I'm planning my first trip to Bonaire and in doing my research, I've found it very difficult to decide where to stay. Because I'm a new user to this board, I hope you all will please bare with me if this has been asked before... but I've been looking at accommodations on Bonaire and their prices and I'm curious what you get for the additional cost of staying at a place like Buddy's Dive or Captain Don's instead of a place like the Yacht Club Apartments. Everyone speaks so highly of Buddy's Dive, Captain Don's, etc but they are quite a bit more expensive. Is it the dive operator, the room size/decor, cleanliness, convenience to dive sites, the beach, the general location, or a combination of these things that makes the additional cost well worth it?

Thanks for any advice or information you can provide.

ok...that's it in a nutshell...lots of "overhead" time associated with diving...if you stay at a place that has lockers and a rinse tank and a pier for boat diving pickups - you are going to cut down some on that overhead - that's really what the extra costs are all about...the apartments are cheaper but you gotta work a little harder (fun work though )

We have stayed at both places, I think Carib Inn is a lot less expensive than Buddy Dive;the question is what do you want. A restaraunt on premise can be nice but also a big noisemaker. We like a place with a kitchen and like to be able to have easy meals in, sandwiches for lunches on shore diving excursions.Maybe fruit and carbs and tea for breakfast instead of a big buffet.
I have pals who would die w/o the included breakfast and never go anywhere that does not have one!

I think you hit on the reasons for the extra cost though each person's idea of convenience is different. For us a kitchen is important as is the space to spread out a bit so we always opt for an apt or house. And because we want to dive in a variety of spots and therefor reserve a truck, the necessity for on-site diving is not an issue. Once you decide on what is important to you there will still be a wide variety of choices!

Wow, thanks for the feedback. My husband and I are relatively new divers. We have never done shore diving (other than our checkout dives which were done in a murky 45 degree quarry in Indiana!) Our dive experience so far has been on liveaboards and was therefore very easy, comfortable, and convenient. So, I'm a bit concerned that we might have spoiled ourselves and that we might feel disappointed if the conveniences aren't there.

On the other hand, we are hoping this vacation is so action packed with diving and checking out the island and culture that we won't spend much time in the room. However, we are both clean freaks so wherever we stay has to be clean. Also, we would like a kitchen or kitchenette in the room so that we can prepare at least some of our meals. The size of the room doesn't matter and I don't really care if there is a restaurant on the premises. Since we haven't been to Bonaire, I'm not sure about location but it would be nice to be able to walk to some dive sites and to some restaurants. We will be renting a car while on the island though.

Anyway, I'd love ideas from anyone that could recommend a place that would meet our needs. Maybe something that would rate somewhere between a Captain Don's and a Yacht Club Apartments. Thanks again for the feedback!

Bethany,

Based on your criteria, you may want to consider the Divi Flamingo...it is walking distance to town (even if you have a car), dive shop, restaurant, nice pool(s) ...they have also have effeciency rooms. BTW, all of the rooms at Buddy Dive have kitchens...although we don't stay with them anymore ($$$), we always dive thru them.

hi Bethany,

You'll have to swing by to Haigh Quarry in Kankakee. IL sometime. I'd be happy to give you and yours a tour of the rock crusher, sunken boat and truck and the dreaded ear lobe eating bluegills all in the "comfort" of 55F waters lol

I've stayed at Buddy and Divi and have checked out Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn. The Divi and Carib are just a short walk into "downtown" and share a very nice house reef. Sand$$, Buddy, Lion's and the Capt. share a similar stretch of excellent house reefs and all offer terrific easy entries, literally stairs with handrails going into the water (same at Divi). The cost differences are all amenity and distance to the water related. On the ocean with pool, restaurant, bar, car rental, camera shop and on site dive shop and dive boats costs the most and ALL are excellent. As you cross off items your cost goes down. An inshore apartment with a drive-to dive operator will be the cheapest, and most are excellent places as well. I think you will be thrilled with wherever you select. Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any specific questions. I know I'm already trying to put away my pennies for a return trip and trade my sweet home Chicago for two weeks in scuba Paradise.

Have a blast!

We think everybody has given you a very good overview of the places on Bonaire. You can't pick a bad place, they just have different amenities.

We're partial, we own a two bedroom, but you might want to check out Sand Dollar Condo Resort. They have very complete studio, one, two and three bedroom units all with very complete kitchens. The house reef, Bari Reef, has the best variety of fish life.

You are going to love the ease of diving in Bonaire. It's like live aboard diving the only difference is you are on land, the reef is right there.

Good luck in your search

You might want to also consider Bonaire Town Homes, which only has two units (a one-bedroom and a two-bedroom) on the family compound of the owners. It's immaculately clean, quiet, very well equipped kitchen, and nice private sitting outside areas with hammocks. We're there now -- our fifth stay with them. It's a short walk to Gibi's Terrace, but we drive everywhere else, except sometimes for a stroll into town at night. It's about five minutes by car to restaurants, waterfront, several dive sites. We love it here. It's very reasonable, especially considering the quality of the amenities. You can check out their website at: www.bonairetownhomes.com, or email at: info@bonairetownhomes.com

I highly recommend Belmar. Please see my trip report entitled "Belmar and Toucan Diving" for more details"

One thing to take into consideration is what is included in the price. I will use the "Dive and Drive" package at Buddy because I know it well. You get airport transfers, a full condo, a rental vechile, a big buffet breakfast, unlimited shore diving tanks and 6 boat dives (the boat dives can be dropped and save you about $100pp). All of this is included in the package for one price and you don't have to arrange each item seperately. With the possible exception of the boat dives, you will need/want all of these items. Other places offer just a room, a room and a vehicle or some other combination. The point that I am making, is to make sure you are comparing equal products.

I agree with Herman. i have stayed at the Plaza and at Divers Paradise and had a great stay at each. But after much research on this board, Buddy has the most complete package....and the convenience of being on the reef and having a pool at an awesome price. We will probably stay there next. margarite