Rik Miller

Would be interrested in hearing from anyone who has visited Bonaire. How did you like it? Where there any activities, restaurants, tours or shops that you liked especially? A friend and I plan to visit next year off season. I'd be glad to hear your suggestions.

jacqui

Hi, Bonaire is an absolute gorgeous place to visit, it is a relatively small island(24 miles long by 3 to 7 miles wide) It is constantly warm. Bonaire is best known for the watersport activities. Scuba Divng Excursions. If you want to take a class get certified and go scuba diving. There beaches are like picture paintings, but way better to see them personal. Kayaking is enjoyed greatly. There is a place ther I think called sunset Resorts which have good weekly packages which include meals and activities, airfare and other little extras from $869.00. I don't know what exactly you want to do on your vacation, but I hope the information I gave you about bonaire can help you. I am a part time agent and if you need any assistance or questions answered please feel free to E-mail me.

Gary

The island of Bonaire is a great island to visit, especially if you are interested in scuba diving. You should know though that there are only a few hotels on the island that are actually located on a beach. One of those hotels is Sunset Beach. We stayed there three years ago and were very disappointed. They do indeed have a nice beach but that is truly the only thing the resort had going for them in our opinion. Most people that we have spoken to that have stayed there would not go back again. Two other hotels that have their own beaches are Harbour Village and Bonaire Plaza Resort. These two hotels can be out of the average persons price range though. Probably the most well known public beach is Pink Beach. It is probably about a 15 or 20 minute drive from places like Sand Dollar Condos, Sunset Beach and Harbour Village. For the last two years we have been fortunate enough to stay at Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn. It is a very small intimate place with an owner that is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet and a great staff. It can be hard to get an opening and/or reservation but in our opinion well worth the effort. We will attempt to go back every year for as long as we can and everyone that we've spoken to during our visits there says the same thing. There is very little shopping on Bonaire compared to other islands in the Caribbean. It truly is a small island dedicated mostly to divers but it certainly is possible to not be a diver and still have a great time. We would highly recommend the Sandwich Factory for American Deli type sandwiches and the Green Parrot Restaurant for lunch and/or dinner.

Tobman

I've got a friend that goes every year for two weeks and love it. They are into scuba but I understand there is great snorkeling from shore. Here's a neat website with live cams.<BR><BR>http://www.bonairewebcams.com/

Dave

We spent a week there snorkling. Stayed at Capt. Don's, which was very nice. There is only a small town, not much to do. Beaches are not good for swimming. <BR><BR>Many people return for excellent scuba and snorkling.

Elaine

Went to Bonaire about 3 years ago. Stayed at the Plaza Resort. Very nice resort with very spacious rooms. Swim off the beach to snorkel. We literally could see the tails of fish flopping in and out of the water about 3 to 4 feet from shore! Took the "cow boat" out to an island not far from shore. Outstanding snorkeling there also! We've been to many islands and love to snorkel. This was the best by far. The island is fairly undeveloped. Our favorite restaurant was Richard's which was right on the water. Went at least twice. Excellent food (compared to other places we tried) and great service. Not much for shopping. A small strip of shops.

carol

Would love more info on staying at either plaza resort or Harbour village, because being right on the beach is our prioity. personal opionions of those who have been are appreciated!! We have been to aruba, caymen, anguilla x2, virgin gorda and tortola to name a few. Bonaires' appeal comes to me because of the dry climate, lack of rain and hot!! thanx

anon

We stayed at the Plaza and had a pool view or garden view room and it ran about $130 a night. It was a nice place to stay, food left a little to be desired but I understand it has improved a good bit.<BR><BR>Richards was the best place to eat for us.<BR><BR>Being only snorklers and not divers we had been warned that we would be bored in Bonaire. We were far from bored. We snorkeled every day, rented a jeep and explored the entire island, relaxed and had one of the best trips ever. I would go back in a heartbeat. It also had the best snorkeling ever.<BR><BR>We too took the cow boat to Klein Bonaire and would not recommend it. I'd rent a kayak and paddle over.<BR><BR>There wasn't much in the way of shopping, the Plaza had a small casino. All very relaxing and laid back.<BR><BR>Have a great time.

carol

Thanks for the reply about Plaza. We too do not dive and have snorkled only a few times. I am after a nice uncrowded beach with hopefully sunset view into the water, is this possible from Plaza? thank you for any help!!

anon

Other than Pink Beach which you can drive to, the Plaza has one of the nicest beaches in Bonaire and that isn't saying a lot. Their beaches are small, almost look man made and the sand is coarse and corally rather than the super soft sand you find on other islands. The snorkeling made up for the sand tho!<BR><BR>We did check out the beaches at all the other resorts except Harbor Village and it was out of our "want to pay" range so we didn't bother. Of what we saw the Plaza was the nicest.

carol

Thanks, anon, appreciate the reply tho i am disappointed to hear the truth!! Have enjoyed such outstanding beaches, it is hard to down scale,if you know what i mean. Am having such a difficult time finding the right combination of time of year we can go and what we expect in weather, food and accomodations. Have enjoyed some pretty awesome places. I really do appreciate the input. thanks. carol

Anon

I know what you mean about the beaches, we were let down a little too,being total beach freaks, but the awesome snorkeling made up 100 times for the beaches. I have been snorkeling since I was young (I'm an old fart now...LOL) and this was the best I've seen.

Pam

I spent Xmas there a few years ago and had a great time - Bruce Bowker's is a very good and reasonable place. Snorkeling was good. Food was so-so and locals don't seem all that interested in the tourists. It was hard to get a place to eat on Christmas! Also - stay away from Antillian Air - they had a labor strike when we went. It is a small, quiet island which we really enjoy with some unusual sites - the National Park, the Flamingos, Salt piles, and LOTS of goats.