Sonrisa Hotel Bonaire — Our Review
Sonrisa Boutique Hotel on Bonaire
When a new hotel opens on Bonaire, we seldom rush to add it to our list of accommodation options. Observation and evaluation over time as to what the guest will experience usually serves our clients’ best interests. That’s our excuse to wait this long to include Sonrisa, a boutique hotel on Bonaire that earns our latest recommendation.
About 2 years old, Sonrisa has quietly gained a reputation for doing many things well, as I discovered on my recent five-day stay. We’ve known and worked with Sonrisa’s owner, Roger Jurriens, for many years. One of the partners of Bonaire Windsurf Place, Roger learned the hospitality business from his decades of accommodating and serving windsurfers on Aruba and Bonaire. Together with his partner Jacqueline, who oversees the day to day needs of Sonrisa guests, they offer a vacation experience that is intimate in scale with a close attention to detail that many travelers appreciate.
Sonrisa’s two-story modern colonial contains a total of 8 hotel rooms and 2 apartments with kitchens, secluded within a walled garden on the southern edge of Kralendijk. It’s situated at the corner of Kaya Industria and Kaya Finlandia, a quiet residential street near the town center, and a mere 2 block walk to the oceanfront Divi Flamingo Beach Resort. This is where the promenade begins that fronts the town’s quaint harbor-side, affording Sonrisa guests early morning jaunts to watch the seaside capital wake up, as well as evening strolls to dinner at several close by restaurants. It’s one of the easiest places from which to launch your day’s activities — less than a block from the new round-about and main roads heading to the airport, Lac Bay and the southern half of the island. There’s a well stocked ‘locals’ grocery a block away; Lisa Gas station and Warehouse supermarket are a couple of minutes drive down the street. Private parking is onsite, just outside Sonrisa’s secure entry gate. “Convenient” is not an overstatement.
I found the hotel to be meticulously clean and in excellent condition. All rooms have simple yet stylish furnishings with ample lighting that open to furnished patios or balconies facing the pool or gardens. Hotel rooms are equipped with a mini-fridge (perfect for my Amstels and a pitcher of chilled water) and an electric water kettle with a starter of assorted tea and coffee, much appreciated by us morning types. You might think twice about getting up early. Their king size beds with memory foam mattress, duvets and 2 different pillow sizes made sleeping a pleasure and starting the day worth putting off. Tiled bathrooms are bright and clean with showers and hot water.
Once Jacqueline opens the reception office at 8AM, you’ll want to take advantage of their complimentary breakfast — served on tables under the palapa or taken back to your room — with fresh dark roast coffee, yogurt, fruit and a Bonairean breakfast sandwich of assorted meat and fine Dutch cheeses on a baguette. Jacqueline or her assistant are there each day until 12:30PM, energetically preparing breakfast, cleaning rooms and providing attentive service along with friendly advice. There’s a gas grill with tables next to the poolside palapa, complete with festive lighting just right for an evening BBQ.
A constant load of work related email proved Sonrisa’s free wireless internet was consistently stronger and more reliable than what I usually find on Bonaire, as Roger assured it would be. There was clear reception on their cable TV with plenty of channels for surfing myself to sleep. Both hotel rooms and apartments have screened windows and doors along with ceiling fans for natural ventilation, and all have air conditioning that cools the entire space quickly and quietly.
Outside the room, Sonrisa is both private and quiet. I enjoyed the serenity of the palm shaded terrace and their large outdoor palapa for daily naps or a dip in the pool, with only a breeze and rustling palms to break the silence. Sonrisa’s policy welcomes children 12 and older at the property with adult supervision, insuring a quiet vibe — if you are a family with smaller kids, there are better suited options on Bonaire.
Sonrisa’s two apartments are set up with a living area, kitchen and a separate bedroom. They can be joined to other hotel rooms to make a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment for larger parties. Kitchens are well equipped and complete with all utensils and appliances for cooking including coffee maker, toaster, oven, range, microwave and refrigerator. Everything looked as if it had never been used on my inspection.
Windsurfing guests can use the daily shuttle for a minimal fee that runs to Bonaire Windsurf Place on Lac Bay at 9:30AM and 12:30PM, with returns at 1:00PM and 5:00PM. Divers can use any number of nearby dive shops, with the closest being Dive Bonaire at the Divi, just two blocks away.
While Bonaire continues to add more accommodation options, Sonrisa shines as a most pleasant surprise on the Bonaire lodging scene. They truly deliver an affordable quality with service that leaves one wanting to return. I definitely will.
Rates start at $99.00 per night for a hotel room including daily Sonrisa breakfast and free wireless internet. Contact us for a price quote and reservations at www.BonairePros.com
I have to say that the Sonrisa is a most enjoyable place to stay. I’ve stayed there twice and it was great both times. We used the shuttle to the beach this year, and surprisingly for an island, you could set your watch by the arrival and departure times of the bus. I agree wholeheartedly with everything in your review.
Ellen — thanks for writing. Your shuttle report is not surprising. We’ll be offering packages at Sonrisa soon.
Cowboy Andy