My wife & I are planning a trip to Bonaire in early September and have basically narrowed down our choices of accommodations to:
Just spent a week at Plaza. It's called "fancy" by some, but of course, you have to put that in Island perspective. I did go by the other places thinking what I might do for next trip. All the more 'resort-like' places look ok. Personally, I did like the Plaza. The main thing for me was I needed a place that would work for a woman friend who doesn't dive and that would work for me as a solo diver. Turned out she didn't come along and being at the Plaza really worked out for me as it was easy to find dive buddies both for the boat dives, (which is easy), but also to partner up with to go shore diving with. While I'd heard a lot about theft, etc. I had zero problems there. Even though I found by accident that my sliding glass door would open with a good yank even when locked. Wise to put a blocking bar down to avoid that.
If I go again with dive buddies, I'll probably stay in a "divier" location now that I know my way around Island. But if solo, I'd again do resorts and probably the Plaza. For one thing - at least at Plaza - everything's right there. Short walk to dive pier where you can just sign up on the white board for boats or take a course. (I did a Nitrox course with George and the marine park orientation dive with Ronald. Both great guys, knowledgeable, fun to hang with, etc. etc.) The other divemasters on the boat dives also seemed to know every piece of coral. They have tanks set up not only at the dive pier for drive up, but out by their beach for when you want to shore dive on their local reef called 18 Palms. This is espeically convenient for a night dive or two.
There are tennis courts, but being a cold climate NY'er, I can't imagine playing other than at 5 in AM or after 6 PM due to heat. Other than that or windsurfing, I can't really imagine what non-divers do on this Island. Yes, there's some wildlife, but... basically if you're not diving, that's it. The "city" as they call it is tiny. Everyone there is great, but there is really not that much going on except for the diving. The other advantage of the resorts, at least the Plaza, is there's a couple of restaurants right there, and while room service has a kind of expensive - in my opinion - service charge, it's there. I only used this once though, as I brought some breakfast food down with me in the first place and got some fruit and other fresh stuff at the supermarket in town. Note if you do this, you have to weigh the stuff yourself in produce section and print the label. There's pictures for the fruit and it's the "Bon" key that prints the label. Market might not take US or even Florin/Guilder bills over 50.
There were some little things I could b#$#$ about, but just little pet peeve stuff. Nothing of consequence and everyone I dealt with was helpful when I'd have questions or whatever.
Bottom line is I can't speak to the other places, but I had a good experience at the Plaza Resort and would definitely stay there again.
Have fun!
Scott
