We've just returned from Bonaire and the Sand Dollar Resort. The staff are very friendly, the dive site right at your back door. The units are comfortable, clean and spacious (we stayed in a 2/2). We've previously only been diving in the Maldives, so shore diving at our leisure was a GREAT change of pace. The dive shop associated with Sand Dollar is Dive Adventure (Cressi Equipment) and they also have a resourceful camera shop - Fish Eye Photo. The staff throughout I can't speak highly enough of, all friendly and eager to help. Sand Dollar is also in a great location to do diving both in the north and in the south-and all the sites we were at were just fabulous. Although we rented a truck to get to the various dive sites there are a multitude of great restraunts all within walking distance. It is also a nice evening walk down by the shore all the way into town, about a 20 minute walk. If you have non diving members there is a lot to do on the island-highly recommend the Mangrove Kayak Tour. Also, we read, Sand Dollar has a child sitting service, we don't have children yet, but it is a great thing to keep in mind. We will be going back and staying at the Sand Dollar again.

The Sand Dollar is simply a friendly, convenient way to vacation in Bonaire. The accommodations were ideal for a romantic couple getaway or a small group with kids no younger than 10. The condos were either a studio with a double bed in the main room with kitchen and full bath and patio, a two bedroom with a king, two twin beds (which could be joined to make another king), living and dining area and patio, or a three bedroom with the same as a two bedroom plus an additional bedroom with a queen bed and full bath. All condos had a separate, full bathroom for each bedroom. Bonaire itself is not a beach destination but a great place to scuba dive or snorkel. The Sand Dollars' Bari Reef was picturesque and full of life. The full kitchen made eating lunch a breeze and gave us the frugal option of cooking meals for dinner. If you are a gluten for television or need to keep in touch with those far away, this island and all its available accommodations are not for you. If you are a diver, adventurer and nature lover, this island is amazing. The Sand Dollar affiliate Bonaire Dive & Adventure offers plenty of activities at affordable prices. They will put all your activities on one tab and find the cheapest package for you. We also opted for the breakfast which was $8.00 per day (or $12.50 if you didn't pay in advance). This was worth the money with an omelet bar and a beautiful view to start each day. I could not find much to complain about at the Sand Dollar, although, the beds could use improvement. The stay is cozy and certainly not extravagant. The Sand Dollar offers convenience, comfort and friendly service, especially for Scuba divers. You may even catch a surprise visit from some Parakeets!

We requested a one bedroom apartment versus the studio because my husband and I wanted to be on the 2nd floor. All studios are ground level. We were given a corner upstairs apartment. It was very quiet and clean. We couldn't ask for a better accommodation. We are snorkelers and wanted to try a night snorkel. The lit dock and the easy access staircase on the dock were marvelous. I highly recommend this facility based on our stay there.

This was our second trip to Sand Dollar and as always, it has its good points. It's relatively affordable, especially as part of a dive package. The childcare is a great deal, as the Sand Penny Club is available for 3-6 year olds for free. The dive operation (BDA) and the house reef are both good. And we had adequate space and everything worked in our two bedroom condo. We also had a screened in porch, so we could sit out without worrying about skeeters. Safe was helpful, easy to use and big enough for a laptop and other small electronics.

What are the drawbacks? Well, the units are starting to look a little ragged around the edges. They were clean, but not sparkling and not especially well maintained. TV is pretty small (Kids watched a lot more than us grownups.) Bed was a bit hard. Bed linens looked old, though the towels were nice and thick. As mentioned by some, they don't provide washcloths, which is weird.

Staff was not especially friendly, aside from Marlen in Sand Penny Club. We were not given a unit close to the water, despite my early, repeated requests. And the pool area is looking BAD. The bar and couches were ok, perhaps. But the pool deck seems dirty, the pool tiles are chipped and cracked, the bathrooms are sketchy and the pool itself has mold on the sides. We swam in it anyway, because fresh water feels nice after diving in salt all day, but I didn't like it. The food was also pretty bad.

While not expensive, Sand Dollar isn't cheap either. As our kids will be too old for their childcare next time we visit Bonaire, we won't be going back.