keithdiver
Contributor
You won't have a much fun in Curaco as in Bonaire!!! That is just MIO
Bonaire lodging?
- Thread starter Mike
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reefdiva
Contributor
Bonaire is all about shore diving in lots and lots of spots. In Curacao you can shore dive but need to drive farther between sites. Curacao has more night life and bigger, full service resorts that sound like what you are looking for. Accommmodations in Bonaire are truely geared towards divers. I have been diving Bonaire for over ten years and for about three of those spent time in Curacao on business. Stayed at the Marriott and it was lovely. As posted above, it may fit your needs much more than anything on Bonaire.
dvrliz1
Guest
Mike,
Ok, then I would recommend Harbour Village.
Now the difference between the two islands. I have been living down here for over 5 years and have been to Curacao often for long weekends.
I guess it all boils down to what you are looking for. Bonaire is more rustic, no stop lights, no highways, no big glam and glitz. Curacao is more "modernized" and more metropolitan. The major city Wilemstad is about a 25 minute drive from the airport. If you want a more secluded area with a 4 star place, look at Kura Hulanda Lodge in Westpunt, but you are about 40 minutes or so from town.
Bonaire is more laid back. If you want to hang out at the beach, get a drink from the bar, read a book its great. Its also great if you want to go horseback riding, mangrove snorkeling, sunset sailing and just basic chilling, we do have a casino on island, as well as great spas, so you can do that too. I do have to say, that we do, IMHO have the most amazing restaurants on the island as well. You can also walk around at night without fear, everyone is extremely friendly.
Now understand I LOVE going to Curacao because I can get things on Curacao I can't get on Bonaire...like eating at Denny's, McDonalds or Burger King (lol). I also like the shopping as well as the upper scale resorts (Hey, I own one here...not on the scale you are looking for, but I like a little pampering once in a too!) I do have to tell you the only negative thing I heard from the locals on Curacao that it is normally not safe to walk around at night away from the resort, but we did walk about 10 minutes from the Renaissance to the Denny's on a well lit main road in Punda, and didn't have a problem, then again hubby is a big guy and looks like one of those WWF wrestlers...lol..
Like I said it all comes down to what you are looking for. If you are looking for a more "Touristy, Americanized/Modernized/Cosmopolitan type vacation, you may want to consider the Renaissance (they have a great beach bar, amazing salt water pool, as well as fresh water pool with beautiful beach), and talk with Mark and Suzy at the Dive Bus (they provide great personal service) for your diving.
Now if you REALLY want personalized service on Bonaire, I do have to recommend La Pura Vista. It is not on the water, but up on the hill with AMAZING views, lovely pool and has amazing 5 star service.
It truly is all about what your expectations are. Enjoy!
Ok, then I would recommend Harbour Village.
Now the difference between the two islands. I have been living down here for over 5 years and have been to Curacao often for long weekends.
I guess it all boils down to what you are looking for. Bonaire is more rustic, no stop lights, no highways, no big glam and glitz. Curacao is more "modernized" and more metropolitan. The major city Wilemstad is about a 25 minute drive from the airport. If you want a more secluded area with a 4 star place, look at Kura Hulanda Lodge in Westpunt, but you are about 40 minutes or so from town.
Bonaire is more laid back. If you want to hang out at the beach, get a drink from the bar, read a book its great. Its also great if you want to go horseback riding, mangrove snorkeling, sunset sailing and just basic chilling, we do have a casino on island, as well as great spas, so you can do that too. I do have to say, that we do, IMHO have the most amazing restaurants on the island as well. You can also walk around at night without fear, everyone is extremely friendly.
Now understand I LOVE going to Curacao because I can get things on Curacao I can't get on Bonaire...like eating at Denny's, McDonalds or Burger King (lol). I also like the shopping as well as the upper scale resorts (Hey, I own one here...not on the scale you are looking for, but I like a little pampering once in a too!) I do have to tell you the only negative thing I heard from the locals on Curacao that it is normally not safe to walk around at night away from the resort, but we did walk about 10 minutes from the Renaissance to the Denny's on a well lit main road in Punda, and didn't have a problem, then again hubby is a big guy and looks like one of those WWF wrestlers...lol..
Like I said it all comes down to what you are looking for. If you are looking for a more "Touristy, Americanized/Modernized/Cosmopolitan type vacation, you may want to consider the Renaissance (they have a great beach bar, amazing salt water pool, as well as fresh water pool with beautiful beach), and talk with Mark and Suzy at the Dive Bus (they provide great personal service) for your diving.
Now if you REALLY want personalized service on Bonaire, I do have to recommend La Pura Vista. It is not on the water, but up on the hill with AMAZING views, lovely pool and has amazing 5 star service.
It truly is all about what your expectations are. Enjoy!
Okay, screw it, I can give up room service if I have too.But gotta have a nice beach, nice beach bar, nice room all that stuff. I spent some time looking at the Plaza last night, seems close to what I'm looking for, but my Lord the reviews of that place are hot and cold.
Interesting comments about Curacao. Why does Bonaire get all the hype if Curacao is so comparable?
I saw Curacao as Atlanta with a beach.
Makes perfect sense! In fact, here's how my wife describes Bonaire and Curacao:
- Bonaire is a place where divers go to vacation
- Curacao is a place where vacationers go to dive
Been to Plaza Resort on Bonaire once and to the Curacao Marriott twice. Would go back to either in a minute, but it does sound more like you want the Curacao Marriott than anything on Bonaire.
OP
Mike
Contributor
Okay, so now we have to go to Curacoa too now. Oh the agony. 
This is pretty much what we like:
We like to dive but we also like to chill, but we like to do it in nice digs without the smell of stinky musty 'divers' resort. For example Fantasy Island on Roatan would be like a prison sentence to serve out to me. :depressed:
Been checking the flights down to Bonaire, looks like anything over 9 days doubles the flight cost and about tripples the flight time! Looks like 9 days will be it. Would love to do 2 weeks but can't leave the rats to play while the cats away that long yet.
This is pretty much what we like:
We like to dive but we also like to chill, but we like to do it in nice digs without the smell of stinky musty 'divers' resort. For example Fantasy Island on Roatan would be like a prison sentence to serve out to me. :depressed:
Been checking the flights down to Bonaire, looks like anything over 9 days doubles the flight cost and about tripples the flight time! Looks like 9 days will be it. Would love to do 2 weeks but can't leave the rats to play while the cats away that long yet.
Deep Blue View, intimate resort. Dive Bonaire in the Dutch Caribbean
it does not have a beach , but is lovely....
it does not have a beach , but is lovely....
keithdiver
Contributor
Beautiful place, way off the beaten path!! Has a great view of the city.
There's a rum store in Williamstad that has over 700 varieties and they have tasters.
This may have been said a thousand times before (if so, sorry) but you are gambling on your happiness if you take the DAE puddle jumper from A to C to Bonaire, etc.. The only time that we took them turned into Luggage Lottery. They loaded all of the people on the plane, then announced on the PA that not all the baggage could go because we were overweight.
Now DAE wouldn't/couldn't check your bags to your final destination, so if they weren't on that plane, you were basically hosed. In our case, it was through Aruba, and US customs is actually in Aruba. We lucked out, but know of a family with little kids that was going to miss at least a flight or two waiting.
Now DAE wouldn't/couldn't check your bags to your final destination, so if they weren't on that plane, you were basically hosed. In our case, it was through Aruba, and US customs is actually in Aruba. We lucked out, but know of a family with little kids that was going to miss at least a flight or two waiting.
