Special Report –
Bellafonte Chateau de la Mer

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After many years of booking clients into the Bellafonte Chateau de la Mer, seeing management changes, making regular inspections and listening to client feedback, we felt it was time to become more intimately acquainted. That only happens when you actually stay at a particular property long enough to formulate “here is what we experienced and what others might expect”. READ MORE

Bon Bini Folks

If this newsletter reads like a trip report, it’s because we just got back from a getaway to our favorite island. And not only dushi Bonaire, but Curacao too.

Traveling with kids? We did. You’ll find some tips on keeping them happy in this issue. There’s also news on flights, hotel reviews and updates that any Bonaire traveler will appreciate.

I’m usually in work mode when I visit the islands (but not this trip). The time spent with our kids was fantastic, marked by each day’s discoveries and adventures, in the most beautiful Caribbean waters and wonderfully unique islands you will find.

Trip summary? Bonaire and Curacao are great destinations for your vacation. According to my seven-year-old daughter, combining a visit to both islands was “off the chain”. If that means far out and big fun, I have to agree.

Ayo,
Cowboy Andy
BonairePros.com

Resort Updates –
Villas, Pools, Piers and More

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Caribbean Club Honeymoon Suite & Villas

Caribbean Club Bonaire has completed seven deluxe 2 bedroom cottages along with a luxurious honeymoon suite, all perched along the resort’s newly developed seaside. Guests enjoy all the services and facilities of Caribbean Club while being in these exclusive ocean front villas. Price it here.

Sand Dollar and Den Laman Condominiums, whose guests use the oceanfront pier of Bonaire Dive & Adventures, will get a free shuttle to Harbor Village Marina for boat diving departures during dive dock maintenance, August 15 to October 15, 2008. All rinse tanks, showers, dive ladder access and tank availability will still be accessible on the pier during the renovation. Price it here.

Kontiki Beach Club at Lac Bay has added free wireless access for all of their apartments. Guests in their Lac Bay units are enjoying renovated interiors and expanded decks and balconies alongside their new reception center. The Mangrove units have added three casita style two-bedroom apartments to their existing one-bedroom units. Price it here.

Belmar Apartments is renovating their pool this month with a completion date of September 20th. The terrace area is also being updated with replacement tiles and a new jacuzzi has been installed in the Penthouse. At Belmar Dive Shop, Ebby Jules (formerly with Toucan Divers) has joined the team as dive instructor. Price it here.

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Caribbean Club Honeymoon Suite & Villas

Local Scoop –
Beginners Snorkel with Big Fish

Where do you take a nine-year-old and soon to be seven-year-old on their first ocean snorkeling adventure? Bonaire, of course. For that matter, any first time snorkeler would benefit from the easy selections Bonaire presents its visitors. There are so many sites, it can be difficult to choose. But when you need the calmest water with no current and easy entry, here is our pick. Divers won’t be disappointed either.

Plaza Resort – an easy entry from their palm shaded beach with a shallow reef structure that is home to surprising numbers of fish. Very calm and protected. We trailed a large school of Blue Tangs for 15 minutes on our most recent visit. Plaza Resort is a nice place to hang out with snacks on the beach, restaurant and bar. Divers can rent a tank and visit 18 Palms dive site just offshore. Price it here.

Bari Reef – use the beach entry on either side of Bonaire Dive & Adventures pier (Sand Dollar or Den Laman sides), although the best show is down the beach in front of the old Sunset Beach Hotel. The rubble here (aka The Aquarium) forms a holding zone for lots of marine life and amazing light filtration for effect. Of course, diving at Bari Reef’s drop off is superb and ranks #1 for marine life diversity in the Caribbean. Price it here.

Mystery(?) Beach – this is a perfect small spit of beach with calm waters and easy access visited almost exclusively by locals. Hard sand shallows give way to amazing coral formations only feet from shore with the largest Parrot fish we have ever seen. My son and I swam with a monster 3 ½ foot Permit that hardly gave us a thought. Where? Email us if you know. Hint – you’re getting warm at Windsock.

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Travel Alert

Delta Airlines has announced they will add a weekly non-stop flight from New York’s JFK airport to Bonaire, beginning December 20, 2008. Departing JFK on Saturdays at 10:35a.m., Delta’s Boeing 737-800 will arrive into Flamingo Airport at 4:25p.m. (3:25p.m. during Daylight Savings Time). The return flight departs later that afternoon and arrives back in New York at 9:05p.m.

Delta’s new service from JFK affords connections from many Northeastern cities on the Delta network. For low fares, schedules and easy reservations, check out www.delta.com.

Hip Tip

Just when you’re ready to book a ticket to Bonaire, it seems the flight options change yet again!

Check out our Latest White Paper on “Getting to Bonaire” from North America – you can click here to download your FREE copy. It contains important details and industry intelligence for finding the best routing and airfares.

Delta, Continental, American, Divi Divi, Air Jamaica and more are detailed with days of operation, departure points, fare search tips and the pros and cons of each alternative to help you find the best price and schedule for your Bonaire vacation.

For you old-timers, don’t worry. No word that ALM will start back up.

Island Scene –
Family Dining That Can’t Miss

Sometimes just sitting down to an excellent meal is not quite enough when children are involved. The right kind of setting with kid friendly menus and entertainment can go a long way in making a family dining experience memorable and fun. Here are some spots that got a thumbs-up from our young critics.

Rib Factory – Kids love gnawing on tangy ribs (so do we)! The Rib Factory does them right, and they offer a kids menu to go along with the huge adult portions. Sit on the upstairs balcony and take in the show on a weekend night. The harbor area is especially lively here including Karel’s people watching party parade across the street. Service is fast – we never heard the “I’m hungry” chant from our little ones. It’s located ocean front in the Harborside Mall, with the perfect view of Kralendijk’s bay.

Rum Runners – We went on Monday BBQ Buffet night – not our normal scene, but this one worked great! Their seaside location at Captain Don’s Habitat gives kids a chance to move around and peer into the sea – complete with feeding fish and night-time Tarpon. No problem with slow waiters – just line up and choose from chicken, ribs, goat, beef, fish and a bountiful selection of trimmings. With Moogie performing his trademark music and Captain Don himself autographing his pirate picture for our son, not even Disney could duplicate this scene.

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Anywhere There is Chicken Sate – We think this is the perfect kid food. To quote our daughter, “how can you not like chicken on a stick with peanut butter sauce”. Served with French fries; there’s no entertainment required.

Curacao –
Are You Ready?

If you travel to Bonaire frequently, you’ll probably pass through Curacao at some point. We think it’s worth a stop (or longer). Check out our trip report in the next newsletter, including reviews of Kura Hulanda Hotel and Lodge. And we’ll also let the cat out of the bag on Curacao’s best vacation and diving secret.