Does anyone have an update on the condition of Divi Flamingo, especially the timeshare area? We are headed to Divi in June for our annual visit and wondered what was going on at the property. We have been satisfied with our timeshare area there in the past, but have heard some discouraging things about the condition of the property. Thanks for any info.

The Hotel is a bundle of activity, painting, repairing and sprucing up. They have a new manager, Mr. Desmond Ridderstap who is working very hard to make changes and it seems to be working...

Will there be any changes and improvements in the Time Share areas?? I had heard most of the work was going to be concentrated in the Hotel sections. This September will be our first trip to Bonaire and the Divi Flamingo and are curious to know what to expect.

IF there IS work being performed in the Time Share area, exactly what type of work is it and will it be completed by mid September?

Thanks for the input! Carole (CBinAruba@aol.com)

Divi Flamingo is working on a renovation plan phase 1 which is in the planning phase. In this renovation the following areas will be addressed:

All rooms will be re-done
All bathrooms will be re-done
Reinforcement of Chibi Chibi Base
re-open the Chibi Chibi Restaurant/and kitchen
Pool deck will be re-done (timeshare area)
Improve landscaping
New Front desk area
Time share units will be partially re-done (complete in phase 2)
Concrete pier will be redone
Structure of ocean front rooms
Jacuzzi area will be redone with planters
All building will be painted in new color scheme
Tennis court will addressed
Calabas Restaurant new roofing

Renovation will start by september 1999
Will keep you posted
Thank you
Desmond Ridderstap
General Manager

Dear Mr. Ridderstap,

The plans for renovating The Divi sound great. They do sound a bit ambitious but I sincerly hope they will all be done. One thing you could do to make an immediate positive impact on the "Guest experiance" is customer service training for your staff. When my wife and I were at the Divi in Mar '99 and earlier in Apr '96 we recieved poor service from some of the staff. In particular from bartenders and cashiers. Some of the bartenders were actually rude. Others made it feel like they were doing you a big favor to make change for you.

We knew when we booked at the Divi what to expect as far as the conditions of the grounds etc. But we never expected to receive service that had more cracks than the concrete pier.

Improving the service can do as much for the Divi as several coats of paint and a new roof.

Respectfully,
Kevin

2 years ago when we stayed at the timeshare area of the Divi Flamingo, they had run cable for tv into most of the timeshares. Does anyone know if they ever connected tv's to these cables? Thanks for any info.

Dear Joan,

I'm sorry to say, no tv's were ever connected to these cables. But I'm also happy to anounce that they will connected with the upcomming renovation.

Thank you for your comment
Desmond, Divi Flamingo

Dear Mr. Ridderstap,

SO GLAD to hear that Divi is finally remodelling!! It really is a great hotel with so much potential, and hopefully the right people are now in charge to realize its potential. However...TV's are really a great idea, but being a timeshare owner over the past 6 years, I'd really like to see phones in the units. The timeshare section is a long way from the front desk and in case of an emergency, especially something of a medical nature, there is no way to contact an EMT facility in a reasonable amount of time. No gloom and doom intended - just a thought...

Frankly, and with all due respect, one of the best things we have always thought was part of our vacations at the Divi Flamingo (and we have been going there for over 15 years) was the lack of TV and phones in the rooms! A chance to read, talk, sleep, play scrabble - without the entrapments of media and mom!
Sorry to disagree, folks, but when we were sent the survey about what improvements we wished to see in the timeshare units, we voted against the TVs and phones...otherwise, and without wanting to be cynical, why vacation at all?

"Anonymous," I must agree with you. We've been timeshare owners since '93 and find that telephones and tv are way down on our list of improvements. We'd love to see the timeshare end spruced up a bit -- but most importantly we hope that the hotel side gets it's share of improvements so that visitors will return. The place has been almost dead for the past 2 or 3 years.

The Divi has so much potential and it's been a shame to see it be allowed to get run-down. I look forward to our visit this year to see what improvements have actually been made.

Whatever happens, I'll look forward to the great diving and the opportunity to catch up on my reading and relaxing.

Joann

I have a compromise: phones for emergencies that you can unplug, no TV's in the rooms.

Occasionally you'd like to make reservations for a dive trip, dinner,... the phone would be handy.

When we were last at the Flamingo, my wife got her news fix by sitting at the pool bar's patio and watching the TV at the bar. This encourages you to get outside, mingle with others (they were having Bingo games), and enjoy the scenery.

I'll be back at the end of July and ANY improvements will be a joy to me.

John,
That's the best solution - that and don't give anyone back home the phone number, except someone you trust will understand the real meaning of the word "emergency"...as in "do not call unless..." We come back the end of July, too, and hope things aren't too chaotic.

Sorry folks - didn't mean to start a war! I'm on the phone all day at work - the LAST thing I want is to be bothered by a phone on vacation! I REALLY did mean "emergency". Being able to make dinner reservations or confirm a flight without having to run to the front desk would be nice, too. Pax!!

Having telephones and televisions in the rooms might be a selling point to some considering a stay at the Divi or even in buying a timeshare. So I say, "Bring 'em on." After all, who says you have to use them!

I love this web site! It makes the intervals between my annual visits almost tolerable. I've waited so long for the Divi to make improvements. My husband and I are considering purchasing an additional week, but have held off because we feared the place would go under. Perhaps, now there's hope.

