We will be diving Bonaire in early December? Do we really need air conditioning, both in the hotel/apartment and rental truck? The temperatures look moderate, but how bad is the humidity????

Tricia, welcome to Bonaire Talk!

I have been in Bonaire in mid-late November, early January and other months. I have used air conditioning to cool the apartments, but, I do not believe I have ever used it, in rental vehicles.

Enjoy your trip!

Tricia,

Welcome, I agree with Tom and can give you a little more information. Depending on the ventilation in your apt/room and the wind outside is good, you can be comfortable, at least I can be. If the ventilation is not so good, or if you don't feel comfortable with windows open, I definitely at least recommend the airco to cool the room, then use the airco fan.

I don't use the airco at all in my vehicle except for Aug/Sept timeframe. It's really hot and the wind is very slow then.

If you are the least bit heat intolerant, then I recommend the airco in both. If you like it warm with a nice breeze, then consider using air conditioning only when its really hot and if there is little to no wind.

All in all it might be a good idea to have it just in case!

Boy...Liz said it...."least bit heat intolerant" that's me for sure! I have to have airco ALL the time in the vehicle and bedroom!

Yeah, I'm with you Cynde!! Ya can always shut it off if you have A/C but if you don't Welllll.. Ron

I vote to have a/c handy at all times, too! Just in case. If we are not in the water we are usually close to air conditioning. We go in warmer months, however, but "heat intolerant" or "humidity intolerant", actually, is my middle name! LOL. Best to be safe than sorry, as Ron says.....unless you LOVE the heat and some humidity or even cooler nights with a touch of humidity you might want to consider going with the a/c and then just not use it if you don't feel the need to. Carole

Our experience: We started the airco about one hour before going to bed, and then stopped the airco. This way, you start sleeping in a cool room. After a few hours it may be nice to start the fan, but it was not always necessary. Avoid sleeping in a room with the airco working, because you'll certainly get your sinuses blocked!
Toos

oh, and I forgot about the airco in the car. We never had a car with airco, and we never missed it. Open the window.
Toos

I agree with Toos and hate sleeping with the air conditioner on. Prefer fans or as Liz mentioned, if the ventilation is good (and there are screens), to open the windows and enjoy the breeze.

If the AC goes off during the night, I wake up in a pile of water...no way could I go all night without it on! I think for some it may aggrivate the sinuses, but for me, doesn't do anything...in fact, I wake up a MUCH nicer person with the AC on (now, this is only in warm climates...at home, we don't have AC in the house, but I do have a fan at my head all the time when I sleep...and the AC is on in the car if it gets above 68F outside)! LOL! So I guess it's a matter of how "heat tolerant" one is ;-) (or maybe what "stage" of "life" your in if you know what I mean!)

(Message edited by cyndelee on August 23, 2005)

Cynde, never have seen water in a pile, must be a California thing. At home, I too have a fan at the head of my bed. It runs every night I am there.

No hot flashes, so I imagine I haven't started my womenopause, yet! Lucky I guess!!

Tom, LOL! That was BC (before coffee) a "pool" of water! LOL!

You spoiled Americans. I have lived on Bonaire for 15 Years without Airco in my House or Truck. If you want to sleep in the freezing cold go visit Alaska in the winter and yes Airco will mess with your sinuses and ears.

Sorry I couldn't resist the above post.

That's ok, Walt. We understand that you have been out in the sun too long. 'Only mad dogs and h'Englishmun go out in the noonday sun' :–)

Walt...yes, I am spoiled...LOL! And hey, you're allowed to rant once in a while ;-)

I have noticed however, that drinking too much messes with my sinuses ;-)

Note to self, if I ever visit Walt, bring portable fan ;-)

Glen, thanks for the visual

Everyone, thanks for the info.

For starters, I live in Tampa, FL - capital of HOT.....for at least 8 months of the year.

I love nothing more than a fan with a nice breeze, provided the humidity isn't kicking.

However, the boyfriend is a little more sensitive. He's a Georgia boy....

We've decided to pick A/C for the accommodations and skip it for the rental vehicle.

Thanks again for your entertaining rhetoric and great info!

tricia

Walt,
I am glad you posted the follow-up msg. I am afraid some of the others on the island are not so understanding. It is not as much being spoiled as it is what our bodies are acclimated to in the regions we come from (Northern US). We stayed at Coco Palms a few weeks ago and was rather insulted at what we felt turned into racial slurs over airco. The 1st night we had none and missed most of the next days diving because we had to sleep outside (85+ f) and still did not get ANY sleep. 2nd day spent a good bit of time testing and explaining that they were still not working. And the 3rd day moving to a different apt. The last couple of days we made the mistake of using the timers and set them to start about 1 hr before we were due back from diving each day only to find that the owners demanded an additional $150 when we went to checkout. I was appalled after we had been so cooperative and understanding of the 2 1/2 days we put up with them getting the airco situation rectified. (I guess there is a shortage of folks to fix them as well)

Really didn't want this to be a rant, but this seems to be an underlying theme I have come to notice.

Joseph...I am confused (and this may be a cultural thing so hear me out). You had to pay an extra $150.00 because you saved Coco Palms money by using the timer instead of leaving it run all day? What type of nonsense is that? Or...was it that you switched to a room with AC and that was why it was more expensive. I am very confused. However, I applaud you for using the timer. Many people don't care when they are on vacation and leave the thing blasting regardless of if they are present or not. Kudos to you and BOO to Coco Palms.

Electricity on the island is expensive - we all got that. The fine print was only run the airco 8pm-8am. Anything else costs $10/day per room. We only ran it like that with the timer the last 3 days. It was off the others (due to the helpful staff at the apts :-( ) and didn't know how to use the control. The 3 of us are engineer types and knew that running it at a reasonable constant temp is ALWAYS cheaper than trying to drop a room 20-30 degrees. Tried to be concientious and considerate. Just didn't appreciate the tirade the last day of our trip.

Nuf said......