Island news and hotel happenings on the Dutch-Caribbean island of Bonaire
Kralendijk, Bonaire (May 8, 2007) – Spring has sprung in Bonaire and we have the renovations, website updates, restaurant openings and new activities to prove it! Whether you’re looking for an active vacation filled with endless diving and adventures or you just want to relax by the pool, Bonaire is the perfect Caribbean getaway.
HOTEL NEWS
For the fourth consecutive year, world-renowned naturalists and marine life authors Ned & Anna DeLoach will be at Buddy Dive Resort. “We are very proud to have Ned & Anna again for the entire month of September at Buddy Dive Resort, and this year’s program promises to surpass the previous year’s. Ned's and Anna’s experience, knowledge and enthusiasm guarantees a very special experience for our guests,” said Ruud van Baal, Buddy’s managing director. “And this year we have added a weekly presentation by the Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire and two weekly field trips with their staff.” For more information call 1-866-GO-BUDDY or e-mail reservations@buddydive.com.
Captain Don’s Habitat has renovated and expanded its older cottages to include new furnishings, draperies, bedspreads and a second bathroom. These two-bedroom accommodations have a separate living room, full kitchen with dining area and large, outside patio. All of Habitat’s cottages are surrounded with lush vegetation, flowering trees and shrubs. For more information call 1-800-327-6709 or e-mail captaindon@maduro.com.
Coco Palm Garden now offers a free round of golf to all guests at their property. Coco Palm Garden also recently opened a new pool at their rental house on the waterfront, Casa Del Mar. For more information call 011-599-717-2108 or e-mail info@cocopalmgarden.com.
Den Laman Condominiums will be celebrating their second anniversary this August. When they first opened their doors in the summer of 2005, only the apartments and Den Laman Restaurant were “in residence.” Shortly before their first anniversary, Bonaire Dive & Adventure opened a retail shop on the ground floor of the resort, followed shortly thereafter by Fish Eye Photo, completing the full-service offerings of this seaside retreat. For more information call toll free 1-800-382-1094 or e-mail denlaman@diveres.com.
Harbour Village Beach Club has been accepted as a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the only resort on Bonaire to receive such an honour. Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), voted the number one luxury hotel brand in exclusivity by wealthy consumers, applies rigorous quality control standards to membership to maintain the hallmark of excellence for which SLH has become internationally recognized. Small Luxury Hotels of the World has also embraced environmental responsibility as a prerequisite for acceptance, and has committed to embracing the principles of responsible tourism. For more information about Harbour Village Beach Club, call 1-800-424-0004 or e-mail reservationsusa@harbourvillage.com.
Put your toes in the sand and finish your weekend in style on the beach at the Plaza Resort Bonaire where Bonaire’s popular DJ Shrek will be spinning records from the 1980s and ‘90s, as well as current chart toppers each Sunday afternoon at the Coconut Crash beach bar between 4 and 9pm. Happy hour is 5-6pm for resort guests, visitors and local islanders alike, with drinks, pizza and snacks available for purchase. Sun, sand, drinks, food, dancing and music ... what a great way to start your vacation or finish your weekend on Bonaire! For more information call 1-800-766-6016 or locally, dial 717-2500, or e-mail usa@plazaresortbonaire.com.
Bonaire’s newest resort, Playa Lechi Residence, is located at the ocean boulevard in Kralendijk. Playa Lechi features luxury apartments and penthouses. For more information call 011-599-717-4545 or e-mail info@playalechiresidence.com.
Experience Rincon culture and history and nearby Washington Slagbaai National Park in cozy accommodations for as low as $35 per night. Rincon’s first guest house, Pension Goed Hoop, started operations in 1938 by proprietor and legendary Bonairean author, poet and composer O E (Tavio) Sint Jago. Renovations took place in 1995 by his daughter and well-known artist Emma Sint Jago, who changed the name to Rose Inn. The Rose Inn Motel in Rincon offers low rates for couples and singles alike, and has six air-conditioned rooms with private bath, fridge and cable TV. Rose Inn welcomes guests to savour Bonairean culture and experience their warm hospitality. For more information call 011-599-717-6420 or e-mail artandculture65@hotmail.com.
