Van der Valk Plaza Beach & Dive Resort Bonaire - All Inclusive

I loved the peaceful feel at Plaza Beach Resort Bonaire, with soft music playing around the resort. The food was excellent, and the buffet offered a good variety every day. My room was comfortable and had a beautiful view. I was also impressed by the three-bedroom apartment, with its full kitchen, laundry, and option of a private chef. It made the stay feel both luxurious and convenient. A wonderful visit, and I'd recommend Plaza Beach Resort Bonaire for a relaxing Caribbean getaway.

The staff were amazing, and the food was great. We also loved the location, about five minutes from the airport, and the upgrades that are nearly finished look stunning. I'd recommend the sunset sail. I have a gluten allergy, and they accommodated it graciously. If you're coming from the US, remember to bring a plug adapter.

Our stay at Van der Valk Plaza Beach Resort Bonaire was very disappointing. On arrival, the air conditioning wasn't working. The front desk filed a maintenance request and sent us back to the room for the night. It stayed around 23°C (73°F), much too warm for comfortable sleep, and we had a miserable night. The next morning maintenance said the AC couldn't be fixed within a day, but the front desk still refused to move us or offer another solution. The room was dated and needed remodeling. Doors and fixtures were visibly worn. Hot water only partly filled the tub before turning cold, and the TV often froze, especially in the rain. Staff said they knew about the TV problem and had no plans to fix it. The mattress was worn, with only a thin pad on top, so it was uncomfortable. Requests to the front desk went nowhere. They declined an extra pillow, another blanket, and late checkout, always saying no without explanation or trying to help. Meal service was also poor: waitstaff took our first drink order and brought water, then didn't return for refills, so guests had to fetch their own drinks. Only one of the two bars could make blended drinks. The pool bar closed around lunch and dinner, when food wasn't available there either, even for guests not using the main dining service. Meals were repetitive, mostly chicken, pork, or beef prepared in only slightly different ways. Between the dated rooms, unresolved maintenance, inflexible service, and limited food choices, this was far below what we expected from a beachfront resort. We wouldn't return.

The room felt new, clean, and well kept, and we enjoyed the food. Service could be slow, perhaps because the resort was understaffed. Being on an island, it helps to relax and go with the flow. You do get what you need, just not always quickly. Our final night was disrupted when an underground pipe burst just outside our room. The resort acted quickly to make repairs, but heavy equipment worked late and the machinery was very close, so we didn't sleep well before our early flight. It was unfortunate for the resort, though we had a great experience overall.