Overal Impression For a small island Bonaire really packs a punch. When few spoke about ecotourism in the Caribbean, Bonaire was busy establishing marine and national parks. Island authorities still oversee those areas with care, ensuring unspoiled waters for locals and visitors alike. At the same time, although for years it has been a diving Mecca attracting countless European and United States visitors, locals have not rested on their laurels. We observed pleasant, well organized, modern operations staffed by enthusiastic divers with a professional attitude.

When we visited the island, diving choices ranged from resort diving familiarization courses to advanced diving programs and Nitrox certification. There was a dizzying number of shore and boat dive options from a variety of dive operators. Feel like being spoiled and not making the 10 minute dive to pick up tank refills in the morning? Daily empty tank pick up and refill drop off service was available at rental accommodations. On request, dive masters could meet guests at their rental villas for private lessons. There was also the option of picking up regular and Nitrox tank refills at the Buddy Dive drive thru.

Not into diving? There were plenty of other activities on Bonaire including: fishing, snorkeling, horse back riding, and exploring the Washington-Slagbaai National Park, the flamingo sanctuary and the salt harvesting area. At meal times, we were pleasantly surprised to discover the diversity and high quality of the restaurants on the island. We enjoyed traditional French foie gras, onion soup and tarte tatin, delicate and memorable gourmet Italian dishes, paella, and fresh seafood dishes.

High speed Internet access at our villa and hotel allowed us to stay in touch with work and home during our two week visit. Getting to Bonaire from the United States was less than convenient. At the same time, part of the island’s attraction was due in part to its limited accessibility and lack of mass market appeal.

We particularly liked the quiet island’s pristine Caribbean waters, excellent diving, efficient and laid back locals and a wide variety of restaurants. Bonaire has quickly become one of our favorite islands and our number one Caribbean diving destination.

Cost Of Visiting Affordable to luxury

CurrencyThe official currency is the Netherlands Antilles Guilder but U.S. dollars were widely accepted.

Electrical Current 127/220 volts, 50 cycles. Adapters were recommended in some cases.

Health And Vaccinations No mandatory vaccinations were required to enter the island.

Location The most eastern of the Leeward Islands, Bonaire is located 50 miles north of Venezuela and 38 miles east of Curacao.

Measures Metric system

Money Issues There was an ATM (automatic teller machine) near our accommodations allowing us the option to withdraw funds in local currency or U.S. dollars. It was possible to pay with credit cards at many of the attractions, restaurants and shops around the island.

Technology There was high speed Internet connectivity at our rental house and in our hotel room. The connection at the rental house was fast enough for a VoIP. The WiFi Internet connection at the luxury hotel was low and dropped frequently. Cell phones were widely available.

Time Bonaire time was Atlantic Standard Time, which is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time and the same as Eastern Daylight Savings Time.

Transportation Cars, jeeps and vans were available from a number of rental agencies. Valid U.S. driver’s licenses were accepted. Island driving was on the right. Few cars and a small island made driving around the island easy. Taxis were scarce.

How To Get There Direct flights to Bonaire from Holland arrived regularly. From the U.S. mainland, direct flights were only available once a week from Houston, Texas and Newark, New Jersey. We flew from Miami via Puerto Rico on American Airlines. Our flight from Miami was late arriving in San Juan, Puerto Rico. On arrival in Puerto Rico, we discovered that our connecting flight had left without us and there were no other flights to Bonaire until the same time the following evening. Disappointed, we and another 15 or so passengers, waited in line at the single service desk that was still open to find out if there was space on the flight.

We were relieved to find out that there was space for us for the following day. We later discovered several members of a group traveling to the island together were forced to wait two nights in San Juan until space became available for them on the Bonaire flight. The airline issued hotel, transportation and meal vouchers for us for the time we had to remain in Puerto Rico. That process was less than perfect.

Although we had two tickets we were given a voucher for one room at a hotel in the heart of the San Juan old town. The taxi willing to accept the American Airlines voucher threatened to leave us several blocks away from the hotel, luggage and all, if we encountered traffic. He explained the value of the voucher was not enough to make up for the lost time traffic would cost him. The driver charged us for each suit case beyond one check in bag saying the voucher only covered one bag.

Although the hotel was pretty and the staff pleasant, the air conditioning in our room didn’t cool the room very well and they were unwilling to give us another room. Even for a light meal, the meal vouchers only covered a fraction of the cost for meals at the hotel restaurant. The next time we fly to Bonaire, we will consider another route and another airline.

Facilities There was a small teaching hospital on the island, post office, local banks, grocery and convenience stores, gas stations, Internet café, souvenir and dive equipment shops and a supervised hyperbaric chamber in case of diving accidents.

