What are some decent inexpensive places to stay in Bonaire for a short 6 day trip

[XS-NRG]

Hey everyone,

I'm planning a trip to the Southwest Caribbean on a family vacation and want to puddle jump over to Bonaire to meet friends from our LDS doing a big trip there the week before. Unfortunately there is overlap between the two so I can't enjoy both trips fully but still would like to get over to Bonaire for a ton of diving before my family shows up (there won't be much diving once that happens). I can't take advantage of my shops trip and package unless I pay for 8 nights at Buddy Dive but only actually use 6 of them. Where else could a single person stay in Bonaire for a reasonable amount? Who is familiar with the place? Close proximity to buddy dive would be preferable as I'm going to just pay for their 6 day Unlimited dive package including a few boats dives . Also I don't need a vehicle, just somewhere clean to rest at night in between non-stop diving Thanks everyone!

 

[diversteve]

Hamlet Oasis has a studio for $725/775/wk. Accomodation Bonaire Apartments: Holiday Rentals, Diving Bonaire Vacation Home Zoom in on the bottom left picture on their website homepage - the dive boats off to the far left could even be Buddy's - it's hard to tell.

Coral Paradise is even closer - a studio there is also $775 apparently. IDK it at all except from comments made here. Diving Resort in Bonaire - Coral Paradise Bonaire. They mention having breakfast next door at Rumrunners - that's the restaurant at Habitat - Buddy's is next door to the south.

Neither is on the water which saves you quite a lot.

A lot cheaper is the Dive Hut in town Dive Hut Bonaire - not so convenient as it's on the north end of Kralendijk. If your friends with trucks were diving the south sites they'd pass it every time - it's one block off the main road thru town. 5mins drive if they picked you up for boat dives also. Not much over $60/nt. for the hotel rooms last I checked. IIRC breakfast is even included. drrich2 here on SB has stayed there.



There's also about a dozen or so cabs on Bonaire but no public transportation. Bonaire Taxi Services - Home

 

[dmaziuk]

I can't take advantage of my shops trip and package unless I pay for 8 nights at Buddy Dive but only actually use 6 of them.

Dep. on the terms that may actually be cheaper than the alternatives: as I recall Buddy's "10 people in 5-bedroom suite" rates were hard to beat.

Sand Dollar is next door to Buddy and there's at least one place across the road... google google.. Bridanda apartments I think is the one I'm thinking of. (We stayed at Sand Dollar last spring, their rates are like Buddy's: good for dive packages, not so good as "just a place to sleep".)

 

[KathyV]

It would be most convenient if you could stay with your LDS companions at Buddy's but I don't blame you for not wanting to pay for days and dives that you can't use. Perhaps your LDS can work out a deal with Buddy's to pro-rate the cost of the trip for you for the shorter time frame? It's worth asking about anyway.

Would you have to pay a single supplement at Buddy's? If yes, then you are probably better off looking for other accommodations. Good luck!

 

[XS-NRG]

Thanks for the responses. KathyV I might be able to get a pro-rate. We're looking into that too. Trying to assess all options at this point in order to make the right decision. One thing I know for sure is I will be buying the dive package from Buddy as my group will be doing boat dives with them and I'll want to be on the same boat with them.