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Getting to Bonaire: What to do
Bonaire Talk: Getting to Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999-2005: Archives - 2005-01-01 to 2005-05-01: What to do
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Shealer (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #9) on Sunday, February 20, 2005 - 4:48 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We are eager to make airline reservations to return to Bonaire for the Christmas/New Year holidays. This year, we traveled on Air Jamaica and were stranded for two days in Jamaica. Given this experience and the information on this website regarding Air Jamaica's solvency, Air Jamaica does not seem like a good prospect. USAIR can get us to Aruba but its future is uncertain it sounds from the postings on the website as if it would be difficult to predict the reliability of transportation between Aruba and Bonaire ten months from now. We can get a flight on American Airlines through San Juan but American's website does not list any return flights except through Lima on KLM. Anyone have suggestions. We love Bonaire and will be returning for the holidays no matter how difficult-but would like to make the trip as predictible as possible.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2015) on Sunday, February 20, 2005 - 7:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Where are you starting out from Dan? Have you checked alternate airports in your area?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By The Ginocchio's @ Golden Reef Inn (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #578) on Sunday, February 20, 2005 - 10:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

What about flying into Curacao then taking Divi-Divi or BonairExel (now BonairExpress). It's a short ride. Like Seb said, check from your airport to see if there are any flights to Curacao. Good Luck!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Johnson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #183) on Sunday, February 20, 2005 - 11:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Four major choices from the US that I am aware of:

1) American Eagle flys in/out of BON via SJU. The flights are not seven days a week which might explain your inability to get a return leg.
2) AJ as you referenced. With the issues you referenced.
3) Fly to CUR and then to Bonaire. AA makes the flight to CUR direct from MIA. (Note: avoid the AE flight via SJU if you can)
4) Fly to AUA (lots of options) but getting to BON is a bit more expensive and fewer options.

There may also be some charter options but they are unlikely to be announced this early. In terms of solvency roulette, I can offer no special insight.

When trying to line up flights, I tend to download the schedule from the airline. This allows you to better see exactly what your options are leg by leg. As Seb suggests, sometimes flying via another airport can open up options and/or reduce the cost.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5360) on Sunday, February 20, 2005 - 11:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Note that #1 and #3 can be combined - I do that frequently. I fly out of Bonaire on American Eagle to San Juan and onward, and then return on afternoon American Airlines flight from Miami to Curacao and then Divi Divi (or BonairEx(el|press) ). Or vice versa - to the U.S. from Bonaire via Curacao and Miami, and return via San Juan directly to Bonaire. My preference is to avoid Curacao entirely if possible because I don't like having to recheck bags, but if I don't have any other option...

Price-wise, flying through San Juan from/to Bonaire tends to be a bit more expensive than flying via Curacao and Miami, but not always.

I don't fly AJ because I like my AA frequent flyer miles and status, but more importantly, I usually need to go to places that AJ doesn't fly to, which would mean having to overnight in the AJ U.S. gateway coming and going, and that's a hassle.

For tourists, AJ can be a better thing because you arrive mid afternoon and leave mid afternoon, vs. the late night arrival on AE from San Juan and the early morning departure to San Juan.

Going via Curacao and the American/Miami connection means a noonish departure from Bonaire and an early evening (5:30pm) return to Bonaire. That's another consideration. A few days a week there is also a late night AA arrival in Curacao from Miami (meaning you'd have to overnight in Curacao), and the next morning the flight leaves Curacao back for Miami pretty early (meaning the 7am BonairEx* flight to Curacao to just barely make your connection).

Lots of options if you're willing to be creative :-)

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Blanchard (BonaireTalker - Post #68) on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 6:24 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We usually use AA and either go through San Juan or Curacao. We have found the best bet is to call AA direct and discuss options with them. We use Frequent flyer miles whenever possible and have found them to be helpful if you are a little flexible. This year we went from Atlanta to Miami on AA then BE on a Saturday but returned on a Sunday via the same route. In 2004 we used San Juan on a Friday and Saturday combination. By the way, calling AA in evening after 9:00PM seems to get the best results.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Daren Daniels (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #10) on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 2:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

It is not good to book so far in advance. Airlines update their flight systems with each season. Also, most airlines only book 9 months in advance. Wait to see what happens...December is very far away.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Kaye (BonaireTalker - Post #70) on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 10:27 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

AA books 11 months in advance, I believe. When we had AA vouchers that were only good for a year, AA explained that we could book travel at the end of the year, for flights as much as 11 months beyond that.

As for why we had vouchers, that's because we were bumped from the AA SJU-BON flight and flew instead to Aruba, overnight there at AA expense, next morning DCA to Bonaire almost - bad landing gear - back to Curacao - then another DCA headed to Ste Martin, but with a special stop for us on Bonaire. I think we earned our vouchers - on the other hand, instead of arriving 8:40pm, we arrived next morning by 10:30am, not what I'd call a big interruption to our vacation.

David

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linnea Wijkhof-Wimberly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #815) on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 2:02 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I prefer AA via SJU to BON with a several nights stopover each way in Old San Juan. It costs a little more when you factor in the hotel, but I don't have to worry about missing luggage. If it doesn't arrive with me, I have several days for it to catch up with me. I stay in the old town and never have to rent a car, just walk around and ride the free trolleys or take a $.50 bus to any place out of the old town. Thats how I can get fresh bagels for Jake and family. I also hit one of the mercados to pick up racao, ajecitos (PR sweet peppers), and any other items I want for cooking that aren't available on Bonaire.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nat (BonaireTalker - Post #65) on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 2:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Linnea, nice suggestion. Is there a particular place you recommend staying in Old SJ?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Kaye (BonaireTalker - Post #75) on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 1:03 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Nat:

We stayed at Hotel Milano in Old San Juan last year. Excellent location, minimal charm, small rooms, moderate cost. Avoid the economy inside rooms, I think, but a couple traveling with us stayed overnight in one, no complaints.

There are nicer, more expensive hotels.

David

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nat (BonaireTalker - Post #67) on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 2:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

David,
Thanks. Few words, much information. I may try that route and see a bit of Old S J next year. But in two weeks, I'm trying Boston/Aruba/Bonaire for the first time. Good luck with your flights tomorrow and enjoy your stay at the Black Durgon. We’re neighbors of Al’s and arrive on Mar. 9, but can't get into our house until the 12th, so I guess we won’t be able to drop by and say hello to a fellow Bostonian. It seems there are quite a few north of Boston Bters. You actually look familiar (from your profile pic). Do you happen to be a north shore kayaker?
Nathalie

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linnea Wijkhof-Wimberly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #816) on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 10:20 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I use the Hotel Milano also, right in the center of Old San Juan, resonable prices, and clean, if ordinary, rooms. When you are asleep, who needs fancy decor.

Web site = www.hotelmilanopr.com (without the "pr" you get a hotel in Italy).

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linnea Wijkhof-Wimberly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #817) on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 10:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Oh, I stayed in one of the inside rooms during Frances last year and didn't hear a thing.

The place to go for lunch is La Bombonera. It is up the hill one street from the Hotel Milano and from the outside looks like a little pastry shop, but the inside looks like a 1900's saloon. They make their orange juice fresh from local oranges and the sandwiches are excellent, as are their PR dishes.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Kaye (BonaireTalker - Post #77) on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 10:36 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Nat,

"Few words" - how unlike me.

Not a North Shore kayaker, but an ardent sailor from Courageous Sailing Center at the Charlestown Navy Yard. Also do volunteer work at Community Boating on the Charles River. I trust you noted that my profile pic is in profile, of course. So few observe that nicety.

David

 


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