We are 6 adults traveling to Bonaire in March and wondering about the ocean front villas at Captain Don's (they are referred to in Fodor's as the "hamlet section.") Is anyone familiar with these? We'd love some pictures or a description. The alternative is to rent one of the 2bdrm/2BA garden cottages and a deluxe room.

Please advise. Have much appreciated all the info we have gleaned from this website! WE are psyched!!! (my husband and I will be doing our certification dives)

Amy

Hi Amy. I stayed there last Feb. and am again in 24 days. I can scan and post some pics tonight when I get home from work if I have the time. All I can say is you won't regret your decision. Good luck on your certification dives!! You'll find the dive staff extremely friendly and helpful.

Here are the pics I promised Amy.

This is the front view of the villa I stayed in. There are actually multiple guest rooms in this one villa. Mine was in the upper middle room.

Here are the pics I promised Amy.

This is the front view of the villa I stayed in. There are actually multiple guest rooms in this one villa. Mine was in the upper middle room.

And the view from the balcony...

The entrance to Capt. Don's:

The main intersection at Capt. Don's. The front office is to the left; the restaurant is straight ahead; the bar is to your right:

And last but not least, the beach. Not a lot of sand but great diving and snorkeling:

Amy, if you'd like to see some of my underwater Bonaire photos, click here: Bonaire Underwater

Enjoy!

Amy, haven't stayed there but I remember from researching this rental property that the villas are set up to rent as either 2-3 separate units within one building, or rent the whole building out to one party. The location is terrific, adjacent to the resort property - a stroll over for tanks, jump off the pier & you're in the water! (We opted for a slightly less expensive individual house just a bit further up the coast -I think it is marketed now as Ocean View Villa. Not luxurious but very nice for 3 couples.)

Oops, I can tell from the next post on this topic that where we stayed wasn't "Ocean View Villa" - I know it's listed in the accommodations info at infobonaire.com so could direct you to it if you are interested.

Thanks for the pics today and last March, Glenn....nicely done! I feel as tho I am back on the island again!! Carole

Thanks Glenn. The underwater pictures are really cool. That's another thing I'm looking forward to is some digital underwater camera instruction. Last year we were in Tortola and were fairly disappointed with the snorkeling/scuba.

The villas look great. Someone on BT sent us some pictures of the garden cottages which have a large porch- my sister Kate thinks maybe this would be more condusive to entertaining (our group is 6-8 people). But how can you beat ocean front right?

If anyone else has any recollections from Capt Don's re: villa vs. garden cottages please post. Everyone has been so helpful.

Ciao.

amy

Hi Amy,

We've stayed at Captain Don's in a few of the villas: 301 and 201 - both are the first floor - and 207 and 607(? I think - and that was just July - I guess my minds going on me ).

I believe the first floor of all the villas are one unit only - but they aren't all created equal. If I remember correctly 301 was much larger than 201, with a big living/dining room and kitchen. The layout in them was slightly different, but one definitely felt roomier than the other. There's a master bedroom that's pretty roomy in both, and if I remember correctly in the larger one there were 2 either full or queen-sized beds in the master bedroom. In both there's
a fold-out couch in the livingroom. They both have a large first floor outdoor patio to themselves, with outdoor chairs and a table, while the upper rooms have decks with some outdoor furniture.

Our first time there was in the first floor of a villa, and we liked it so much we requested one again the second time. We really liked having the large kitchen with full-sized refrigerator, and the patio.

We'd extended our stay for 3 more days that time, and had to move into another room. This was upstairs in the same villa, and a bit of a shock after the roominess of the first floor. Still, it was nice and clean, and had an apartment-sized refrigerator, just smaller.

The second time we went back, we were really amazed at the size of that villa - it was much larger than the first one, and way too much for the two of us alone. We managed to adjust though

In the interest of affording more trips back to Bonaire, but continuing to stay at Captain Don's, which we love, we've since stayed in the Deluxe Junior Suites as well. All the rooms we've been in have been fine.

Susan-

By the way- we really enjoyed all the pictures of Bonaire on your website. Looks like a very social crowd (fish and people). Now, if you can remember the number of that "very large villa you stayed in..." we'll request it!

Ciao.

Amy

Hi Amy,

I THINK it was 301. Jack Chalk, the manager at Captain Don's, occasionally checks in here, and maybe he can correct me if I'm wrong. For some reason, I know we were in 201 the first year but whether it was 301 or 101 the following year... I'm just not completely sure.

Even if he doesn't check in here, Jack is pretty good at answering email. Ask him to make sure.

My memories of it are that it was very roomy, but of course that was 2 people, not 6. And you'd have to be very friendly, if 6 people were staying in it.

Amy, We stayed in the "ocean front villas" last februar. It was very nice, super (dive)crew!
Made a large number of photo's that time.

Here you can find them!

Staying at Captain Don's: http://www.pbase.com/colick/bonaire2002captaindon

Trip round the south: http://www.pbase.com/colick/bonaire2002south

Sunsets: http://www.pbase.com/colick/bonaire2002sunsets

Underwater (no flash used, so less colors): http://www.pbase.com/colick/bonaire2002sunsets

There are cottages that are located directly behind the Captain Don Villas. These are very nice 1 to 2 bedroom units that have the large covered porch areas for outdoor seating etc. Nice living rooms/dining room areas with TVs and room safes. The kitchens have fridge/stove/coffee pot with some pots/pans and dishes. The prices are very reasonable ($75/night for a single using the one bedroom), and you can walk over to Habitat and sign in for diving etc. Check with Cap. Don's on dive prices, also there are other dive operators very close by. The name of the cottage colony is Hamlet Oaisis and you can make reservations via Baranka Tours or contact them directly. The office managers are usually there from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm M-F. They will also arrange to pick you up at the airport and they also rent autos. Very Nice Place with small pool/deck and you can walk down to the little beach area. You can rent several cottages next to one another, but it doesn't really matter since they are all very close by ( but enough room for privacy).

Marco, 2 corrections:
- your "Albatros" is a pelican
- the pics titled Bachelor's Beach are all taken
at Windsock the airport beach

Nice sunsets!
Where are the underwater pics?

Thanks for the corrections Marion. I Will change it in a few days!

Oops, wrong link for the underwaterpics, should be: http://www.pbase.com/colick/bonaire2002underwater
The photo's are a bit dark cause they were made with a "1 time use" camera bought at the airport, it had no flash...

Well- I'm booking today an ocean front villa at Captain Don's. We are trying to request one with the Villa Suite on the first floor and 2@ Superiors w/balconies on the second floor (if anyone has a specific number to request let me know). This is a trial run for the entire family who will probably be coming next year. Now- if we can only hold out until March! In the meantime, my husband and I will be doing our due diligence in the local YMCA pool so that we can do our check out dives on vacation.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful tips/suggestions/pictures and support.

Amy