BACKGROUND: My husband,Mike, and I (Meehyun) are both architects from San Francisco and this was our first trip to Bonaire. Our experience level as divers is novice-only 6 dives prior to this trip. I’ve researched about Bonaire for two months prior to our departure and visited BT countless times. I learned so much from BT site that all Caribbean islands should have a forum similar to BT for reviews and to get unbiased information. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences.

GETTING THERE: It took us 20 hours to get to Bonaire and I have never traveled so long to go anywhere ever, but it was worth it. Flew American Airline from SFO to Dallas FW to San Juan to Bonaire. AA flights were on time and pleasant in fact better than United. Went to InterContinental Hotel-San Juan for a drink and lunch during 2.5 hours layover. My husband got a mild case of food poisoning from salad he ate. My impression of San Juan was negative and most buildings were grungy! AE flight to Bonaire was two hours delayed due to non-functioning weather radar! It was pouring rain and the plane started to leak like a faucet while waiting in the plane parked on the tarmac for two hours! ! One guy decides not to fly and Mike wants to do the same. We decided to stay and fly with AE only because I assured him there are many problems with AE but they never crashed, and I learned this from BT. Arrived in Bonaire at 10:40 PM and Harbour Village Taxi was waiting for us-Thank God. Our trip back home was without a hitch.

HARBOUR VILLAGE: Harbour Village is simply beautiful, luxurious, private, immaculately clean and exemplify what gracious living is all about. The staff was kind and helped us with anything we wanted. And the resort was not deserted. There were families and many couples vacationing there. The beach was truly the only palm studded sandy beach in Bonaire what you would envision as being in the Caribbean paradise. It was also big enough that we had an impression of it being deserted.

As architects and designers, we were impressed with all the attention to details in their accommodation from furnishings, architectural design and fixtures, and especially with both interior and exterior lighting. The overall experience and perception of the place is of a luxurious villa. The only negative was that their peripheral services are not up to 5 star levels yet, only because there just is not enough demand yet. But all those services were available by appointment. What you see in their web site truly depicts what you get, and better. We scouted out Plaza and Buddy Dive for our next vacation here and decided that they cannot be compared to HV. It would be like comparing Best Western chain to the levels of Four Seasons, Regent, Oriental or the Ritz. We are coming back to HV the next time we are in Bonaire.

DINING: We had our made to order breakfast every morning at La Balandra, which was included in our vacation package. Their food and coffee was very good. Their happy hour cocktail was the best and most reasonable in town. And to watch the sunset from the beach was a treat. We tried and had wonderful meals at Capriccio. Light House Bar and Grill, Old Inn, Casablanca, RumRunner and Zeezicht (our preference in that order). The best food was at Capriccio for the pasta, skip the seafood stew (not tomato based) and eat inside (there is too much auto traffic next to the restaurant). Their pasta was the best I tasted in the world, including Italy and San Francisco. Their private label wine was surprisingly good. Casablanca’s chef, owner and Francisco were darling and their food portion (mixed grill for two) could feed easily a family of six! Our overall impression of dining in the island is good.

DIVING: Harbour Village has an on site dive operation and a private boat dock only few yards away from guest patios. The staffs, minus the owner, are divers and they were very helpful. We were fortunate to have Sipke and Jaroon who is experienced divers as guide and they had a close watch on us since we were novices. Sipke who has many of his photographs published in the Reef Fish Identification Guide, and he gave us a private tour of the Klein Bonaire - what a treat!! He showed us tiny little creatures we would have missed for sure. We dove, Karpata, Rappel, Small Wall, Alice in Wonderland, Forest, Bonaventure, Andrea 1 and 2, Bari and Wayaca 2. We did 6 boat dives and preferred it for the convenience. We shared our boat with only one person, Francesco from Italy who was a marine photographer for a magazine. He was nice to us and gave us diving tips since we were just novice divers (we flared about too much). The boat left when we felt like it, which was nice; and there was no pressure since there were only three of us diving! The marine park of Bonaire was all everyone had said about-just FASCINATING. My big and only disappointment was that I did not see a turtle or a stingray. But I saw most of the fish everyone mentioned that I could see in Bonaire and more. So I was very happy indeed with my diving experience.

GETTING AROUND TOWN: Forget taxi and forget walking. You NEED a car for the entire duration of your stay. They said it was a nice stroll from HV to downtown. Hello- it would have been a hike-like close to mile. And unlike most Californians, we like exploring and walking. Also I thought Bonaire is not real pedestrian friendly. I rented a car at the Hertz Rental and paid premium thinking I would get a decent car (got fooled by their website picture). I was not happy to get a dumpy Suzuki Jimmy and I thought the condition of cars of A&B and Budget looked far superior. The manager at Hertz was the only saving grace for that rental company.