Shopping And Souvenirs Duty free shops sold souvenirs, liquor, jewelry and perfumes. Grocery shopping was limited to products available at the time. We ate out for most of our meals so this was not a major concern.

Tourism Highlights Twenty-four miles long and 3 to 7 miles wide, Bonaire has a total land area of 112 square miles and 13,000 residents, making it large enough to have basic necessities and small enough to be cozy and easy to visit.

The island’s claim to fame is diving followed by snorkeling and ecotourism. Bonaire has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to preserving and protecting the environment above and below the surface. It was the first Netherlands Antilles Island to establish a national park. The island’s environmental policies and strict government legislation have earned Bonaire and its marine park international recognition.

For tourism purposes the island is dived in two halves, north and south. The north is home to Gotomeer, a favored inland flamingo spot and Rincon, the island’s oldest village. The 13,500-acre Washington-Slagbaai National Park, established in 1969 on land occupied by a former slaughterhouse, is situated in the northwest corner of the island. The spiny forest is home to Mount Brandaris, the highest point on Bonaire, as well as 210 species of birds, seven types of lizard (no snakes), cliffs, valleys, beaches and 14 kilometers of shoreline. It occupies one fifth of the island.

We wished we had more time to spend at the Washington-Slagbaai National Park, a popular shore diving area. It was also a good place for contemplation, mountain biking, hiking and birding. During our three hour morning drive we saw cara cara, parakeets, yellow warblers, yellow shouldered parrot, iguanas and goats.

Southern Bonaire is home to massive salt flats and the island’s largest flamingo nesting ground. There are also primitive huts, once homes to slaves and a 30-foot obelisk built in 1838. Further down the coast is the island’s oldest lighthouse, Willemstoren, built in 1837 and Lac Bay is well-liked area for windsurfing.

Since 1979, all of the waters surrounding Bonaire and the uninhabited Klein Bonaire (Little Bonaire) to a depth of 200 feet have been designated as a marine park, making spear fishing, collecting coral and reef anchoring strictly prohibited.

A result of submarine volcanic eruptions millions of years ago, Bonaire is the peak of a submerged mountain with deep reefs close to the shore. Many tout the nearness of the reef and excellent shore access for divers. Although underwater visibility is described as over 100 feet year-round, during our two visits to the island, visibility was closer to between 40 and 50 feet.

According to promotional materials, most of Bonaire’s 86 marked dive sites can be accessed from shore or are a maximum 15 minute boat ride away from land. Thanks to its tropical climate, landscape and protected environments, Bonaire lends itself for mountain biking, hiking, diving, snorkeling, bird watching, kayaking, kiteboarding, landsailing, deep sea fishing, windsurfing, horseback riding, and walking.

Bonaire is considered by researchers one of the most species rich locations. Between December 1993 and July 1999, approximately 2,000 fish surveys were completed by Reef Environmental Foundation (REEF) volunteers on 77 sites surveyed on Bonaire and Klein Bonaire. The surveyors reported 362 species, making Bonaire one of the most species rich locations in REEF’s database.

Favorites Following is a list of our favorite places for quality, services, price or a combination.

Other There were construction projects in the areas where we stayed. Home, hotels and residential development were peppered around the desirable areas of the island and threatening to boost island prices. We hope this does not harm the pleasant island attitude and ambiance we enjoyed so much. Tiny no see ‘ums bit us without mercy causing itching and some anxiety at the irritated spots they left behind. Eventually they faded and the itching subsided without lasting effects.

We were relieved to discover there was a well manned hyperbaric chamber and emergency facilities for injured divers. Although we had no incidents, we met a young woman who had suffered shock and had to be taken to the emergency room due to jelly fish stings.

Warning We recommend you avoid “The Mangrove Info Center”.

Date Of Latest Visit May 2007

Reviewers Article by Elena del Valle

Photos by Gary Cox

Would You Visit This Destination Again? Yes

Overall Impression As part of its conservation efforts, Bonaire requires all divers, even those who have visited the island in the past, to have an orientation dive with a local; and purchase a license to enter the marine park (all the sea around the island is part of the marine park). To dive in Bonaire, we had to have the required orientation. At the same time, I hadn’t gone diving since obtaining my certification and was feeling a bit anxious about diving again. Enter Buddy Dive.

The dive center, part of a waterfront hotel, provided diving opportunities for more than 8,000 divers a year and filled 1,000 tanks a day. Twenty two staff members, including 19 certified divers, looked after guests, offered orientation, refresher, and resort dives and dive courses. The facilities were a stone’s throw away from our rental villa so it was easy to pop in for our orientation dive. Although there were lots of divers coming and going, staff were friendly and had a professional attitude. We instantly felt welcome.

