Plaza resort in Bonaire

Does anyone know anything about this property? Would anyone recommend it?

Thanks!

Natalie

Robert

2004-02-16 18:43:33 UTC

Great Service, 24 hrs stress free diving, tanks and rinse places
plentiful. As a bonus their diving operator is Toucan Diving which is
probably the best diving operation in the island.

Great breakfast buffett in the morning and just walk to do your boat
diving every morning.

Staff is friendly....................

Maybe a little more expenseive than others, but a sure bet.

Post by Natalie
Does anyone know anything about this property? Would anyone recommend it?
Thanks!
Natalie

Neil Grant

2004-02-17 22:35:06 UTC

i checked it out - formica facade hotel.....bit tatty thinks its 4/5 star
and isn't. harbour village is sumptious, but for diving big time go to
captain don's without hesitation..

besto

Post by Natalie
Does anyone know anything about this property? Would anyone recommend it?
Thanks!
Natalie

Moose, Anon E.

2004-02-19 16:56:06 UTC

Post by Natalie
Does anyone know anything about this property? Would anyone recommend it?

Yes, it's probably the best, (and most expensive), on the island. The
on-site dive shop get rave reviews from those who have dived with them. I
only walked the grounds and the dive shop, so all I can tell you is that
it's very clean, modern, and has very good boats/equipment.

Moose

Dave C

2004-02-20 16:41:42 UTC

Post by Natalie
Does anyone know anything about this property? Would anyone recommend it?

Our only experience with tropical resorts was our two-week stay at the
Plaza Bonaire in July 2003, which was very pleasant. We have no
significant complaints and would certainly go back again. Here's a few
of our impressions.

We liked the large grounds, which were beautifully landscaped and
secured with a guarded entrance. The service was good, the staff
pleasant and helpful, our room spacious and pleasant (second floor
Junior Suite with balcony overlooking the lagoon). An afternoon
lounging in the shade of some palm trees on the relatively large beach
was restful and quiet.

Also, Toucan Diving has their main operation at the Plaza and their
service was excellent. Toucan's manager at the time, Ramon, and his
staff were always professional, pleasant and accomodating. Their dive
boats were excellent and had enough room for the number of divers
(usually around ten divers). The captains and divemasters gave helpful
advice and assistance as needed, but they let divers dive the way they
like, such as myself diving solo with a pony. They were very
knowledgeable and professional, but easy-going. They appear to enjoy
their work!

Toucan's set-up made shore diving very easy, as groups of filled tanks
were left in several convenient areas of the resort, including near a
loading area by the shop's fill station, making it a simple matter to
just load your vehicle and go diving anytime you wanted.

The Plaza Bonaire was a little more expensive than some of the other
large beachside resorts, but worth it, IMHO. We took a look at some of
the other operations by driving through their grounds and walking
around a bit, but we found their grounds and layout too cramped or
unattractive for us. I got a sense that most would be noisier than the
Plaza, perhaps because of they seemed to have more guests of "party
hardy" age. Not a thorough or fair comparison, but an important
observation to our taste. My wife only snorkels, so the Plaza was a
good choice for us, as the accomodations, beach and grounds were
important to her. Needless to say, although I enjoyed the Plaza, if I
was going with a dive buddy to Bonaire, I'd be happy with almost any
accomodations, as long as I never ran out of filled tanks! :^)

HTH.

Dave C (please note, the email address above is defunct)

Natalie

2004-02-20 19:06:15 UTC

Thanks to all for all the replies. Very helpful!

Natalie

Post by Natalie
Does anyone know anything about this property? Would anyone recommend it?

