Me and my fiance want to get married on an island. We are trying to choose where to go. We want a romantic place to stay. I'd like it to not cost a small fortune too. Any help would be great!!

The Plaza

You should check out a private villa. Sunrentals has lots of choices.

Krys..why don't you contact Ann Phalen. She may be able to assist you on the wedding & also find suitable accommodations that fit your budget.
http://bonairebliss.com/

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.

I would not call the Plaza inexpensive. I was actually thinking that Sorobon would be a good choice. Talk about private and romantic. You would have to deal with naked people running around but few kids and a villa to yourself. It's not inexpensive and probably around the same as the Plaza.

The suggestion to check in with Ann is a good one and maybe she will have some other thoughts.

Cecil, I do not believe there are nakeds running around at Sorobon anymore. I think it's just a wind surf place now.

Krys..congrats by the way..I noticed on your post that you state married on an island, not specifically bonaire..1st thing i would want to know if ya'll were divers, avid snorklers, or wind surf enthusiast...if not, then truthfully I don't know if Bonaire is the right island for what you guys might have in mind..I remember our first trip after having dove throughout the carribean, that I thought I was in the desert southwest..don't get me wrong, next to Rome, it's our favorite place on the planet

I'm a diver but he hasn't learned yet. Maybe we can make Bonaire a anniversary trip. lol. I'm trying to decide on which island I want to go to. I know Bonaire is on my "to do" list. I want an island that's not too touristy and that is relatively safe. We also don't want to go to an island that one of us has already been to... or I'd go to Roatan in a heartbeat. So far, it's my favorite. But I hear Bonaire is amazing. Any suggestions on other islands. The one's I have considered are Montserrat, Cayman Islands, St. Barts, British Virgin Islands, Bonaire and Dominica. They have the best crime statistics.

Krys, get your hubby to be certified when on Bonaire! That will change your life together! You will never holiday again where you can't dive, and Bonaire would be your aniversery preasemt to eachother! Wow, how easy is that to get a gift for that occation.

Bonaire Oceanfront Apartments is a nice place to stay. It has a pool, and all the apartments are seaside. The Diveshop is on site, and it is close to town. Nice guarden out front, gated complex with good diving outside the front gate. Truly a hidden jewel! One or two bedrooms, with a penthouse(for honeymooners). Full kitchen, livingroom, and terrace. The price is right...
http://www.bonaireoceanfrontapartments.com/ Dennis, has a toll free number to call if you have any questions about the place. We stay there twice a year, but we don't recieve anything for recommending the place to others.

I have found the studios at Den Laman to be a really good deal. Clean, very modern, everything you need, nice kitchen, very secure. I say your fiance should be certified on island. Take classwork at home and open water there. A very easy and pleasant place to learn and become a confident diver and you will have a great time with him.

Krys, what price range are you looking for? (What does not a "small fortune" mean to you?)

What about Bamboo Bali? Haven't stayed there, but have toured the property. It's beautiful.

For the romance part, that's up to you, romance can happen anywhere!

Another island........... Tahiti, even extreme non romantics can't help but be romantic there.

Hi, Krys...

Just for fun, separate "romantic" and "affordable" and concentrate on romantic. Then check the Harbour Village website and click on "Weddings and Honeymoons."

Mazel tov!

Ummm Jeff... HV is a great place to spend a honeymoon, no doubt about it.
But in my book, it DOES cost a small fortune..
Unless you think $640 per night in season for a 1 bedroom ground floor suite plus a 15% s/c plus hotel tax is chump change. Plus $1200 for a seaside wedding package. Do the math.

Between you & me, I wouldn't really use the word "affordable" to describe HV. It is probably THE most expensive luxurious resort on the island.

You're so right, Vince. That's why I separated "romantic" and "affordable."

HV isn't chump change. Even the non-beachfront rooms are a tad pricey. My wife and I save all year for a mere 8 days there -- even if the grandkids don't get Christmas presents (NOT!!)

But getting married! That's pure romance (forgive a 69 year old alter kocker who's been blissfully married for 36 years), being married on the beach in the nearly perfect setting and being treated wonderfully.

When we had our honeymoon in 1974, we gave our travel agent three criteria: out of the country, English speaking, and glorious beach. She chose Discovery Bay Inn in Barbados, the first trip to the Caribbean for either of us. I was a 32 year old clergyman at the time, living on a pittance, and she a teacher in the local school district doing the same. We looked at the tab and nearly stroked out when we wrote the check. We've never forgotten the wonder of it, and it made us devotees of the Caribbean ever since.

In this situation, romance first. Affordability can come when they plan their next trip to Bonaire -- and as you know, there will always be many next trips...

Jeff..We honeymooned on Bonaire 25 years ago and had a small room at Divi overlooking the Chibi Chibi restaurant. Tried to get one of the rooms on the water but they were all booked. We both had a wonderful time.

In subsequent years stayed at all the major resorts on the island (including the deluxe ground floor oceanfront at HV) as our finances gradually improved. My point is that one doesn't have to break the bank on their honeymoon to have a memorable time.

I do advocate doing the finer (more expensive) things later on in life when your career matures and if you can in fact afford it. But, that's just my point of view. Admittedly, everyone does things differently. But I do think the OP was spot on with the title "Romantic but affordable".

Try 'The Deep Blue View' B&B but its like having yr own villa. Probably the best accomodation on the island at very reasonable prices. They only have five rooms which makes for a very relaxed, cosy and friendly atmosphere.

Great note, Vince. How great to honeymoon at the Divi -- and ten years before my wife and I were steered to the island.

Our first three trips, with daughter in tow, we stayed at the Divi. We took it as a good omen on that first trip that our room number was 742 -- the same as our street address at the time. It was glorious.

Heaven knows Krys now has probably more advice and more extraneous information than any three people need! Here's hoping she and her fiancé enjoy the island like the rest of us obviously do.

I would recommend a friend of mine at Bonaire Seaview Apartment http://www.bonaireseaviewapartments.com/
An apartment to yourself that overlooks the whole island. Perfect at sunset - very romantic! Wietze is also a very hospitable guy and he shares a lot of information on his favorite dive sites (quite a few) and about other things to see and do on Bonaire.

www.dreambonaire.com . Beautiful, private, affordable oceanfront home with amazing sunsets!