Sand Dollar Condominium Resort now offers guests a variety of invigorating exercise classes at the Sunrise Restaurant. The classes alternate between Body Balance, Body Shape and Aqua Fitness and are held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8-8:50am and 9-9:45am. Guests will also enjoy the new seaside barbeque held every Wednesday at 6:30pm. For more information call 1-800-288-4773 or e-mail USReservations@sanddollarbonaire.com.
Construction is now complete at Bonaire’s newest mini-resort, Sonrisa Rooms & Apartments. Centrally located and designed in a traditional Dutch-Colonial style, Sonrisa Rooms & Apartments offers eight one-bedroom apartments with garden or pool views and one two-bedroom apartment with kitchen, as well as complimentary breakfast sandwich, coffee and wireless Internet access. Reservations are now being accepted by e-mail at info@sonrisabonaire.com.
Beginning July 1, 2007, Tropicana Apartments will be taken over by Swiss management when Roland Schalker and Irene Lussi assume ownership of the property. Guests will be delighted to receive an extra touch of “Swissness” during their next stay at Tropicana Apartments. For more information call 011-599-701-0404 or e-mail info@tropicanaboniare.com.
Residence Windsock Bonaire will soon unveil their new waterfront, featuring sand, parasols and palm trees, a new ladder for sea access and a rinse tank and shower for divers. For more information call 011-599-717-4545 or e-mail info@bonairepartners.com.
For more information about the resorts featured above, you can also see their listings under Bonaire – Accommodations at www.caribbean.com.
ALL AROUND THE ISLAND
Bonaire’s Butterfly Farm is now open for business Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm. The butterfly farm features more than 80 different species of butterflies from South and Central America and is a member of the International Association of Butterfly Exhibitions. Entrance is $12 for adults and $10 for children up to 10 years old. Group rates are available. For more information call 011-599-786-3040 or e-mail info@butterflyfarmbonaire.com.
Bonaire Tours has introduced two new activity packages. The Discover Bonaire package includes one activity (guided island excursion, mangrove kayaking, sunset walking or water taxi to Klein Bonaire), pickup and drop-off at hotel and sales tax for just $29.50 per person. The EZ as 1-2-3 package includes choice of activity (guided island excursion or mangrove kayaking), a happy hour beach barbecue with live entertainment and pickup and drop-off at your hotel for as low as $70 per person (available Wednesdays only). For more information call 011-599-717-8778 or e-mail info@bonairetours.com.
Bonaire Wellness Connexions, located at Eden Beach Resort, opened their doors to locals and visitors on March 1. The fitness and activity centre offers fitness training, exercise equipment, fitness classes and activity programs. For more information about their many programs call 011-599-717-3637 or e-mail bonairewellness@flamingotv.net.
Bowalie, a luxury yacht that sails for the ABC Cruiseline NV, is pleased to announce that their website, bowalie.com, is now under construction and will soon include packages to go along with their exclusive day charters. For more information call 011-599-786-7615 or e-mail info@bowalie.com.
Capture Photo, a full-service underwater camera facility, opened February 1 on the promenade at Divi Flamingo Beach Resort. Staffed by professional underwater photographers, Capture Photo offers underwater camera rentals, videography, digital image processing and an amusing unusual assortment of items for the home and garden. For more information call 011-599-717-6151 or e-mail info@capturecaribbean.com.
Cinnamon Art Gallery is pleased to exhibit the work of three new artists: Markus Tauer, Stephanie Bennet and Renate Van Der Bijl. For more information call 011-599-786-9563 or e-mail africavy@avybart.com.
Dive Friends Bonaire recently completed renovating their Dive Friends Hamlet location and celebrated in mid-March with a barbecue. For more information e-mail info@dive-friends-bonaire.com.
