| Date | Rating | Comment [Guest Comments: 22 positive, 0 negative] |
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| 05/09/09 | Positive | We stayed in Unit A15 the last week in April 2009. This was our 8th or 9th trip to Bonaire, but our first at Sand Dollar.
Our experience was a pleasure from the start. The owner was gracious, honest and very helpful. The lease agreement was straight forward and uncomplicated. Best of all, when we arrived at 5:15 AM on Sunday, the guard had our room keys ready, so we were in the unit in minutes.
We LOVED this apartment! We immediately felt at home. Despite our careful reading of the unit description, the apartment seemed larger than we expected. There were plenty of closets and drawers for all of our clothes. The dining and living room area was spacious. Fran loved the screened-in porch, where she could read. Best of all, the shower in the bathroom was one of the better ones on the island!
Our dealing with Sand Dollar also went perfectly. We had a small problem with one of the AC units and Sand Dollar had the problem fixed within an hour. Housekeeping was perfect and we had all the fluffy towels we requested.
Another plus is the location of this unit. It is on the first floor, close to a parking area and a small commercial development were we purchased internet service (worked in the room), ice cream and even some very good wine - how convenient! It is a short 3 minute walk from the dive shop and dock.
Bottom line - we plan to stay there again. We loved it.
| | | Jim and Fran, Lafayette Hill, PA
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| | 04/19/09 | Positive | Dates: March 3-13th 2009: This was our first trip to Bonaire and our first
experience of putting our own package together. Tara set the bar pretty high for future ventures. She was more than accommodating by insuring all our questions were answered and her desire for the guests to have a positive experience was greatly appreciated...
The unit itself was everything that was expected, tastefully decorated and very welcoming. We spent 10 days at the unit cooking all our meals on premises with exception of one day.
The screened porch was a bonus as it allowed us to leave the rear unit
windows open in order to allow the trade winds to blow through the unit and the screen kept the bugs out.
We enjoyed our trip and staying in Unit A15. We would not only recommend it, but plan to rent it in our future dive trips to Bonaire...
Pete & Barbara, Acme Michigan
| | | Pete & Barbara, Acme, Michigan |
| | 03/24/09 | Positive | | We had a warm and wonderful week in Bonaire and at the Sand Dollar condo owned by Tara. It was very well-equipped, clean and quiet. Location of condo is convenient to the dive shop, beach and restaurant/pool Had the grandchildren with us, and they loved every minute of their stay on the island with plenty to do. Recommend the Donkey Sanctuary and the Butterfly House as points of interest. | | | Mary Grundman, Big Sky, MT
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| | 03/15/09 | N/A | Guest Comment Entered By Homeowner:
This was our 4th year renting from Tara. The unit continues to be well maintained and spotlessly clean. We enjoy having all the comforts of home- two TV’s with satellite, a well-equipped kitchen and lovely Caribbean decorating. Our dive gear is easily stored in the screened-in porch. The porch is also a nice place to have breakfast and begin the day. The unit is close enough to the Bari Reef to walk with your gear. Bari Reef is great for both diving and snorkeling. We plan to rent again.
| | | Brenda & Linda
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| | 03/10/09 | N/A | Guest Comment Entered By Homeowner:
Bonaire Bound
Snorklers Pennsylvania.
Date Submitted: February 28, 2009 Date of Stay: February 2009
My husband and I planned on celebrating his 50th birthday on Bonaire without the kids and were looking forward to renting Tara's beautiful condo. When our family vacation plans for the summer 2009 did not go as planned my husband decided that we would bring our 2 teenagers along to Bonaire so to make a long story short we were not able to rent Tara's condo as planned. Tara was more than helpful in trying to locate another condo to rent at the SandDollar and supplied us with a lot of information and advice on Bonaire. She is true to her word and refunded our deposit check. I already know that when my husband and I return to Bonaire we will be renting from Tara.
