Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino

We left with mixed feelings. The staff were very friendly and the facilities generally nice. There was good snorkeling off the beach, a car rental office on site, and a shop stocked with diving and snorkeling gear, although the prices were very high. Cold water in the lobby was a nice free touch, the gym had recently been upgraded with new equipment, and town was a short, pleasant walk away. Our room was spacious, with a kitchen that had all the utensils we needed. We enjoyed the pizza at Chibi Chibi bar, where the bartender was very friendly, and happy hour at the beach bar was always fun. There were plenty of beach loungers. The room itself felt quite dated and had a persistent sweat-like smell, especially noticeable in bed. I got multiple bedbug bites. Since management likes to refute such claims, I'm a veterinarian who used to work as an policy advisor on infectious tropical diseases, so you decide whom to believe. Cockroaches were also an issue: once, two fell out of the AC vent when I switched it on. There was visible mold under the tables too. That may be hard to avoid in this climate, but it still should be addressed, as nobody bothered to check. The in-room safe didn't work at first, though it was fixed quickly. The stay was enjoyable, but nowhere near great.

The dive operation had a lot going for it: Elvis was great, the reef was healthy with amazing dives, and the dive staff were highly educated and professional. The hotel itself was a miserable experience. Management disrespected and dishonored us, and when they put us in the wrong rooms, their response was basically, “too bad.” For two days in a row they made only one of our two beds. They blamed it on a “personal property policy,” which we later learned didn’t exist. We hadn’t left any personal property on the bed anyway. They were dishonest and put the blame on us. We’ll come back to Bonaire, as we have before, but never stay at Divi again. Very disappointed.

The room felt comfortable and had what I needed: good AC, daily coffee for the kettle, shampoo, conditioner, hand towels, and soap. It was cleaned every day, and I had some great snorkeling. There’s an interesting brewery nearby and a good takeout place one block away. The property is a bit older and could use updates. I was in a lower-end room, where the AC fan sat on the balcony. It made sitting outside too hot, though my clothes dried quickly. Checkout at 10 am and check-in at 4 pm is ridiculous, and that alone would keep me from staying again. The on-site dive shop wasn’t very friendly or helpful. There’s another shop a little farther down the street that I’d recommend.

The dive shop is only a two-minute walk from the room, and the dive point is another minute away. They always have Nitrox, and someone is ready to help. The staff were knowledgeable, friendly, and gracious, including with a person with a disability. Denise and Rudd were great instructors and guides. Rooms were clean, the staff naturally friendly, and it’s close to downtown. The shop has everything a diver needs. They made a great time awesome, six out of five stars 🌟