We will be arriving Mar 22 for 1 week. Please let me know if anyone needs anything that doesnt take up too much room. I live in Tampa so most anything is available to me. Also, I have 1 Dutch Caribbean ticket valid Mar22-29 leaving Miami around 1pm, from someone in our party that couldnt go that I would like to sell if that's possible (400.00) (under cost) we would have to find out how to make a name change.

Just out of curiosity are you flying or driving to Miami? We have a group of 12 going in July from the Tampa/Clearwater area.

We always drive to Miami. What we do is rent a car one way from Tampa and drive to Miami airport (rental car agency) then take the car rental shuttle to airport. Then do the same on return. We feel it is cheaper and better than putting the mileage on our own vehicle and paying 1 week lot rental at the airport. My husband takes me to Tampa airport car rental the nite before to pick up the car and we get it loaded the nite before so we can leave real early in the morning,(usually 5). We usually travel as 3 and the plane fare is not cheap back and forth to Miami. If you fly Southwest (you can sometimes get that $39 fare) you can only fly into Ft.Lauderdale then you have to get to Miami airport.

Actually that ticket price is not 400 but 340. But the name must be changed by this Fri

Cindy - we are travelling to Bonaire via Miami on April 26 - we had planned to use our own vehicle and park it off site. I believe it cost $5.00 a day. How much do you usually pay for the rental? Isn't there a drop off charge? We may decide to do this instead.

Carolyn - did you get ahold of Josie for your book on diving? If not, I can get you one when we are down there - I see you aren't travelling there until July - we can still get together before then tho.

The cost to park at the Miami Airport is $10.00 per day. If you are interested in spending a night in Miami before you leave, the LaQuinta has a park and fly rate.

Gail-yes I did get a hold of Josie and she is bringing a book for me also.

since we will have a lot of time this year (i'm retiring in about six weeks) we thought of renting a car in cleveland, driving to miami, turning the car in, and flying to bonaire from miami. no way...the drop-off charge was $300. total cost of a rental was gonna be about $425. i kept checking and found a $636 airfare cleveland to bonaire. but a few years ago we rented a car in key west and drove and dove for a week thru the keys and dropped the car off in orlando with no additional charge.

Carolyn - I'll let you know when the books arrive and get in touch with you to arrange a meet up place/day/time. I was told that off site parking in Miami was $5.00 - guess I'll have to investigate further as well as check into car rental. The drop off fees can kill you, and it seems it's more expensive to rent a car in Florida anyways!

This is the 3rd time since 2000 that we've rented this way and have NEVER had a drop charge. I dont know if that is because renting in state and drop off in state

Cindy,

Once an airline ticket is purchased the name can't be changed.

I just realized this thread was in the wrong place. Moved it here from Diving Bonaire.

And yes, rental car companies usually charge a bundle for interstate rentals, but not much for in-state rentals (assuming pickup and drop points being different).

Oh - and as far as airline ticket name changes go, Kay - very true for U.S. airlines. For DCA, not necessarily. I know ALM used to allow name changes, so perhaps DCA does too.

Jake

I checked with the travel agency and YES we can change the name one week prior which means by Fri. no charge to the new person whatsoever

Hello Cindy,
is it possible that you bring me a roadmap of the area Key west till Cedars and Orlando? A special map of Miami, I think I can get it from Jake.
Do you want me to send the money before buying?
I can stay a week in Cedars and a week in Orlando in a house and will travel from Longboatkey till Key west. I also (can) rented a car for three weeks $742,--in Miami It would be nice organising the things at home. Or is there someoneelse who can help me.
Thanks and see you on Bonaire. Monique

If Cindy can't get you one I can go to the local AAA office and get it for you.

Thanks Carolyn. but it will be to late, you are coming the end of april, the 26th. I'll leave her around march the 24th. Really nice that people whom unkown to me bring something for me to Bonaire.

Yes, I will get the maps you need from my AAA Motor club office as I am a member and these maps will be free. Will arrive 5pm March 22. Keep in touch before I leave. Let me know if you need anything else.

Monique, I will be getting the maps for you and will be able to help you map out your trip if you want us to. I have never heard of Cedars Florida.....Cedar Key yes, but not Cedars. I have lived in Florida all 46 years of my life.

Thanks for the info Jake. I'm glad to know that about DCA and KLM. As for as the US goes, I have begged and pleaded and couldn't get a name change done.

