By Howard Michaels (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 10:23 am: |
My family and I just returned from Bonaire (wonderful time!!!). However, I am a bit peeved at Buddy Dive (again). One of the buckles on my Tusa Zoom fins broke, and I visited the Buddy Dive shop to see about a replacement.
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By ***Ron Gould*** (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2242) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 10:57 am: |
Have had dealings with Buddy's over the years with no problems of any type. The management, and staff have been very helpful in my past. I think you should have brought in your fin into the diveshop to let them see what your problem was. You made your own diagnosis, unpacked the strap, and should not be refunded. That is a personal item with no retrun.
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By MBZ aka JimmyChooWho aka R.A. (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #16401) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 11:24 am: |
I do not like to be taken advantage of HOWEVER this would not even be a blip on my radar to make me give up going to a place where I thought the divemasters and attendants (?) were of high quality. Sorry it happened, but dude if you let a $6.50 item turn a pleasant stay into a negative one then maybe you take things a little too serious. I hope you have a change of heart, Buddy Dive is a favorite of many here and I hate to see you give up a place you seem to have enjoyed other than this one little incident. I see you also had an issue with Lions Den on your last visit, a call to the credit card company should have resolved that one. I've had it happen a few times in several places and called the CC company and it was removed that day. (Only one of the places were on Bonaire by the way).
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By Howard Michaels (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 12:03 pm: |
Ron - I'm glad you haven't had any problems; good to know. I DID bring in the fin - the woman made a misdiagnosis that the clip would fit my Tusa. She didn't try it on; neither did I. I accept responsibility for not trying it on until it was time to dive.
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By Howard Michaels (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 12:22 pm: |
MBZ - I am posting a full trip report in the next day or so, and am not mentioning this small blip.
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By michael gaynor (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4113) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 1:16 pm: |
Please be aware that Buddy does not own nor control Lions Den or its management! So perhaps you will consider using Buddy since it is only one strike, not two!
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By Todd Washowich (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 1:52 pm: |
Howard that is good to know.....I think you did get ripped off....Listen, in the retail world, the CUSTOMER is always right.. I am in retail as well, I build them For Buddy Dive to act that way is ridiculous, and the same goes for the restaurant...
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By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3028) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 3:14 pm: |
Howard..Really..I'm sure others that read this board are thinking the same thing but out of politeness have not posted their responses..Don't you have better things to do with your time than to argue over $5.00? I hate to think how you'd react if anything really serious happened to you.
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By Barbara "CB" Gibson (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5182) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 3:35 pm: |
I'm agonna stick up for Howard, Mr. Pietro, sir. He's not ranting and raving, and he says it's a small thing, but it bugs him. Sometimes it's not the money involved, but the principle. A bunch of small gripes can just turn your mind about something, and I think Howard's mind has been turned in such a way.
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By Lizard0924 (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #438) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 3:55 pm: |
Wow, never in a million years would I have dreamed that I would share an opinion with "CB", but I have to agree with her on this one. (Has hell frozen over recently or something? Maybe its the heavy meds I'm on from my surgery.)
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By Todd Washowich (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 5:33 pm: |
You know..I think this board IS the place to post info like that....Hell, most of us only get there once a year if we are lucky enough...and if someone could post their deals while they are on the island for someone else to hear their experience.I want to know....you think I want to get that same experience on my vacation? I want to know the good and the bad...In fact, why doesn't Buddy Dive get on here and address it?
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By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3029) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 6:24 pm: |
Oh my..Well Liz & CB, we're all entitled to our respective opinions. A free an open exchange of ideas right? Notwithstanding my views, I thought the posting was indeed childish, but(Liz) I certainly was not blaming him and do think "mocking" was too strong of an accusatory word to use.
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By Scot Ward (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #210) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 8:44 pm: |
I liked Buddy but also felt as if they tried to squeeze every $ they could. I would not eat at the Lions den again. I forget what I ordered something with Shrimp which usually means multiple in this case it was singular a Shrimp. who serves a shrimp???? LOL Live and learn.
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By brenda (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #511) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 9:06 pm: |
Remember, Lions Den is not Buddys.
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By MBZ aka JimmyChooWho aka R.A. (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #16402) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 9:56 pm: |
Lizard, I did not mock him nor blame him. I just said I hoped that he wouldn't let a small incident such as this ruin his otherwise good opinion, that's all, you read too much into it. I thought my was post was rather pleasant actually, I didn't feel it was childish either but I have been known to be accused of being immature, I guess that's why I enjoy life so much. c'est le vie!