Joann

WE HAVE BEEN MEMBERS FOR 10 YEARS AND ARE
RETURNING IN JULY WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY WHICH
INCLUDES THREE GRANDCHILDREN.
THE IMPORTANT THING TO CONTROL AT DIVI IS
MINOR THEFT. WE HAD (2) DIVE LIGHTS STOLEN
FROM OUR SCREENED PORCH LAST OCTOBER. DIVI
RENTED THE NEXT TIME SHARE UNIT TO TWO YOUNG
COUPLES FOR REGATTA. NOT ONLY WAS THE NOISE
DISTURBING ALL NIGHT, BUT THE LIGHTS WERE
MISSING THE NEXT MORNING.
THE COUPLE BELOW US HAD AN INTRUDER THAT
WEEK WHILE THEY WERE IN THE ROOM SLEEPING
AND WHEN CHALLANGED THE INTRUDER JUST WALKED OUT
OF THE ROOM.
ANOTHER GUEST HAD A TIRE STOLEN OFF THEIR
RENTED CAR THE SAME WEEK.
SECURITY SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT ANY
OF THIS.
TO DIVI: KEEP THE TIME SHARE ROOMS FOR WEEK
LONG GUESTS, IT'S NOT A MOTEL 6.

The last post is upsetting...the only problem we ever had at the Divi was the loss of a wet suit left by the pool to dry. We are travelling there later this summer also with children, and the concept of intruders, etc. is very disturbing. While we know things can happen anywhere, we hope the new manager is well aware of the problems and is making as much of an effort for guest security and comfort as he is for the renovations. The lack of security can be even greater with numbers of work crews on site, and we would hate to think that any of us are at any risk, even for thieves if we exercise proper cautions. Also, it lends to the American idea of too many "rent-a-cops", and where is the control over who is the security guard there, too? Here's hoping that we are all worrying entirely too much, and that things are not nearly as bad as some postings have led some of us to believe.

I have been waiting for a response to the last posting directly from the new Divi Manager...it would seem that such concerns would, reason dictates, result in some sort of management response, and their silence is, indeed, disturbing.

I am sorry I did not answer your concern, but I was away and did not have access to internet for a week. I am aware of the mentioned problem and together with our security, we addressing this. I hope with the new system of patrol that we've implemented this will help

Thank you
Desmond
General Manager

Not such a reassuring message...what about the security personnel you are hiring? How are they investigated? In the states, we have not-such-wonderful security personnel called "rent-a-cops" who are sometimes more dangerous that those from whom they are meant to protect the public.

After sixteen years at the Divi, We hope that things are OK when we arrive later this summer. We are a bit nervous about things based on some of the posts - not so much about the physical plant, but about the security.

I agree with Kevin regarding the service at the divi. You can put up with anything while on a diving trip but rude employees are very bad for business. We encountered the same problem on our last visit and that is why we are trying a different resort this Aug. We have always stayed at the divi and I agree that the dive operation is the best and George and the guys do everything to please you. The bartenders and restaurant employees could learn a lesson from them.

Would someone PLEASE straighten out the confusion about what the situation is at Divi Flamingo Timeshares? We arrive there in four weeks (we have always stayed there - original time share owners) but are very confused about the dissention in all of these posts, as well as on the usenet.
1. Has or has not renovation work started? Are the pools open? Calabas restaurant? the little shop?
2. If work has started - to what extent, and has the influx of workers diminished security?
3. Is there a serious security problem? Do we leave our gear in the dive shed as always, or bring everything back to our rooms? and if the latter, is our gear safe in our rooms?
4. We know the excellence of George and his dive operation - and look forward to seeing many of our old friends again. Bas is like our big brother!

But what of the rest of the staff? We used to consider the Divi a second home, with warm, courteous, caring and wonderful staff...and now?
We know that everyone is entitled to opinions, and no,we do not at all expect the Ritz - but part of what we used to love at the Divi was that it was down to earth - no pretenses, etc. And I am sure that it is clean, etc...but what of the rest? Please, would someone recently returned or resident of the island give us the HONEST, non-policially correct low-down?

We are coming anyway, and look forward to our trip, but just want to know what to expect realistically.
Thank you.
Betsy Dane

We were at Divi 22 days in May 99.
Started improvements to hotel side.
Timeshare needs face lift.staff still very efficent.

They say they are trying
we had same concerns, but found things pretty much the same
George & Raffino still there nice ladies at front desk and dive shop still there too.
we found no problems with the visable security staff Friendly non assuming but watching
Faces at the casino moved to Plaza
Left our dive gear in dive shack but wouldnt leave computers there we'er always on the ground floor leave things in our pattio no problems ever
The economy on Bonaire is not so good but the locals are hopeful for a turnaround soon
As you know,things change very little very slowly
Still "easy to be" at the divi
School of Tarpon Between Dive 1 & Dive 2
Saw school of Dolphin
.Octopus by Dive 1 snorkeling at night
Lots of other fishes too!
Have a fun and safe trip
We had the same fears not warrented "crime" overstated just be reasonable about your valueables

Any more "updates" on the Divi Flamingo Beach Resort? Progress on "facelift"? Any comments from anyone who has returned recently? Thanks! Carole

Haven't been since last Christmas. About the same as before. Have been going for 18 years so if you hear please let me know. wkc

We are going to visit Bonaire in the last week of November. We would like to return to Divi Flamingo after our first stay in December 1997, but we do not want to be in the middle of a general reconstruction. Can anybody tell me what to expect? Will the old pier still be intact in November/December (great snorkeling all around it!)? How about the restaurant and the small beach? Thanks for the information.

Suggest you contact Desmond Ridderstop, the Manager. Things do not happen that fast in the tropics. divibon@bonairelive.com

Just returned from the Bonaire and unfortunately was booked in the Flamingo, to say it politely the place is a dump, I do not Know what renovations these people are talking about but it looked like it was started then abandoned.
I would not recomend stayng there unless you talk to some one you new personally and had just been there 2 days prior to your visit.