JacquiBates
16 Temmuz 2023
Tranquility, serenity, peace. This is the real Bonnie Doon. 30 minute ride from airport, 15 minute boat ride to island, then peace. Dolphins, dugongs, turtles, fish and coral galore. Straight out from your Bure or within a short walk. No car noise, no street lights, only sound is from other guests or the lapping ocean. Thick black nights = maximum star gazing. Take the time to get to Fred’s Beach. It is spec-tac-ular. Ask the kitchen for a picnic lunch as you’ll need to spend hours there. 75 minute hike, private beach, crystal clear water, deep coral, little cave to explore. You won't want to leave. The best part is the tour guide, Boots the dog. She will take you there, stay with you and guide you back (take some fresh water for her as there’s none and she won't leave until you’re done.). There is nothing luxurious about the living quarters at this resort, it is very basic which is the highlight IMO. Do not come here if you’re a sook. 4 hours of electricity, 1 wifi hot spot, dinner is placed in front of you and it’s that or nothing (which removes all the thinking about meals and you’ll be famished). Lots of walking and sightseeing or you can chill out in a hammock. Reef shoes and a torch are a must. One highlight is attending meals with the other guests and comparing what you’ve each discovered over the day. Some great connections made. Diving can be arranged twice a day, snorkelling and sunshine all day. The major downside for us was seeing how the owner (Owen) and his best buddy (Stan) treated the local staff members. Rude, obnoxious, unappreciative, belittling, penny-pinching, smug old dudes. Any suggestions or variations are denied just because they don’t like change. No repairs or upkeep has been done in years. The staff work 12+ hour days and some stay on the premises. No amenities allowed, half the roof blown off and they’re permitted to eat whatever the dogs don’t and some bread. I do not joke. At our Bure early one morning, Stan called out that a light had been left on overnight and he was coming down to turn it off. I replied that we were still sleeping (1 woman, 2 children), he then ENTERED OUR ROOM to turn the light off. When confronted, both he and the owner justified his actions as being totally acceptable. Like, what now? Again, I do not joke or embellish. If this is how they feel entitled to treat paying guests, imagine how they’re treating staff! I can think of many 4 lettered words appropriate for these two Australian people. The staff are gentle, kind, hardworking and will do whatever they can to make your stay better. Be kind to them, bring them gifts as they deserve all the love. The new manager, Evante, has some great ideas for small improvements – like the bonfire! A great evening for everyone. Hopefully she’ll be given some leash unlike other past managers who have burnt out inside 2 years. FYI – she loves talking about horror movies and we happened across a dolls head on one of our walks. We may or may not have
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