| | | Judy Gardyasz
Pennsylvania |
| | 01/24/09 | Positive | Got back from Bonaire and Tara's lovely condo a week ago. We had a wonderful time and the condo was perfect. When I first rented it I wondered how I would feel about all the bright colors -- I tend toward using pastels in my own living spaces. Once there, I loved it! The bright colors really enhanced the Caribbean feeling and her place was so comfortable. As a fellow vacation condo owner with a condo in Maui, I really appreciated the effort that Tara makes to personalize her condo and to make her guests feel at home. She provides a wealth of information on local restaurants and dive sites right inside the condo. There is also a small library of books for surface intervals (between dives). Divers will appreciate the hooks for drying off gear (even though the dive shop has a very good gear storage facility) and drying rack for swimsuits. The screened in Lanai was really a big deal for us as we were there during the rainy season and mosquitos, which are normally few and far between, were a bit of a problem. We could really use the patio and didn't have to worry about closing the sliding door to the living room all the time to keep bugs out. It was all so easy. We can hardly wait to come back.
Thanks again, Tara! | | | Annette, Lakewood, California
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| | 01/07/09 | Positive | | This was our first trip to Bonaire and we loved it. We stayed at Sand Dollar unit A-15 for a week in December. Tara was very accomodating and communicating with her to rent her unit was wonderful. When we go to Bonaire next time, we will deffinetely contact her to rent the A-15 unit again. Our stay was very good and we felt very comfortable in the unit. The owners did the wonderful job decorating their unit and it creates relaxing and cheerful atmosphere. The unit has everything that is needed for guests to be comfortable in there. I can not think what else the owners could add there. I felt there was everything we needed to have a great vacation and feel relaxed. Air-conditioners work quitely, kitchen is equipped with stuff needed to prepare meals. The sceened patio is a great bonus that we appreciated a lot. We noticed that some units don't have screens and we felt that we were lucky that Tara's unit has one. Also location of A-15 unit in the complex is very good. I hope the unit will be available for our next trip! | | | Marina, New Jersey |
| | 11/06/08 | Positive | Wish we could go back next week! The condo was
excellent overall. It was clean and service was
great, weather was fine, diving good. The unit was
the best that we have rented at Sand Dollar and we
will be requesting it again. The travel ice chest and
ice packs were a thoughtful feature. Close to dive
shop and ice cream shop. | | | Linda Graykowski
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| | 08/20/08 | Positive | | We spent a glorious 2 weeks on Bonaire in June/July 2008, and Tara's condo was truly our "home away from home". This was our second stay in this particular condo, and it was absolutely wonderful -- comfortable, beautifully decorated, and well maintained. And Tara was very helpful and easy to work with. We will definitely stay in A15 when we return again -- hopefully next summer. | | | Steffani and Danny Webb, Kansas City, MO
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| | 08/04/08 | Positive | This was our third year staying at this very comfortable and fun condo. Yep, that is how much we liked it. Stayed for two weeks this time and don't have a regret in the world.
It has personality, humor, and air conditioning too. It is true, that the winds are present all the time, but for sleeping, the a/c was great!
Bonaire is unspeakingly beautiful. My spouses is a marine biologist, so we can say with some assurance that the diving is better than anywhere we have been. The dive shop is competant, honest and available. You can shore dive whenever you like.
We love it, the condo and the folks. I didn't find the food as inexpensive as some have. Good though. | | | Linda Houston, Torrance, CA
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| | 05/06/08 | Positive | This was our second time staying in Tara's condo at Sand Dollar. We enjoyed it even more than the first trip. This time we made all of our dinners in the condo, from lasagna to hamburgers. The appliances and cookware were all great and we had more than enough pots and pan.
It's located very close to the gear shed and dock, so you don't have to walk far to get geared up. It is especially handy if you are planning on an early morning or night dive since they lock up the gear at 9pm.
