Island news, hotel and restaurant happenings, travel deals and dive specials
Kralendijk, Bonaire (July 18, 2006) – The Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire offers something for everyone, including families, divers, adventurers and sun seekers. Here is some of the latest news from the Island.
ISLAND-WIDE NEWS
AB Carrental – Now through December 21, 2006, divers can rent a Mazda double cabin pickup truck from AB Carrental for only $30 per day or $200 per week, and non-divers can rent a Kia Picanto, a four-door economy car, for just $27 per day or $175 per week. Other cars are also available. For more information e-mail info@ABcarrental.com.
BonAeroClub – Bonaire now has its own flying club, the BonAeroClub. The club offers sightseeing trips along the coastline of the island, as well as pilot training by FAA licensed instructors in a Cessna 172, the world’s most popular training plane. For more information contact Patrick Angela at tel (599) 786-7456 or e-mail patangela@yahoo.com.
Bowalie Bonaire Sailing Trips – On July 1, 2006, a new charter yacht began operating on Bonaire. The luxury sailing yacht Bowalie is a comfortable and well-equipped 40 footer ideal for cruising or racing. The yacht will be available for small groups only (maximum eight guests) and will offer full- and half-day charters and sunset cruises for sailing and snorkelling. For more information call (599) 786-7619 or e-mail info@bowalie.com.
Butterfly Farm Bonaire – Scheduled to open in September 2006, Butterfly Farm Bonaire consists of a state-of-the-art wind- and solar-powered 5,000-square-foot butterfly greenhouse, a visitor centre and botanical gardens. Japanese koi and hummingbirds will also be exhibited. Located at Kaminda Lac 101, road to Lac Cai, the farm is a member of the International Association of Butterfly Exhibitions and will be operated by Bonaire Boating Company NV. For more information e-mail info@butterflyhouse.info.
Caribbean Gas Training (CGT) – CGT now offers a free weekly multimedia seminar titled “Beyond Gravity – An Evening with DIR” on Tuesdays at 6pm at Bonaire Dive & Adventure. The seminar covers topics from advanced trim and buoyancy control to DIR gear configuration and team-based emergency response protocols. For more information call (599) 786-5073 or e-mail Benji@CaribbeanGasTraining.com.
Dive Friends Bonaire – Photo Tours Divers has opened a new dive centre at Port Bonaire. A PADI 5 Star Gold Palm operator and official National Geographic Dive Center, the dive centre offers daily dive boat departures from the resort’s pier, has both air and nitrox tanks available 24 hours a day, and offers easy pickup and drop-off for off-property dive excursions. Free nitrox is provided to all nitrox certified divers. For more information e-mail info@dive-friends-bonaire.com.
Donkey Paradise Safari Park – Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire has opened a drive-through safari park with picnic areas where people can see and feed Bonaire’s donkeys. The park is open seven days a week from 10am to 4pm. The entrance fee is $6 per adult and $3 per child under twelve years, with fees going towards caring for the 300 donkeys currently in the sanctuary. For more information call (599-9) 560-7607.
Fox Discount Car Rental – Now through December 15, 2006, rent a double cabin pickup truck from Fox Discount Car Rental for as low as $22 per day or $139 per week (tax not included). For more information call (599) 786-5609 or e-mail info@FoxBonaire.com.
Outdoor Bonaire – Outdoor Bonaire has added two new activities to its offerings – top rope climbing on limestone rocks near Seru Largu and a two-day tour, including mangrove kayaking, caving, snorkelling, climbing and a visit to Washington-Slagbaai National Park where you spend the night in a hammock and enjoy a barbecue dinner. For more information call (599) 791-6272 or e-mail hans@outdoorbonaire.com.
Telerin Car Rental – Now until December 2006, Bonaire’s 24-hour car rental company, Telerin Car Rental, is offering a special of $43 all inclusive per day on all passenger cars and double cabin pickup trucks with power steering and air conditioning. For more information call (599) 717-4108 or e-mail telerin@bonairelive.com.
HOTEL NEWS
Bonaire Lagoen Hill – From now until December 19, 2006, Bonaire Lagoen Hill is offering a package that includes seven nights of accommodation, six days of unlimited shore diving and seven days of vehicle rental. The package is priced from $353 per person, based on six people in a three-bedroom cottage. For more information e-mail info@LagoenHill.com.
Captain Don’s Habitat – Now through December 2006, guests at Captain Don’s Habitat can take advantage of a number of specials, including a free night offer, free boat dives and single and group specials. The resort is currently renovating its deluxe ocean view rooms to include new furnishings, bedspreads, draperies and bathroom countertops. Additional new room amenities include coffee makers, hair dryers, wireless Internet service and wall safes large enough to accommodate a standard laptop. Additionally, the Habitat Cottages will be completely air conditioned and new closets, furnishings, bedspreads and draperies will be added, as well as an additional bathroom built. For more information call 1-800-327-6709 or e-mail CaptainDon@maduro.com.
Deep Blue View – Beginning August 1, 2006, Deep Blue View, in cooperation with Caribbean Gas Training, owned by the only GUE instructor in the west Caribbean, will offer a new and unique dive package featuring GUE dive training. The seven-night package includes accommodation; daily breakfast; seven-day pickup truck rental; unlimited shore diving; use of tanks, air and weights; GUE DIR fundamentals training, including all equipment and nitrox; the Nature Fee; one barbecue; a Captain’s Rum Punch Sunset Trip; airport transfers; and sales tax. The package is priced at $2,580 per couple and is available for stays August 1, 2006-December 1, 2007. For more information call (599) 717-8073 or e-mail menno@deepblueview.com.
