will be there April 18.

I'd check their availability --- they have full kitchens, you will require a vehicle, but they are very centrally located, and just THE BEST!! IMHO (which isn't really that humble, I guess!!)
Josie

caribbean club was pretty cheap when I went there a while ago.... a bit out of the way you'd need a car/truck.

Hi Marci,

I would recommend The Lizard Inn. It is the cleanest & neatest hotel I have ever stayed in. The rooms are so comfortable. The room rates are really low for all what you get. They even have a pool. The owners Rene and Annemieke make you feel so at home. They are so very helpful. The best small hotel on the island

The Lizard Inn tried to rip us off and am furious about it. They quoted us rates and taxes and then added "admin fees" when we went to check out the night before we flew out to cover their credit card fee. Very unorthodox. When I was unwilling to pay it, they told us to leave. Even complained about electricity and water usage. Would absolutely not recommend.