Arrived yesterday after a fairly good flight from the UK. Arrived and collected luggage to find our samsonite case lock ripped off where the central handle is and some of the contents hanging out! Have tried to report it twice so far but no joy unless we want to spend precious time going to n fro to the airport with hope someone will be interested.

Menno was there to greet us and we were soon on our way to DBV.

Our room is the Triggerfish room which was spotlessy clean complete with bath n 2 showers and a big dressing area.

The whole place is so homely and Menno n Esther could not be better hosts and yes the roumours are true (Esthers pancakes are to die for!!!)
Breakfast was just a feast, really nice cereals (not cheap ones you usually get)fresh fruit salad, yoghurt,eggs any way,toast, juice and tea/coffee.

The pool and communal areas like the rooms are immaculate. You would think there is no one here. All the lovely touches like the padded towels on the loungers. The whole place is so nice.

The dive equipment is first class, good quality as is all the facilities provided for divers.

All the guests (only 5 rooms)are friendly and its already like being part of a extended family.

DBV is not ocean front tho does have an ocean view (hence the name) and it may be not as central as other places but for us we love to feel part of a place rather than a big hotel and most people have cars so you are never far away from anywhere. We are about 5 mins from harbour Village.


Hi to Trevor from BT. Good to meet you. May catch up later in the hols if time dosnt slip away.

Rose, unfortunately, damage to luggage is just part of the deal with airline travel. You won't get any relief from the airline. As someone in that industry, I can tell you that it just has to be. Even with proper handling, there are just too many unforeseeable ways for luggage to get damaged and no capability to document previous damage for the airline to take responsibility for it.

If it is just the lock that was ripped off, that is due to the inspection process. If you want to lock your luggage, you need to get a special lock from the airport that the inspectors have a master key to. It is most likely that your luggage was randomly selected for inspection and when that happens, the locks get cut off. The price we pay for security.

Now if stuff got stolen out of your bags, that's different. For that you can file a claim but that doesn't sound like the case from your report.

Glad everything else seems to be so nice.

e.

We'll be at the DBV in June...there's no other place I would stay in Bonaire. I can't wait!!

I just thought I'd add my two cents. We have had several bags damaged through the years and the airlines have repaired or replaced them. That said I always made my claim at the airport. Regarding the broken locks I can only agree that they were probably broken as part of the security checks. If this is the reason for the damage I don't believe you will be compensated

Hi Rose Pleased to hear you are settled in. I have had two cases replaced by airlines when they have been damaged. Having seen the damage I would not have thought it was part of a security check. It was not a case of cutting off a padlock, it was the integral lock that was ripped apart making the case totally useless for your return journey. Have you tried KLM Customer Service on line. You can use me as a witness. Hope to catch up with you soon.

hi, re luggage,

I work within travel law enforcement at home and a case would never be opened in that manner not even if there was something very untoward as that is always done in front of the person collecting the luggage. With hi tec security these days also its usually clearer what is in the cases. We have travelled worldwide on a regular basis and not had a major problem yes a few minor but thats all part of travelling.

Thanks Trevor we will try and catch up with you for a beer.

So far.....

On arrival we sorted out our unpacking etc and headed out for a dive with some other guests Chris and Mary. We went near Yellow Sub. Easy entry and plenty to see. Then they kindly took us to the airport to pick up our car and then we headed for Windsok. It was quite busy here with locals having picnics as it was a Sunday.No probs with parking or getting in the water. Again a nice dive. I just adore the filefish!!!!
Headed back to DBV to chill by the pool. Went to bed real early as we were cream crackered as had no sleep. We didnt even eat.

Next day up early as still on UK time and I am an early bird anyway. Had a wonderful breakfast then indulged in a chillout by the pool. We were feeling a bit off par so we were not going to dive today but around midday the four of us headed to Andrea 1 Chris and Mary to dive and hubby and myself to snorkel. I have a really bad throat reoccurrance since a minor op before xmas and can barely talk (hubbys overjoyed) so diving is out for a bit for me at the mo. Andrea was lovely. The others had a fab dive but they preferred Yellow Sub as they thought viz was better. We really enjoyed a snorkel in the shallows and there was so much to see.
Stopped off on way home for the must have after dive beer by chat n browse....finally got to meet Michael... a really nice guy hope to catch you again. Had a Lovers ice cream with a freshly made waffle cone. Delish!!!!
That evening we decided to eat at Paradise Moon located along side Harbour Village. Joined them for happy hour (hi Pam,Carl & Amy). We werent ravenous so had no starter. Linguine with scallop, Chorizo and mushroom for Chris & Mary and hubby had the large sticky ribs and I had fishy tacos. All HUGE portions . the ribs melted in your mouth. Only Mary could manage a desert..peanut butter cheesecake which as usual was fab. Us other souls couldnt manage another morsel and I even took 2 of my fishy tacos as takeout. Back to DBV for sleep in ready for another day.