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By MBZ aka JimmyChooWho aka R.A. (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #16403) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 10:00 pm: |
Scot your post made me LOL..."who serves a single shrimp" hahahhahahaha
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By Howard Michaels (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 10:07 pm: |
Hello Guys and Gals,
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By Jerry (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #26837) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 10:10 pm: |
I got a glass of coke with 99% ice. I will never go back again.
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By KIV ~ Kobi in Virginia (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #14309) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 10:30 pm: |
Jerry.....
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By Barbara "CB" Gibson (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5188) on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 11:27 pm: |
Howard, in as hornet's nests go, this is nothing. I'm glad you're going to stick around and give us that report.
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By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3033) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 6:46 am: |
Well Howard I'm certainly glad that you were not "put off" by anyones comments. Yes things do happen on Bonaire.. But I do know for a fact that many established successful businesses have hard working principals who also have many excellent folks employed by them. Can someone have an off day?...yea of course. Goes with the territory. Don't take things too personal.
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By Antony Bond (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #681) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 10:40 am: |
That will teach a new poster to comment on his experiences.
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By Freddie~~~~~~ Can summer be far off?? (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #14460) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 11:29 am: |
Antony WTH are you talking about?? did you cross post and this should be on another thread???
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By Down deep (BonaireTalker - Post #41) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 12:43 pm: |
Agree with Antony. More often than not, I see any negative experiences posted met with criticism of the poster....and generally from the same people. I know what he means by "local."
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By Barbara "CB" Gibson (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5191) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 1:00 pm: |
DD, Dude, you're getting more "local" every day...
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By Antony Bond (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #683) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 1:09 pm: |
I keep forgetting that I am one of the few Brits on here and quoting from a BBC comedy show is somewhat lost............
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By *Skipper Tink* (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2527) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 1:15 pm: |
Howard, welcome to BT :-) I'd probably be a little peeved too. Maybe sell the buckle on eBay?
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By MBZ aka JimmyChooWho aka R.A. (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #16404) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 1:21 pm: |
Calm down Antony, calm down!! I get your sense of humor but some how the joke gets lost occasionally in the snideness of your remarks. You have said some pretty damn funny things, made me laugh out loud even! Can we all just get along?
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By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3035) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 1:28 pm: |
I'd venture to say it's OOH-LA-LA
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By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3036) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 1:30 pm: |
RA..After grilling all weekend; tonight is puntanesca!! For those folks who are not Italian, that's hooker sauce..
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By MBZ aka JimmyChooWho aka R.A. (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #16407) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 1:37 pm: |
Vince, LMAO!!! When I translate for the kids it's "ladies of the evening" sauce. They have no clue!
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By Barbara "CB" Gibson (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5193) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 1:47 pm: |
Have fun grilling, kids. We're off to the ballgame. And, yeah, I love you guys, even when you're Completely Wrong! HAAAAAAAA........
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By Jerry (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #26841) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 2:13 pm: |
Tinky Lo Wo, that would be shrimp + Shrimps.
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By patrick huver (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 6:18 pm: |
Just returned from a weeks stay with BDR. All in all a great trip. Diving was fantastic. As for our stay at BDR, not so good. Ate, Slept and Dove with BDR last year and all was great. Brought 6 friends with me this year and had poor food/service at the Pool Bar our first night and never went back. Our room was in building #2 which was having some re-tiling work done which meant power tools running all day long. Made SI's at the room unbearable. The dive operation at BDR is top rate in my book. Augusto has a fantastic team. I really appreciate John and Sue at the Photo Shop. They are both such big help. Will I stay at BDR again? Not sure, but I will utilize their dive operations every time.
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By patrick huver (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 6:21 pm: |
I intend to contact BDR management and give them our concerns. I really like BDR and was very disappointed this time. As a dive leader for a group to Bonaire, I have to consider the wants and needs of my group. Because of the poor accomodations and food/service I will be forced to look for alternate sources for meals and lodging next year unless I can work something out with BDR management.
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By KIV ~ Kobi in Virginia (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #14310) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 8:05 pm: |
Patrick,
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By bill a.k.a.Mr. Bill...(**********) (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15469) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 8:13 pm: |
Very nice Kobi! I could probably sit there for a week solid!