The large dive center occupied a large chunk of waterfront space. Their facilities were spacious: there was a rental gear area, a walk in large storage room for guest use, a dock, six boats, an air conditioned dive shop with a classroom and plenty of open space with water access.

Our Bonaire orientation was short and sweet. Our instructor pointed out the marine park dos and don’ts and answered questions. Being in the water with a dive instructor helped me regain my sea legs and I felt bold enough to pursue additional diving courses. Following staff’s recommendations, I took a Peak Performance Buoyancy course and an Enriched Air (Nitrox) course. Instructors Bart Linders (Nitrox certification) and Rob Verschoor (Peak Performance Buoyancy) were knowledgeable and patient. With their help I completed both courses successfully and gained confidence in my diving skills.

We liked Buddy Dive. The dive center was well run by friendly and efficient staff. We appreciated the variety of course options available and look forward to sampling some of the specialty courses in the future.

Description The Buddy Dive Resort had three restaurants, three swimming pools, activity center, car rental fleet with pick up trucks for easy shore diving, a dive center and six boats.

Because I was the only student in the Peak Performance Buoyancy course that day, it was a private session. My Instructor, Rob Verschoor, and I spent most of the course time in the water next to the dive center. He patiently showed me how to sink following the giant stride or shore entrance. He also worked with me to reduce my weight and maintain buoyancy while I swam over the reef, ensuring I was buoyant and didn’t sink or graze any of the precious coral beneath us.

The Nitrox class was more theory oriented than the buoyancy session. After playing a short Buddy Dive video for us, our instructor, Bart Linders, reviewed the materials with the class. There were four French divers and me. After completing the exams, we reviewed the results and Bart answered questions. It was especially interesting to see the differences between the metric and U.S. measurement standards and how they affected the dive table results. Once we finished the exams, we were required to go on two enriched air dives on our own to complete the course. Bart took my photo before the class started and input the student information into the system while we watched the introductory video. My Nitrox card from PADI arrived a few days after my return from Bonaire.

Established Buddy Dive was established in 1980. In 2006, the dive shop was upgraded and relocated to its current location. A PADI class room was added.

Handicapped Access Although the dock was not accessible to wheelchairs, the staff were willing to accommodate guests with special needs.

Location Buddy Dive was about two miles from Kralendijk, the island’s main town.

Manager Augusto Montbrun

Owned Ingrid and Martien van der Valk

Size The dive center took up 600 square meters of waterfront space including a 180 meter air conditioned dive shop with a classroom. There were 22 staff members including 19 certified divers.

Souvenir Shop There was a 180 square meter air conditioned dive shop and class room in the rear of the dive center. There we found a selection of Buddy Dive t-shirts, dive gear and books.

Courses Bonaire orientation, Peak Performance Buoyancy and Nitrox certification

Other There was a drive thru service where guests interested in shore diving could pick up and drop off tanks. Custom built boats included two Newtons, 36 foot and 30 foot, a 30 foot Island Hopper, a 42 foot Delta, a 36 foot Venezuelan made boat, and a 30 foot parasail boat.

The hotel restaurant was steps away from the dive center, making it convenient when we had morning and afternoon activities. The meal service at lunch was speedy allowing us plenty of time to be ready for afternoon diving without having to drive offsite in search of a meal.

Buddy Dive was selected Best Bonaire Dive Operation Readers Choice 2005 – 2006 by Scuba Diving Magazine .

Date Of Visit May 2007

Reviewers Article by Elena del Valle

Photos by Gary Cox

Would You Visit This Attraction Again? Yes

Overall Impression We were delighted to discover the southern Caribbean island of Bonaire offered many accommodation options, including luxury rental villas. After a few email exchanges with Sunrentals, one of the largest rental agencies on the island, we were rewarded with last minute space in Crown Court 44A, one of their most popular rental homes and one of very few waterfront homes with WiFi. The roomy three bedroom waterfront $2 million villa was in Bonaire’s most luxurious residential neighborhood.

According to the agent, the house, owned by a wealthy American who was passionate about the outdoors, had 90 percent occupancy year round divided equally between Europeans and Americans. Our favorite features were the oceanfront location with direct water access, sea views from the kitchen, living room and back terrace, a swimming pool, intimate gazebo, and excellent high speed Internet connection.

We also liked the surrounding residential neighborhood. Crown Court 44A was near enough to shops and the main town in Bonaire for shopping and restaurants and far enough for privacy and quiet. At the same time, we never felt alone. We heard our neighbors on both sides of the house and construction crews from nearby projects.

The house was designed for outdoor enjoyment. Inside, there were three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a well equipped kitchen with countertop seating and a water facing living area with a large TV. Our favorite place to spend time was the large rear outdoor section with a back terrace, gazebo, pool and beyond it the azure Caribbean waters. What the house lacked in luxury and comforts, it made up for in outdoor appeal, especially for sun worshipers and water enthusiasts.

