By Tanja Bugas (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Wednesday, March 26, 2003 - 11:47 pm: |
Getting to Bonaire was a bit of a challenge from Denver. We left Denver Sat (3/15) 9:45 am on American, connected through Miami, overnighted in San Juan, and finally arrived in Bonaire Sun (3/16) 8:45 pm on American Eagle. We didn't have any problems until we checked in (3 hours early) at the San Juan airport where we were told that we couldn't be given boarding passes and were on a waiting list (numbers 3,4 and 5)due to weight restrictions for the plane. American said that 14 seats were being held back until the plane, fuel, baggage, etc. were weighed, and if they could take additional weight, we might be put on the flight! They claimed that 50 people had already checked in ahead of us (that morning) and that was why we were on a waiting list. The plane capacity was 64. I was furious. While waiting to see if we would be put on that flight we heard many announcements for over-booked flights departing to many other Carribean islands (also on American). I think that was the real reason (not weight) we were not immediately given boarding passes. When I complained (a lot) we were handed boarding passes! Our family (my husband and I and our son) stayed at the Yacht Club Apartments which are just north of town near the Harbour Village marina. We got a very reasonable package that included a Toyota twincab truck. We were met at the airport by someone from our hotel which helped a lot since we were new to the island and arriving after dark. Our accomodations included 2 bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen/dining room/living room, cable TV, and a patio which we used a lot for eating and storing our snorkel gear. The pool area included a covered pavillion, BBQ grill, chairs, and facilities for rinsing dive/snorkel gear. The hotel was very pleasant, but was not on the water, thus, no great views. We are snorkelers and enjoyed the abundant fishes on Bonaire and Klein Bonaire. We used the Water Taxi to get to Klein Bonaire and did drift snorkeling. It was sad to see all the damage from Hurricane Lenny (1999). The reef must have been spectacular before the storm. Much of the reef had a fair amount of coral rubble that gave it the appearance of having a blanket of snow. Despite the broken coral the fish seemed to be plentiful. We also enjoyed night snorkeling.
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By Belinda Z (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #10) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 10:13 am: |
Tanja,
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By Ida Christie (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #872) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 1:39 pm: |
Hi Tanja,
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By Linda Stoltzfus (BonaireTalker - Post #83) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 1:47 pm: |
Tanja,
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By Ginny Stokes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #488) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 10:50 pm: |
Ditto on traveling from Denver, but it is absolutely worth it!! Thanks for sharing your experiences, enjoyed your report.
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By Gail Currie (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #446) on Friday, March 28, 2003 - 10:33 am: |
We used to have to travel from Denver but now have the convenience of living in Florida. However our friends still have to do the Den-Bon trip and they do the red eye on Delta to Atlanta at 12:30am, then to Jamaica and Bonaire and get into Bonaire at 2pm the same day. We did the red eye with them before but then went to Miami and the direct from Miami. We never sleep well the night before anyways so why not be up flying. We did sleep from Denver to Atlanta so got a few hours sleep. Besides you're on vacation mode at that point.
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By sherry baker (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #449) on Friday, March 28, 2003 - 11:43 am: |
GAIL, how is florida? are you coming back up to denver this summer? hope all is well in your world.
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By Gail Currie (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #447) on Saturday, March 29, 2003 - 11:31 am: |
Florida is great. We love the weather (no snow), we went fishing with some friends the other day - what a blast that was - just to be on the water. We haven't done any diving yet and probably won't for a while -except to test out our gear. We are heading to Bonaire on 4/26 and then up to Denver around 5/20. Our son is getting married on 7/3 and we plan to sell the house in Denver in the summer - so yes we will be there all summer. Maybe we can get together.
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By Tanja Bugas (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Saturday, March 29, 2003 - 7:20 pm: |
Belinda Z,
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By DJ (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #12) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 8:16 pm: |
Tanja, great trip report. I knew you would get hooked!!!!
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By Milton Best (BonaireTalker - Post #11) on Tuesday, April 1, 2003 - 3:29 pm: |
Hi Tanja,
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By Belinda Z (BonaireTalker - Post #14) on Monday, April 7, 2003 - 10:04 am: |
Tanja,
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