Island Car Rental Bonaire has added two new luxury cars to their fleet for non-diving visitors. The Jeep Liberty and Kia Sorrento are now available to reserve by calling 011-599-717-2100 or e-mailing info@islandcarrentalbonaire.com.
The Regatta Residence Bonaire has announced the launching of a new website, regattaresidence.com, highlighting the development of affordable single-family vacation bungalows geared to the frequent dive traveller or windsurfer to the island. The new website offers detailed information about the planned community, including general information and maps, information about common grounds (ie, the two pools), floor plans, in-depth descriptions of the various models along with the included amenities, and a photo gallery of the construction. For more information call 011-599-9-560-2457 or e-mail info@regattaresidence.com.
The Riding Academy Club at Kunuku Warahama has launched an all new website, featuring easier navigation and a new photo gallery. For more information call 011-599-560-7949 or e-mail info@horsebackridingbonaire.com.
Scuba Vision is now offering custom video shoots for scuba divers through the end of the summer. The perfect way to document your unforgettable Bonaire dive experience, Scuba Vision’s custom video shoots start as low as $135 and include a half-day guided dive experience and two DVDs with introduction and a destination feature. Additional DVDs are available for $20 each. For more information call 011-599-717-2844 or e-mail info@scubavision.info.
Sea & Discover, a marine education centre specializing in guided dives and snorkel excursions for adults and terrific adventure programs for kids, is offering three new programs for 2007: mangrove snorkelling, fluorescence night snorkelling and caving for kids. Additionally, Sea & Discover recently updated their website and as of April it includes new information for visitors. For more information call 011-599-717-5322 or e-mail info@seandiscover.com.
Support Bonaire, Inc, a US non-profit organization created to help support Bonaire’s non-profit social and environmental efforts, announced that its 2006 grants to various Bonaire non-profit organizations was US$60,271. Funding for Support Bonaire’s grants comes solely from individual donors who select from one of a series of special projects Support Bonaire has created to focus on particular needs on Bonaire. For more information about Support Bonaire, Inc call 1-303-484-4646 or e-mail info@supportbonaire.org.
DELECTABLE TREATS
After celebrating their first anniversary in business, the owners of Cactus Blue have completed their restaurant concept by adding Caribbean gourmet pizza to their innovative and varied menu. Unique toppings include shrimp, spicy chorizo sausage and jerk-rubbed chicken, and pizza flavours include bacon double cheeseburger pizza. For more information 011-599-717-4564 or e-mail info@cactusbluebonaire.com.
A new Indonesian restaurant located on Kaya Grandi is scheduled to open the first week of June. The restaurant, which will feature an authentic Indonesian menu, will also feature a gift shop. Guests will be able to take home their own piece of Indonesia in the form of handmade souvenirs, crafts, herbs, bamboo and more. Guests wishing to dine at the new restaurant can eat in, order to go or even call for delivery. For more information call 011-599-510-6155 or e-mail wattaburger@hotmail.com.
Mambo Jambo has relocated from their Yachtclub Apartment location to the centre of Kralendijk across from MCB Bank. The restaurant features an international menu, including some Indonesian dishes, and is open for lunch, dinner and offers a limited menu after 10pm. Mambo Jambo is closed Wednesdays. For more information call 011-599-717-8454 or 011-599-701-8228.
Bonaire’s newest Peruvian restaurant, Plazita Limena, is now open from 8am to 10pm for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Located on Kaya Grandi, Plazita Limena offers Peruvian highlights and international favourites. Closed Thursdays. For more information call 011-599-717-7667.
Located 86 miles east of Aruba, the Dutch-Caribbean island of Bonaire offers year-round sunshine, low annual rainfall, 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, snorkelling, windsurfing, kiteboarding, landsailing, mountain biking, sea and mangrove kayaking, horseback riding, nature tours, hiking, birdwatching, sailing and deep-sea and bonefishing. And 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.
For more information on Bonaire, contact the Tourism Corporation Bonaire in the US at 1-800-BONAIRE.
For your FREE on-line Bonaire travel guide, visit www.caribbean.com.
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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