Hi,

We are looking at a trip to Bonaire and considering either Casa Del Sol or Bel Mar Apartments.

Firstly anyone got any pros or cons for either and also advice on local bars/restaurants near either of these places (Preferably walking distance).

Thanks in advance.
Daz

Welcome to Bonaire Talk Darren.

This might help.
http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/24/320093.html

welcome to BT. the only restaurant close to belmar is roomer which is across the street. anyplace else would require about an 8km drive into town or a 6km drive across the island to kon tiki or the restaurants at lac bay.

roomer has good food and we've eaten there a few times but i'm sure you would want to try lots of different places.

Thanks for the info.

Anyone know where Casa Del Sol is in relation to roomer/Bel Mar?

We probably will try q few different restaurants and if that means driving then no big deal, but nice to have one local bar/restaurant.

Darren

Darren..Welcome to BT..I believe Casa Del Sol is only a stone's throw from Belmar. They're both located on EEG Blvd and are within a half mile of each other. The closest place that has a bar is Roomers which is right across the street from Belmar. But from where you are, you're only at most a 10 min drive to town. Enjoy your trip!

They are not far from each other although not really a “stone’s throw away” they are much further away than most of us could throw a stone. 

If you go to google.com click on maps and then put in Bonaire I can direct you to where both of them are.

(review what BelMar looks like from the BelMar website)

Choose the satalite view of Bonaire.

Center Klien Bonaire on your screen and zoom in until the island fills your screen.

Now move so that the airport runway is just below the top of your screen (near your right hand upper corner) and the curve of the island is near the center of your screen.

Now to find BelMar, zoom in one or two levels and you will see a “V” or “U” shaped set of roofs (the larger of the 2 sets you will see). BelMar has sort of an “H” shaped set of docks.

Go north about 15 or so lots and you will find Casa Del Sol. Look for a house with a beach like area. The roof is very distinct in that there will be a small dark rectangle on the Oceanside portion of the roof.

Casa del Sol is within walking distance from BelMar although I probably would not want to walk it more than a couple times a day carrying dive gear.


Both BelMar and Casa Del Sol have a very limited number of dinning/bar choices within walking distance. But that is OK! There are many great places to go for a bite to eat or hang out on the Island that are less than a 15 minute drive away.

You may want to stay in at least a couple nights. Both BelMar and Casa Del Sol have decent kitchens and are equipped with most (but not all) of everything else you need to cook and serve a great meal. Indeed some of our fondest memories of Bonaire are those when we cooked our meals in house and spent the evening enjoying the waves, stars and moon.

One of my fondest memories is sitting out in back of BelMar with my wife. We had a glass of wine in hand and were laying back on the reclining patio chairs. We sat there for a couple hours watching the half dozen or so divers step off of the dock for night dives. We watched the glow of their lights underwater going back and forth - a very surreal experience. At Casa Del Sol – we were the divers making night dives providing our family members a light show.
BelMar and Casa Del Sol have good diving just a few fin kicks out from their back doors.

Bonaire is very much a destination that should be explored with a rental car (truck). So while you might spend a good amount of time at either of these two properties, I would encourage you to see the rest of the island -- there is so much the island has to offer.

Both BelMar and Casa Del Sol are great choices. If you have any specific questions you can email me. Another source of information would be Ann Phelan at http://www.bonairecaribbean.com/bonaire.html .