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Getting around Bonaire: No car; will I travel?
Bonaire Talk: Getting around Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999 - 2006: Archives - 2005-06-01 to 2006-06-01: No car; will I travel?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dinah Alan-Smith (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 3:48 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I am looking forward to my first trip to Bonaire in six weeks' time. I am staying at the Bonaire Oceanfront Apartments. I am not a diver, and I haven't windsurfed for over 25 years (but want to cycle, swim and run). I don't plan to rent a car; I'm only staying a week. I've been reading the threads about the places to go - eg. can I walk to Gibi's by foot (alone? in the dark?) from where I'm staying? Also, I read in another thread about a sandy beach (think it was Plaza) - can anyone tell me if that's a long walk from the area of Oceanfront apartments? Last of all, if I get into the water out the front of the apartments where I'm staying - will I need shoes? It is sharp underfoot? Is there a lot of movement of boats just there? Sorry for all the questions, but not only am I a Bonaire 'virgin'; I've never been on a talkboard before either!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By MONTY FORBESS (BonaireTalker - Post #34) on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 4:37 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

really need to consider renting a car, it would be a shame to spend the money to go and stay for a week and not have trans around the island, it is definitely worth the extra $

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Randy P (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #438) on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 5:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

If you want to be mobile and save some money,in town there are a couple of places that rent great little scooters for the week. Plenty of power to travel all over the island, easy on fuel. Just a quick cab ride away.

I couldn't find your resort on Infobonaire, unless you meant the Belmar Oceanfront Apartments. If you are at the Belmar it is north of the airport and in my opinion WAY too far to consider walking to almost anywhere.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3153) on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 5:21 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Randy, go here: http://www.sunoceanfront.com/

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lilian Markgraaf (BonaireTalker - Post #11) on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 5:23 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

A scooter would be nice at least!!
I know that you can rent them at the Plaza Hotel.
But there must be more locations where you can rent them!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Randy P (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #439) on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 5:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ah!

Thanks Tom. Look like a wonderful place AND centrally located.

I'm still a fan of motorized wheels of some sort to get out and explore all that the island has to offer however. (also I'm too lazy to walk long distances in the heat or pedal a bicycle- LOL)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Grasshopper (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #17348) on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 8:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

OK, trying to figure out in town where these are. Are they the one's that are at the North end of town?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Kaye (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #144) on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 1:55 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

The Bonaire Oceanfront Apartments are on Kaya Grandi, which is the second street in from the waterfront. If the apartment complex goes through the block, then the "back door" is on the oceanfront drive. According to my map, they're in the same area as the Hotel Rochaline, maybe just a bit north of Chachacha Beach. Chachacha is just south of Town Pier and in front of Dive Inn; it's what I'd call a city beach. There's a 2004 comment on BT: "ChaChaCha beach, in front of the Dive Inn (where we stay) [is public] but it's small and is by the south pier and usually gets a lot of children." Farther south is the Divi Flamingo beach (how welcoming to the public?) and about a mile from the Oceanfront Apartments is the Plaza Resort Beach, where my wife and I were tolerated as snorkelers, but I don't know how they would have felt if we plunked ourselves down on the beach.

In answer to another of Dinah's questions, I think it's about a short mile to Gibi's (a long half-mile?). I'll let someone else comment on the safety of the walk at night, along Kaya Gilberto Croes, south of the stadium. But if you walk to Gibi's before dark, I'm sure someone would give you a ride home afterward.

All of the town of Kralendijk is within easy walking distance, plenty of restaurants, markets, whatever you'll need, but to me Bonaire is all about what's under water. Think snorkeling; easy to learn, wonderful to do. All the equipment you will need can be bought at stateside prices at the Carib Inn, a short walk south. They'll also give you good advice. Instruction, too, I'm sure, if you wish it.

And on Bonaire, unlike most other snorkeling/diving destinations, you can do it right from shore. (The major exception is the reef sites on Klein Bonaire; at the Oceanfront Apartments you'll actually be within an easy walk to the ferries or trips going over to Klein.) The area from South Pier down to Divi Flamingo is a fantastic night snorkel (only available guided, usually leaving from Divi), but I don't know how it is in the day. I'll echo other comments: get yourself some wheels (if you are a strong cyclist, they don't have to be motorized). About four miles north are the beautiful Andrea sites, with lots of live coral and fish in shallow water. (South of Andrea, a storm surge a few years ago wiped out the shallow coral.)

