It has been a month (or so) since I returned from Bonaire and here is the recap of this quick long-weekend trip.
This was the 34th country I traveled to solo, crazy!
If you are interested in how much a trip like this cost, you can find that here.
Friday, August 1st
I left early in the morning with American Airlines flying from Toronto to Miami and then Miami to Bonaire. The layover was only about an hour, and listen, that damn Miami International …… the speed walking I had to do to get from one end of the airport to the other. Definitely got my steps in that day.
Best part of the flight was obviously, flying over the Bahamas. Always produce the most incredible views! Also, the Biscoff cookie x Canada Dry combo in the airplane. Delicious.
When arriving in Bonaire you will first have to prove you already paid the visitor entry tax ($75USD), and if you did not, you will have to line up to pay it on arrival. Definitely pay that ahead of time – the link to that is here. You do not want to be the people who JUST found out about this fee as they entered the country.
I had arranged an airport pick up via the hotel I was staying at – Wanapa Boutique Hotel.
The owner literally came to pick me up from the airport, I felt very fancy pants. She drove me to the property and you just have to see the photos below. It is so freaking cute, tidy and quiet. The place is adults-only and breakfast was included in the price of the stay as well.
I have nothing but good things to stay about the hotel, the only piece I would mention is that it is outside of the ‘busier’ downtown area. If you want to get up and walk around, this isn’t the place for you. But if you want peace and quiet with a big ass pool? You found the right place.
I had requested a charctuerie in my room prior to flying and they had it waiting for me because I didn’t have dinner reservations until about 7pm that night.
This is where I will promo a lovely man named Sidney! The hotel gave me his contact information and he ended up being my driver the entire weekend. He is the nicest man, and was super prompt for all pick up arrangements made with him. Look to pay between $10USD and $20USD, depending on where you are going for each trip. The photo of the card with his phone number is below.
My dinner reservations were at a place that is Bonaire’s oldest restaurant – Karel’s Beach Bar.
The place is lively and the views on the water, especially at sunset, were superb. I had conch fritters and iguana soup as my starters. Surprisingly, the iguana soup was decent, especially being so well seasoned. Definitely try that.
My main dish was a fish, not bad.
But the highlight of the show? Their apple pie. I do not know how a place that doesn’t even grow apples could make something so magnificent. It is a mystery. Maybe it was the actual pie pastry? Not sure. But I got a second slice of the apple pie just to make sure I wasn’t imagining things. Do not miss out on ordering this slice of heaven.
I walked around a little after dinner to see if I could find some fun.
Note, this is not the island to go to for turning up. Maybe because I was there in the off-season? Perhaps during December it’s lit. But while I was there, nope.
Had my favourite Cuba Libre drink at a place called Little Havana first and then I walked around the corner and found a spot called ‘The Bucket‘ and had some more drinks there. This place had a DJ playing rap, soca, reggae and reggaeton. Might be fun if I was heavily intoxicated, but I was traveling alone, so I only stuck to mild intoxication for this night out.
Sidney came promptly pick me up and bring me back to my hotel where I decided to take a quick dip in the pool at 11pm at night. Outstanding.
Saturday, August 2nd
In the morning I had the lovely breakfast provided by the Wanapa staff. Every day it is something different, and every day I was thrilled. Nice spread of foods and definitely one of the best croissants I’ve had.
Now, for the rest of my day, I had booked a day pass at this pricy all-inclusive resort named – Plaza Beach & Dive Resort.
Typically this day pass costs $175USD but because it was some anniversary deal, it was 30% off so I paid $122.50USD instead. Thank goodness there was a discount because the way this day ended up going? I really would have been pissed if I had paid damn near $240.00 Canadian dollars for this fuckery.
I will make this simple and in point form, otherwise you would be reading this for hours.
Pros –
- the place is beautiful and if you want very nice and *aesthetic* pictures you’ll especially love it
- the all-inclusive lunch and dinner were really good and had lots of options
- snacks are also included, make sure you get the wings
- liquor is included, get whatever you like and know it is a heavy pour
- the staff on the beach and at the dining area are super nice
- the water at the beach has gorgeous shades of blue
Now lets get into why this day wasn’t so great…
Cons –
- they had no fucking towels for me – now I understand this sounds like something insignificant to complain about, but that is part of the package you pay the day pass for??? It specifically says they will provide a beach towel and I went to the desk 3-4 times throughout the day to ask and every single time they said they were out. I don’t get if that was just because I was a day pass visitor or if the people actually staying there were also dealing with this, but I was very annoyed.
