We are Bonaire regulars, as we bought a studio at Sand Dollar. We liked Sand Dollar because it is just north of Kralendijk, quiet, on the Sea (and our unit has a killer view of the water), low key, next to the dive shop, pier, Fish Eye Photo and Bari reef (the reef in front of Sand Dollar) has been found to have the greatest fish diversity in the Caribbean. The resort has tennis courts and a swimming pool, if you want to use those amenities. And, you can get wifi Internet service for a fee.
Sand Dollar is also flanked by a small strip shopping center that has a little grocer, "to die for" ice cream shop, Internet cafe (where you can purchase minutes for wireless Internet in your Sand Dollar condo or use their computers) and bank. Two restaurants flank Sand Dollar so you can dine there without going elsewhere if you like. So, we can walk out of our unit and be at the dive shop, waterfront or Fish-Eye photo in no time at all and be enjoying the sea life snorkeling or diving or do a little shopping or banking or dining out without driving.
You can rent from Sand Dollar through the website
Sand Dollar Condo Scuba Resort Bonaire, Netherlands antilles: or you can rent from the individual owners like me. Sand Dollar offers packages that include rental truck, shore diving, boat diving, Nitrox and breakfasts, if you want all of that or you can structure your package to include only what you want.
You can also rent directly from the units' owners. You can still get rental trucks and dive packages but you might also get a better rental arrangement if you deal directly with the unit's owner. Sand Dollar staff support renters who arranged their rentals with owners the same way it supports those renting through the US reservation operation or the website.
When we were renters, we just purchased our Sand Dollar package from the US reservations operation 1-800-288-4773 or US: 954-453-5025. We elected NOT to include breakfast for we could buy food at the grocery and do it ourselves for less money.
Sand Dollar's dive shop is Bonaire Dive and Adventure. We took the entire open water certification course from them and were totally impressed with the quality of instruction and the way our instructor interacted with us. [We are certified as American Canoe Association Whitewater Canoe Instructor Trainers and were quite impressed with Bonaire Dive and Adventure's training program.) Others (including a divemaster) who dove with us were amazed at the skills we had learned and our buoyancy control after only 5 dives. The dive shop treated us well before we were Sand Dollar owners and has continued their great service and helpful ways once we purchased our unit. In addition, when you settle up at the end of your stay, they compute the air and boat dives you took to make sure you get the best package price available. I found that helpful so I didn't have to worry about whether I picked the cheapest package upfront.
I encourage you to purchase the guidebook to Bonaire's dive/snorkel sites. It is excellent. We used it religiously to find all of the snorkel sites rated as excellent. It's descriptions are dead-on. Since we have snorkeled Bonaire more than dive it, I have not visited all the dive sites rated as excellent yet. PErhaps I will get to all of them when we go next month. At any rate, ask any dive shop for recommendations. And, get this guidebook. It's a wonderful resource.
We found Bonaire to be a relatively affordable vacation by purchasing food and not eating out a lot. The Cultimara and Warehouse are large grocery stores (but small compared to American supermarkets) that are well stocked the day after a ship arrives. They have everything you will need if not everything that you want. Bonaire also has a number of neighborhood markets that sell what you need. One (More for Less) actually sells organic produce, as well as a full line of meat products.
For anyone wanting more information, feel free to send me a private email. I love to help folks enjoy Bonaire.
Laura
