Just as an FYI to everyone, GWV Travel, a Boston-area tour operator, starts weekly service to Bonaire next Friday (January 5th) through mid-April or so. A stop in Aruba is part of the flight - not sure if it's coming or going, on a DC-10 (large plane).

Since Linda and I (your hosts here on BonaireTalk) are former New Englanders, and still have a lot of friends in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, we'll be posting weekly GWV charter specials in this topic so that maybe our friends as well as others in New England interested in the most direct flight from Boston to Bonaire available (4.5 hours flying time direct) can visit our fair island in the sun and divers' paradise.

GWV air fare and packages should be booked via your local travel agent (contact GWV travel (http://www.gwvtravel.com or call 1-800-CALL-GWV for assistance). All trips are one week only (because it's a charter and because they need to keep seats free for return passengers). Also, the prices below, which are per person, may not reflect departure taxes or fuel surcharges.

Without further ado, the latest specials, as of 12/22/00 (we got this a bit late):

Roundtrip Air-Only departing Boston:
January 19 - $399
January 26 - $469
February 2 - $449
February 9 - $469
February 23 -> March 23 - $599

Add a stay at Divi - $300-$350 for the week (depends on the week), based on double occupancy.

Plaza instead - add $400-$639 for the week (depends on the week), based on double occupancy.

For more details contact your travel agent or GWV.

Jake

PS Air fare deals can get real good last minute if the flight looks well undersold. We'll post updates every week if possible.

PPS We have no financial interest in the above. We only want to help fellow New Englanders get to Bonaire more easily.

PPPS Next time, no more disclaimers :-)

Niki gets my 'flu. You're infected by my writing style...Hmmm maybe this thing is better than a PC. Try sending some warm weather and sunshine our way,wouldja?:-)

It is good news (GWV)for those who want to go to Bonaire for a week--however those of us who like to extend our vacation are still stuck with ALM-although Air Jamaica will be flying out of Boston the end of Feb.-- Too late for us this year as we will be arriving 2/3/01--
Hopefully the interest in Bonaire will be up this year-- Last Feb (2000)_ The charter that was flying into Bonaire from Boston canceled the flights due to lack of interest.

GWV was the same charter that cancelled last year. The flight they had been flying up until then was Boston->Bonaire->Curacao->Boston. It's interesting to note that while they resumed Bonaire flights this year, they did not resume flights to Curacao...

However, good point about stays of greater than a week - that's definitely where Air Jamaica comes into play!

Jake

PS In prior years when GWV did the Bonaire run, on slow weeks (i.e. when they had plane capacity available that they wanted to sell), we got roundtrip tickets for as little as $149 10 days before the flight left Boston, so GWV has great potential for last-minute travelers. In fact, that's I how discovered Bonaire - a $199 round trip during late January '96 with my friend Fred Dion (a Bonaire veteran and operator of Underwater Photo-Tech). So, thank you GWV! :-)

Sure wish we had that flexabilty-- 1st time we came to Bonaire was Feb of 1990 (and 4x since) on a charter as the rates were dirt cheap. Fell in love with the Island and it's people. So clean--friendly-- quiet--safe-- laid back-- Great Food --------etc.(compared to other islands that we have visited)
It's been extremely cold up here in the Boston area can't wait to get back this Feb.
Maybe even AA will consider flights to Bonaire from either Curacao or Aruba

Jake, Last year when we planned our first trip to Bonaire we had booked GWV and they cancelled the trip three weeks prior. Is that uncommon? Because the price sure beats what I am paying and I am at ALMs mercy with an overnight in Miami!

Jake-
Great idea to post the GWV Boston-Bonaire updates...thanks. I, too, fell in love with Bonaire by first coming to Bonaire on a GWV charter from Boston in 1984 (then known as "International Weekends"). I also got the $199 last-minute deal several times over the years. Darlene, it is uncommon, but not unheard of that they may cancel a flight 3 weeks out due to lack of interest. See you all in Feb.!
-Kate

Anyone have information on flights from NY/Newark (preferably Newark)

Darlene,

For year 2000 charters, GWV announced the cancellation of its Bonaire run in October of 1999. The fact you only found out 3 weeks before you were flying implies a communications disconnect.

As far as New York City area flights, no charters at this point, but Air Jamaica flies out of both Newark and JFK via Montego Bay to Bonaire. I use this connection quite a bit for business meetings in the NYC area.

Jake

I just got a note from Tim Webb (whom some of you may know as the former manager of Harbour Village here on Bonaire). Tim's at Caradonna and has been following this topic. After some e-mail exchanges, it turns out that Caradonna (http://www.caradonna.com, 800-328-2288, sales@caradonna.com) is able to offer very good (in my opinion) rates from Boston to Bonaire on Air Jamaica - between $375-425, depending on whether it's a Wednesday or Saturday depature, between April 15th and Dec. 14th, 2001. After that, rates are apparently around $450. There are also about $50 in taxes and fees. This is all for air only. I believe similar types of rates can be had from other gateway cities.

Jake

You can also find low airfares Boston-Bonaire through Great Southern Island Adventures (800-748-8733, www.bonairepros.com, info@bonairepros.com) including schedules on Air Jamaica.

It should be noted that Andy Reppeto owns BonairePros (it wasn't clear from his message that he had this affiliation).

Jake

Just got the weekly airfare update from GWV. For Boston departures on:

Jan 19 - $399
Jan 26 - $399
Feb 2 & 9 - $449
Feb 23 - Mar 23 - $569

See caveats, etc. in first message of this topic.

Oh, also, found out that from Boston the flight comes to Bonaire first, then goes from Bonaire to Aruba, then back to Boston. Because Aruba has U.S. Customs and Immigration now, I'd assume (but can't confirm yet) that Bonaire originating passengers on their way back to Boston would need to deplane and clear U.S. customs and immigration in Aruba instead of Boston. Something to keep in mind.

Jake

Just got another GWV update (see above for caveats):

Feb 23 - $399
Mar 4 - $449
Mar 9 - $499
Mar 16->Apr 6 - $549
Apr 13 - $799
Apr 20 - $599

Jake

Anyone looking for some last minute Boston->Bonaire bargains?

GWV just sent out a flyer with reduced airfares:

Mar 2 - $299!
Mar 9 - $399
Mar 23->Apr 6 - $449

Same caveats apply.

Jake

I tried the GWV route-cheap but a nightmare: the flights were cancelled, the reps were nowhere to be found for hours, had all sorts of attitude towards all the stranded clients and generally made our lives very difficult- we stood together and fussed until the whole nasty incident (14 hours delay, no reimbursement for refreshments or hotel, etc etc) passed. Back in Boston, I complained to the company, got little attention and not so much as an apology. If I had to trek to get to Bonaire, I would never fly GWV again.