Hope this is helpful.

David

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Taft (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #610) on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 6:47 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Dinah, to answer your question about getting into the water -- I would suggest some sort of footwear even in the area where you are staying. Sandy entries are rare in Bonaire. There are many folks who wear full foot fins but find a way to deal with shoes for the entry such as clipping them to a belt. Also, in answer to your other question there will be some boat traffic and dinghy traffic where you will be so use caution.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ceestoosmiekesuizanne (BonaireTalker - Post #66) on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 3:18 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Dinah,
This is what I would suggest: Rent a scooter, and visit as many snorkelsites as you like. Snorkeling is so easy to learn! And o-wow, it is sooooooo beautiful!!!!You can get in the water almost anywhere. There are a few sandy spots, but not many. We had a pair of light sportshoes with us.
Rent a car for one day, get up early, collect a few bottles og water and something to eat in a coolbox, and make a full day visit to Washington Slagbaai. Stop at Wayaka II, but leave this spot in time, because there is still a lot to see on the route from Wayaka to the exit, and you will need time to enjoy it.

Have a great time!!
Toos

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dinah Alan-Smith (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 4:35 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the helpful comments and suggestions for making the most of my (brief) stay. I think a scooter is going to be just the solution for getting around, and then as Toos says - maybe a vehicle for one day, and then a normal pedal cycle if I want to do some training (I'm doing a sprint triathlon in May - will look for a jogging buddy on another message board). I will pack some snorkelling stuff and get a bit of tuition before I get there! Ferries to Klein Bonaire, David? I thought I would be able to swim! It's .25 of a mile, is that right? [It's only my second post but I am already enchanted by this talkboard, BTW].

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andy & Dave Bartlett (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #445) on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 1:02 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Dinah You will be able to walk to a lot of the restaurant in town as you will be less than a 1/4 of mile away. But you will need some kind of transportation to get to Lac Bay it is probably 4-5 miles from where you will stay. enjoy your stay!
For those that want to know, Bonaire Oceanfront Apts are listed on InfoBonaire as SunOceanfront Apts.
Andy

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince DePietro (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #278) on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 5:48 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Dinah.. Personally I'd recommend AGAINST trying to swim to Klein. I swim at least 3/4 mile twice a week (in a pool) & wouldn't really consider it. Also, good hard sole boots are in my opinion a must. Good luck & have fun.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michelle dannelley (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 2:44 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The beach at Eden Beach Resort is super soft sand and no one seemed to mind us sunning and snorkeling/diving there.
You really need a water shoe with a good sole anytime you enter the water, even if the beach is sandy. When entering the water the risk of stepping on unseen glass or other debris natural or other has me in shoes. Even a small foot wound can lead to infection, the nurse in me appears ;)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dinah Alan-Smith (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 5:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Vince - are you the legendary swimmer that I've been reading about on another of these threads?
(one who swims around Klein - 4 hrs - and then does about an 11hr swim each trip?) If it's you, then I stand in awe! OK - all I really need to do is swim out in a straight line and back and want to avoid a) irritating the snorkellers and b) getting hit by a boat! I'm just on the fingers of both hands counting down the days until I get over to Bonaire - I'm allowing myself daily looks at the web-cams - the skies are fantastic - London is very cloudy ....

Thanks for your advice Michelle - Ive actually been out today and bought hard soled boots - which I will just get used to when I am swimming

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince DePietro (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #284) on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 6:13 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hey Dinah...So sorry but I am not him. Ain't no way I'd attempt to swim around Klein (not even in my dreams)!!!
However my caution to you about trying to swim over there is still applicable.
You'll see that the hard sole boots will come in quite handy along the shore,.
Have fun, watch the sun (carefully) & don't get injured!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron Gould (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #494) on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 8:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Dinah,
Please talk to a local before trying to swim to Kline as you may find yourself on the way to South America if the tide and current are just right... Ron

 


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