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By Ron (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #212) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 8:37 pm: |
What a shame people. How is anyone suppose to make any sense out of what is good or what is bad on the island if everyone jumps on anyone with a less than positive post. You should weigh all good and bad and then make your own decision after talking to whoever you plan on renting from. Anthony you really need to get a handle on things. I am quite certain you do not want this island to be locals only. Am I wrong to think tourist puts $$$ in your pocket?
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By patrick huver (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 9:22 pm: |
When booking our accommodations BDR probably thought they were doing the right thing by putting us in building #2 in the three bedroom unit. Unfortunately they didn't inform us of the renovation going on nor did they realize how inconvenient the renovation work was. I would have rather split our group up into separate units had I known. To be next door to that kind of noise is one thing but when its in the same building... a concrete building... it will rattle your fillings loose. As I stated before, I/we love Buddy's. Next year our group will be even larger and I would love to continue doing business with Buddy's. It will all depend on how the management responds to our concerns. As a manager myself I've learned not to judge people by the mistakes they make but by how they react to resolve them or not.
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By patrick huver (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 9:32 pm: |
I'm sure we'll be back back Kobi. I'm hoping to work things out with Buddy management. One of my group members hosts an internet based show called Talking Scuba.(talking-scuba.com, twitter, facebook and youtube) I was anticipating having as good of an experience as my wife and I had last year at BDR. We were ready to do a cover piece on Bonaire featuring BDR but to be fair we will have to leave the BDR part out of the show this time around. No publicity is better than bad publicity.
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By hillary mom of twins (BonaireTalker - Post #14) on Monday, May 31, 2010 - 10:46 pm: |
just to add to the fray: booked with buddy in march for a may trip, have stayed with them 6 or 7 times before, no real problems to speak of. returned this weekend from my long-looked-forward-to dive trip (is there any other kind?). upon our hot & sweaty arrival on the hopper from curacao & 117 bags, tired 3 year old twins, there was no one from bdr to escort our party & considerable luggage to the resort. after searching the area for a while for someone with a little buddy's sign & asking several airport employees & airport security for help (they all acted like we were the first divers on the island & had never heard of buddy's), we finally got 2 taxi drivers to cart us off to our week of fun & sun.
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By Joe Tito (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 - 9:26 am: |
Sorry about your experience at BD - it sounds like one of those cases where the response to your problem is what really irked you, rather than the actual $$ amount, and I don't blame you.
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By Scubagirl M (BonaireTalker - Post #13) on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 - 10:04 pm: |
I had a bad experience at BDR a few years ago. Rooms were simply not being maintained. Fridge didnt work in one, ac didnt work in another, etc. A globe off of one of the lights over the sink fell out of its frame and cut me rather seriously on the back of the hand. Management showed no concern WHATSOEVER. I didnt let it ruin my vacation but I never went back except to enjoy the atmosphere at the bar on Friday HH with Moogie.
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By Scot Ward (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #212) on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 - 11:09 pm: |
Quote from Joe - "A word about Lion's Den - we just got back from staying at Belmar (we usually stay at Buddy) and made the trip up to Lions Den twice. We got nothing but great food and great service (and a great view!)"
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By Garrett Killian (BonaireTalker - Post #65) on Thursday, June 3, 2010 - 10:35 am: |
My 2 cents worth...
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By Antony Bond (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #685) on Thursday, June 3, 2010 - 10:57 am: |
I just love it when people take posts the wrong way. I love it even more when they still do it after it has been explained. Keep up Ron.......Doh!
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By Beth (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #165) on Thursday, June 3, 2010 - 1:16 pm: |
Scubagirl,
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By Ron (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #213) on Thursday, June 3, 2010 - 2:33 pm: |
Anthony ....that is my dust you see.
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By KIV ~ Kobi in Virginia (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #14313) on Thursday, June 3, 2010 - 8:45 pm: |
After reading all this I truly feel blessed! We have never had any problems like what have been shared here.
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By Todd Washowich (BonaireTalker - Post #20) on Thursday, June 3, 2010 - 10:37 pm: |
Why does Buddy's need to change...?? with most of you guys praising the Mighty Buddy Dive, they have no need to change, yinze will keep on giving them $.....it's a shame... yep $6 and lost a customer....make that 2....Obviously, they have some CUSTOMER issues they need to work on....
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By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3055) on Friday, June 4, 2010 - 5:52 am: |
Well I for one think that some of you should listen to the lyrics of the song entitled "Get over it" song by Don Henley of the Eagles. How about focusing on some of the more important things in life.
