Pros

  • Seaside apartment-style hotel, a five-minute drive from the airport
  • Mostly spacious apartments with kitchens or kitchenettes and pleasant, modern style
  • Concierge can arrange car rentals, tours, and restaurant reservations
  • Free bottle of wine for guests staying longer than one night
  • Hotel's dock leads out to the house reef for snorkeling and diving
  • Free snorkeling equipment
  • Dive lockers and freshwater rinsing stations for dive gear
  • Discounted dive-and-drive packages offered
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout
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Cons

  • Near airport and landing planes audible and visible from hotel
  • Wi-Fi is spotty in hotel’s common areas
  • Limited secure parking (street parking is available)
  • Features are limited -- pool is tiny and there's no on-site dining
See More Cons

Bottom Line

Bellafonte Luxury Oceanfront Hotel has 22 individually-owned apartments in a three-and-a-half-pearl package. Despite the hotel's name, this isn't a luxury property, and decor varies from bright and funky to simple and homey. Air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs come standard, and while most rooms are spacious and have full kitchens, Studios only include kitchenettes and can be small. Bellafonte has an oceanfront soaking pool and its dock provides easy access to the hotel’s house reef, a short swim from shore. Snorkeling equipment is free and the hotel has a concierge, but other features are scarce. It’s a fine choice for independent travelers, but for something with amenities like a gym, spa, and a sandy beach, the pricier Harbor Village Beach Club is worth a look.

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Internet
  • Pets Allowed
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Bellafonte Luxury Oceanfront Hotel

Scene

 Quiet, private hotel with great sunsets that's best for independent travelers

Bellafonte feels more like a private apartment complex than a hotel, and that's part of its appeal for independent travelers who don't need much in the way of resort features. The lobby is near the parking lot and is easy to miss if you’re not looking for it, but once inside the hotel's grounds, everything is pleasant and quiet. The landscaping is manicured and includes tropical plants and blossoming flowers that lead to a walkway that passes from the parking area to the oceanfront "pool" and dock. The hotel seems empty during the day as guests are usually off diving, but in the evenings, it perks up a bit as guests congregate on the pool deck and on their private balconies to watch the great sunset views. Unlike some areas of the island, Bellafonte’s breezy waterfront keeps mosquitos away. Guests are mostly couples and divers from the United States, but families from around the world are not uncommon to see as well. 

See More Scene

Location

South of Kralendijk, but close to the airport and Bonaire’s saltpan evaporation ponds 

Located on a dusty road that traces Bonaire’s south coast, Bellafonte is a five-minute drive to Flamingo International Airport, which is also the closest place to rent a car. Most guests will want to have one in order to explore the island. It's a 15-minute drive into central Kralendijk, the island’s hub for restaurants, shopping, and a pleasant place to explore its restored colonial buildings. Bonaire’s giant saltpans (evaporation ponds full of sea water that are then mined for the salt) are a 15-minute drive. Near the saltpans are historic shacks used by the slaves who once toiled in the open-air mines (go late in the day for great sunset views). Lac Bay is a shallow bay with world-class winds that draws windsurfers and kite boarders from throughout the globe and is a 25-minute drive from the property. However, the nearest beach -- Te Amo Beach -- is a two-minute walk from the hotel. For food, a few restaurants serving international cuisine are within a five-minute walk of the hotel, but most food options are in town and include sushi, Cuban, and Italian. The nearest grocery store is a 10-minute drive from the hotel. 

See More Location

Rooms

Mostly spacious and modern apartments include kitchens or kitchenettes, many with sea views

Bellafonte’s 22 air-conditioned suites and Studios are each individually owned and the decor varies from one unit to the next. The one-bedroom Senior Suite that we visited has a rustic Caribbean style of blues, grays, and reclaimed wood furniture. Other Suites, like the Grand Suite that we saw, are a bit more plain and homey. All suites include full kitchens done to the property's specifications, with granite counters and stainless steel appliances. Toasters, blenders, and coffee makers are standard (some have electric kettles) and if there’s an appliance missing, the hotel will do its best to source one. If dish washing isn’t on the vacation agenda, housekeeping wash dishes upon request. 

Living rooms feature large flat-screen TVs, couches, and love seats and abut the ocean view balconies, which have a rattan table and chairs. All apartments have either king or queen beds (the king beds can be separated into two twins beds) as well as safes, phones, and free Wi-Fi. The internet works well, as each unit has its own private network. For those staying more than one night, the hotel provides a free bottle of wine. Studios are the hotel’s smallest and cheapest rooms, and have flat-screen TVs, queen beds, and kitchenettes with coffeemakers, toasters, blenders, and a mini-fridge. They’re a great option -- especially since some can be connected with suites -- but lack ocean views. Rollaway beds are available for a fee. Bathrooms are modern and often have glass-walled showers with Greek-key pattered tile. Hairdryers, bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion are standard.

See More Rooms

Features

Soaking pool, free snorkeling and dive-equipment storage, and a concierge 

As most guests are drawn here by the opportunity for an independent seaside getaway, and features are perhaps predictably thin. The Bellafonte offers fewer amenities than other hotels at a similar price point, but the hotel does a great job with what it has. The tiny soaking pool overlooks the ocean and the hotel’s private dock, which has stairs leading into the sea. From the dock, it's a short swim to the house reef. Snorkeling equipment is available to borrow but a Bonaire National Marine Park tag is required (available at any island dive shop -- the nearest from Bellafonte is a one-minute drive, or 13-minute walk). The hotel has lockers to store diving equipment as well as freshwater tanks for rinsing gear. The hotel’s concierge can arrange just about anything guests would like to do on the island including tours, taxis, car rentals, windsurfing, kite boarding excursions, and grocery provisioning (for a fee). The latter is a great service since there isn’t an on-site restaurant. The hotel has a book library, free mosquito spray, and battery disposal. Laundry service is also available, for a fee. There's limited on-site parking, and once the lot is full guests must use the streets around the hotel. Free Wi-Fi works well in rooms, but can be spotty in common areas. 

