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Getting to Bonaire: Potential problems and travel tips?
Bonaire Talk: Getting to Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999-2005: Archives - 2003-05-01 to 2004-01-31: Potential problems and travel tips?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cameron Streutker (BonaireTalker - Post #15) on Sunday, June 8, 2003 - 2:52 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I leave in a week for Bonaire for my honeymoon. We are flying American Airlines. we fly from Cincinnati to Dallas to San Juan and on to Bonaire. The following Sunday we are leaving Boanaire and flying with DCA to Curacao for another week before returning home to Cincinnati on American. Are there any potential problems I should be aware of as this is my first time to the Carribean and first time leaving the United States.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ruth van Tilburg (BonaireTalker - Post #54) on Sunday, June 8, 2003 - 4:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Be aware that PBD will set in while you're in Curacao, but remember you can fly right back to Bonaire in 20 minutes.
;-)

oh, and take your ATM cards so you don't have to carry large amounts of cash.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By JIM KENNEDY (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #126) on Sunday, June 8, 2003 - 6:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Just be sure your carry on has all the "necessary dive and honeymoon gear" just in case your check in luggage doesn't make it there for a day or two.

jimini

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb schulherr (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #646) on Sunday, June 8, 2003 - 6:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I will add you can rent most dive gear Cameron. Drink plenty of water while traveling, airplane will dehydrate you very quickly, especially if you add alcohol. Only take a few clothes-say 25% of what you think you will need. Don't need much in the way of shoes either. Good thick soled booties are a good idea for shore diving, as are strap back fins.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By C Poteet (BonaireTalker - Post #86) on Sunday, June 8, 2003 - 7:36 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Cameron -

Congratulations! What a place to celebrate the start of a new life!

Since you have not traveled outside the States before, let me urge you not to be hesitant about asking questions about everything.

Overriding tips: guard your passport as if it were gold and phone or go to the airport in person (easy to do in Bonaire)to verify your flights at least 24 hours in advance.

A good example of asking questions: on the airplane between San Juan and Bonaire you will get a card to fill out that you will hand over to Immigration & Customs when you arrive in Bonaire. It asks for vital information and travel specifics (for your first international travel you picked an easy customs experience in Bonaire), don't hesitate to ask the stewardess/steward about the details of the card if you don't understand it.

Same going home. On the flight from Curacao to your first stop in the States (which may be San Juan, Dallas, wherever)you'll get a card to hand over to U.S. Immigration & Customs asking for vital information and purchase detail of what you bought to bring back to the States. (Tip: be careful to keep all receipts of anything you buy in Bonaire and/or Curacao which you plan to take home. You probably will never be asked for them, but if you are, they can save all kinds of time.)

You go through Customs & Immigration entering most countries. It is a two step process. As I recall (someone will correct me if my sequence is incorrect), the first step is Immigration. That is where you show your passport and answer usually straight-forward questions about the purpose of your visit. The second step in Customs and that you turn over the cards you fill out on the airplane and where you are asked what you have to declare (i.e., what did you buy outside of the country that you are bringing in) and the step at which your luggage is subject to inspection. (Note that U.S. citizens are allowed to bring back a certain dollar limit of goods that are not taxed i.e., "duty free".) Any goods exceeding that amount are subject to a tax ("duy"). American Airlines ought to be able to tell you the amount.

Also, with today's security, do not be surprised if before you leave Bonaire each piece of your luggage is opened and hand searched at the airport. Standard procedure, at least our last two trips.

On Bonaire and Curacao, don't hesitate to ask if hotel, restaurant, gift shop, etc. prices are in Netherlands Antilles Florins (also called "guilders") or U.S. dollars. You'll find both mixed on Bonaire.

You're going to love Bonaire. We do wish you had two weeks in Bonaire, but on this trip, wherever y'all go will be special.


Charles Poteet
Dallas

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6924) on Sunday, June 8, 2003 - 8:35 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

cameron, congratulations!

charles, great advise. another tip is to keep your credit card receipts with you in a safe place. most of the places on bonaire don't block out the number on the receipt, and someone a while back had her gifts that she had bought for folks at home in her checked luggage along with her credit card reciepts. her luggage was "gone through" sometime before she got home. someone had taken the credit card receipt and bought some things online.

use precaution like you would traveling to someplace new and unfamiliar. when on the island, keep your passport, credit cards, jewlery, anything of value in the room safe. only take what you need when you go out. also, if you are diving, when at the dive site leave your car windows down, and the vehicle unlocked. don't leave ANYTHING of value in the car. this means money, credit cards, expensive sunglasses etc. you are close enough to your resort that when you are done with the dive you can go back to your room and get whatever is necessary if you need those things.

the town is very clean and safe at night to go out and walk, go to dinner, etc.

oh, and ruth is right, you will end up having PBD after a couple of days on curacao:-) have fun, and just use common sense:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1134) on Sunday, June 8, 2003 - 8:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Drink lots of water on the plane, ok? Avoid alcohol and wear comfy shoes.