Although the bedrooms had air conditioning units, the rest of the house did not. Hot living areas with little airflow through the center of the house made spending time indoors less than desirable, even at night. Outdoors, ocean breezes made the covered terrace and porch pleasant and inviting.

What made this house such a renter’s darling, in addition to the reasonable price, is that a dozen steps down a metal ladder led to salty sea waters and Bonaire’s famous marine park for swimming, snorkeling or diving. It was one of only a few rental properties on the island with ocean views, a pool, high speed Internet service, and direct access to the water.

We especially enjoyed the two seat gazebo perched on the edge of the property above the steps and the crashing surf. We would recommend this rental house to our friends seeking an outdoor oriented house on the water, in a residential area outside the main town, with cable television and high speed Internet access.

Class Of Accommodation Private luxury villa

Connectivity There was complimentary wireless high speed cable Internet access (384 kps). We used it daily during our stay and it worked well most of the time. Event the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) hookup worked well, allowing us to make extended long distance phone calls.

Handicapped Access To reach the villa we walked through a pebbled driveway that led onto a paved walkway and a handful of steps leading to the entrance. Access to the bedroom was up five steps. It was also necessary to climb down steps to reach the terrace and pool area. A metal ladder led to a rocky water access best for experienced divers.

Length Of Stay Five nights

Location In the Sabedeco residential neighborhood about five miles north of Kralendijk

Managed Sunrentals managed the property. They represented 40 rental villas and 28 rental apartments, roughly half of the island’s luxury rental inventory.

Owned The owner preferred to remain anonymous

Size Three bedrooms and two and one half bathrooms including 250 square meters under roof on a 1,100 meter lot and 35 meters of oceanfront.

Year Opened-Renovated The villa was built in 2000. In 2007, the swimming pool was renovated and the bedrooms were painted. A small gazebo with two wood armchairs overlooking the water was added to the pool area.

Common Areas The entrance to the house led to the kitchen. To one side a few steps led down to the garage which was unavailable for renters. Another set of steps led to the sleeping quarters. Next to the kitchen, there was a half a bathroom and to the left there was a living area. Beyond it there was a small porch, a large ocean facing terrace and pool deck.

The kitchen faced the entrance on one side and a side window on the other. There was a side by side LG refrigerator and freezer, Frigidaire stove and oven, and a dishwasher. There was also a toaster, blender, cutlery, pots, pans and dinnerware. We had breakfast at the small kitchen counter with four rattan stools. There was also a rattan and glass dining table on the porch for outdoor dining.

In the living room, two single wood armless chairs accented the living area along with corner shelves for books, sea knick knacks, board games and a small LG CD player. There was a remote controlled 36” LG HDTV with Digital Audio Surround Processor and 26 cable channels including United States and international programming.

There was a small sofa and matching arm chair on the porch next to the dining set. A ceiling fan cooled the porch from the scorching afternoon sun. We hung wet bathing suits and towels on a porch clothesline.

DÉCor Furnishings were comfortable with minimum fuss. The decorative style was casual with six-meter ceilings, neutral colors, a wood beam living room ceiling, Italian tile throughout and lots of windows. The emphasis was on the outstanding sea view and outdoor areas, swimming pool and direct ocean access. Indoor floors were pale Italian rustic tiles. Walls were painted eggshell in the living area and light blue in the kitchen and bedrooms. Furniture was simple and well worn. In the living room, there was a rattan sofa set with seashell motif cushions, two armchairs and a matching table. There were ceiling fans in every room and the living area also had an upright rotating fan which unfortunately did little to alleviate the heat. Rattan planters held plastic plants in the living area and there were plastic flowers in the bathrooms. A small bouquet of local flowers welcomed us on arrival. Although all the doors and windows had screening the odd wasp, bee and mosquito snuck in.

Bathroom The tiled bathrooms were similar in style and relied on a small window for airflow. The master bath had twin sinks and rectangular wood framed mirrors, a small doorless shower enclosure with a rusty soap stand, a toilet on the side and a towel rack in the corner. The shared bathroom had one sink and similar configuration to the master bathroom. There was ample hot and cold water. Next to the kitchen there was a half bathroom similar in size and design to the full bathrooms.

Rooms There was one master bedroom with an en suite bathroom and two smaller bedrooms with one shared bathroom. The bedrooms had ceiling fans and remote controlled wall unit air conditioning which we were asked to turn on only while we were in the room. The walls were blue. It took about 30 minutes for the room to cool once we turned on the air conditioning.

