By Stanley A. Holz (BonaireTalker - Post #36) on Saturday, May 31, 2008 - 1:35 pm: |
I'm planning my third trip to Bonaire for February, 2009. Somehow, it seems like it was a heck of a lot easier getting here a few years ago than it is now. Using American Airlines out of Boston, my only option seems to connect through San Juan. Unfortunately, they only seem to run one flight out of San Juan that gets in to Bonaire at 9 PM. Now, AA has canceled all but the 6:30 AM flights out of Boston, so that means a layover of several hours. The return flight, which leaves Bonaire at 7:11 AM, is almost as bad as far as the long layover.
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By David Johnson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #402) on Saturday, May 31, 2008 - 1:47 pm: |
Yes, the SJU to BON flight is a once a day (sometimes seven days a week, sometimes not) thing.
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By Jerry (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #11230) on Saturday, May 31, 2008 - 2:10 pm: |
Bos - Mia - Cur - Bon.
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By Susan Taft (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #882) on Saturday, May 31, 2008 - 4:38 pm: |
From where you are in NH you can also fly CO out of Manchester with good connections to Newark for the late night flight to Bonaire.
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By Ruth Dodge (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Sunday, June 1, 2008 - 9:43 am: |
How long are the flights via Divi Divi and are they reliable?
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By Stanley A. Holz (BonaireTalker - Post #37) on Sunday, June 1, 2008 - 9:57 am: |
I'm finding that all the alternatives are either much more expensive, just as long, or involve multiple stops. So....the Boston-San Juan-Bonaire connection is still probably the most convenient and the least expensive way to go. Right now, I can book this connection for $691 round trip and it's only a one stop flight.
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By Ginny (BonaireTalker - Post #35) on Sunday, June 1, 2008 - 12:29 pm: |
Stan,
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By Stanley A. Holz (BonaireTalker - Post #39) on Sunday, June 1, 2008 - 1:41 pm: |
Well, it looks like AA has now cancelled all my flights...Boston to SJU, and also the return leg. Now I don't have to worry about the layover, just finding any flight will be a challenge. My travel dates, as far as days of the week, are not flexible so my options are very limited.
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By David Johnson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #404) on Sunday, June 1, 2008 - 3:25 pm: |
Ruth:
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By David Johnson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #405) on Sunday, June 1, 2008 - 3:27 pm: |
Also, if doing AA via CUR with Divi, the trick is to get the morning flight from MIA to CUR and take the afternoon flight from CUR to MIA. (The only downside there is it can be hard to then make it to the west coast on the return leg unless you overnight somewhere).
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By Bill Thorpe, (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #316) on Sunday, June 1, 2008 - 3:29 pm: |
Stan
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By David Johnson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #406) on Sunday, June 1, 2008 - 3:30 pm: |
Stanley:
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By Bill Thorpe, (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #317) on Sunday, June 1, 2008 - 3:41 pm: |
Stanley
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By Stanley A. Holz (BonaireTalker - Post #40) on Sunday, June 1, 2008 - 5:49 pm: |
I will look into the Boston to Curacao to Bonaire connections this week. Thanks all for the help...I need it!
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By Kate Hickson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #245) on Sunday, June 1, 2008 - 6:03 pm: |
Stanley- It is indeed an all-day affair to get to BOS from BON. There's just no way around it. Been doing it for years. I avoid multiple carriers because if something/anything goes wrong, they both disavow any responsibiity and point fingers at each other. Plus, it's not usually cheaper (see Bill's suggestion). I looked into flying CO, as I don't mind the red eye, but the last CO flight from BOS to EWR still left me with a 6 hour layover, and the price was the same as AA. I just accept it. Good luck, and let us know if you find a good deal!
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By Tom Schamp (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #118) on Monday, June 9, 2008 - 9:44 am: |
AA's cancelation of the morning flight from MIA to CUR really stinks. Now you get to CUR after 8 PM, so very difficult to get to Bonaire the same day.
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By Beth (BonaireTalker - Post #48) on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 10:34 am: |
We are in the same boat. Our flights were changed and we also have a looong layover in San Juan. We decided to book a room at the Best Western (right at the airport) and we are going to either go to the beach or visit Old San Juan.
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By Beth (BonaireTalker - Post #49) on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 10:40 am: |
Oops forgot to add. I did the BOS-Aruba-Bon option one year and I thought it was a nightmare...maybe things have changed. When we left Bonaire we had to clear customs in Bon..then when we arrived in Aruba we had to clear customs to enter Aruba and then clear customs again to depart Aruba to Boston. It was such a pain and it took forever to get through customs in Aruba. I said I would never do it again...that was 5 years ago...it might be different now.
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By Ginny (BonaireTalker - Post #37) on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 10:42 am: |
Booking a room may be the sane thing to do.I can't see spending that many hours on the beach. We are still trying to figure out if the rainforest makes sense as far as time and money.
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By Beth (BonaireTalker - Post #50) on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 11:00 am: |
I would love to take a trip to El Yunque, but I am not sure if there is enough time..it is about 25 miles one way and the speed limit goes down a bit once you get out of San Juan. Plus it takes some time to walk the trails etc. But it is amazing...I have never seen so many variation of the color green.
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By AaronG (BonaireTalker - Post #79) on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 12:10 pm: |
El Yunque is breathtaking. I'd love a return trip to check it out. The hike down to one of the larger waterfalls took a bit longer than I would have liked. My favorite was early in drive. There will be a waterfall on the right side of the road as you start heading into the forest. There should be a small place to park next to a guard rail. On the right side of that waterfall is a small trail that goes up the hill (I think there is a trash can there too). If you climb up that trail it opens up to another waterfall with a really nice swimming hole. It's more secluded than the other areas.
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By Susan Taft (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #887) on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 1:47 pm: |
Another hotel with a day rate is the Hampton Inn in Isla Verde. It is about an 8 minute cab ride from the airport. I prefer it to the Best Western because it has a pool, a poolside restaurant and the rooms are larger than at the BW. The price is about $149.00 and I believe you can stay til 6pm.
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By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7353) on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 2:39 pm: |
Sue, we like the Hampton Inn ourselves. Nice place to stay for long layovers.
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By Ginny (BonaireTalker - Post #38) on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 2:43 pm: |
The plan is taking shape. I like the idea of the Hampton Inn with the pool and the later check-out. It would be easy to pick some lunch up on the way to keep the costs down ( saving our cash for diving!!!)
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By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7354) on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 4:12 pm: |
You can walk to the beach from there too, Ginny. Nice area. Lots of places to eat around there too.
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