Bring some snacks for the layover in San Juan. There is NOTHING good to eat anywhere. When you book seats on American Eagle sit in rows 14 - 16 if you are claustrophobic like me. You enter and exit the rear of the plane so for me, sitting in the back is preferred.

Pack light in Bonaire, try local foods, visit the cultural and historic sites, see local artisans work, dive, snorkel, relax and stop at Lac Bay to see how the best windsurfers in the world make that sport look sooo easy...

Annie
:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DIVER DEBBI (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #297) on Sunday, June 8, 2003 - 9:24 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Travel for the first time out of the country..put tickets and passport and into fanny pack because they will ask you for that info about ten times before you get on the plane..seems like any thick soled shoes are being asked to be removed so be prepaired to remove shoes..always keep that passport and your wallet in front of your fanny pack not your back pocket or open purse..keep clearing ears on the plane..drink alot of water, but not the airplane water, only bottled water, on Bonaire tap water is good...carry on overnight bag incase luggage does not arrive..pack stuff in zip lock baggies..easy to stay organized..stay simple..no good jewelry and don't leave anything in your rental car..oh yeah..and have fun !

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cameron Streutker (BonaireTalker - Post #16) on Sunday, June 8, 2003 - 11:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I am slowly getting ready to go thought I wish I were already there. I have our passports, plane tickets, and every voucher for every thing we have booked in a safe place ready to depart. we are going tomorrow to purchase simple gold bands to wear instead of our expensive diamond wedding bands.

As far as packing goes, what kind of dress will I encounter while on the island? Will I need to pack anything more upscale than shorts and t-shirts?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Allen (BonaireTalker - Post #98) on Monday, June 9, 2003 - 8:59 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

You don't NEED anything nicer than shorts and t-shirts, but some nice casual clothing is good to have. I like linen becuase it's comfy and packs small (and I don't mind wrinkles).

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Taft (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #188) on Monday, June 9, 2003 - 10:56 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Cameron, let me add congratualations as well. In addition to all of the other advice make two copies of your passport. Leave one at home with someone and carry another copy with you but not with your passport. ATMs in Bonaire are easy so you do not need to take lots of cash. As far as clothes --- simple and few! I take one pair of nice shorts and a few nice tops for evening and then a few pairs of quick dry nylon shorts and tank tops for over my bathing suit. If I am leaving home during a warm season I just wear my flip flops on the plane. I never take any other footwear! Enjoy!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cameron Streutker (BonaireTalker - Post #18) on Monday, June 9, 2003 - 12:08 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Are travelers checks advisable? Are they widely accepted?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6934) on Monday, June 9, 2003 - 1:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

cameron, traveler's checks are accepted, but ended up using cash or credit cards most of the time. you may want to use them though as you will be going to curacao as well. just keep any extra locked up in the room safe so you don't have a lot of cash on you at any one time.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Corney Ann Carter (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #166) on Monday, June 9, 2003 - 1:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We take travelers checks and cash them at the bank for guilders as we need them. I am sure you will wish you spent the whole two weeks on Bonaire. Congratulations and have a great trip and please don't forget that trip report when you get home.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ginny Stokes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #509) on Monday, June 9, 2003 - 2:45 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Cameron, you are going to be crazy about Bonaire! Every time we leave, I see this happen, tho - so here is a tip: upon arrival when you go thru Immigration, the official will give you back a portion of the papers you filled out. This is your Exit Visa, so keep it with your passport. If you don't have it when you check in for your departure flight, you will have to start all over again filling out more forms. Too bad the penalty isn't that you have to stay on Bonaire forever!! :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ruth van Tilburg (BonaireTalker - Post #56) on Monday, June 9, 2003 - 2:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Very casual dress is ok here, but is not ok in Curacao-you will not feel comfortable in sandals, shorts/t-shirts in their restaurants, nightclubs, casinos, etc; some places will not allow such casual dress either, especially the clubs. Pls read what I posted under "Accommodation"-I think under the "Buddy Dive Question" near the top, earlier today.