The master bedroom had a king bed with a white rattan headboard and two matching night tables with lamps. The bedspread was worn and frayed accompanied by synthetic pillows. We appreciated the built in closet. It had ample shelf and hanging space and a small electronic safe. There were four windows with curtains for night time privacy. During the day, we opened the windows to allow the breeze in.

The other bedrooms were smaller than the master; each had two single beds with the same type of rattan furniture, and built in closets.

Amenities There were a few items in the refrigerator when we arrived including several beer bottles, a bottle of wine, yogurt, milk, two small packages of cold cuts (cheese and Parma ham), eggs, bacon, butter and cheese balls.

Pool There was a 6 foot deep 16 x 4 meter pool on the 70 square meter back terrace. We enjoyed daily during out stay. In spite of the resident iguanas’ frequent visits and unwanted souvenirs, the pool was clean and refreshing. Several comfortable lounge chairs were scattered around the pool area, providing us a place to relax, listen to the surf, read or just spend quite time.

Other Because of the strong surf and shallow rocky entrance area, we battled to enter the water during our weeklong stay. Rental company representatives explained that renters who are experienced divers and snorkelers familiar with the area use the ladder frequently. A half a block from the villa there was a community dock area with step ladder access to the water for divers and snorkelers.

A covered garage and additional unoccupied sleeping area above the house were locked during our stay. There was space in the drive way to park our rental car and a wood fence with a lock for extra safety.

There was a corded phone inside a living room bookshelf which could be used for local calls. The cord was short so we were on the phone for more than a couple of minutes, we would pull up a chair next to the bookshelf.

Although there was no washer and dryer, it was possible to drive to the Laundromat in town or request laundry service from the rental agent. Cleaning, pool and garden service was once a week. For those who really wanted to get away from it all, it was possible to request additional cleaning services, tanks for diving, private dive master instructions, grocery shopping and even a cook.

Cleanliness Very good

Date Of Review May 2007

ReviewersArticle by Elena del Valle

Photos by Gary Cox

Would You Stay There Again? Yes

Overall Impression The Great Adventures Dive center was onsite at the Harbour Village Beach Club property making it convenient for club members and guests. By far the main activity seemed to be dive courses, shore diving, and diving and snorkeling boat excursions. Snorkeling and diving on the Harbour Village beach were easy and there was a small sailboat wreck about 40 feet deep off of the beach. On several occasions we took advantage of the easy shore dive opportunities to explore the nearby wreck and Something Special reef. Other times we went on boat excursions.

Because we visited the island during the shoulder season, most of the time the groups on the boat were small. Although the groups increased in size as the weekend approached reaching 12 one day, more than once we were the only ones to sign up for boat dives. Usually the crew would take us out on a 39 foot boat. Once or twice we also went out on the Harbour Queen, a 42 foot boat with two 380 horsepower engines. Since we were few, both boats had plenty of space to stow scuba tanks and gear and for us to sit in the shade or topside in the sun with the day’s boat captain.

Once at the dive site we took a giant stride to enter the water and exited using one of the two large ladders, quickly and easily. There was always a staff member on hand to look over our set up and help us out of the water.

Traveling to Bonaire and not diving is like going to a gourmet convention and not eating. As we were certified open water divers (I was certified on a previous stay at Harbour Village by Great Adventures top boss Leonel Martijn) we decided to take advantage of the diving opportunities whenever possible.

Gary took the PADI Advanced Open Water course including a Nitrox specialty with veteran diver and instructor Malin Kaijser. Perhaps because it was the shoulder season, he was the only student. Malin invited me to tag along a couple of times. Although I was a bit anxious, I went with them on a deep dive reaching 97 feet when we visited the Hilma Hooker wreck. The hardest part was on the surface. Once underwater, it was a piece of cake!

The next adventure I joined them in was the fish identification dive. Using underwater notepads and pencils we took notes of the fish we spotted at Something Special reef, which was a short swim from the Harbour Village beach. On our return, we tried to describe, using our drawings, the fish we had seen during the dive and identify them with Malin’s help and the fish identification book.

The waters surrounding the island of Bonaire are a protected marine park. Everywhere we went the reefs were amazing. We saw myriad varieties of fish, coral, and sea life. Even at 15 feet the viewing was excellent. In deeper water we saw more of the reef and some less common specimens like seahorses, frogfish, turtles and an eagle ray. Diving with Great Adventures was relaxed and fun. Uncrowded boats, friendly and helpful staff, and well run operations with on time departures made the dive facility ideal for us during our stay at Harbour Village.

Average Duration Of Visit Dive excursions by boat usually lasted a couple of hours depending on the location of the dive site. We spent about an hour diving and the rest of the time was dedicated to boarding, getting to the dive site and back and getting in and out of the water.