We can't say enough good things about her place, we'll definitely be back. | | | Anonymous |
| | 04/28/08 | Positive | | Very nice condo. Location is great, nice parking spot under a shade tree right by the door.Internet at Michael's is a one minute walk. Nice breeze flows through the condo. Quiet air conditioners in bedroom, living and kitchen, but we never needed air except at night in bedroom. Kitchen is well stocked with everything you'll need to make amazing meals. Groceries on island now are as cheap as at home. Good selection of meats at Warehouse, always fresh looking and yummy.Screened porch is great for drying all your dive gear. We felt comfortable letting things dry during the day but took things inside at bedtime just to be secure. Security on the grounds was present at all times. This unit is near the office so we felt more secure than other parts of Sand Dollar. There is a very nice sandy beach by the dock for swimming. Diving here is easy, the reef has tons of fish, but coral is not as pretty as other sites. Night dive is a must here to see the huge Tarpon and Red Snapper. Just enter at the dock and suddenly the Tarpon will find you. You can't miss them. They will be waiting for your flashlight beams to find little sparkly fish to eat right in front of your eyes. Lots of construction going on all over the island. 6 days of week 7am to dusk, across from Chat n Browse so kind of noisy for us during March 2008, but it was very quiet at other times with a great deal of serenity each evening. Nice to walk the grounds of Sand Dollar, see the sunsets, lounge chairs along the shore to sit in, always available. Rented tanks at BDA, very convenient and always over 3000 psi. Ate at Den Lamen restaurant, (a one mintue walk from condo) a couple of dinners & there were only 3 tables of people, service friendly, food was very nice and tasty and reasonably priced. Very serene setting for dinner. Go at dusk to watch the night divers go into the water, the view of the restaurant is at the dock of BDA. If you like to be on the water, this is a very convenient condo. Very clean and cutely decorated. Could use a new couch, this one was saggy, but usuable. Owner was very upfront on the description of the condo, no surprises here. You will enjoy your stay here. | | | Renee
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| | 02/16/08 | Positive | We just got back from one wonderful week of diving in Bonaire. We stayed in Tara's one bedroom condo at the Sand Dollar Resort--the best resort location on the island. The best offshore reef.
We were entirely satisfied with our experience. The unit is well furnished and delightfully decorated. The new tilework in the kitchen and bath is outstanding. Lots of pots, pans dishes and glasses in the kitchen. Three air conditioners will keep you cool although we just used the one in the bedroom. We lived on the comfortable screened porch. Also a great place to dry gear.
We will definitely request to stay in Tara's unit for our next visit to Bonaire.
Jay and Ann | | | Jay and Ann, Brevard, NC |
| | 11/14/07 | N/A | Guest Comment Entered By Homeowner:
We have stayed at this Condo, 4 times within the last
two years and we love it. Like all the previous
renters have mentioned, Tara is great to work with.
This Condo is so close to the Dive shop, a great
dive/night site, convenient store and the front office
is right around the corner if you need anything. We
plan to stay there again in Oct. 08
Arne and Katy
Cypress, Texas
| | | Arne and Katy Bentsen
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| | 10/06/07 | Positive | | We stayed in the condo for a week in August. This was the first time we visited Bonaire. Tara was very prompt in replying our inquires and her information very helpful. Her condo made us feel like right at home. The condo had everything our comfortable stay needed, and more. The decoration was charming, the air conditioners worked perfectly, The screen-in porch made it so easy to dry our gear, and sit in the morning eating breakfast with the sound of wave. You do need a car though, for it is couple of miles to the town, and to other snorkel and diving sites, though the house reef is nothing but spectacular. We had one off-day due to the passing hurricane, regardless, we had a wonderful time visiting Bonaire and staying at Tara's condo. | | | Sharon, Clarksville, MD |