Hello Cindy,
You will arrive 5 pm, 22-3-03 on a Saturday. I can bring you to you're hotel, if you don't rent a car or other arrangements had in mind.

On my papers they cold it Cedars a several times, but maybe because it's The Cedars Resort. It's in the area of Tampa / Sarasota / St Petersburg.
I think you're the right person to tell be about travelling there and Yes please bring for me these maps.

Thank you too Carolyn, but I think I don't use you're nice help anymore.

Hi Monique, I got your maps today. 1 each for Miami, Sarasota, FL. Keys, Tampa , St. Petersburg, Orlando. And a map of the entire state of Florida. I also got you a Florida Tour book with info on sites in Fl. We have a car arranged to pick up at the airport upon arrival Sat. so thanks but we won't need a pick up from you. We are staying at Port Bonaire so I will call you upon arrival and arrange to meet with you as I know you want the maps quickly. I want to go to Taste of Bonaire that nite so we can probably meet there.
Jake Ricter, I got you an Alaska map and an Alaska Tour book from AAA motor club. I saw and answered your post on Alaska Cruise for BT's recently. I saw it very late after post. We'll see you all Saturday! Can't wait! I hope we do well on our first dives as brand new divers.

Thanks, Cindy!

Don't forget about Gibi's Terrace and the BT Dinner there on Tuesday, March 25th!

And I'll be in an art tent with Linda (my wife) and our friend Dara on the 22nd at Taste of Bonaire as well.

Look forward to meeting you. Let me know if I owe you anything.

Jake

Cindy,

Were you able to meet Gail yesterday?
We met up with Gail and Bob Saturday evening for drinks and she was going to try and meet you on Sunday.

Jake, no charge, all free. What time is the Taste of Bon till? I really am interested in art for sale. I hope our plane is not late, supposed to arrive at 5. I sure hope we can come to the BT dinner at Gibi's. What time?

Carolyn, yes Gail and her husband did show up at Hudson Grotto AKA by me as the HELLHOLE! I was so glad to meet her and her husband. In reality we only live 45 min apart and with you in Clearwater thats only 1hr. We actually live in Odessa if you know where that is. She did tell me she enjoyed meeting you. I hope sometime we could all get together and swap dive stories. I hope we have some to tell.....this is our first dive trip......we are as newbie as you can get. Just got certified yesterday. Did you get rain today?

No rain at all although it looks like it could any minute.

I do know where Odessa is and you are right, it really isn't that far from us. When you get back maybe we can all get together.

Do you know of a female that wants to go to Bonaire July 5 -12? We have 1 open spot, and due to the rooming arrangements, it has to be female.

What a great dive destination to pick for your first trip. You won't be disappointed.

Cindy,

Not sure how late Taste of Bonaire is running, but I would guess at 9pm. If you miss it somehow, there is Bonaire-artist originated art in a number of shops: Everything Artistique by Littman's (my digitally painted photos of Bonaire and a couple of our Bonairean artists, plus lots of other art from elsewhere in the Caribbean); Island Fashions (Bonaire art prints by Janice Huckaby); Jenny's Art (local art by Jenny); and Michael Gaynor's Chat N Browse (art by Linda, Dara, Helen Dovale, and photos by Susan Davis and Fred (I'm blanking on his last name)).

Gibi's will start at 7pm on the 25th.

Jake

Cindy'
This is going very quick. It's great all these maps. Thank you for all the work you did for me. See you Saturday (or Tuesday night) Monique P.S. If you're interested in a shore dive at Small Wall, you're welcome

Carolyn, due to the fact th at I am a new diver I don't know anyone else that dives except those I've met on BT! I would love to go myself, but we are going to the Keys the end of July. I am in Pinellas all the time as my MOM lives there. I was born and raised there!

Monique, Will you be at Gibis Tues nite? When is the shore dive? Is it beginners rated? (easy, not too deep?)

Cindy,
It's also a snorkelplace; if you're going into the water, first you see the crabs running away, than the vins of the Parrotfish. They 're nibbling on the corals directly on the beach site.
Sit on you're back and put you're flippers on and roll over, or walk into the water as you like.

Not deep and you can not get lost because of the wall, it starts around 8m (24ft)till 22m (66ft), but how deeper how less fish you see. I like it here aroud 15-33ft. Yes but still you need to know how to dive.
If it's not on a Thursday morning I can dive with you and help you, the visibility is always good.