OTHERS: Bonaire is pretty sleepy town and that was fine with us. We went there fore R & R. Went to the Washington National Park and saw few flamingoes and mostly dying cactus. If you are running out of time, don’t bother with the park. I rented a phone for $20 from Mike at Cellular One near HV and worked out great for local calls, emergencies or flat tires that everyone was talking about and even got to make three phone calls to the US.
If you are not a diver, I would go elsewhere in the Caribbean for mix of diving and nightlife. I will be coming back to Bonaire, but I think our next dive vacation will be in Grand Cayman(Francesco's recommendation) to try a new place. Thanks again to everyone and hopefully my trip report will help others who are looking for information. Best, M& M.

Thanks,M and M. Great review for HV. Haven't actually considered them. will check it out. we'll try Capriccio's next time ,too. margarite

Great report...sounds WONDERFUL.
Many flamingos can be seen in the south so next time make a day trip to Lac Bay and then head home via Pekelmeer to see the Flamingos at sunset.

The drive along the shore is breathtaking with the slave huts, wild sea and salt hills.

Annie

M & M: to travel the distance you did to get to Bonaire is amazing especially with this being your first trip to Bonaire! SF is my favorite city in the US. (ever go to Yancy's on Irving??? Used to love to play darts and put down some Anchor Steams in there! LOL). Your stay at HV sounded magnificent. YOu might want to consider going to Anguilla, too. Miles of totally deserted beaches all to yourselves. We did not really care for Grand Cayman. Talk about sticker shock...we are from the NY Metro area and life is not inexpensive here, but Grand Cayman was a bit ridiculous. SF's cost of living is high, too, but GC is not worth it, in my opinion. If you are into snorkeling and diving you must take a boat no matter where you go....no real shore access as all of the coastline with the exception of the hotels and two public beaches...is all privately owned. We were there in the winter and the waters were actually chilly to the bare skin, as well. We would not return to GC if we had the choice. But, that's what makes the world go 'round (well, most of it, anyway) is "choice". Good luck wherever you go and have a wonderful time. I do know you have left parts of your hearts in Bonaire, however! Thanks for the great trip report. Ayo. Carole

.... Used to love to play darts and put down some Anchor Steams in there! LOL ....

Or Irish coffee at Buena Vista!

Bob

Thanks Carol for your information about Grand Cayman. I will research the place before going. Also I heard that Turk and Caico Island is beautiful and good for diving. Does anyone know anything more?

I have eaten in numerous places in Irving Street. Where is Yancy's? If you like Anchor Steams beer you can visit their brewery in Potrero Hill(on DeHaro St.) for a tour and try all their beer for free. Just call and make a reservation next time in San Francisco.
Best, Meehyun

Some images to share. Hope this works.

Some images to share. Hope this works.

Meehyun
Cayman Brac and Little Cayman have better diving than Grand Cayman!
We are going on a liveaboard in the T&C later this month. Sue

I have been to Turks & Caicos (specifically Provo). Can give you detailed information if you like. Just e-mail me.

Great shots, M & M! It does look like heaven up at the Harbor Village...have to go check it out next time we are on Bonaire in May. Yancy's is not too far from one of the main entrances into the Park....I'll have to check out their exact address. Here it is: YANCY'S SALOON 415-665-6551
734 IRVING ST
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122
We used to love to sit inside in the bay windows with the folding windows opened up and watch the fog roll up/down the street from the Sunset area and almost right into the windows of Yancy's. Great memories from that place. Nice upholstered chairs and couches and library to enjoy right there in the Saloon. We don't drink any longer, so I guess a trip to the brewery wouldn't be as much fun for us at this point. Thanks for the info, tho!

And yes, the BV was another favorite place to hang out while in town. It'so hard to even get into the place any longer since it was "discovered" by the tourists years back. We had some fun in what is now The San Francisco Brewing Company on Columbus, too....used to be called the Albatross...fascinating interior and a gorgeous mahogany (I think it's mahogany) bar and mirror/mantle. Neat brass foot rack with a built in "plumbing trench" at the barstools areas....the men did not have to even get up to go to the rest room back in the wild and crazy days of the Gold Rush, etc. in SF. Fascinating place to this day. OK...I will give everyone a break now and shut up! Sorry about that folks...there are so many places in the City that I love...could go on and on and on....Carole