Caribbean Club or Golden Reef Inn???

[cppike79]

Just a quick question for all the Bonaire experts out there. Basically narrowed it down to two options, but still open to ideas if there is a better option out there that I have overlooked.

I'm trying to decide between staying at the Caribbean club, which will cost just over $800 for 8 night/7 day dive package vs. The Golden Reef Inn, which will run just under $700 for the same 8 nights and 7 days of diving. Both packages seem to include the same features (i.e. nitrox, breakfast, etc). The main difference seems to be location. So my question really boils down to this, in you're estimation is the location of the Caribbean club worth the extra $100?

Also if there is anything I've overlooked, or need to look into please let me know.

Thanks for the help.

 

[oly5050user]

Just a quick question for all the Bonaire experts out there. Basically narrowed it down to two options, but still open to ideas if there is a better option out there that I have overlooked.

I'm trying to decide between staying at the Caribbean club, which will cost just over $800 for 8 night/7 day dive package vs. The Golden Reef Inn, which will run just under $700 for the same 8 nights and 7 days of diving. Both packages seem to include the same features (i.e. nitrox, breakfast, etc). The main difference seems to be location. So my question really boils down to this, in you're estimation is the location of the Caribbean club worth the extra $100?

Also if there is anything I've overlooked, or need to look into please let me know.

Thanks for the help.

are you traveling alone or double occupancy?? .If alone that sounds like a low price for either resort..Carib club,not directly on the water is close to the water and has a ocean view.Golden reef inn does not..Carib club dive operations is serviced by Buddy dive and you can use their drive thru at Buddy resort if you wish to.When are you traveling as there are other specials that may come into play.I am taking a group In April to Buddy dive.
We have the same package but also 6 boat dives and 50% off at restaurant.If interested pm me.
I just checked rate for Carib club and if single it is $1009.12. in the low season.For dbl oc it is $649. pp..that is with the standard 8 day 7 nits unlimit dive/nitrox /truck/breakfast ..

 

[keithdiver]

I did my first trip to Bonaire with golden reef inn. Ed and Liz are awesome people. Liz is a hyper baric Chamber nurse, very knowledgeable of diving, and Ed is an instructor. They will make sure you have all that you need. There resort or inn is near the halfway mark. Caribbean Club is near oil slick a northern dive site. One of my friends stayed ther and he hated it, nothing worked all was broken, management was rude, but he lived. We even went to dinner with ed and liz. The dive opkg. is with Wanna dive, Bart and gang are funny, talented, serious, no joke divers, they will give you and overview of the island and say, dive your brains out and leave you be. They have tanks in 4 locations, and have a hell of a Happy Hour!!!!!! Good luck, any other questions please don;t hesitate to ask.

 

[gert7to3]

I stayed at the Caribbean Club twice (plus Buddy, Captn. Don's and Sand Dollar other times). The newer accommodations at Carib. Club are nicer (IMHO) than the older, more central ones. I didn't have issues with the way the place was run. However, there were small details which others in my party did have issues with, mostly maintenance and upkeep. I have visited Golden Reef, great happy hour and Scuba Board meet & greets. Liz is a very positive presence here on the board, providing honest advice, even when it doesn't benefit her establishment. I would certainly consider Golden Reef in the future.

Neither establishment is on the water. GRI's location is nearer to town, stores and southern dive sites. Carribbean Club is a half block from Oil Slick and closer to the northern sites. It has the convenience of Buddy's tank service, but Wanna Dive is also convenient with multiple locations.

Since you will have to drive everywhere, your consideration boils down to being closer to town or at a slightly quieter locale, a couple of miles north.

 

[RJP]

Also if there is anything I've overlooked, or need to look into please let me know.

I recently received an email from Plaza Resort with a package you might want to consider. My buddy and I stayed there last year and loved it. Not sure if the two packages you're looking at include boat dives and truck rental, but this one does. Also, beyond just "being on the water" don't underestimate the value of having a house reef at your doorstep - and Plaza's is a good one. They also have one of the only "real" beaches on the island.

​

Santa's Special
Christmas comes early this year!
Enjoy Plaza Resort Bonaire for $699 per diver.
(based on double occupancy)

Package includes​

• 7 nights standard suite
• Daily breakfast
• 6 days of unlimited shore with 11 boat dives
• 7 day car rental (no ins/tax)
• Welcome cocktail and Tuesday night beach BBQ
• All taxes/service charges and energy surcharge

Travel Dates
Now - December 18th, 2009
April 10 - December 17, 2010
Sale Ends: January 15, 2010

Toll Free U.S.A. & Canada: 1-800-766-6016
Local: (781) 821-6016 / Fax: (781) 821-1568
www.plazaresortbonaire.com | usa@plazaresortbonaire.com​

​

Restrictions apply:
Valid on new bookings only • 7 night minimum stay required • No refund on unused portions • Limited number of rooms available per arrival week • Room upgrades available from $45-$150 per person in our renovated guest suites • Subject to availability
​

 

[RJP]

I recently received an email from Plaza Resort with a package you might want to consider. My buddy and I stayed there last year and loved it.

