By Padget Flowers (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 5:20 pm: |
Hi, all. My husband and I are planning a trip to Bonaire in March of '07 and are trying to decide where to stay. We're considering Don's Habitat Resort. We're not divers (but I'm an avid snorkeler and I'm hoping to make my inexperienced but enthusiastic and willing husband an avid snorkeler too!), so diving services are not important. Our priorities are as follows: Oceanfront location is a must (Don's Habitat has several Villa Studios and Suites that seem to be well located); accommodations don't need to be lavish or top shelf--just clean and nice; it would be ideal if the snorkeling right at the resort was very good--we do plan to travel to good snorkel locations, but having good snorkeling right where we're staying would be nice. Also, I don't think we want to stay right in the heart of town or in the busiest section of the resorts (don't really need big crowds and lots of hustle-bustle) and Don's Habitat seems to be a little removed from this area. Is that the case? I keep reading lots of complimentary recommendations for the Sand Dollar, but those horrible 360 degree "fish eye" virtual tour photos on their website make it impossible to see how the resort is laid out, where the oceanfront suites (if any) are located, or what the overall "feel" of the place is like. (Boy, I sure wish they'd change the format of the pictures on their website--talk about frustrating!) The Plaza is out--too big and rambling. The Divi Flamingo keeps getting rave reviews (esp. for snorkeling), but it doesn't seem to have the nice oceanfront, separate villas that Don's Habitat has that are so appealing and atmospheric.
|
By Linda Stoltzfus (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #954) on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 5:33 pm: |
Padget,
|
By Kelly (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4755) on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 7:50 pm: |
Padget, I agree with Linda! Capt. Don's has great snorkeling right off the dock, a fabulous restaurant and bar, and perfect sunsets ! You will enjoy.
|
By David Johnson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #210) on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 11:03 pm: |
Don's sounds like a good fit. Also, what about Den Laman? I have never been there but it sounds/looks very nice! ALthough I have no idea if they offer a pool.
|
By Andy & Dave Bartlett (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #612) on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 1:08 am: |
Check out BelMar Apts also. It is a small 22 condo resort with a pool on site. It is right on the water and has 2 docks that you can snorkel from. It is in the Belnam area just a little further down from the villas you are looking at.
|
By Bill and Donna Goodwin (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #221) on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 9:55 am: |
Padget... we stayed for two weeks in the villa at Don's closest to the docks - quiet, peaceful, convenient - and we would pull some chairs out to the edge of the little sea cliff each evening and have a glass of wine while the Habitat cats arrived and arranged themselves around us at a discrete distance while tarpon and bait fish jumped in the dark water and blue-green gleams from divers' lights cut through the water out by the reef crest.
|
By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5054) on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 9:56 am: |
Padget all good suggestions but after reading your request I got the impression that you do not really understand Bonaire. So I thought I'd throw out some general things.
|
By Padget Flowers (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 11:06 am: |
Thank you all, so much, for all your great comments and suggestions. (I think this is one of the reasons I'm so excited about vacationing at Bonaire. Everyone connected with Bonaire is so incredibly friendly, helpful, welcoming and upbeat.....it feels like I've already got friends there!) Anyway, Don's Habitat it is! And I think we'll take David's suggestion to spend a few hours there scouting other lodging options for our next trip. (I have no doubt there'll be a 'next trip.' But, who knows...there's a good chance we'll like Don's Habitat so much we'll keep going back every time.)
|
By Ron Gould (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #635) on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 12:00 pm: |
Padget,
|
By David Johnson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #212) on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 12:36 pm: |
Padget:
|
By Vince DePietro (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #451) on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 4:30 pm: |
Padget.. I know you'll like Capt Don's..We've stayed at many resorts on Bonaire & love to try different ones. They all have their own pluses & differences.. While on the island, take some time & check out other resorts (for your return trip back).
|
By Bill T (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 5:01 pm: |
Padget - I second the suggestion to have a pro help your husband fit a mask. I, too, have a mustache and had very few problems with water entering the mask, once a proper fitting one was selected. There are styles that have a very thin area around the nose that seem to help a lot.
|
By David Johnson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #214) on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 6:24 pm: |
Bill T is right about the fin -- hard soled booties with open back fins are the key.
|
By Mare (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1512) on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 11:25 pm: |
David,
|
Visit: The Bonaire WebCams - Current Bonaire images and weather!
The Bonaire Insider - the latest tourism news about Bonaire
The Bonaire Information Site, InfoBonaire
Search Bonaire - Search top Bonaire Web sites