| | 06/01/07 | Positive | | We had a wonderful week in Bonaire staying in this condo with its bright, cheerful décor and great amenities. We especially liked the screened porch, the lovely remodeled bath and the very efficient air conditioning. During the day we let the Bonaire breezes cool the unit but at night the air conditioning provided just the right environment for a refreshing night’s sleep. The unit is very convenient to the dive shop and the dock. We did at least one dive every day right there on Bari Reef. Although we enjoyed exploring other dive locations on Bonaire we particularly liked this peaceful and beautiful dive right in front of the Sand Dollar. We hope to make a return visit to this unit and highly recommend it to others looking for an excellent condo on a wonderful island | | | Tom & Connie, New Jersey |
| | 03/03/07 | Positive | | First visit to Bonaire and we can't see staying anywhere else for our next visit. The screened porch was a nice retreat after a day of diving. Having a dive shop, grocery store, ice cream shop, two restuarants, and dive pier steps from the door; BIG PLUS! Very professional dive shop. We will be back Tara! | | | John and Natalie, Atlanta, Georgia
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| | 02/28/07 | Positive | | This was our second stay in this condo. It continues to be spotlessly clean, nicely decorated and the owner continues to make improvements to the unit. It has new bathroom tile this year and sports a nice caribbean-theme paint job. It is nicely decorated, quiet and the dive shop on site is awesome! We enjoy both diving and snorkeling the reef in front- both are equally great. Satelite TV is appreciated for news at "home." The fully equiped kitchen is very nice as well. We look forward to our next visit. | | | Brenda & Linda
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| | 02/26/07 | Positive | This will be our third stay at Tara's Condo. We highly recommend this Condo. The owners have redone the kitchen and bath, love the colors in the condo too. The diving, resturants and a convenient store are just a short walk away. Tara is great to work with too. She is very accomodating.
Arne and Katy
Cypress, Tx. | | | katy and Arne, Cypress, Tx. |
| | 11/11/06 | Positive | | We rented this unit for two weeks in Nov 2006 and highly recommend it. As other people have said, Tara (owner) is easy to work with. Great snorkeling right out in front of Sand Dollar (and lots of other places on the island, of course). The Sand Dollar staff was very helpful and responsive. | | | Bob & Joyce, Monument, CO |
| | 09/30/06 | Positive | This condo, a nice, private end unit, is a wonderful place for your Bonaire vacation. The amenities are first-rate, and the staff at Sand Dollar are friendly and helpful. The nearby dive shop, convenience stores, and proximity to town, as well as the excellent dive and snorkeling site right outside your door make this an almost perfect location. Tara is a real pleasure to deal with as well. You won't be disappointed!
| | | Bill & Stephanie, Illinois |
| | 09/29/06 | Positive | | This condo, a nice, private end unit, is a wonderful place for your Bonaire vacation. The amenities are first-rate, and the staff at Sand Dollar are friendly and helpful. The nearby dive shop, convenience stores, and proximity to town, as well as the excellent dive and snorkeling site right outside your door make this an almost perfect location. Tara is a real pleasure to deal with as well. You won't be disappointed! | | | Bill, Decatur, Illinois |
| | 05/22/06 | Positive | | The condo is nice and welcoming. The Screened patio has plenty of room and a partial view of the ocean and Klein Bonaire. The location is great with Bonaire Dive and Adventure, Fisheye Photo, 2 Restaurants and a Convenience store within walking distance while still being in a quiet area. The pier is only about a 2 minute walk away with good diving and a shower. We enjoyed everything so much we have already booked another week in Tara's condo. | | | Arne, Cypress Texas USA |
| | 03/23/06 | Positive | | The condo was wonderful! We enjoyed the screened in porch and full kitchen. The unit was clean and nicely decorated with A/C through out. Although I hate to admit it, the TV in the bedroom was nice too. Diving and snorkeling right off the pier was fantastic. The grounds were very quiet, which we appreciated. We would definitely rent from Tara again. | | | Brenda, Wisconsin, USA
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| | 11/28/05 | Positive | | We stayed at Sand dollar and rented this unit from Tara. Wonderful place and beautiful diving from the pier. Perfect vacation. We will be back. Owners are wonderful and very accomodating. We would highly recommend. | | | Anonymous, New York |
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