Aqua Viva Suites

The treatment we received here was 5 stars. The owner of this establishment has to be one of the kindest, most humble person I know. We had last minute reservations. He met us at the airport, took us on a small tour of the area, made motor scooter accommodations, recommended places to eat and get snacks..just an all around nice guy. The rooms were clean and comfortable. I would definitely recommend and go back again!

I spent a week in July at Aqua Viva Suites, which I selected because of its location next to VIP Diving and because of the reviews, which glowed about the wonderful hospitality of owners Miguel and Daysi, who pick guests up at the airport, take them back, and make them feel welcome during their stay. I love staying at small inns with excellent customer service, so Aqua Viva sounded ideal. I was not disappointed by the property’s loveliness. Palm trees studded with coconuts were planted throughout, an a mango tree heavy with fruit grew just outside the office. A freeform pool with a whirlpool, lounge chairs, and a pavilion with seating and tables were available for guests’ use. The owners’ son, Michael, informed me that I’d been upgraded — wonderful! — and showed me my suite: suite 2, just steps from the pool. It had a private porch with seating, a small table, and a folding drying rack for wet beach towels, swimsuits, and diving gear. Pane-glass doors with blackout curtains led to a cozy den furnished with a couch, table, and flatscreen TV. The kitchen area featured a dining table with chairs, a full-sized fridge, microwave, coffeemaker, toaster, sink, large countertop, and cabinets stocked with glassware, dishes, utensils, and cookware. The sleeping area featured a queen-sized bed, a dresser, and wardrobe, with a nook equipped with a luggage rack. The bathroom featured a full-sized tiled shower and was stocked with plenty of ribbon-tied towels, a half dozen shampoo bottles nestled on a bed of shells, and soap. The suite also had air conditioning and three ceiling fans, plus plenty of lights, and tropical colors and decor. The perfect oasis for an island stay! Bird watchers can view a variety of birds from poolside: green-shouldered parrots, tropical mockingbirds, bananaquits, and hummingbirds all frequented the palm trees and perched on the stone fence separating Aqua Viva from VIP Diving next door. Divers have VIP at their fingertips, with the Sebastian’s Reef dive and snorkeling site just over a block away. Beach goers have a 1.25-mile walk south to Te Amo Beach, a sandy stretch perfect for snorkeling and swimming, with food trucks on site. The Flamingo Airport is a mile away, as is Avis, and Aqua Viva has a parking lot for guests’ vehicles. Downtown Kralendijk, with its restaurants, boutiques, historic buildings, marinas, water taxis to Klein Bonaire, and seaside walkways, is less than a mile’s walk north. Sebastian’s and Joe’s, two popular restaurants, are less than five minutes from Aqua Viva, and Macho Scooter Rentals is across the street at the Van der Valk resort. For those with a car, 10 minutes’ drive south takes you to the start of Bonaire’s amazing southern dive sites… and to the Donkey Sanctuary. Aqua Viva is indeed perfectly situated for guests wishing to explore the island, dive, or simply enjoy a relaxing beach or poolside getaway. However, there are some drawbacks. For starters, it is more AirBnB than hotel. There is no

Spacious room, friendly and helpful staff with lots of tips and free airport transfer. Great shower. Nice pool area with lots of room. Some nearby restaurants (we liked Joe's) with many others about 1.5k away. Quiet area. Most rooms have a covered, dedicated outdoor sitting area. Ours (the cheapest room) did not. If I went again I'd spring for a better room. There was a place to sit, just not "ours" and not covered so not protected from rain.