Van Der Valk Beach & Dive Resort

oceanfront town,” says Wegerer. “We are located within walking distance of the downtown area where you’ll find lots of restaurants and bars, as well as nice boutique shops.” Back at the resort, you’ll find the Coral Casino Bonaire in the resort’s lobby, which offers Black Jack, American Roulette, Three-Card Poker with a progressive jackpot, and Texas Hold’em. Eco-friendly initiatives are top of mind at Plaza Beach & Dive Resort. Besides generating power with their own solar field, the resort offers guests refillable water bottles upon arrival. The bottles can be refilled at water stations across the resort with water filtered through reverse- osmosis at their very own water plant. “And the water stations don’t just have water, they have it flavoured with mint or cucumber or lime,” says Wegerer. “So, that gives a more refreshing taste, which is nice for customers.” Other environmentally-friendly initiatives include using only paper straws throughout the resort, and cloth instead of plastic bags offered to shoppers in the dive shop. The resort has also partnered with Lita’s Natural Insect Repellant, to offer an eco-friendly option to guests. Wegerer shares, “Lita’s is a really great product that’s also environmentally friendly. I’ve lived on this island now for 20 years and I’ve tried lots of different products and some work ok, some don’t work at all – but this one works. And it’s also good for the skin and has this wonderful aroma.” The resort is currently undergoing a $40-million renovation that will expand the property’s amenities, making it even more attractive to travellers. Wegerer explains, “The owners of the resort – a Dutch family – are investing heavily in the property at the moment. It’s totally, totally amazing. They have looked at the land they have and are now putting in place a brand-new front lobby that will include a shopping mall. There will be boutique shops for ladies and men, as well as a full-service spa and fitness center. There will also be a standalone building for the