Description The dive center offered introductory options, such as a daylong resort course, for those curious about diving. Guests could also complete an Open Water Referral program or Open Water Diver Certification (the program I completed although I completed most of the class work prior to my arrival) during a weeklong stay. There were a number of advanced options too such as Advanced Open Water, Medic First Aid, Rescue Diver, Nitrox and Search and Recovery. In addition to the dive and snorkel gear there were Sunfish and Kayaks available for guest use.

Established It was established in 1995

Handicapped Access Staff members have taken individual wheelchair bound guests on dives. For details contact the dive center directly.

Location In a corner of the Harbour Village property next to the beach

Manager Leonel Martijn

Open All year

Owned-Managed Bonaire Harbour Village Corporation

Size A staff of six, three instructors, two diver masters and a diver in the office looked after guest needs seven days a week. There were two boats: Harbour Queen, a 42 foot Newton (2 x 3116 Caterpillar 380 HP each) built in 1999 and Harbour Belle, a 32 foot Island Hopper (3208 T) built in 1996.

The 200 square meter center consisted of an air conditioned shop, a storage area, an open terrace and dock with ladder to the adjacent beach (were dive skills were tested), an enclosed class room area and an equipment area where the tanks, BCDs (Buoyancy Control Device), wetsuits, snorkels, fins and other equipment were stored for daily use and rental.

Staff The dive instructors were Leonel Martijn with 19 years of experience, Malin Kaijser with 18 years of experience and Nolly Thode with 23 years of diving experience. Leonel and Malin had worked together for 17 years. Etienne Soliano, with seven years of experience, and Alfonso Rodriguez, with three years of experience, were dive masters. Marvis Bernabela, also a diver, looked after the dive shop. Malin was thorough, patient, and helpful; she focused on making us independent divers within our diving skills proficiency.

Transportation A rental car was ideal to get around the island. Many locals and visitors got around on bicycles. It was also possible for Harbour Village guests to rely on the hotel staff for an airport pick up and drop off.

Restaurant In between dives, we enjoyed room service or delicious lunches at La Balandra, the restaurant of the Harbour Village Resort.

Souvenir Shop The small shop sold diving and marine life books, dive gear, T-shirts and related items.

Sea Sightings At the hotel, Something Special (shore dive site), and open water dives we saw: banded butterfulyfish, bar jack, bearded fireworm, beckett goby, bluehead, blue tang, brown garden eel, creole fish, crevalle jack, eagle ray, fairy baslett, French angelfish (juvenile and adult), French grunt, frog fish (green, yellow), greater soap fish, mahogany snapper, pike blenny, princess parrotfish, rainbow runner, sea cucumber, seahorse, sergeant major, sharpnose puffer, spotted goat fish, Spanish hog fish, spotted baby moray eel, squirrel fish, stoplight parrotfish (male and female), trump fish, trunk fish, and yellow goat fish.

Date Of Visit May 2007

ReviewersArticle by Elena del Valle

Photos by Gary Cox

Would You Visit This Attraction Again? Yes

Overall Impression I liked Harbour Village so much the first time I stayed there, my husband and I visited the boutique hotel the following year. Sometimes a return visit can be disappointing because properties change in between visits; the room is not as nice the second time as it was the first time; weather is less favorable or other circumstances conspire to spoil the experience. To our surprise, Harbour Village was, in almost every respect, as delightful or more the second time.

Our first floor one bedroom suite was clean smelling, spotless, slightly larger than the first time and just a good-looking. The first floor setting with a gated beachfront porch was particularly convenient for diving and beach access. We liked the horizontal floor layout and kitchen facilities.

At the same time, staff were as friendly as I remembered. Some recognized me from the last time and shared a warm welcome back greeting, even a hug. More than once newly arrived Sytze at the front desk went the extra mile to answer questions and made an evening special with restaurant recommendations and reservations.

What was exceptional at Harbour Village was the combination of the hotel’s luxury amenities, its tranquil beachfront location, PADI dive center, and efficient and friendly staff. We appreciated having the option to do as little or as much as we wanted. Onsite, there were plenty of choices for the activity minded guest such as tennis, beaching, swimming in the beach or pools, boating, diving, snorkeling, workouts and yoga lessons at the fitness center and spa treatments. The beach, though small, was comfortable, clean and attractive. The Great Adventures dive center was well staffed and offered a broad range of courses and dive excursions for all experience levels.

We thoroughly enjoyed the uncrowded dive center and expanded our diving abilities during our stay. It was particularly convenient to have access to thrice daily boat dives and unlimited shore dives, a pretty reef within swimming distance, and a dive wreck just 150 feet offshore. We enjoyed the cozy private beach and open air meals at La Balandra, the hotel’s waterfront restaurant. When we felt like exploring or dining out, we jumped in our rental car and arrived in Kralendijk, the main town on the island, in minutes.

