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Scuba Diving:
The diving school Wannadive is at the same location as Eden Beach and have their facilities and a small dock in front of the beach, very relaxed for divers.
It might be handy to rent a scooter or car when you visit Bonaire. When you do not dive and don't have to carry a lot of stuff a scooter is enough since Bonaire is a small island.
Visit Sorobon beach, the donkey sanctuary, Slagbaai natural area, Klein Bonaire, snorkle, dive, dine ... to much to mention in this review. I will write about all things to do, tours and excursions in Bonaire at other pages at Debbie's website
Beach/Pools/Grounds
Pool:
Small and could be improved, first things first because Eden Beach Resort is still busy with reconstruction of the last apartments/hotelrooms.
Beach:
Bonaire does not have many beach options and Eden Beach has one of the best. Not too big but big enough and a lovely view on Klein Bonaire. For snorkle addicts, you can walk right off the beach into the sea and you are in the middle of the aquarium of a Chinees restaurant, unbelievable colored and so many fish.
They have enough sunbeds which costs for non-hotel guests 5 USD per day but free when you stay at Eden Beach Resort.
Kralendijk, the center of Bonaire, has a few times per week visitors from cruiseships, some of these tourists who want to go to the beach are dropped of by taxi's at Eden Beach, nothing to be worry about, it is just a little bussier and at 4:00 pm they are all gone again back to the ship.
Other Comments
Eden Beach Resort in the past had some bad reviews, I must say honestly, I was keeping my breath when we arrived at the hotel because of these reviews, and expected nothing ...
I was pleasently surprised and find Eden Beach a nice, good, three star hotel with honest, hard working, enthousiast personel, who just had some rough years and have made some wrong dicisions who they now regret. Soon people will fight for a night at The Eden Beach Resort ... if I may believe the manager ;)
Four Debbie-Flowers from me, next time five ok? Because I love Bonaire and will be back
Restaurants and Bars
Well ... this was at the moment we were here a bit of a problem, that will say, the restaurant was.
First the bar:
The (beach)bar was fine, hardworking funny girls who might need a manager to teach them some details on how to treat your guests but still, good girls. We thought some drinks were expensive, I find a smoothy coming from a package for 5 USD is too much, a hamburger for 10 USD is rediculous. But it did not keep us from drinking a capuchino in the morning nice cold beer and some white wine.
Restaurant:
This is the only negative point of Eden Beach, but what I have understand from the charming Venezoelan owner not for long, since they are in negotiating with one of the best restaurants on the island to lease the catering from the hotel. If this will be true then Eden Beach will be THE place to stay at Bonaire.
For now ... the manager from the catering just don't get it, he offers one kind of breakfast, there is no a la carte, he just tells what he has which is not much. It's a shame because the restaurant is an open two-story ranchon/palapa with a stunning seaview.
Lets not talk about it any further because soon it will be better as promissed
All was solved soon enough because Bonaire has so many really outstanding restaurants like It Rains Fishes, Unbelievable, la Barca, Bambu, Sense, La Guernica ... too much to handle :)
Rooms
The one bedroom apartments at Eden Beach Resort have been nicely refurbished. It has a seperated kitchen with cooker, fridge, coffeemaker, a small bar to have you meal if you want eating inside but who cares because outside it is 30C degrees. The bedroom, which was big enough, has a huge kingsize bed, new airconditioning, closet, satelite TV, telephone.
The bathroom also from a good normal size has a big walk-in shower.
Now the best ... a spacious balcony with beach and ocean view with 2 sunbeds, 2 chairs and a table. Nothing to complain about.
Daily the maid cleaned our room and even did our dishes, perfect
... oh ... wireless internet for free ... and FAST!
Your Arrival
We arrived by KLM flight at 4:30 am, check in was fast and easy, a very nice Spanish talking Dominican man at the open air reception helped us with our suitecases to the top floor (second) of the accommodations building. We booked the 1 bedroom apartment. Since it was still dark and we were tired because of the long flight we took a nap until 7:00 am ... the sun came up :)
Together with a friend we celebrate our New Years Eve at Restaurant Rum Runners located at Hotel Captain Don's Habitat. As I've been here before and many people recommend this place for dinner we decided to choose Rum Runners above Sence... another option we had for a party with friends. I will write another review for Sence as it is a real nice place for dinner.
Back to Rum Runners ...
The location is fantastic, nice sea view, terrace is 1,1/2 meter above the sea and quite busy in the evenings for dinner. They have an enormous choice on their menu, from pizzas to steaks, delicious salades and a service with a smile.
Rum runners is not cheap, for 2 people, an average total dinner, wine and coffee you will pay for about 100 USD.