Additionally, here's a copy of a PM I sent another SB'er recently, with some more info on Plaza...

-----------------------------------------------

I got the same email as you, and am trying to convince my buddy (and our two wives) that we need to go back soon!

I really liked the Plaza Resort. Rooms were very large, comfortable, and clean. Decent sized mini-fridge. Our room was just refurbished with a giant bathroom, new tile flooring, and had pretty new furniture. We took a second floor room in the building nearest dive shop for "easy in, easy out" access to dive shop, boat dock, and our pick-up truck. Also away from restaurants/bars from a noise standpoint. Bit of a walk to their beach/reef, but they have hand carts and tanks on the docks over there. Not an issue...unless you plan to just dive their house reef all week!

Second floor is key so you have a balcony to dry stuff on without tempting someone walking by. 2nd floor also has very high cathedral ceiling, which makes room seem a little more "luxurious." (As much as you can get LUXURY in Bonaire.)

Breakfast buffet was good quality-wise and plentiful in terms of both quantity and selection. We had two good dinners at their main restaurant and their two bars are sufficiently "lively" and "laid back" at the same time. Only downside I can see (and wasn't an issue for us) is that Plaza is not as close to downtown as Buddy, Divi, etc (not really walkable) but you're renting a truck and driving everywhere anyway, so who cares!

Nitrox is not "technically" available 24/7 (air is) as the nitrox station is only open 8am-6pm or something like that. However, they have large dive lockers right next to the dive shop and my buddy and I would simply put a Nitrox tank or two in our lockers for any planned evening/early AM dives. They officially ask that you not take more than 2 nitrox tanks at a time, but one of the DMs told us not to worry about it as long as we we didn't stockpile the "empties" so we were regularly loading our truck with 3-4 tanks each to cover us for the better part of the day without needing to return to the resort. Definitely a boon when you're diving up north, especially in the park.

-----------------------------------------------

Can't think of anything else to tell you. Let me know if you have any/more specific questions...I'm happy to answer if I can.

 

[dvrliz1]

Thanks all for the kudos.....greatly appreciated. A couple of points that may help.

Gert....We are actually closer to town than Caribbean Club, BUT we are not closer to "southern" sites per se. We are located in Hato, about a 3 minute walk to the dive site "The Cliff", so our location is ACTUALLY north of town, but south of Caribbean Club. If you go to Skyviews - and search for the Bonaire Map, you will see exactly where we are.

Also, Wannadive is GREAT, we love the guys!!!!! Just to mention not only do they have 4 locations to pick up and drop of tanks, they deliver tanks here to GRI 2-3 times a day (both air and nitrox - depending on what you are using). ALL of our divers have 24/7 access (you can actually drive right up) gear storage and tanks. Wannadive divers also have access at night to their Windsock location (which is south of the airport), which is normally locked out to everyone else at night.

Ok, just wanted to clarify the location part and that we do have 24/7 access to tanks, etc.

Thanks again all!

Liz

 

[MagnaBoxer]

We spent ten days over last Christmas at CCB. It was our first time on Bonaire and obviously our first (and last) time to stay at CCB. Nothing worse than coming in from a day of diving to find that sewage had backed up in your bathroom and ran out all over your room. This happened 3 times.

We had to lug all our gear to another room to spend the night each time this happened. We were told there was not another room we could transfer to for the duration of our stay so it was back and forth toting clothes, computers, and camera gear.

There are a ton of other reasons we'll never go back to CCB. This is just from our experience there and others may not have considered it to be as bad as we did so I won't waste further time going into it.

In my opinion CCB does have ONE thing going for it. It's close to Oil slick leap!

Needless to say, when we go back we are looking to stay at GRI.

 

[Barb729]

I stayed at the Golden Reef for 2 weeks June 2009. It was great. Rooms nice, clean, bonus was a swimming pool to jump into after diving and relax under your own table w/umbrella. Check out their website.
Having a secure area for dive equipment, easy access to cleaning your gear after your dive. I would say that the Golden Reef will fit all your needs. They have a great little kitchen and eating area, t.v. internet what else can you ask for. Liz and Ed great host.
They arrange for us to use the Wanna Dive operation, never once had a problem with getting tanks at any location. They are a top notch group.
I will certainly go back to Golden Reef Inn.
So if you're looking for comfort and to relax at the end of the day, give them a try, I don't think you will be disappointed.

 

[pdive]

We stayed with GRI in 2006 and this year they helped us find another place (Bamboo Bali) when they were full. Liz even helped us with some minor issues we had wiht Bamboo Bali (very minor, not a knock on that place at all). I would highly recommend GRI. Also, we used Wanna Dive both times. Bart and the crew are very patient, friendly, helpful and easily approacable. WannaDive's place near Windsock is a cool place - we dove it three times this past trip.