Plaza Resort - Eden Beach

[Sailor Gal]

Trying to find recommendations for an inexpensive taxi tirp to a decent beach. Interested in sandy beach and swimming. Does Plaza Resort allow cruise passengers to use beach? How is it? I've been reading about Eden and see you have to enter water by ladder, but is water good and is beach itself ok for relaxing? Help please.

[akpsoccer]

Hi - I was at Eden Beach in early 08 and at the Plaza over a Christmas cruise a few weeks ago.

Yes, cruise passengers can use the beach at Plaza Resort. It's $20 for a day pass with a beach chair and $15 without a chair. With the day pass you also get free fruit punch all day. I liked both beaches and both had really good snorkeling. We walked to the Plaza Resort (~ 1 mile?)and took a cab to Eden Beach.

 

Both Eden Beach and the Plaza have ladders off the piers to get into the water, but it's possible to just go over some rocks to get into the water at both places!

 

 

I attached a pic of Eden Beach ( the 1st one) and one of the Plaza (2nd one)...

[myraid]

I was at the Plaza resort in early December. The beach and shallow sand was very rocky. We had sand shoes and couldn't use the beach to swim at all. We took a tour through the ship and the ship actually refunded us the money. Just a warning...if you are looking for a nice sandy beach, I wouldn't recommend this one!

[JerseyGuys]

I had the opportunity to take the Day at the Beach Excursion in Bonaire. First time I had ever visited Bonaire. It was a beautiful day in Bonaire, very hot, unseasonably warm according to the people in Bonaire. A caution the sand beaches at this resort are crushed coral. You need water shoes while entering and exiting the water. I agree with the previous poster It is not fine white sand that one normally expects at the beach

 

Picked up at the dock by a bus for the short ride to the Plaza Resort Bonaire. This was a welcome change as some other excursion we had been on required bus rides of 30-60 minutes. The resort is a large hotel complex with all the amenities, fresh water pool, snorkeling equipment, gift shop, volleyball area and a couple of bars and restaurants.

 

The staff gave a quick orientation to the resort and then escorted us to the beach. Plenty of lounge chairs area available as well as shade. The sun was very hot the day we visited, so make sure you bring plenty of sunscreen. The farther up the beach you go the more private the beach area becomes

 

Lots of rocks and coral when entering the water to swim or snorkel, but the water is beautiful and clear. Great opportunity for snorkeling. Most of the fish are relatively close to the shore. Beautiful views of boats sailing by all day long, as well as a great view of the Caribbean Princess at it's dock. Nice small bar right on the beach, very friendly staff, and some nice dutch beers. Staff at the resort are extremely friendly and helpful, and their dutch accents just add to the experience. Large number of european vacationers staying at the resort. For you aviation buffs the Bonaire airport is in view from Tipsy Seagull Restaurant. I had the opportunity to watch a KLM DC-10 approach from the ocean in the afternoon. Check your airline schedules if you like to photograph airliners.

 

The excursion comes with free non-alcoholic fruit punch and water dispensers. A barbecue lunch is also included. I thought the Lunch was very good, salad, tuna/macaroni salad, grilled chicken and a couple types of fish. I'm not a fish lover but it two fishes served were very good. It's all you can eat so enjoy. Tables are set up under a canopy with plenty of fresh ice water.

 

At the conclusion of the day there are fresh water showers and restroom facilities to clean up or change before transportation back to the ship. We arrived back to the dock in plenty of time to spend a couple hours of walking around downtown and do a little shopping.

 

I thought the excursion was a great day at the beach very relaxing and a good first time excursion to Bonaire.

[ajkcruising]

Hi - I was at Eden Beach in early 08 and at the Plaza over a Christmas cruise a few weeks ago.

Yes, cruise passengers can use the beach at Plaza Resort. It's $20 for a day pass with a beach chair and $15 without a chair. With the day pass you also get free fruit punch all day. I liked both beaches and both had really good snorkeling. We walked to the Plaza Resort (~ 1 mile?)and took a cab to Eden Beach. ...

 

Woud we be able to use the pool at the Plaza? My daugther loves the water,,,she could play in the sand,,,but if she can't swim at the beach,,,I would like her to swim in their pool.

 

Thanks

 

 

AJ

[akpsoccer]

Woud we be able to use the pool at the Plaza? My daugther loves the water,,,she could play in the sand,,,but if she can't swim at the beach,,,I would like her to swim in their pool.

 

Thanks

 

 

AJ

 

 

Yes you can use the pool at the Plaza...and it's very nice... and lots of chairs/umbrellas around it, etc.

[ajkcruising]

akpsoccer.....That settles my choices!!!!:D

 

 

AJ

[JerseyGuys]

The pool area was very nice.......

[ajkcruising]

Hi - I was at Eden Beach in early 08 and at the Plaza over a Christmas cruise a few weeks ago.

Yes, cruise passengers can use the beach at Plaza Resort. It's $20 for a day pass with a beach chair and $15 without a chair. With the day pass you also get free fruit punch all day. I liked both beaches and both had really good snorkeling. We walked to the Plaza Resort (~ 1 mile?)and took a cab to Eden Beach.

 

I attached a pic of Eden Beach ( the 1st one) and one of the Plaza (2nd one)...

 

How much is the cab fare from the port to the Plaza Beach Resort?

 

Thanks

 

AJ

[akpsoccer]

can't answer you since we walked to the plaza resort. When we got off the ship and asked some cab drivers how much it would be, they just recommended we walked there instead of paying for a cab.

[T6oyd]

I will be in Bonaire early April and like the sound ot the plaza resort. Can anyone tell me if you can just turn up at the resort or will I have to book in advance?

 

thanks

[akpsoccer]

I will be in Bonaire early April and like the sound ot the plaza resort. Can anyone tell me if you can just turn up at the resort or will I have to book in advance?

 

thanks

 

 

You cannot book in advance at the plaza resort. Once you walk through the gate to the entrance of the resort, you go onto the beach, an on the right they have a little hut/counter area where you buy your day pass, etc. We had no problem getting a spot and the beach is pretty long so we had our choice of chairs and location. I have read on the boards that some people have gotten there and not been able to get a day pass, but that may be if there are a lot of large ships in port and getting there later in the day. We always like to get going & off the ship in the morning anyways. The beach never got too crowded the day we were there.

[JerseyGuys]

Check the pricing of this as a shore excursion if you want to be sure of a spot.