After looking at every airline ticketing agency available, I can save $309 each (total $618) by flying Kansas City into Curacao, spending the night and flying over to Bonaire the next day. We will fly back the same way BON to CUR, spend the night then CUR into KC. How easy is it to get to a hotel in Curacao? After reading the treads on Bonaire Excel, I think I will try to book on Divi Divi. Has anyone tried this? Recommendations for the night on Curacao?

We were in Curacao last year on business and stayed at the Marriott which was about a 25 minute ride from the airport. I did not see anything right near the airport but that does not mean that there is not anything close. The cab ride was fairly expensive -- I seem to remember 35 dollars US one way. The official website for the island is www.curacao-tourism.com so that might be a place to search for hotels. It would be too bad to eat up your savings in hotel and cab costs!!!

The Curacao Int'l Airport hotel(owned by Howard Johnson) is right next to the Airport to your left a 1 minute ride you could always walk but after just getting off the plane ( and it is uphill) i think u'd rather take a cab.

Hi,
I live in KC and I've checked out the mci-cur and mci-bon flights for quite some time. I've never seen anything near a $309 savings by going to cur. Is it a date specific savings? Usually, I've only found about a $100 difference.

Just curious.

If you have not finalized plans you may want to consider over-nighting in Dallas or Miami on the outbound flight. If you arrive in either city late you do not have to deal with your checked bags. My wife and I do about 4 trips a year from KC to Curacao then Divi to Bonaire. Leaving from Dallas gets us to Miami early enough to get on the direct flight to Curacao and arrive Bonaire in time to get a late afternoon dive in. Our bags are checked straight through from KC to Curacao so we do not have to deal with them where ever we decide to overnight. We usually can get a hotel in either city for under $70/night.
Divi has also just announced an increase in their air fares on the Cur to Bon route. Feel free to email me direct in KC if we can help any further.

Michael,

I want to make sure I understand what you've been able to do... from KC you book your flight thru MIA to CUR and check your bags all the way. Once you get to MIA, you have to overnite but you do not have to retrieve your bags???? I thought the airlines forced you to retrieve your bags on any overnite stop.... please confirm my understanding of your description I assume you are on AA all the way? tks

We returned two weeks ago and spent the night at the Marriott in Curacao. It's about a 20 minute cab ride, $20.00.

My friend stayed at the Airport Hotel and was displeased. Piscadera Bay is pretty close: Marriott, Floris Suites (my favorite after Kura Hulanda) and Hilton.

Greg,
Not picking up bags only works when you arrive on the late flight in to Miami. We have been flying AA. I would check with the airlines. Part of the bag routing is based on time between connecting flights and part on if the airport has storage. We have not had to pick up bags in Dallas when we overnight for the past 18 months. We have made two flights through Miami this year without having to pick up bags. You will have to ask and remind the agent at KC when you check in otherwise they will just check the bags through to where ever you are spending the night.

I was trying to book flights for February with Cheaptickets and it turned out to be a big mess. Every AA flight that they listed for Bonaire or Cur was 'unavailable' when I actually tried to buy it. Customer Service told me I was trying to book too far in advance - hummmm, they were listed. Customer Service suggested I guy their Executive Membership and maybe they would be able to book them for me - yea, right! So now I'm back to searching flights out of KC. At least I have our reservations at Carib Inn so even if we have to swim, we'll be there!

I fly divi exclusively since they have always been on time and very friendly. A group of us stay in bonnaire every march and for the last 3 years we charter the whole plane for a day trip to curacao. they even let 1 of our group who's a pilot fly. check there web site for times you may be able to fly without overnight in curacao