Our only experience with tropical resorts was our two-week stay at the
Plaza Bonaire in July 2003, which was very pleasant. We have no
significant complaints and would certainly go back again. Here's a few
of our impressions.
We liked the large grounds, which were beautifully landscaped and
secured with a guarded entrance. The service was good, the staff
pleasant and helpful, our room spacious and pleasant (second floor
Junior Suite with balcony overlooking the lagoon). An afternoon
lounging in the shade of some palm trees on the relatively large beach
was restful and quiet.
Also, Toucan Diving has their main operation at the Plaza and their
service was excellent. Toucan's manager at the time, Ramon, and his
staff were always professional, pleasant and accomodating. Their dive
boats were excellent and had enough room for the number of divers
(usually around ten divers). The captains and divemasters gave helpful
advice and assistance as needed, but they let divers dive the way they
like, such as myself diving solo with a pony. They were very
knowledgeable and professional, but easy-going. They appear to enjoy
their work!
Toucan's set-up made shore diving very easy, as groups of filled tanks
were left in several convenient areas of the resort, including near a
loading area by the shop's fill station, making it a simple matter to
just load your vehicle and go diving anytime you wanted.
The Plaza Bonaire was a little more expensive than some of the other
large beachside resorts, but worth it, IMHO. We took a look at some of
the other operations by driving through their grounds and walking
around a bit, but we found their grounds and layout too cramped or
unattractive for us. I got a sense that most would be noisier than the
Plaza, perhaps because of they seemed to have more guests of "party
hardy" age. Not a thorough or fair comparison, but an important
observation to our taste. My wife only snorkels, so the Plaza was a
good choice for us, as the accomodations, beach and grounds were
important to her. Needless to say, although I enjoyed the Plaza, if I
was going with a dive buddy to Bonaire, I'd be happy with almost any
accomodations, as long as I never ran out of filled tanks! :^)
HTH.
Dave C (please note, the email address above is defunct)

David Kaplan

2004-02-20 22:39:49 UTC

Resort is beautiful, but in a way it is NOT diver friendly.
Was there for a week 10/03 with my dive club. Stayed at villas and it cost
no more than Buddy's. But you have to hike or drive over to dive shop. For
first several days they had run out of lockers so had to take our gear back
to villa. If want to shore dive, you have to hike with gear to beach
where tanks are. Others such as Buddies, you go to gear locker and can roll
right over into the water. All our group of 12 felt that we would not go
back to Plaza for that reason.
David Kaplan
Albany, NY

Post by Natalie
Does anyone know anything about this property? Would anyone recommend it?

Our only experience with tropical resorts was our two-week stay at the
Plaza Bonaire in July 2003, which was very pleasant. We have no
significant complaints and would certainly go back again. Here's a few
of our impressions.
We liked the large grounds, which were beautifully landscaped and
secured with a guarded entrance. The service was good, the staff
pleasant and helpful, our room spacious and pleasant (second floor
Junior Suite with balcony overlooking the lagoon). An afternoon
lounging in the shade of some palm trees on the relatively large beach
was restful and quiet.
Also, Toucan Diving has their main operation at the Plaza and their
service was excellent. Toucan's manager at the time, Ramon, and his
staff were always professional, pleasant and accomodating. Their dive
boats were excellent and had enough room for the number of divers
(usually around ten divers). The captains and divemasters gave helpful
advice and assistance as needed, but they let divers dive the way they
like, such as myself diving solo with a pony. They were very
knowledgeable and professional, but easy-going. They appear to enjoy
their work!
Toucan's set-up made shore diving very easy, as groups of filled tanks
were left in several convenient areas of the resort, including near a
loading area by the shop's fill station, making it a simple matter to
just load your vehicle and go diving anytime you wanted.
The Plaza Bonaire was a little more expensive than some of the other
large beachside resorts, but worth it, IMHO. We took a look at some of
the other operations by driving through their grounds and walking
around a bit, but we found their grounds and layout too cramped or
unattractive for us. I got a sense that most would be noisier than the
Plaza, perhaps because of they seemed to have more guests of "party
hardy" age. Not a thorough or fair comparison, but an important
observation to our taste. My wife only snorkels, so the Plaza was a
good choice for us, as the accomodations, beach and grounds were
important to her. Needless to say, although I enjoyed the Plaza, if I
was going with a dive buddy to Bonaire, I'd be happy with almost any
accomodations, as long as I never ran out of filled tanks! :^)
HTH.
Dave C (please note, the email address above is defunct)

Dave C

2004-02-21 17:59:40 UTC

Post by David Kaplan
Resort is beautiful, but in a way it is NOT diver friendly.
Was there for a week 10/03 with my dive club. Stayed at villas and it cost
no more than Buddy's. But you have to hike or drive over to dive shop. For
first several days they had run out of lockers so had to take our gear back
to villa. If want to shore dive, you have to hike with gear to beach
where tanks are. Others such as Buddies, you go to gear locker and can roll
right over into the water. All our group of 12 felt that we would not go
back to Plaza for that reason.
David Kaplan
Albany, NY

Post by Natalie
Does anyone know anything about this property? Would anyone recommend

it?
snip<

Post by Dave C
Toucan's set-up made shore diving very easy, as groups of filled tanks
were left in several convenient areas of the resort, including near a
loading area by the shop's fill station, making it a simple matter to
just load your vehicle and go diving anytime you wanted.