another day in divers paradise.
Yesterday we did a boat dive with menno and 2 other guests. Menno,s new boat is certainly tops. Our first site was "hands off" on Kline. The water was nice and calm and viz was very good. Lots of things to see in general. It was like being in a garden underwater. We unfortunately had to go back to the marina as another guest felt sick so hubby and myself did a boat dive on Front Porch.On entering the water and looking into the blue we saw 2 filefish mating it was spectacular, truly worthy of being on a david Attenborough program. Unfortunately although we could see this it was too far away to get a photo. Menno said he was going to find me a frogfish. After much looking Menno true to form found a nice yellow frogfish.
Dinner that evening was at Mi Banana a local Colombian restaurant.Hubby had a decent all meat burger with fries & salad and I had snapper in a creole sauce ,salad,fries and plantain.I had a couple of beers and also a Colombian home made desert which was a kinda sponge cake with meringue with cream. The whole meal was $35. The place was really busy and service was great, always giving out water and being attentive.


Today we fancied shore diving so went to Invisibles. We werent lucky enough to see the rays this dive but saw a nice Honeycombed Moray free swimming which was cool.
The other dive was at The lake and we quickly saw an Eagle Ray which was feeding on the bottom ,another great dive but the best treat was on heading towards the sandy part to return to the shore the Eagle Ray had come to see us and he was happily feeding a few feet from us. Fab!!!!

Just another day in paradise.

another day in divers paradise.
Yesterday we did a boat dive with menno and 2 other guests. Menno,s new boat is certainly tops. Our first site was "hands off" on Kline. The water was nice and calm and viz was very good. Lots of things to see in general. It was like being in a garden underwater. We unfortunately had to go back to the marina as another guest felt sick so hubby and myself did a boat dive on Front Porch.On entering the water and looking into the blue we saw 2 Cowfish mating it was spectacular, truly worthy of being on a david Attenborough program. Unfortunately although we could see this it was too far away to get a photo. Menno said he was going to find me a frogfish. After much looking Menno true to form found a nice yellow frogfish.
Dinner that evening was at Mi Banana a local Colombian restaurant.Hubby had a decent all meat burger with fries & salad and I had snapper in a creole sauce ,salad,fries and plantain.I had a couple of beers and also a Colombian home made desert which was a kinda sponge cake with meringue with cream. The whole meal was $35. The place was really busy and service was great, always giving out water and being attentive.


Today we fancied shore diving so went to Invisibles. We werent lucky enough to see the rays this dive but saw a nice Honeycombed Moray free swimming which was cool.
The other dive was at The lake and we quickly saw an Eagle Ray which was feeding on the bottom ,another great dive but the best treat was on heading towards the sandy part to return to the shore the Eagle Ray had come to see us and he was happily feeding a few feet from us. Fab!!!!

Just another day in paradise.

well i've started so i'll finish as they say though on reflection perhaps now i would have been better to put this under trip reports but hey!

So....carrying on we decided to eat at Pasa Bon Pisa...we knew we would have to wait and that they were would be busy...right on both fronts but we werent in a great hurry. I ordered a veggie calzone and hubby had a medium pizza with pperoni,olives and peppers. We also ordered garlic bread (which never came). Ordered desert but nothing at all left although it wasnt late at all. OK pizza's but nothing special. I left still feeling hungry as had only ordered a small pizza and had no desert.

The following day we boat dived at Keepsake just off Klein. We jumped in the exceptional clear water and within minutes Menno had found 2 seahorses together a browny black and a yellow one. I then spotted a hawksbill turtle. The dive site was just so nice. Really pretty in a mostly sandy area I think this was one of my favourite dives.

Next dive was at Jerrys Reef and we were told there was an excellent chance of seeing turtles here. As it was a drift dive we lost our wonderful guide Menno as he had to stay with the boat but as we jumped in it wasnt long before we were spotting turtles, green and hawksbill. One was really big ! We saw about 7 in all. We also spotted a baracuda which was about 4 foot long! A lovely dive because of the turtle spotting but in a way prefered the first site.

Sunset cruise with Esther and Menno and the other guys from DBV. It was a really nice evening hanging out on "Mi Jadato" especially being plied with rum punch and nibbles!!!!
Back to DBV for Esther & Menno,s BBQ. True to form it was a feast!! Lovely salads, fresh fish and steak completed by Esthers renouned home made apple pie with Lovers ice cream what a combo!!!!

Another end to a perfect day.

ok Rose, don't get mad at me but......desert is where you go with a camel and lots of water.....dessert is after dinner. I was taught that ss - super sweet - sorry, cant help it im an anal cpa.

and s - just sand.

e.

a poor excuse i know but i am dyslexic so I dont always get it right.

