We are having a difficult time deciding on accommodations (end of July - beg. of Aug.) as this will be our first visit to Bonaire! We are both windsurfers (I am a beginner, my husband intermediate/advanced) and plan to be at the beach windsurfing, snorkeling, hanging out, etc. every day. Nevertheless, this is our first (and much needed!) vacation in two years and we want to stay somewhere nice and clean and romantic where we can hang out on lazy days bug-free (I heard that there are large ugly bugs on Bonaire???). The Bel Mar has been highly recommended, but we are not sure whether we need to pay for all the "amenities" that come along with it if we will be at the beach etc. the majority of the time. (Our big requirements are clean, full kitchen, close to Lac Bay for windsurfing, and reasonably priced.) Other recommendations we have received but know nothing about: Bonaire Lagoen Hill Bungalows, Bonaire Town Homes, Happy Holiday Homes, Ocean View Villas. Do you have any recommendations? Is the Bel Mar worth it, or is there another place that is more affordable and will meet our needs?

Thank you,

Claudia Bassin

PS - any other hints about Bonaire would be appreciated also!

Claudia, I will let you know if the price of Bel Mar is worth it. We will be staying there for the first time July 1 through July 15. We have alsways stayed at the Bonaire Beach Bungalows, a no frills but clean and right on the water. They are now demolishing it to build a bigger condo, so we have decided to try the Bel Mar. The pool will be nice, as we have two non divers in our group this year, but I'm sure the TV and entertainment center etc. will go unused.

So far, we have been very pleased with the service the staff at Bel Mar has provided. I'm sure there are less expensive places to stay that are clean and have a full kitchen to meet your requirements, but being right on the water has it's advantages.

John Bressan

We can also attest to BelMar. We just got back from a week there and will go back. It is the nicest place we have stayed and feel it is well worth the money. Yes it is more than some but still cheaper than others. We watched dolphins swim by each morning and snorkeled right from their dock. It is very quite and very very nice.
Give it a serious look.
sss

Please check out our website http://www.CocoPalmGarden.com

Claudia, if there are specifics that I can help you with, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Tim W. Nesselrodt
Owner/Property Manager
Ocean View Villas
http://www.oceanviewvillas.com

I recommend the Bonaire TownHomes. We spent four weeks there in Feb/March and really loved it. The owners are lovely, incredibly accommodationing, the accommodations are new, clean, bright, with full kitchen and large tiled baths. From there to Lac Bay it's about 20 minutes (at the most). (Also try the Kon Tiki restaurant near Lac Bay --- it's great!)

By the way, we've never experienced much in the way of nasty bugs on Bonaire --- just a tiny scorpion one time. But, it seems less than most other "tropical" places we've visited.

We love Bonaire, and while we're not such veterans as many you'll encounter on this newsgroup, we will be eventually --- we're going back as soon as we can.

I bring Cutters bug spray to keep the mosquitos away when we dine out. If there's one around it finds me. As far as any other bugs go, our hotel sprays our rooms and we don't have a problem.

Claudia, Sand Dollar has some advantageous specials now which may make them affordable. Tthey are on the water, have fully equipped kitchens, and snorkeling is great right in front of the units. Also sun decks on the water. Bonaire doesnt have bad bugs (a desert island) unless it has been raining and then the mosquitos are really there. Take bug spray. Have a great time, the windsurfing place is perfect!.

Lighthouse Beach is another possibility. They are clean and new. American style town houses with all the features and benifits of the larger hotels. It is close to Jibe City and inexpensive. You can contact me anytime for more info. at ibs@bonairelive.com.

Just back from 10 days on Bonaire. I can attest to the BelMar. Very nice, worth the price. very quiet.

20 minutes from Jibe City and the staff s great.

We'll go back again.