first time Bonaire travelers

[bethie]

We have always stayed at VRBO rentals in the 5 visits (soon to be 6) to Bonaire, and have always shopped/cooked for ourselves. There are many reasonably prices grocery stores (no more expensive than the US). We have never had any issue with crime or any problems of any kind. We have stayed in the Belnem area and also Sabadeco. Bonaire is a wonderful place. Don't overthink it.
This is our favorite Winter Special Ocean View and ocean access... - VRBO
We will be there Nov 25-Dec 8 if you want to meet up and dive!

 

[scubadada]

Everyone has their favorite. My wife and I used to stay at Sand Dollar and used Bonaire Dive & Adventure. After an 9 year hiatus, we returned to Bonaire last December. We stayed at Den Laman and used Dive Friends. We cooked nearly all our meals. Dive Friends boats leave the Sand Dollar/Den Laman pier and you have direct access to Bari Reef. Dive Friends has tank access at 7 locations. We had such a good time that we're going back for two weeks in August

Den Laman/Dive Friends Bonaire, December 3-14, 2017

 

[jf3193]

Look at Sand Dollar condos, vrbo, great location, easy shore dive entry, dive shop on property, many dive shop locations, full kitchen . This is our go to place. Been 4 times and looking forward to our next trip. Bill

Thanks wildbill!

 

[Lorenzoid]

I would check Hamlet Oasis. The house reef is "Cliff" - arguably one of the best sites on Bonaire. Dive Friends Bonaire is on site. The apartments have full kitchen and all amenities - wifi etc. The location coudn't be more convienient. Both for diving and grocery, etc.

That's where we will be in a few weeks. Like the OP, we tend to prepare our own food, except for a few forays to the "snack" places and maybe one or two dinners out. I haven't been to Den Laman, but from the price and photo comparison I get the impression that the Hamlet apartments are a little more basic than the equivalent at Den Laman. Being frugal, we chose Hamlet. We have stayed at one of the big villas at Hamlet a couple of times when we were with a larger group and loved it.

 

[Lorenzoid]

When you travel to a shore diving destination, how likely are you to find other divers and vehicles at the site? (my thought is more divers and vehicles mean less chances of a vehicle break-in in public).

Did someone answer this? At the more remote sites, there are often fewer vehicles. Occasionally, you may arrive at a site to find you are the only one, but more often than not when you return from the dive you will see another car or two or three has pulled in. Being a nerd, I would say expect an average of 2-1/2 cars at any given site at any given time. The divers of some or all of them may be in the water while you're gearing up (or down) and you may or may not see them.

Bottom line: Don't count on there being enough vehicle and diver traffic to scare the thieves. I recall parking at one of the Andrea sites, where we were the second or third vehicle there, and noting that the side window of the vehicle next to where we parked was smashed and glass was on the ground. Looking inside, we could see that some things had been left in the vehicle, including what looked like a cheap backpack (now turned inside out), and they had apparently locked the doors, contrary to all the advice given to vehicle renters. Don't be like those people.

 

[arew+4]

If you go it alone, ie a condo and rental truck, some of the car rental places now use an engine immobilizer, it's a little chip like thing you have to wave around the ignition switch prior to starting. It cannot get wet. We would look around make sure no one was watching and bury it under some rocks.

 

[herman]

If you go it alone, ie a condo and rental truck, some of the car rental places now use an engine immobilizer, it's a little chip like thing you have to wave around the ignition switch prior to starting. It cannot get wet. We would look around make sure no one was watching and bury it under some rocks.

I just take it off the key ring and leave it in the car, taking the key with me. It's small enough to cram in some crannie that would take hours to find and even if they did, it's no use without the key.

 

[arew+4]

I just take it off the key ring and leave it in the car, taking the key with me. It's small enough to cram in some crannie that would take hours to find and even if they did, it's no use without the key.

Did that until it got stuck once and took 15 minutes and some drift wood chop sticks to get it out

 

[Trailboss123]

Lots of good feedback. I will chime in and say that for your first time to Bonaire, the Den Laman Condos Home - Den Laman and Hamlet Oasis Accomodation Bonaire Apartments: Holiday Rentals, Diving Bonaire Vacation Home options, already recommended, would be the direction I'd encourage you to consider since you want a waterfront/house reef location for two. I have done both and and I have done VRBO and I have done AirBNB. Here is my 2 cents should you find yourself trying to decide to between Hamlet and Den Laman:

Hamlet Oasis:
$900- for a 1 bedroom unit- no meals included- all meals on own. This is the room cost- not per person cost
$91- Room Tax for the week
$360- for 2 person unlimited dive package with Dive Friends (will need to book independently of the accommodations)
$271- for Rental truck for the week with Avis (will need to book independently of the accommodations)
Total cost $1622

Den Laman:
$2216- This is all in for 2 people in a 1 bedroom condo and includes breakfast each morning. You book through them and they handle everything. They will reserve your Avis pickup, they will book your dive package (also with Dive Friends)

Other stuff: Hamlet Oasis has a pool, if that is important to you. I never used it. Den Laman is exceedingly nicer and more comfortable. Their photos on the website are accurate. Clean, modern. Diving from Den Laman is considerably easier if you plan to do lots of house reef diving (Bari Reef). You have a pier and a couple of steps to get in and out of the water. Much easier entry and exit than the house reef at hamlet (Cliff dive Site). Rinse tanks and secure storage area for your gear are extremely convenient. Both locations have the Dive Friends shops on site, but at Den Laman, you will have 24/7 access to tanks. At Hamlet Oasis, you will need to make sure you get some tanks from one of the 7 shops on the island before closing, if you want to do a night or dawn dive. You could knock $300-$400 off of the Den Laman cost if you opted for a studio instead of a 1 bedroom. Both locations are great and just down the street from one another, so no big difference there. However, a short stroll across the parking lot at Den Laman brings you to Between 2 Buns. One of the best restaurant/cafe's/bakeries on the island. Great for lunch on site or buy some sandwiches to go and have during a surface interval. There is also a Surinamese restaurant and ice cream place 2 doors down from Between2Buns and they sell some tremendous Belgian Beers. Neither place is a "resort" and will give you that sense of "being on your own" that you desire. Although Den Laman does it with some additional niceties. Hope some of that helps.

If you haven't yet, be sure to read the report from @scubadada - it is one of the most recent, if not most recent post and thorough on staying at and diving from Den Laman- Den Laman/Dive Friends Bonaire, December 3-14, 2017

 

[Diver Dave1]

A 2nd vote for Sand Dollar. Not new but good for divers. Use Dive Friends next door for your diving tanks and you can use the dock at Bari Reef. The dock is next door to sand dollar and an easy walk. Bari Reef is right in front of the condo's and maybe 20-30 yds from the dock . There is often a 4 or 5 pm 'happy hour (BYOB) for owners/renters near the water. People share what they have seen and where at those get togethers. That is how I found frog fish and new species of blennies to photo when visiting.