Bonaire - Recent Plaza Resort report?

[rye_a]

Has anyone stayed at the Plaza Resort recently? How is it looking?

My wife and I are planning a spontaneous trip to Bonaire for the first week in May and it looks like the Plaza offers a fairly nice facility with a good home reef and affordable room/dive packages.

Some of the reports that I have read are a little off-putting, and I would appreciate hearing from someone who has been to the Plaza recently about how it is looking.

 

[sinistar]

A group of 8 of us stayed at the Plaza about 6wks ago. I haven't had a chance to write a trip report (probably will put it on BonaireTalk).

It really bums to have to say this. The group as whole wasn't that impressed. Two of us (myself included) had stayed there 6 years ago so some of this does have the perspective of seeing changes. The group was 2 gals and 6 guys. We were there for one week and used 3 villa's. Car rental was with AB. Boat dives with Toucan and we used the nitrox package big time!

Here's may take. If your wife is okay with things being rundown you mike like it - if the price is right. The ladies on our trip had several issues with their room. I believe in the end the Plaza worked with them - to a degree - to compensate. However, I know they would not recommend it again. On the flip side, they enjoyed the beach, the were okay with the restaurant by the pool for lunch and the rooms were huge. The dive boats were okay.

Things that threw people off included: You always humped your tanks and weights to and from lockers, etc. This makes some sense w/r to supporting shore diving but most of the people are used to Coz or GC where this is always on the boat and done for you. We tried one meal at the Tipsy Seagull - great setting but the meal that night was even more expensive than we expected as it was themed (ie less choices). The mention fitness areas, tennis, computer areas, etc. But in most cases they were not open or looked pretty run down. Basically, from the website you get the impression that it is a relatively luxury resort. From 6 years ago, I recall it being more plush and green and many of these things were open. This trip there weren't many people there, getting staff to do things was on island time but 6 years ago it seemed more responsive.

Another twist to consider. Most of the guys were okay with the place as we all had rooms to ourselves, lots of space and the price was right. Everyone loved the beach and resort shore dive. But the resort shore dive can be a long walk from room or dive lockers to the beach. They now have little wagons which helped alot.

What didn't help much was that the water visibility was pretty sucky (sorry but the best term we could all agree on). And the reef just looked so depressed from 6 years ago. I was so fired up to return after the first trip 6 years ago. Now, being quite honest, I really have no urge to return. I know I will, circumstances will change etc. But it felt weird to not have that PBD that I had so bad after the first trip. But I should mention the resort had nothing to do with how I feel about it. It was the visibility, reef, state of things etc.

I asked several people if they thought they would return and most said maybe in 10yrs or so. Not what I expected

If you are really love Bonaire and the wife prefers someplace a bit nicer I'm sure others will chime in with recommendations. If the Plaza price is right, just drop your expectations a bit and spend the first few hours there getting any room issues resolved and then kick back and get into that wonderful breezy hot weather and enjoy the vacation! I sure hope the reef, viz and economy recover soon - Bonaire is awesome when all those come together.

 

[rye_a]

Thanks for your detailed report! We are debating between the Plaza and the Harbour Village, and this may have just pushed us to the HV!

 

[DiverVince]

Viz was sucky??? Just returned last Sat from 3 weeks on the island. I dove the southern sites & Klein. Had 80 foot viz on the southern sites & at least 100 out at Klein.
How do I measure viz? Vertically is the only accurate way I know. If I'm at 80 feet & can clearly see the surface, I mark that as 80 foot viz. Trying to measure horizontal viz is subjective at best. Additionally, as an FYI upwellings can temporarily deteriorate viz when they occur.

Sorry about your experiences at Plaza. Perhaps you should investigate other accommodations which are available. Personally, I'm a big fan of condos and private rentals.

 

[Waterskier1]

I just returned Monday from 10 days on Bonaire. I too thought the visibility was "sucky". I don't usually assess visibility by looking up, since I rarely look up and couldn't care the least about watching the surface when I am diving. I generally look horizontally, plus or minus 20 degrees or so. That said, a really good way to judge visibility is to get on on end of the Hilma Hooker and see if you can see the other. We couldn't. Nor could we look out from the reef and see anything. No, I can't tell you exactly how many feet the visibility was, but it was only 60% to 70% of what it was the last 9 times I visited in the last four years.

Talking to dive ops and local divers, it seems that there was a late end to the rainy season this year. That may contribute to some of the visibility problems. Even on the east side, the visibility was probably less than 40 feet. Many people were swimming right over turtles they didn't see resting (not swimming) on the reef.

Also, there is considerable bleaching of the coral. Even after Omar, it looked better than now. One might not realize it until you dive up north (Candyland, Taylor Made) where the bleaching is less. I said to my buddy, the colors here are what I am used to all over down South.

I'm hoping the visibility is a temporary condition, but it definitely was worse than March of 2007,2009, 2009 and 2010.

 

[lmorin]

Was in Bonaire in Jan. Vis was 80-100 ft. Same last August.

 

[Alexandra]

Hi rye_a,
My boyfriend and I are heading down to Bonaire the first week of May as well - may be we can meet up for some dives

 

[rye_a]

Hi rye_a,
My boyfriend and I are heading down to Bonaire the first week of May as well - may be we can meet up for some dives

Sounds like fun! We wound up booking at the Harbour Village. I'll PM our info so we can line up the dives!

 

[divematt]

We'll be in Bonaire from May 13 to 22. I sure hope vis is OK then. What were the water temps when you guys went? Anyone know what to expect mid May? We're staying at the Plaza too after enjoying our 2007 visit. That's only 5 weeks from now and I won't expect much if what has changed stays that way. I never minded the long distance to the tanks and the rooms. Hopefully if we lower our expectations, it won't be too bad. It sucks that it won't look like it did in 2007. Anyone see any broken glass at any of the parking lots near the dive sites? There was plenty of that last time we went. I'll assume it's still the same and leave the windows down and the doors unlocked!

 

[duroejc]

Just returned from a week on bonaie and a stay at The Plaza. The dive op was good - some inconvienience if you take the big boat- you end up humping gear and weights- was closer to rinse and store gear in our villa. The Plaza was most definitely run down and in need of work. They are re-freshing the rooms- but I hope it isn't too late- a reputation is a much harder thing to repair than the rooms. No landscaping, wiring hanging everywhere, masonry crumbling, decking rotted, We had most of the light bulbs in our room burned out We were there to dive so it wasn't a big issue since the Villa was large and spacious- had a full kitchen and we could live with the little nuisances- one being the gate into the Villas not being manned so you were locked out. If the price is right and you don't want to hang out on the property you may consider the Plaza- I would opt for some of the smaller hotels until they get things fixed up.