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.

We also considered renting one of two small private villas (the Ocean-Reef-House (EEG Boulevard #56) in Belnem and Cas Thomas (EEG Boulevard #64) in Belnem). The seclusion and uncrowded atmosphere of these locations is very, very appealing, but neither of these has a pool, and we think we might really enjoy taking a quick, refreshing, carefree swim in a pool without having to deal with the salt water and necessary equipment (boots, snorkel gear, etc.) every time we want to get wet.

Does anybody out there have an opinion on Don's Habitat? Also, if you happen to know anything about either of these two rentals (through SunRentals Bonaire), I'd sure appreciate some firsthand info. Lastly, do you think I'm on the right track wanting a swimming pool, or maybe it's not all that important?

Sorry to be so wordy, but choosing the right resort/accommodations is so important. Any help that anyone out there can give me would be SO appreciated!

And, by the way, even though I haven't been to Bonaire yet, I'm already enchanted, hypnotized and thoroughly hooked on Bonaire--just because of the wonderfully complementary, enthusiastic and glowing posts on this great website!

Thanks, all!

Padget,
I think Capt. Don's would be IDEAL for you. We have stayed there the past 5 years and the snorkeling is wonderful right in front of the villas for which you are speaking. Read my trip report from our first trip.
http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/1022/31140.html?1021997999
If you have any specific questions..just email me direct through my profile. We are returning to Capt. Don's March 18th through April 5th. Maybe we'll see you there....

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.

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.

I stayed at Happy Holiday Homes one year and loved the place. The only downside was it was not waterfront (although they do have a house or two that is) and had no on-site pool. I did almost zero night dives that trip (instead of about 5 a week). That taught me: For me, it is essential that the place I stay be right on the water (although the room need to not be). And a pool is very very nice.

In other words, trust your instinct about the pool. If it is important to you, don't let someone talk you out of it.

Another option might be the Carib Inn -- especially rooms #7,8 and 8. Basic and clean, with a small pool, and in a great location. Those three rooms are very tough to get though... No on-site bar or restaurant (although the divi and Richards are close) so if that matters...

One thing you might do if a repeat trip is possible: spend an afternoon or two looking at other lodging options. Or you might just decide that Don's is perfect!

Feel free to send me a private email if you would like more info.

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.
All of the condos open on to the patio and then on to the water, each has either a patio or balcony. Web site is www.belmar-bonaire.com

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.

The snorkeling is fun at Dons, lot's of fish action, though the reef is not particularly beautiful there. We especially liked diving there early and late in the day. A rental car will take you to the REALLY gorgeous snorkeling spots like Ol' Blue to the north and Margate Bay to the south.

But truth be told, you can hardly go wrong no matter where you stay on Bonaire. You're in for a real treat. By the way, snorkelers love Bonaire as much as scuba divers, and many return year after year to "just" snorkel.

Check out the other sections of the board for good places to eat, things to see, places to snorkel.

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.

There are not crowds on Bonaire, even in-town. It's small and very laid back. There are no traffic lights, very little traffic and everything is very casual and on island time. You are probably thinking that if your room is not ocean front you'll never get to the water. That is really not the case, even if you get a room back from the water, you can still spend all your time on the water (no crowds).

I find the room is just a base for picking up supplies and sleeping. It should be near the water but does not have to be on the water, IMHO.

The bottom line is you'll see. Pick any of the above and you will have a great time.

One other question, if you like snorkeling a lot, why not get certified to dive??

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.)

Cecil, thanks for the general info on Bonaire. Coming from a busy, hustle bustle city like Chicago, it's hard to get out of the mind-set of crowds and hurry-hurry all the time. I'm really looking forward to "island time." About the diving....once upon a time (about 25 years ago), I did take a scuba course, passed the written test, but never got around to taking the deep dive(s) necessary to get certified. The last time I snorkeled was 20 years ago with my husband on our honeymoon, and at that time my husband's snorkeling experience was far from ideal because his mustache kept letting lots of water leak into his mask, plus his eyesight was so incredibly bad without glasses that he couldn't even see, much less enjoy, the underwater sights. But since then he's had lasik surgery, so his eyesight is fine, and I think the solution to the mustache problem is goggles instead of a full mask (...at least I hope that's the solution!), so I've got my fingers crossed that he'll be so thrilled with snorkeling that he'll want us both to take it to the next level and get certified for scuba, for our next Bonaire trip.

Thanks again, everyone, for all your input!

Padget,
While on the Island, where ever you stay, you and yours can DISCOVER SCUBA at any diveshop. The instructer will take you in a pool and teach you how to use the SCUBA gear and then to the sea to 30ft or so for a guided dive. That way you will know ahead of time if you want to get certified... Have fun... Ron

Padget:

Ron has a good suggestion (providing that is something you are interested in doing). I was certified 24 years ago and the classes were more hardcore back then (at least mine was).

On the snorkel front, the goggles will work fine at the surface but you should not dive down more than about 8 or 10 feet (barotrauma to the eye -- there is no way to equalize goggles.).

Three tips for masks. First, find someone who is good at fitting a mask. Some decent tips are at: http://www.caribinn.com/maskfitting.html The fit is what matters the most in a mask -- the "best" mask that doesn't fit correctly is a bad mask for you. Second, petroleum jelly the mustache. Finally, don't be convinced that you really need a more expensive mask -- unless that happens to be what fits best.

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).
Have fun!

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.

BTW - my wife and I only snorkeled as well, and you won't be disappointed. If you don't have them already, it makes it much easier to have booties with hard soles, and open beck fins, to negotiate the shore dive sites. It was an investment well worth it.

Bill T is right about the fin -- hard soled booties with open back fins are the key.

I also think a mask is much easier to use with a snorkel than goggles are. It is the whole breathing with your nose in air (mask) vs water (goggles) thing. I know the Carib Inn has a good mask selection as did the dive store in town (affiliated with Buddy??) and I am sure there are others as well.

David,
petroleum jelly ruins silicon, the material that makes up the 'rim' of most masks.
Seb, my fully bearded husband, uses a product called unpetroleum. He smears the unpetroleum lip balm on his moustache then puts on his mask.
Also, he had prescription lenses in his mask.
mare