OP
piikki
Contributor
Ok here continues the Longer than Long trip report re: Accommodation
We stayed at Den Laman in one of their studios. The studio was well-appointed, consisting of sitting area, good sized and very well equipped kitchen and queen-size bed with superior mattress. The studio was as depicted in pictures, clean, airy and with all new appliances. Bathroom was on the small side but kept very clean. It was not needed for any drying since the balcony was large and nicely into the breeze, so everything dried in few hours. View was nothing to mention but we knew that beforehand. We had our room on first (2nd by European criteria) floor, and were happy about that because top floor balconies did not have any shade from the sun. Noise insulation was very good and A/C worked, two things that I really appreciate.
The room worked well for two people who were there for diving and just using the room for eating, showering and crashing. I am sure it would have served for a little more than that even. Some of the bigger apartments were a bit weird because many bedrooms had ‘windows’ to the corridor (ie staircase). That could be an issue for someone.
Our deal did not include any meals but there was a restaurant on first floor. It seemed pretty quiet except at breakfast time. We did not eat there so can’t offer feedback, staff was friendly though. The condo kitchen was perfectly equipped for making meals and we pretty much filled the huge fridge at Cultimara the first day, and ate breakfasts and many lunches in the room. This worked very well because we hit the water way before anybody was serving anything. Our favourite eat-out place was probably Bistro de Paris. Good fresh selection also for vegetarians, friendly and quick service also on lunch breaks – and just around the corner. At lunch/siesta we returned for munching and a nap in our room, avoiding the hottest time. We often had dog baggies from dinners, especially if we had gone to Pasa Bon Pizza. (Thanks very much for that recommendation. That fish pizza rocks.)
Generally the staff at Den Laman was very friendly, although it took couple of days to train one cleaning lady not to come in when we were having a snack and nap. Sheets and towels were changed daily even though it’s a condo, and one did not need to worry about cleaning the kitchen or balcony either.
We had some issues in the beginning we weren’t too happy about. We did not have a room ready when we arrived, and got a hospitality room. Unfortunately, we did not have our room ready by that evening either, even though we had been told we had to move by noon. Nobody was in the office for couple of hours at the time we had been told we had to get ourselves out of the hospitality room and we were getting pretty frustrated. This led to some key mix-ups, and all I can say that if it takes >12hrs to get a room for a guest, and it’s because somebody else missed their plane and did not vacate (our) room (like we found out), then for gawd’s sake let the new people keep the hospitality room. (Well, and it would be nice if you’d clean that hospitality room too). We had already been told we needed to sleep in that room for the first night, then again we had to haul our butts just that we were going for dinner… We were starting to lose our sense of humour not having slept the previous night and even more so fearing this all was going to mess up our next day’s diving schedule!!!
We did receive an apology about the mess, and it’s all in history. I understand it’s not always possible to make it all go smoothly, and I’d stay at Den Laman again. I am not sure if it would be a place for every kind of traveler though, like families. Even we kind of missed a little outside shady hang-out area for socializing (other than for paying restaurant guests). The yard pretty much consisted of the parking lot and shop area, then the dock area and the restaurant area, so for families there would not me much of a safe area, I think. We did meet some cool people regardless of lack of meeting places. Special thanks to our next-door neighbours J&F, who mentored us about Bonaire customs having been there several times and noticing our stumbling newbie ways.
Also, does anyone know when they start building that huge new resort next to Den Laman? That might change the situation on that location for awhile?
We stayed at Den Laman in one of their studios. The studio was well-appointed, consisting of sitting area, good sized and very well equipped kitchen and queen-size bed with superior mattress. The studio was as depicted in pictures, clean, airy and with all new appliances. Bathroom was on the small side but kept very clean. It was not needed for any drying since the balcony was large and nicely into the breeze, so everything dried in few hours. View was nothing to mention but we knew that beforehand. We had our room on first (2nd by European criteria) floor, and were happy about that because top floor balconies did not have any shade from the sun. Noise insulation was very good and A/C worked, two things that I really appreciate.
The room worked well for two people who were there for diving and just using the room for eating, showering and crashing. I am sure it would have served for a little more than that even. Some of the bigger apartments were a bit weird because many bedrooms had ‘windows’ to the corridor (ie staircase). That could be an issue for someone.
Our deal did not include any meals but there was a restaurant on first floor. It seemed pretty quiet except at breakfast time. We did not eat there so can’t offer feedback, staff was friendly though. The condo kitchen was perfectly equipped for making meals and we pretty much filled the huge fridge at Cultimara the first day, and ate breakfasts and many lunches in the room. This worked very well because we hit the water way before anybody was serving anything. Our favourite eat-out place was probably Bistro de Paris. Good fresh selection also for vegetarians, friendly and quick service also on lunch breaks – and just around the corner. At lunch/siesta we returned for munching and a nap in our room, avoiding the hottest time. We often had dog baggies from dinners, especially if we had gone to Pasa Bon Pizza. (Thanks very much for that recommendation. That fish pizza rocks.)
Generally the staff at Den Laman was very friendly, although it took couple of days to train one cleaning lady not to come in when we were having a snack and nap. Sheets and towels were changed daily even though it’s a condo, and one did not need to worry about cleaning the kitchen or balcony either.
We had some issues in the beginning we weren’t too happy about. We did not have a room ready when we arrived, and got a hospitality room. Unfortunately, we did not have our room ready by that evening either, even though we had been told we had to move by noon. Nobody was in the office for couple of hours at the time we had been told we had to get ourselves out of the hospitality room and we were getting pretty frustrated. This led to some key mix-ups, and all I can say that if it takes >12hrs to get a room for a guest, and it’s because somebody else missed their plane and did not vacate (our) room (like we found out), then for gawd’s sake let the new people keep the hospitality room. (Well, and it would be nice if you’d clean that hospitality room too). We had already been told we needed to sleep in that room for the first night, then again we had to haul our butts just that we were going for dinner… We were starting to lose our sense of humour not having slept the previous night and even more so fearing this all was going to mess up our next day’s diving schedule!!!
We did receive an apology about the mess, and it’s all in history. I understand it’s not always possible to make it all go smoothly, and I’d stay at Den Laman again. I am not sure if it would be a place for every kind of traveler though, like families. Even we kind of missed a little outside shady hang-out area for socializing (other than for paying restaurant guests). The yard pretty much consisted of the parking lot and shop area, then the dock area and the restaurant area, so for families there would not me much of a safe area, I think. We did meet some cool people regardless of lack of meeting places. Special thanks to our next-door neighbours J&F, who mentored us about Bonaire customs having been there several times and noticing our stumbling newbie ways.
Also, does anyone know when they start building that huge new resort next to Den Laman? That might change the situation on that location for awhile?