Also, I don't see any advantage to traveler's cheques--Sorry, as a very experienced traveler, these days I can tell you that getting and cashing traveler's cheques at banks are a waste of time; having some for an emergency is fine, however, it's much more convenient to use your atm card and have small amounts of cash every other day or so, as needed, otherwise charge.

Always keep a toiletry kit with you and a change of clothes-it's time consuming, expensive and annoying to have to replace items like this if your luggage is delayed a day or two. Always hand carry any medicines too, and extra large zip-loc bags. And I always take a variety of diff size cable ties--very handy items that can be used as makeshift luggage locks, zipper pulls, etc.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Julia Graves (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #163) on Monday, June 9, 2003 - 3:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Check with your bank over charges for travellers cheques and the ATM machines. We get charged a currency conversion from our UK bank at the ATM and pay nothing for the TC's!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By christine Hughes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #177) on Monday, June 9, 2003 - 6:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

first of all let me congratulate you. Secondly I want to say what I am about to say isnt meant to offend anyone but I am speaking from my own personal experience. I wish that I had listen to some people on the board who gave me the advice not to fly dca but me being the bargain hunter that I am saved over 200.00 a ticket flying them but what that airline put my family through I will not fly them again. One important piece of advice that i can give you when you go to check in from bonaire to go to curacao make sure that thier is a plane on the other end last time they let us get on the flight knowing when we got to curaco thier was no plane leaving and put us in a hotel that was horrible and the hotel staff told us if we left the hotel we had to leave our room key with them in case we got mugged that they wouldnt come back to our room to steal our stuff. That being said bonaire is nothing like that and beautiful and thier is not a place in bonaire that I felt my life was in danger. If you cant get a change in flight arrangements just pack in your carry on your dive equipment and bathing suits and a change of clothes that way if they lose your luggage you still will have whats important. I hope that you put your tickets on a charge card because of my horrible experience with dca plus them losing our luggage I complained to the credit card company which happen to be american express they tried to get some compensation from dca because that airline is so disorganised they didnt bother to respond and we got our plane tickets refunded in full by american express. Another suggeston i have while you are packing make a list of what you packed and what it cost so that if it gets lost they will have to pay you back if possible even photograph so you can prove that you packed it. Also another plug for american express credit card company is that they if you charge your airline tickets on thier card and you luggage gets lost and doesnt show up for 3 hrs they give 300.00 per person whos airline ticket is charge to spend on replacement items. But in spite of all this happening we are going back to bonaire because its a beautiful underwater world that it was very worth it. Also a piece of advice i know its your honeymoon but you have the rest of your life to have relations with each other dont spend it in the hotel room spend it in the water later when you get home you realise how much time you wasted when you could of been in the water. THe sealife and corals are just so awesome words cannot describe seeing the fan coral going back and forth and going to a piece of huge coral and seeing the different critters coming in and out. you could spend hours in just one spot looking at the maginficant underwater world that God created in bonaire.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cameron Streutker (BonaireTalker - Post #19) on Monday, June 9, 2003 - 11:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I will have to check out the possible charges for using the ATM in Bonaire and Curacao and see if we need to check travelers checks.

As far as DCA goes I was warned that not every flight that is scheduled will leave the island so I did not book one of the last flights to Curacao. Getting back will not be a problem becuase we are returning home from Curacao. I am not too worried about crime or anything of that nature on Curacao either as we are staying at Sunset Waters which is an all inclusive resort. The only reason we might leave the resort is to do a little shopping. I also don't think the dress at the resort is pretty casual so it sounds like we are going to be ok.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By JIM KENNEDY (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #127) on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 7:35 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I agree with Christine about having relations in the hotel room- don't do it...Go under water and have them :>)

I know, get back under my rock!
jimini

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan R. (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #321) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 12:19 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Take a spare pair of flops, you never know when you'll have a blow out.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jamie Barber (BonaireTalker - Post #50) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 3:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Best advice? Stay 3 times longer than you are planning. Next time you'll want to stay twice that long!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Edward Thielman (BonaireTalker - Post #18) on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 12:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Waw lots of goods advices. Rest me to say, Have a wonderful time on our Dushi Bonaire.I know for sure you will enjoy it.

 


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