See More Features

Things You Should Know About Bellafonte Luxury Oceanfront Hotel

Also Known As

  • Bellafonte Chateau de la Mer

Address

E.E.G. Boulevard 10, Bonaire

Website

Oyster Hotel Review

Bellafonte Luxury Oceanfront Hotel

Scene

 Quiet, private hotel with great sunsets that's best for independent travelers

Bellafonte feels more like a private apartment complex than a hotel, and that's part of its appeal for independent travelers who don't need much in the way of resort features. The lobby is near the parking lot and is easy to miss if you’re not looking for it, but once inside the hotel's grounds, everything is pleasant and quiet. The landscaping is manicured and includes tropical plants and blossoming flowers that lead to a walkway that passes from the parking area to the oceanfront "pool" and dock. The hotel seems empty during the day as guests are usually off diving, but in the evenings, it perks up a bit as guests congregate on the pool deck and on their private balconies to watch the great sunset views. Unlike some areas of the island, Bellafonte’s breezy waterfront keeps mosquitos away. Guests are mostly couples and divers from the United States, but families from around the world are not uncommon to see as well. 

See More Scene

Location

South of Kralendijk, but close to the airport and Bonaire’s saltpan evaporation ponds 

Located on a dusty road that traces Bonaire’s south coast, Bellafonte is a five-minute drive to Flamingo International Airport, which is also the closest place to rent a car. Most guests will want to have one in order to explore the island. It's a 15-minute drive into central Kralendijk, the island’s hub for restaurants, shopping, and a pleasant place to explore its restored colonial buildings. Bonaire’s giant saltpans (evaporation ponds full of sea water that are then mined for the salt) are a 15-minute drive. Near the saltpans are historic shacks used by the slaves who once toiled in the open-air mines (go late in the day for great sunset views). Lac Bay is a shallow bay with world-class winds that draws windsurfers and kite boarders from throughout the globe and is a 25-minute drive from the property. However, the nearest beach -- Te Amo Beach -- is a two-minute walk from the hotel. For food, a few restaurants serving international cuisine are within a five-minute walk of the hotel, but most food options are in town and include sushi, Cuban, and Italian. The nearest grocery store is a 10-minute drive from the hotel. 

See More Location

Rooms

Mostly spacious and modern apartments include kitchens or kitchenettes, many with sea views

Bellafonte’s 22 air-conditioned suites and Studios are each individually owned and the decor varies from one unit to the next. The one-bedroom Senior Suite that we visited has a rustic Caribbean style of blues, grays, and reclaimed wood furniture. Other Suites, like the Grand Suite that we saw, are a bit more plain and homey. All suites include full kitchens done to the property's specifications, with granite counters and stainless steel appliances. Toasters, blenders, and coffee makers are standard (some have electric kettles) and if there’s an appliance missing, the hotel will do its best to source one. If dish washing isn’t on the vacation agenda, housekeeping wash dishes upon request. 

Living rooms feature large flat-screen TVs, couches, and love seats and abut the ocean view balconies, which have a rattan table and chairs. All apartments have either king or queen beds (the king beds can be separated into two twins beds) as well as safes, phones, and free Wi-Fi. The internet works well, as each unit has its own private network. For those staying more than one night, the hotel provides a free bottle of wine. Studios are the hotel’s smallest and cheapest rooms, and have flat-screen TVs, queen beds, and kitchenettes with coffeemakers, toasters, blenders, and a mini-fridge. They’re a great option -- especially since some can be connected with suites -- but lack ocean views. Rollaway beds are available for a fee. Bathrooms are modern and often have glass-walled showers with Greek-key pattered tile. Hairdryers, bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion are standard.

See More Rooms

Features

Soaking pool, free snorkeling and dive-equipment storage, and a concierge 

As most guests are drawn here by the opportunity for an independent seaside getaway, and features are perhaps predictably thin. The Bellafonte offers fewer amenities than other hotels at a similar price point, but the hotel does a great job with what it has. The tiny soaking pool overlooks the ocean and the hotel’s private dock, which has stairs leading into the sea. From the dock, it's a short swim to the house reef. Snorkeling equipment is available to borrow but a Bonaire National Marine Park tag is required (available at any island dive shop -- the nearest from Bellafonte is a one-minute drive, or 13-minute walk). The hotel has lockers to store diving equipment as well as freshwater tanks for rinsing gear. The hotel’s concierge can arrange just about anything guests would like to do on the island including tours, taxis, car rentals, windsurfing, kite boarding excursions, and grocery provisioning (for a fee). The latter is a great service since there isn’t an on-site restaurant. The hotel has a book library, free mosquito spray, and battery disposal. Laundry service is also available, for a fee. There's limited on-site parking, and once the lot is full guests must use the streets around the hotel. Free Wi-Fi works well in rooms, but can be spotty in common areas. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Beach

  • Cabanas

  • Cable

  • Cribs

  • Full Kitchen

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Pets Allowed

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.