Not poking really. Think of it more like helping. 2 s's for sugar and spice, one for sand. Dessert vs. desert.

What was the topic again??? LOL

e.

Friday and we did 2 boat dives. First at Rockpile which was nice but nothing special apart from the "rabbit fish" lol. Second dive was from the end of jerrys reef which I sat out. Hubby did the dive,apparently viz wasnt as good and not so lucky finding turtles this time.

That evening we went to dinner at La Barca. A really nice setting and a guitarist playing softly. The menu wasnt a huge choice as such but different from other places. We were quickly served water and we were brought bread and pastry straws and little appetizers. I had the vege option which was the lightest flakiest pasty filled with an array of roasted vegetables. there was also a parmesan basket filled with the vegetables too and some kind of sauce. The plate was attractively presented and boy it tasted so good and so different. My husband had a beef lasagne which he said was good (didnt look loads on the plate tho). Our friends had the biggest prawns I had ever seen wrapped in some kind of bacon with salad and perfectly roasted baby potatoes.All the food looked and tasted amazing. For pudding we had chocolate cake (more like a torte) with a cream/custard sauce again looking very pretty to the eye with a decoration of a spiders web.The other pudding was a pineapple cake. All was of an average price for Bonaire. We are going back tonight.

Rose, just tell him you were TWD........Typing While Drunk. He'll relate to that! Bawhahahahahaha

Rose, I am enjoying your reports. We have been considering trying La Barca. It's new so haven't heard much about it - thanks for the yummy details! I'll be checking back to see what you had on your second visit. By the way, my Granny and Grandad were English and we always had pudding - never dessert

Hi Carol,

Yep its really always a pudding for me too lol!

Saturday.

We shore dived again today. Invisibles, to say hi to the eagle ray. Another great dive. Lots to see in general. Next we thought we would try Bari reef. Current noticable here but lots to see. Saw an Octopus but he wasnt keen on being watched and swam off. A surface interval to include a lovers ice cream and we thought we would head to near Something special.No current to speak of. Tried to find the seahorse but failed miserable. Lots to see including a slipper lobster.

Again we ate at La Barca We shared the tuna carpaccio (sorry for not spelling it correct)which was nice. We had not eaten that before. Plenty to share.I then had the same main as before as I had enjoyed it so much....it didnt disapoint. Hubby had a macaroni dish which again was a generous sized portion and tasted delish!
Pudding was a shared chocolate cake ,same as before as it was so good.

Sunday, our last day for diving.The wind had picked up today. Invisibles again and yes the ray was there! We watched him feeding for a while. Viz wasnt as good today.However another great dive and ended the dive there by watching the ray again.
Next dive was Alice in Wonderland. Easy entry. Viz was not as good as Invisibles but cleared a little as we got to the drop off. Saw a nice scorpion fish and a small turtle.
Dinner was at Paradise Moon. We started with a couple of cocktails and then shared veggie quesadilos. Hubby had ribs and I had fish with a pepper sauce ,fries and salad. followed by a shared grandmas sizzlin apple pie and ice cream.Delish! Said goodbyes to hosts Pam and carl and sorry to have missed Amy again!

Monday, Time to finally pack and say our goodbyes to Esther & Menno and DBV.

Thanks for all your updates, Rose, they triggered a lovely trip down memory lane - can't wait to be back at DBV again.

Great Trip report Thanks for sharing.


I have heard DBV before but don't know what resort it is?

Its not a resort just a small intimate B&B. Thats why it is special.

I can not believe someone would have the audacity to correct another person's grammar on here. And while we are correcting, CPA would be in caps, and im is I'm.

Thank you Rose. I am enjoying your reports very much.

wow Ann I Forgot.....From my english classes where the.....Dots and Random capital letters and leaving out the ' in cant was ok. Must be....a CPA thing. LOL - Laugh Out Loud

Sorry guys, I was just trying to be helpful as I had a hard time with that word. Geez...again, just trying to be helpful. wtf.

Ann-Margaret, that's why I never correct anyone's grammar or punctuation on BT...cause as soon as I do I make a mistake...and someone will aptly point it out to me....LOL! It's all good

Home again and Bonaire & DBV all seem like a distant memory. Especially as its Easter Sunday and I am actually not working and ...its raining cats & dogs!!!
One thing I would like to add is after reading all the problems about break ins etc on the island i have to say while staying at DBV it was all very secure with mobile security guards (Usco & Bully) and video surveillance and always a closed locked gate. However we didnt find anywhere in Bonaire a threat if you dont leave temptation around. We loved being on Bonaire and would happily return again...staying at DBV of course.