Harbour Village is a perfect place for a tropical intimate island retreat. As we return home to our routines, Harbour Village and its understated charm and elegance remain an affectionate memory. We long to dip our toes in its white sandy beach, enjoy a barefoot meal among the iguanas at La Balandra, go for a swim in the warm turquoise waters, or snorkel and dive among colorful fish in the evanescent reef. We loved Harbour Village.

Class Of Accommodation Luxury beachfront resort with onsite PADI dive center, marina, and spa

Club Manager Oscar Haack had a pleasant demeanor and accommodating attitude. Prior to running Harbour Village, he had worked at the Caracas Hilton and Concorde International Hotels. He studied at the Boston School of Modern Languages and received a degree in Tourism and Business Administration from Simon Bolivar University in Venezuela.

Connectivity Our suite included complimentary WiFi high speed Internet access with a password provided by reception by phone. Although access was prompt and efficient, the connection was “Very Low” and dropped often. Unfortunately, this made VoIP calls poor and frustrating. A computer with Internet access for guest use at reception was available between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Front Desk Manager Andreina Marcano seemed to do much more that oversee the front desk. She was knowledgeable, understanding, polite and always helpful. A native of Venezuela, she had lived the past 15 years in Bonaire. She had 20 years of experience in the hotel industry. She graduated in hotel management from the Universidad Simon Bolivar in Venezuela. Prior to working at Harbour Village she worked at Sheraton and Melia Caribe hotels.

Handicapped Access There were no special rooms or handicapped friendly facilities

Length Of Stay One week

Location Just outside of Kralendijk, the main town, and across the water from the deserted island Klein Bonaire

Owned Bonaire Harbour Village Corporation

Pets Allowed No

Size There were 30 beachfront suites and 12 rooms on the five-acre property looked after by a staff compliment of 30 plus additional contractors. The two-story hotel had five guest room buildings, four privately-owned condominium buildings and other buildings that housed the Spa, Kasa Coral lobby and administrative offices, meeting spaces and shops. To see the site plan, go to http://www.harbourvillage.com/html04/siteplan.html

Year Opened-Renovated The hotel first opened in 1990. The most recent renovation took place in 2004.

Lobby And Common Areas The hotel was built in a Colonial Plantation Style. The most recent renovation was completed in 2004 with the assistance of Wilson and Associates Design.

Bathroom The light colored bathroom housed a glass enclosed shower, an attractive claw foot bathtub tub, twin sinks and a WC. The shower was spacious enough for a large person and well illuminated. It had an adjustable shower head and excellent water pressure. There were four white clean smelling full size towels, washcloths, hand towels and two extra large beach towels. These were kept fresh anytime we left them on the floor as the water conservation instructions advised. A hair dryer and tissues were easily found. There were lots of lights to make the area bright. We were happy to have a half bathroom next to the kitchen.

Room Our 1,222 square feet (120 m2) Beachfront One Bedroom Suite was on the first floor (No. 314) of Kasa Azalea facing a narrow walkway and beyond it hotel beach. The space was divided as follows 861.65 square feet of enclosed air conditioned area, 257 square feet of patio and 104 square feet of an enclosed double patio with a garden. It was a non smoking room. It was an understated, comfortable and good looking suite in which we loved to spend time between activities.

Immediately adjacent to the entrance there was a small kitchen with a sink, full size fridge with freezer, stove and convection oven. In the shelves we found cutlery and dinnerware for two. There was also a small closet with an iron and ironing board. The floor had European tiles in earth tones. Two central air conditioning vents connected to a thermostat in the suite and two ceiling fans with lights, one in each room, kept the rooms cool and well lit. Colorful framed art reproductions hung from the soft yellow walls of both rooms. Plastic plants added a touch of green to the ambiance.

Inside there were two separate areas, a living area and bedroom. French style sliding glass doors led from each room to a beach facing porch. The living area was right after the kitchen. From it a door led to the sleeping area and master bathroom.

We enjoyed the first floor location and the adjacent porch. Although there was less privacy than in second story suites, the added advantages outweighed the occasional fishbowl feeling. Being on the first floor afforded us fast and convenient access to the walkway leading to the restaurant, beach, pool and dive area. The extra large porch was well furnished with a table and chairs, lounge chairs and a rolled up hammock we quickly unfolded. There was ample space for us to have lunch, place dripping dive gear and lounge with a direct view of the beach.

The living area housed a sofa, two tables, an armchair, a second especially cushy armchair (a favorite) with a footrest and a large remote controlled television discreetly tucked inside a cabinet with drawers for extra storage space.

