Advice on Divi Flamingo in Bonaire?

I'm considering a trip to Bonaire with my family in early
July and we're thinking of staying at the Divi Flamingo.
Any opinions?

Also, I'm the only diver in the family, is there much of anything
else to do on the island?

Thanks in Advance,
VI

"Chenz759" <chenz759@cs.com> wrote in message
news:20040113222138.15425.00003351@mb-m03.news.cs.com...
> I'm considering a trip to Bonaire with my family in early
> July and we're thinking of staying at the Divi Flamingo.
> Any opinions?
>
> Also, I'm the only diver in the family, is there much of anything
> else to do on the island?
>
> Thanks in Advance,


On Bonaire you can dive, snorkel, ride bikes, windsurf...and that's about
it. There are some reasonable boat rentals (though no jetski rental or
parasailing or the other typical water activities you generally find at
ocean resorts) and the dining can be good, but if you are looking for a wide
variety of activities for various members of the family Bonaire will not be
able to deliver. It is a great place for calm uneventful diving and
snorkeling or for just laying around reading and enjoying the water and sun.
But it doesn't come close to matching the Caymans, Bahamas or Mexico for
wealth of activities or nightlife. To me that is the charming part of
Bonaire, but if my kids didn't dive they would be deathly bored after only a
few days on the island.

Divi Flamingo is a nice middle of the road resort. It went thru a renovation
about two years ago and the improvements are evident. It has a spit of sand
they call a beach, but for all intents and purposes there is no beach at
Flamingo. Just pools and a flat rock jetty that really is quite nice to sun
on. At one time this was the finest property on the island. These days one
can get better services and accommodations at Harbour Village and Plaza
Resort. Properties equal to Flamingo Beach would be Lion Dive and Buddies.
Lesser properties would be Habitat and Sand Dollar. These evaluations are
just my opinion based on almost yearly visits since 1979. Over the past few
years I have opted to rent an oceanfront condo, or like next year, return to
Harbour Village. I no longer care much for "dedicated" dive
resorts...particularly those that engage dive shop trips.

For a family resort vacation on Bonaire that is not ridiculously priced I
think I would send people to Plaza. They do have nice water front
accommodations, the nicest beach area on Bonaire (it's a mostly Dutch
clientele though so the beach is full of topless sunbathers, if that matters
to you one way or the other), and the most activities for kids of any resort
on the island. For you, they have what I consider to be the best diving op
in Toucan Diving, on an island full of great diving operations.

Thanks for the very detailed response.
Your opinion is in line with others I have gotten along with information that
is generally available. I seems that Bonaire is not the best location for a
mostly non-diving family vacation. I'm now leaning toward the Rivier Maya in
Mexico. Was there in 2002 and had a great time. There's plenty of diving
available for me if I want it and lots of other activities for the rest of the
family and it's a great value on top of that.

Thanks again,
VI

"Chenz759" <chenz759@cs.com> wrote in message
news:20040114222626.14392.00002920@mb-m14.news.cs.com...
> Thanks for the very detailed response.
> Your opinion is in line with others I have gotten along with information
that
> is generally available. I seems that Bonaire is not the best location for
a
> mostly non-diving family vacation. I'm now leaning toward the Rivier Maya
in
> Mexico. Was there in 2002 and had a great time. There's plenty of diving
> available for me if I want it and lots of other activities for the rest of
the
> family and it's a great value on top of that.

Did you give any consideration to Ambergris Caye, Belize?

No but I will, thanks.

Had you thought about Curacao?

--
mark
Outside a dog, a book is a man's best friend.
Inside a dog it is too dark to read - Groucho Marx
xes out for mail
"Chenz759" <chenz759@cs.com> wrote in message
news:20040114222626.14392.00002920@mb-m14.news.cs.com...
> Thanks for the very detailed response.
> Your opinion is in line with others I have gotten along with information
that
> is generally available. I seems that Bonaire is not the best location for
a
> mostly non-diving family vacation. I'm now leaning toward the Rivier Maya
in
> Mexico. Was there in 2002 and had a great time. There's plenty of diving
> available for me if I want it and lots of other activities for the rest of
the
> family and it's a great value on top of that.
>
> Thanks again,
> VI

Hit send a little too quickly.
I have never been to Curacao but am going in early March.
I would be glad to give you a report upon my return.
What I do know, from reading, is that it has quite a bit to offer non-divers
and divers alike.

--
mark
Outside a dog, a book is a man's best friend.
Inside a dog it is too dark to read - Groucho Marx
xes out for mail
"Chenz759" <chenz759@cs.com> wrote in message
news:20040114222626.14392.00002920@mb-m14.news.cs.com...
> Thanks for the very detailed response.
> Your opinion is in line with others I have gotten along with information
that
> is generally available. I seems that Bonaire is not the best location for
a
> mostly non-diving family vacation. I'm now leaning toward the Rivier Maya
in
> Mexico. Was there in 2002 and had a great time. There's plenty of diving
> available for me if I want it and lots of other activities for the rest of
the
> family and it's a great value on top of that.
>
> Thanks again,
> VI