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By KIV ~ Kobi in Virginia (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #14316) on Friday, June 4, 2010 - 9:32 pm: |
Thanks, Vince
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By Jerry (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #26955) on Saturday, June 5, 2010 - 11:11 am: |
Well I can see that Vince has never had a coke that was 90+% ice. I'm never going back.
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By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3062) on Saturday, June 5, 2010 - 11:26 am: |
Jerry..I can't believe someone would have the absolute audacity to do something like that. Don't they know that you pay good money for soda (I assume that's what you're talking about) :> and to have it melted down with cheap ice is unconscionable AND on top of that A COMPLETE RIP OFF!
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By bill a.k.a.Mr. Bill...(**********) (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15515) on Saturday, June 5, 2010 - 8:16 pm: |
Man, how's a guy supposed to get the skinny on Buddy Dive with all this fluff around?
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By Scot Ward (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #214) on Saturday, June 5, 2010 - 8:24 pm: |
Hey Bill just go to the Lions Den and order the Shrimp (singular)!
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By patrick huver (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Saturday, June 5, 2010 - 10:15 pm: |
Another suggestion Bill, try spending a SI in room 209 while the tile work is going on. And oh, by the way, you may want to bring some aspirin.
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By bill a.k.a.Mr. Bill...(**********) (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15521) on Sunday, June 6, 2010 - 11:51 am: |
Patrick, I can ABSOLUTELY tell you that they would have moved me within minutes or returned every single penny. I have a "condition" which makes it impossible for me to be around loud noises or large noisy crowds for any length of time. Your situation would have been an absolute show stopper. I do not go on vacation and spend good money to be placed in conditions worse than where I live. I also have no problem hiring lawyers, lambasting a property or person for treating me improperly, or making sure everyone and their mother knows about it.
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By Mikeal D Eberhard (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Sunday, June 6, 2010 - 9:20 pm: |
Gosh: I've been to Bonaire 5 times, never staying at BDR, and probably won't in the future!
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By Barbara "CB" Gibson (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5229) on Sunday, June 6, 2010 - 9:34 pm: |
Mr. Bill, will you be my Consumer Advocate? I could used you...
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By brenda (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #527) on Sunday, June 6, 2010 - 10:10 pm: |
Mikeal, welcome to BT
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By Dean Botsford (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #437) on Monday, June 7, 2010 - 3:29 am: |
http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/1022/10292.html
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By bill a.k.a.Mr. Bill...(**********) (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15541) on Monday, June 7, 2010 - 7:14 am: |
As I posted right below Kobi's beautiful picture above in this thread - all property near the see requires constant maintenance and the occasional overhaul. I did all my homework the first trip. I looked here on BT, specifically wanting to avoid construction noise. I called the renting agent. A $7,000/wk villa next to one that was having it's pool completely renovated. We survived and I was pissed. All you can do in life is your best to know what's going on and I suspect short of being on the ground in Bonaire you're really never going to know. Those who are going somewhere else - well, you may find that Buddy's is a lot quieter the next time, after all, they're done renovating. But, what's going to be happening in the new place you've chosen? Just a thought.
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By Beth (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #166) on Monday, June 7, 2010 - 8:03 am: |
For me it is not so much the actual problem, but how management responds to the problem. At BDR I felt they were fat and happy and I was just a number. If I did not return it was no big deal. There was a time when the owners of BDR knew my name, they sent my husband and I a wedding gift. I had the same maid every year, knew her children etc. Now BDR is big resort.
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By bill a.k.a.Mr. Bill...(**********) (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #15543) on Monday, June 7, 2010 - 8:10 am: |
That makes sense Beth. I have never stayed at BDR. Our local dive group goes every year though. I guess I had never thought of BDR as anything but a large impersonal resort. I sort of unwanted change is unpleasant I am sure.
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By hillary mom of twins (BonaireTalker - Post #22) on Monday, June 7, 2010 - 2:47 pm: |
i couldn't agree more, beth! we just returned from bonaire, were sooo excited to go back to bdr (our 7th stay with them). once there, had the same feeling as you, that we were no more than faces in the crowd. no concern when we didn't get picked up at the airport (!), didn't get the room we reserved, had broken furniture & blown lightbulbs. i think they have gotten too big & busy to give great (what i expect) service. will be looking for another place to stay for future trips.
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