- second to the no towel situation, the day pass begins at 10am, by the time I got there not a single chair by the pool or by the beach was available for use and I was by myself, I mean ZERO. I am super duper white so I also need to be in the shade and they really lacked that too as the palm trees are scarce and again, all the actual chairs that did have umbrellas were all preoccupied.
- I had LCUKILY brought my Blue Jays towel from home and had something to lay on and obviously dry off with, but if I hadn’t brought that at least? Pathetic, to me. For a fancy resort.
Now, I know there are more pros listed than cons, BUT – due to the situation with no towel and no shade/seat, I ended up burning terribly. Like to the point that at the end of the day I was super nauseated. A nice lady working on the beach tried to find me a bean bag to lay on and I really appreciated that, but within those two hours I had already burned so bad. My mood was totally sussed. When I spoke to someone staying at my hotel later in my stay she mentioned they had booked a day pass to this place as well and when she was there they ALSO did not have any towels for them. So please keep that in mind if you end up wanting to book a day pass here.
Food was good though and I saw a gorgeous sunset at dinnertime. However, if I knew I’d end up burned because all the chairs and shade and no towels situation? I should have stayed my ass at my adults-only hotel with my good shade, lots of beds and no screaming children. Lesson learned.
Sunday, August 3rd
Today I woke up in pain still, because even turning in bed was a terrible experience. The lovely people at Wanapa went to their aloe plants growing on the property, cut some and mixed with water for me to have for my skin. That should tell you how terrible my skin looked and how in pain I was. I was so grateful.
I almost cancelled this excursions because the idea of being in the sun again sounded like a bad idea for me. I still went.
The link to the excursion can be found here.
It was basically a nice little four hour jaunt on a catamaran and I LOVE being on boats in the beautiful weather. I stayed the entire four hours under the roof of the catamaran and when I did jump in the water, I literally went in with a long sleeve white shirt on. That was the first time in my 38-years-of-life that I swam with a whole damn shirt on. This is how bad the situation with my skin was, but I really wanted that nice water on my skin regardless. I lathered myself in sunscreen and jumped in. I don’t care that I had a long sleeve shirt on, it felt so good on the skin.
I wish I could remember the names of all the workers on the boat, but if they ever read this I want them to know they were a big help with my sunburn situation and keeping me in the shade. I must mention the delicious food on the catamaran, it would be a huge disservice if I did not. Wow. They cooked up a storm and it was the best meal I ever had on a boat. I wish I had more photos of it all, but the pain of the skin situation hindered my brain obviously.
Fuck that damn day pass.
I had a booking at a beach club immediately after the catamaran, but I ended up taking a taxi home to nap until sundown. I had tempted fate going on the catamaran with the sunburn, figured the beach club might really be overdoing it.
Post-nap I did end up going to Ocean Oasis Bonaire.
You MUST come here during your time in Bonaire. Must must must. The staff was so freaking nice and the fish / meat market on Sunday nights is awesome. I loved being able to walk up to the table and choose all the items I wanted BBQ’d to eat while having some nice cocktails. The sunset is also something really special on this side of the island, I’d recommend coming or at least staying until evening to witness it all.
Monday, August 4th
Today I had to fly home. I don’t have much to add to the return flight home, the best part was the three hour layover that I at least got to spend in the Centurion Lounge at Miami International. Thank you American Express Platinum. Yes.
I hope I didn’t come off as a whiny brat with the whole no chair and no shade situation, but you have to understand it really ruined the mood (and my skin) for the remainder of the trip. Of course I still tried to make the best of it, but I really wish I hadn’t been so badly messed up.
Bonaire is very nice, if you want somewhere to relax, you absolutely need to head here. If you want to solo travel there like I did, I also felt very safe the entire trip. Comforting feeling.
Just make sure you learn from me – don’t leave your beautiful and quiet adults-hotel for a resort ever ever ever. Thanks.
- Mirna