Divers Paradise – Now until December 19, 2006, Divers Paradise is offering a seven-night special, including accommodation, six days of unlimited shore diving, plus a seven-day vehicle rental. Package prices start at $383 per person, based on three people in a one-bedroom apartment. For more information e-mail info@DiversParadise.Bonaire.com.
Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino – The Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino now offers free wireless Internet access throughout its entire property and Divi Dive Bonaire has become fully operational for technical diving, offering gear rental, the complete Technical Diving International (TDI) instruction program and guided technical dives. The Underwater Warriors Foundation, an organization created to promote scuba diving as therapeutic recreation for injured servicemen and woman, certified their first soldier at the resort in May 2006. For more information call 1-800-367-3484.
Golden Reef Inn & Villas – The Golden Reef Inn & Villas has introduced an all-inclusive dine around program, which includes ten of Bonaire’s restaurants. The All Inclusive Plan is priced at $915 per person and includes seven nights of accommodation in a studio or one-bedroom unit; airport meet and greet; unlimited shore diving with weights, belts, tanks and air; daily continental breakfast; one lunch and one dinner voucher per person per day (value Nafl17 for lunch and Nafl35 for dinner); rental of a four-door pickup truck for the week, including taxes and CDW insurance; Golden Reef Inn T-shirt; and room tax and taxes. A Modified Inclusive Plan including all items listed above except lunch vouchers is available for $800 per person. For more information call 1-866-790-REEF or e-mail info@goldenreefinn.com.
Kontiki Beachclub – Now until November 30, 2006, Kontiki Beachclub is offering a Low Season Dive Package, which includes seven nights in a studio unit, six days of unlimited air with Wannadive Bonaire, a seven-day car rental from Budget Rental Car, tourist tax and service charge. The package is priced at $444 per person, based on double occupancy. Other items, such as breakfast, can be added to the package. For more information call (599) 717-5369 or e-mail info@kontikibonaire.com.
Plaza Resort Bonaire – A number of recent enhancements at the Plaza Resort Bonaire include refurbishment of the beachside pool and the addition of a swim-up pool bar, sound proofing and renovation of standard suites, introduction of free nitrox at Toucan Diving, the announcement of Total Bonaire as Plaza Resort’s car rental agency of choice, and reintroduction of the Wednesday night feature film on the beach. Toucan Dive For One is available in August and September 2006. Packages priced from $870 per diver, based on double occupancy, include seven nights of accommodation, six days of two-tank boat diving, unlimited air fill for shore diving; free unlimited nitrox, buffet breakfast daily, round-trip airport transfers, hotel tax, service charge and energy surcharge. For more information call 1-800-766-6016, 1-800-781-821-6016 or e-mail usa@plazaresortbonaire.com.
Sand Dollar Condominium Resort – Until December 15, 2006, Sand Dollar Condominium Resort is offering a week of unlimited shore diving free to the second diver when the first diver books a qualifying hotel and dive package. Both divers also receive a free nitrox upgrade (blackout period: November 18-24, 2006). Seven-night packages, including diving and car rental, start at just $632 for the first diver and $527 for the second, based on quad occupancy. Sand Dollar is also conducting a photo contest with the chance to win a week of free diving at the resort. All photos must be taken while staying at Sand Dollar and entries must be received by October 31, 2006. Additionally, guests now receive free cell phones (minutes must be purchased), and new, larger safes have been installed in all units, plus the entire property is now set up for wireless Internet access. For more information call 1-800-288-4773 or e-mail usreservations@sanddollarbonaire.com.
SunRentals Bonaire – Now until December 15, 2006, SunRentals Bonaire is offering a 10 per cent discount on its stay/dive/drive package at Bonaire Oceanfront Apartments. For more information call 1-866-464-1786 or e-mail info@sunrentals.an.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Bambu – Located at Kaya C E B Hellmund 17, Bambu offers an international menu with an ocean view. It is open for dinner 5-10pm. For more information call (599) 717-4166.
Cactus Blue – Located at J A Abraham Blvd 12, Cactus Blue serves everything from ceviche, nachos and fish soup to Jamaican jerk chicken, Caribbean shrimp with sweet potato and burgers, along with an extensive drink menu. The restaurant is open for dinner only, Monday to Saturday from 5pm until late. For more information call (599) 717-4564.
The Last Bite Bakery – Bonaire’s gourmet caterer has opened a bakery shop – The Last Bite Bakery. The shop sells desserts, quiches, lasagnas and more, and is located at Kaya Grandi 70 in Kralendijk. For more information call (599) 717-3923.
Located eighty-six miles east of Aruba, the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire offers year-round sunshine, pristine coral formations and the most thriving fish population in the Caribbean. Ideal for adventurers, explorers and sun worshippers alike, Bonaire offers myriad eco-adventure activities, including world-renowned scuba diving and snorkelling, windsurfing, mountain biking, kayaking, horseback riding, nature tours, hiking, birdwatching, sailing and deep-sea and bonefishing. With a selection of accommodations ranging from full-service oceanfront resorts and condominiums to guest houses and small inns, Bonaire has something for every lifestyle and budget.
Disclaimer: The information in this article/release was accurate at
press time; however, we suggest you confirm all details and prices
directly with vendors.
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