David, you're right, at least for the Plaza's most distant units, like
the Villa's (and the Grand Suites, too). Both sections are two or
three hundred yards from the dive shop. That's too far for me, too.

I didn't bother with a dive locker, but I may be unusual, in that I
didn't mind carrying a dive bag, lunch bag and pony bottle a hundred
yards from the room to the truck or dive shop or beach (similar to the
hauling we do when shore diving in the NE US). That was the nice thing
about being centrally located in the resort, as the Junior Suites are.
The balcony was a good place to dry the gear, too.

If I couldn't book something in the Junior Suites at the Plaza, I'd
look elsewhere, too, as I agree the other units are too far from the
shop, dock and main supply of filled tanks, not to mention, the main
parking lot.

Dave C

Spider Ginnetty

2004-02-24 03:22:13 UTC

When I stayed at the Plaza the shop would have us put our gear in the back
of the pick-up truck and they would drive it down to the tanks at the pool.

For

Post by David Kaplan
first several days they had run out of lockers so had to take our gear back
to villa. If want to shore dive, you have to hike with gear to beach
where tanks are. Others such as Buddies, you go to gear locker and can roll
right over into the water. All our group of 12 felt that we would not go
back to Plaza for that reason.
David Kaplan
Albany, NY

Post by Natalie
Does anyone know anything about this property? Would anyone

recommend

Post by David Kaplan
it?

Post by Moose, Anon E.
Yes, it's probably the best, (and most expensive), on the island. The
on-site dive shop get rave reviews from those who have dived with

them.

Post by David Kaplan
I

Post by Moose, Anon E.
only walked the grounds and the dive shop, so all I can tell you is that
it's very clean, modern, and has very good boats/equipment.
Moose

Our only experience with tropical resorts was our two-week stay at the
Plaza Bonaire in July 2003, which was very pleasant. We have no
significant complaints and would certainly go back again. Here's a few
of our impressions.
We liked the large grounds, which were beautifully landscaped and
secured with a guarded entrance. The service was good, the staff
pleasant and helpful, our room spacious and pleasant (second floor
Junior Suite with balcony overlooking the lagoon). An afternoon
lounging in the shade of some palm trees on the relatively large beach
was restful and quiet.
Also, Toucan Diving has their main operation at the Plaza and their
service was excellent. Toucan's manager at the time, Ramon, and his
staff were always professional, pleasant and accomodating. Their dive
boats were excellent and had enough room for the number of divers
(usually around ten divers). The captains and divemasters gave helpful
advice and assistance as needed, but they let divers dive the way they
like, such as myself diving solo with a pony. They were very
knowledgeable and professional, but easy-going. They appear to enjoy
their work!
Toucan's set-up made shore diving very easy, as groups of filled tanks
were left in several convenient areas of the resort, including near a
loading area by the shop's fill station, making it a simple matter to
just load your vehicle and go diving anytime you wanted.
The Plaza Bonaire was a little more expensive than some of the other
large beachside resorts, but worth it, IMHO. We took a look at some of
the other operations by driving through their grounds and walking
around a bit, but we found their grounds and layout too cramped or
unattractive for us. I got a sense that most would be noisier than the
Plaza, perhaps because of they seemed to have more guests of "party
hardy" age. Not a thorough or fair comparison, but an important
observation to our taste. My wife only snorkels, so the Plaza was a
good choice for us, as the accomodations, beach and grounds were
important to her. Needless to say, although I enjoyed the Plaza, if I
was going with a dive buddy to Bonaire, I'd be happy with almost any
accomodations, as long as I never ran out of filled tanks! :^)
HTH.
Dave C (please note, the email address above is defunct)

2004-02-20 13:22:23 UTC