Eden Beach Bonaire? Reviews or pics of the standard hotel room?

[isaias]

Just wondering for those who have stayed at Eden Beach, if anyone has insights, pics, or reviews of the standard hotel rooms?

They would be in my budget and the beach looks great there! One review I read said they smelled like smoke inside?

Any reviews would be great!

Thanks.

 

[DeputyDan]

Have never stayed there but I will say that the beach area gets a tremendous amount of traffic when cruise ships are in port.

The dive operation there (wannadive) is top shelf!!!

 

[Waterskier1]

I have stayed there many times. I have stayed in their Studio, 2-BR and the Hotel rooms.

You asked specifically about the Hotel Rooms. All that I have stayed in were on the 3rd floor. This whole floor was added about 3 years ago. You enter from the rear (stairs at the sides or ends of the bldgs, and walkway across the rear). When you enter, you go past a quite large bathroom first. It has a large shower (no tub). If you continue past the bathroom, you enter the "bedroom" or the remaining area. There is either a large (King?) bed or two twin beds, nightstand, TV, small refrigerator (not much of a freezer), and a TV. I don't remember a phone, but I'm pretty sure there is one, but it only rings the office/front desk for outgoing calls or other rooms without having it "turned on". I've never needed it "turned on" so can't say what that might involve. If you continue through this are, towards the front of the room is a large glass door. Outside is a good sized deck/balcony with two loungers and a side table. I think there are two more plastic chairs in the room too.

If you don't plan on fixing much food - maybe sandwitches - it would be fine. You have a nice view out over the pool, the beach, and the sea beyond.

I've only stayed in the Hotel room on the first/last day of the trip. I usually meet a group there, who fly out of Atlanta. I fly the Continental route, so I arrive early in the morning and usually stay an extra day, so we can all dive together much of Friday. They leave around 3:00pm on Sat, and I leave around 6:00am Sunday. The last night I stay in the hotel room.

Sorry, but I don't have any pictures. I didn't notice any smokey smells, but suspect that has more to do with the occupants immediately before you than a universal smell only in the Hotel Rooms.

If you have more questions, please post and I'll try an answer. And, yes, WannaDive, the onsite Dive OP is excellent. 24/7 Air and Nitrox. No waiting in line for a drive thru, just walk across the parking lot and pick up the tanks you need. Also, it can be a bit of a zoo during the days the cruise ships are in port. I suggest you load up 3 tanks apiece, and take off before 9:00am for dives. You might have a bit of traffic in the parking lot when you return for lunch/more tanks, but it clears out by around 3:00pm.

 

[diverbart]

An important question would be: when are you planning to come down? Because the whole property is under a major overhaul! That includes the rooms, beach, pool and the entire restaurant set up. The resort remains open. The owners of it rains fishes have signed a fifteen year contract to provide the restaurant/bar/ beach services on the premises. Work has started two weeks ago and the plan is to finish mid may. Knowing both the work speed and the tremendous drive of the owners of it rains fishes I'd say the beginning of June is a good guestimate. For the time being a provisional bar/restaurant has been set up on the beach by it rains fishes, serving excellent food considering what they have to work with.
Bart, owner wannadive
Oh by the way thanks for the heads up guys!

 

[Waterskier1]

Seem odd that they would undergo major renovation during high season. I can understand the excitement for renovating the restaurant, but would think the rooms/pool and such could wait

>>Bart, I'll see you and the group in 10 days!

 

[isaias]

Thank for the responses. Want to go sometime this summer. Was hoping for May, but not sure.

Do you think by mid May the place will be fairly done? It's a good price for being on the beach with an ocean view.

As long as the room is clean with the ammenities I like, I'm fine. If the construction is nearing the end, that won't be a problem either, I don't think.

Thanks all.

 

[Waterskier1]

Bart can answer better about progress of the construction/renovation since he is on-site.

If by "beach" you mean sand that you can easily walk into water over, this is the only resort on the western side (where most all the shore diving is done). It has wonderful views of the sea also.

I did find some pictures of the motel room and the beach/resort area for you.

 

[drrich2]

My old trip report from '09 doesn't feature a 'standard hotel room,' but I suspect the look would be somewhat similar to the quad-occupancy rooms. Back in October a friend & I stayed in a 2 person unit; single story, but otherwise pretty similar. My old report from '10 also has some pics from a quad. occupancy unit, and the grounds.

Richard.

 

[drrich2]

If by "beach" you mean sand that you can easily walk into water over, this is the only resort on the western side (where most all the shore diving is done). It has wonderful views of the sea also.

The dive site off Eden Beach is called Eden's Rubble. Not much lush coral growth/reef, but some submerged structure to look around (we've seen scorpion fish, sea cucumbers, more) and a rocky 'shelf' drop-off, and if you swim out, you'll find a 'scooped out' effect that lets you dive down to the wreck of the Bakanal. I like that.

Sandy beach, yes. But you don't exactly walk in to dive. You can walk out on their wooden pier and giant stride in. If you want to 'walk in,' you'll walk out into the water, at which point the sand stops & you're walking on a rocky shelf. That shelf will abruptly drop off several feet. You could sit down & hop off, or 'kinda giant stride' in off that shelf.

Richard.

 

[diverbart]

Without belittling our awesome manipulative powers, I guess a progress update would be much more honest coming from Waterskier then from me, but this I can guarantee: the renovation will not interfere with your diving, and Wannadive certainly will not interfere, other than our usual tricks such as throwing rumpunch parties into the mix!