By Wes Adams (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 10:44 pm: |
I would first like to thank many of you that have assisted me in planning our dive trip to
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By Cynde (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #13207) on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 - 11:40 pm: |
Wes, there are few hotels that are under a $100.00, in areas where you would want to stay. Isla Verde, or Old San Juan would be the safest areas...on this link, I could recommend (in that I saw them from the outside):
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By Bob Birk (BonaireTalker - Post #58) on Wednesday, March 2, 2005 - 9:21 am: |
We did a 3 day stay in Old San Juan coming back from Culebra last year. We stayed at the Hotel Milano, http://www.hotelmilanopr.com/ which was centrally located, close to shopping and nice small restaurants. Old San Juan is scenic and beautiful with a charm you won't find in the big resort areas. OSJ is about a 20 minute cab from the airport, but well worth it if you have to spend the night.
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By Cynde (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #13210) on Wednesday, March 2, 2005 - 11:32 am: |
Wes, how long will you be in San Juan? If it's just overnight, you may want to stick to Isla Verde, if it's a day and night, Bob's right, Old San Juan has charm. Isla Verde has a great beach though...one thing to remember, it's a 20 minute cab ride to the airport, with NO traffic...I spent 6 weeks in San Juan last year, and let me tell ya, morning, afternoon and evening traffic can be a bear...so allow time if you stay in Old San Juan...Isla Verde is a 10 minute ride from the airport at best
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By Linnea Wijkhof-Wimberly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #822) on Wednesday, March 2, 2005 - 11:35 am: |
I second the Hotel Milano, it is clean, reasonably priced, and centrally located in OSJ. They have a restaurant on the top of the hotel that has good food and supplies the hotel's continental breakfast. For other places check out http://welcome.topuertorico.org/city/sanjuan.shtml Scroll down to the bottom and click on lodging for a list of the hotels in the San Juan metor area. If it says something like Isla Verde or Condado, it is not near the old town. You can take the $.25 bus to OSJ from within a block or two of any of the places outside of town. The bus stops have the route numbers posted. Just make sure that you are heading into the old town and remember the route number for your return trip. The buses unload by the cruise pier and there are free trolley stops right in front of the bus station that take you all over OSJ. There are two routes: Central - takes you around the central part of OSJ, Norte - takes you out to the El Morro Fort and the old cemetery. Stop for lunch at La Bombonera on Calle San Franciso between Calle Tanka and Calle San Jose. There is a trolley stop just up the street from La Bombonera. From the front it looks like a small pastry shop, but in the back it has a counter and booths. My recommendation is the La Bombonera Special sandwich and if you like fresh orange juice, they squeeze it just before they put it in front of you. Their pastries are to die for.
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By Ron LaCourse (BonaireTalker - Post #22) on Thursday, March 3, 2005 - 3:09 am: |
Bob, I see you went to Culebra, a place I've been interested in seeing. Is it worth the trip? How does it compare to Bonaire above and below water?
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By Bob Birk (BonaireTalker - Post #60) on Thursday, March 3, 2005 - 9:34 am: |
Hi Ron. It would be like comparing apples to oranges. Culebra is really laid back, with world class sandy beaches, really a beautiful place. On the other hand, the diving was only fair at the best spots (in a boat), snorkeling fair also if you went to the right spots. Not the nice lush reef like Bonaire, diving is mostly following the bottom contours. The soft coral is in fair shape, but the hard is not too healthy. Food was good, but a distinct lack of Puerto Rican fare, mostly stuff you can get at home. No night life. About the only comparison I could make is some rugged terrain and watch out for the goats. The brush has spines that would make a cactus green with envy. This is a great place to go to kick back on a nice beach or take great pictures, but I would not consider it to be a primary diving and snorkeling spot.
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By Bob Birk (BonaireTalker - Post #61) on Thursday, March 3, 2005 - 9:50 am: |
Linnea, I agree, we love PR too. Our trip last month to Bonaire dictated overnighting in Mo Bay both inbound and outbound. Next trip we will route through San Juan and spend a few more days in OSJ on the way back.
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By Ron LaCourse (BonaireTalker - Post #24) on Friday, March 4, 2005 - 4:35 am: |
Thank you Bob, exactly what I wanted to hear and extremely glad we booked Bonaire instead. We live at the beach so sand doesn't do it for us, although clear waters are always a treat. 12 more hours.
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By Bob Birk (BonaireTalker - Post #62) on Friday, March 4, 2005 - 9:26 am: |
Ron, if this is your first trip to Bonaire (or not), you're in for a treat. Diving at your own pace is a luxury you don't get on boats. One suggestion, if you are going to dive the beaches which are mostly broken coral, hard soled booties make entries a lot easier. The visibility a month ago was very good, water about 82 degrees, and critters everywhere you look. Enjoy.
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By Linnea Wijkhof-Wimberly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #828) on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 - 6:10 pm: |
One note, the boats on Bonaire are not run on the herd mentality. You get in the water, do things at your own pace, and the only restrictions are for max time and depth. You can go with the dive guide if you want, but are not required too unless you pull some kind of stunt that flags you as a menace to the reef.
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