At New Years Eve they have this tradition to hire a professional guy with fancy fireworks, it is not a stunning party untill the wee-hours but a nice sophisticated relaxed night for 40+ people ;)
But the fireworks ... is absolutely worth going there.
I'll be back!
The Beach Hut has a bit wider beach than next doors Jibe City but still very narrow, for me personally not a place to relax. Taxi drivers from Kralendijk bring many cruise passengers who visit Bonaire to this beach and because of this reason in high season (Christams / New Year) a very crowded Beach bar-restaurant, and for many windsurf-dudes and expats, THE place to be! A shame, because the views of the sea, and the atmosphere at the Beach Hut is fantastic.
The fresh salad with smoked salmon and bread is recommended, an A+ for the chef, freshness of the salad, quantity and presentation. They serve the white wine in a bit too small lemonade glasses, but the House Chardonnay tastes good.
The staff was very friendly, happy smart and motivated girls who do not rush you although the busy high season afternoon
Restaurant Bambu is the sister of Restaurant La Guernica, located against the cruise terminal in Kralendijk just outside the center. Its terrace is medium sized with tables on the walkway and tables at the porch. The dinner tables are kind of small but just big enough for the way they serve dinner at one plate, the space between the tables are ok to have your privacy. That night all tables were occupied. Guests are dressed up well, the price range of Bambu restaurant is a bit above average
Bambu offers a French cuisine menu and also have a day offer, ask for the price of the day offer, since some dishes can be expensive.
Our choice was the Tuna Lasagna, Steak Tartar, Beef Carpaccio and the day specialty turbot with a crème of cauliflower. We drank a fruity Chilean Rosado.
Just like the sister restaurant La Guernica, at Bambu the food is delicious, well presented, enough and the vegetables are not overcooked like in many restaurants.
The only downside for a restaurant in this price range, I expect linen serviettes next to my plate instead of paper and the views on backside of the cruise terminal is not very romantic
The staff is very friendly and capable but were very rushed because of the amount of guests that night. Not because of the lack of attention but because of the hurried walk between tables with meals and drinks
A very Caribbean ambiance, painted in bright colors and above the crystal clear sea from which you can see many colorful fishes. A big attraction by many guests to feed the fish, but not recommended because of the natural habitat of the sea life. You would almost think the Divi Flamingo Resort put these fishes in the water to attract people ;). Chibi-Chibi is the cafeteria of Divi Flamingo Resort.
Vacation “home” of many (US American) hotel guests.
Although the staff is kind of disinterested, they bring us two glasses of water with ice and the menu cart. We order a bottle of Corona Beer and a glass of white wine and after 10 minutes the waitress returns to get our order. Our choice was a cesadillo and a club sandwich.
In the next hour we see enormous portions passing by to guests who entered the place after us and notice others, who ordered after us, already had their desert. A man next to us, who ordered 10 minutes ago, gets a pizza with salmon.
After 50 minutes we didn’t want to wait any longer and decided to leave Chibi Chibi. We paid for our drinks and left.
What a pity because the location of Chibi Chibi is fantastic but the staff needs new management to get some motivation.
Restaurant Unbelievable is the latest hit in Bonaire, very popular and daily fully booked (high season) making a reservation is recommended. In walking distance from the Divi Flamingo Resort.
The restaurant cinsists of a large detached house with on the ground floor neatly covered tables but at the time we were there not serving as a restaurant. This, according to the owner Robby Matthew, will happen quickly once he has adopted two additional employees. A bit sad, but probably necessary because of practical considerations, is that the device is cold calling because the plastic casings and some "plastic" radiating structure of the ground floor.
Upon entering you are met by a charming hostess who then brings you to the terrace on the first floor and second floor roof soon.
The fairly large terrace on the first floor at the front of the property is surrounded by an attractive wooden fence with lanterns. The medium sized but modern tables have no tablecloth but woven placemats. In my experience, the lighting can be dimmed a bit.
We are privileged to be the first to dine on the roof terrace which is actually not officially finished, but a magnificent view over the dining guests on the terrace below us and across the street.
Food
The menu is classic with dishes like a soup of the day (that night it was onion soup), shrimp cocktail, smoked salmon on toast, filet mignon, mixed grill, three pasta dishes, fish dishes and various desserts like crème bruleé. The quantity is huge, too much to European standards but probably a must for many American guests
Service
The staff is very professional and helpful. As we sat on the roof what we were "anxious" to be forgotten, but this was definitely not the case. The meals were nicely balanced and the white wine, placed in a bucket with ice cubes, next to our table.
Because the roof terrace is not fully comply with the final details the wind cools the food to quickly, but I am convinced that the enthusiastic owner Robby will do everything to prevent this after the official opening of the upper floor
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