To the left, double doors led to the bedroom filled with matching handcrafted teak wood furniture. A four poster king bed had a romantic mosquito screen. The bed, matching night tables and lamps on each side occupied the center of the room. There was a GPX radio/CD player alarm clock on a night table. Across from the bed there was an armoire built into the wall in the middle and a small desk, chair and mirror on one side where we placed a laptop computer. The armoire housed a 15” remote controlled Sony television and several drawers. On one corner of the room there was a closet for hanging and folded clothes and an electronic safe. Two armchairs with footrests occupied the corner facing the porch. Double curtains provided protection from early morning light and privacy at night.

Food And Restaurants La Balandra, the hotel’s restaurant, was shaped like a sailboat jutting out over the sea. Guests could enjoy sunset views and request candlelit dinners on the beach. We enjoyed chef Johnny Statie’s dishes including some of the best tasting wahoo and dorado I’ve had.

The restaurant was open during classic meal times: 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Between those times it was possible to order room service and dine offsite. We ordered room service several times during our stay for lunch and dinner. Our meals always arrived promptly and hot. The cheeseburger with bacon was one of our favorite items. During the day, it was possible to purchase snacks at a shop just outside the property gate.

Amenities The hotel offered TV with 40 cable channels, alarm clock with radio-CD player, complimentary wireless Internet, telephone, central air conditioning, ceiling fans, a kitchenette with fridge/cooler, microwave, stove, in-room safe, white cotton robes, porch hammock, iron and ironing board, and hair dryers. Toiletries were English Gilchrist & Soames mouth wash, body lotion, bath salts, shower gel, soap, shampoo and conditioner.

Beach A 100 meter long beach was the property’s gathering place during the day. Narrow at the ends and wider in the middle, the beach offered shade under the tall palm trees and sunlight near to the shore in various places. There were many comfortable lounge chairs peppered on the beach. Guests brought beach towels and refreshments from their rooms. The beach was cleaned daily during the week by an early morning crew which sometimes went in the water to remove excess pebbles. Although there were broken pieces of coral and shells in the sand, with care or rubber booties it was easy to get in. There was plenty of space to swim. A colorful world of tropical fish appeared when we went snorkeling and diving right in front of the hotel.

Facilities There was a full-service dive and water sports center (PADI Gold Palm Resort), spa and beauty salon, two pools, fitness center, four tennis courts with night lighting, 100 meter beach, two marina front restaurants (operated by third parties), gift shop (operated by a third party), meeting and conference facilities, and a 60-slip full-service marina (run by Harbour Village Marina).

Fitness Center And Spa The fitness center was about 1,200 square feet (120m2) in size and the spa had 17,000 square feet of space although some areas were closed when I visited the property. Workout equipment included: Two Cybex treadmills 700T, one Precor 7.4 Step Machine, two Freeclimber 4400CL Stairmaster, two Lifecycle 9100 stationary bikes, one Concept II Rowing Machine, one Paramount Sports Trainer (Universal Gym) with 9 stations and accessories, one Paramount Abdominal Machine Mod. PL3200, 1 Nordic Track Machine, free weights from 3 lbs. to 35 lbs. each, two Paramount Reclined Benches, one with foot rests, one bench (no bar) for free weight or other workout.

Spa treatments were by appointment. It was necessary to book spa treatments two hours or more in advance. Remembering an excellent treatment experience with Andrea Talsan, the spa therapist during my previous visit, I was eager to return to the spa. In between our busy dive schedule and short forays to explore the island I managed to squeeze in a massage late one afternoon. Although I agreed to a last minute request to arrive early because the therapist had an event to attend, the treatment felt hurried and lasted less than an hour. After allowing me a moment to disrobe she began, without a word about sensitive areas, or my massage and essential oil preferences. That massage was the only disappointing experience we had at the hotel during our visit.

Pool There were two pools: Kasa Coral terrace which was 39 feet long and 19 feet wide with an average depth of 4 feet; and Cascade Pool at the spa which was 25 wide, 20 feet with an average depth of 3 feet. The Kasa Coral pool was open during the day (closed at 5 p.m.). No food or beverages were allowed in the pool areas.

Conference Facilities There were five meeting rooms ranging from 463 to 1,433 square feet with capacity from 50 to 175 guests.

Other Harbour Village, was Holland’s reigning monarch, Queen Beatrix, choice of accommodations when she last visited the island. The property, named 2005 and 2006 “Bonaire’s Leading Hotel” at the World Travel Awards, recently became the only hotel on the island to join the 400 member Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

There were 41 television channel choices on the list in my room, including stations in Papiamento, the language of the Dutch Antilles, Dutch, Spanish and English.

Cleanliness Excellent

Date Of Review May 2007

ReviewersArticle by Elena del Valle

Photos by Gary Cox

Would You Stay There Again? Yes