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Getting to Bonaire: 5 hours in Aruba between connections - what to do?
Bonaire Talk: Getting to Bonaire: Archives: Archives 2006-2008: Archives - 2005-12-13 to 2006-04-01: 5 hours in Aruba between connections - what to do?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Natalya Calhoun (BonaireTalker - Post #28) on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 4:44 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We are flying to Bonaire through Aruba this Saturday. Our direct flight from LaGuardia arrives at 1:28pm and the scheduled flight to BOnaire leaves at 6:30pm (When I bought the ticket it was 6pm.) Anyway, unless we are lucky and there are two seats on an earlier plane, we will have to wait for 5 hours. What do people do in this situation? Is there a place to lock your luggage at the airport (or check it in earlier) and maybe go to a nearby beach or go to town? Please advise.
Thanks.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cyn (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #16749) on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 6:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Natalya, Go here. Scroll down till you see "Cecil's" post. Have fun!

Cynde

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By roger kreager (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Thursday, February 9, 2006 - 11:05 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I am looking at flying into Aruba on March 11th at 1.45pm. Does anyone know the flight times from Aruba to Curacao. I talked with Divi and they will not be running by then, but cannot reach anyone at Excell or whatever they are called. Help Me Help Me please!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nathalie (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #135) on Thursday, February 9, 2006 - 11:53 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Dutch Antilles Express (DAE)
Phone: From the States 011-599-7170808, M-F 9-6:00
Email: reservations@flydae.com

I received two very speedy, but very inaccurate, replies to my email inquiries regarding the March '06 Aruba/Bonaire schedule. Finally got, and paid for, reservations with a lengthy phone call. After 10 days still waiting for the promised email confirmation. Via phone I was told they had Aruba to Bonaire flights (via Curacao) at 6:30pm and 9:00pm. I think they also have a later flight, and a flight which leaves too early in the day to catch if connecting from the States. Aruba to Bonaire takes 1.5 hours due to the stop on Curacao, during which, I understand, you do not leave the plane.

See long thread "Aruba Bonaire Connections" for more discussion.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Friedman (BonaireTalker - Post #11) on Thursday, February 9, 2006 - 12:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Natalya, There are only 3 flights this Saturday from Aruba to Bonaire on DAE. All flights now stop in Curacao. The noon and 6:30PM flight are sold out. The last flight at 10:30PM still has seats. It is possible that DAE at 6:30PM could be oversold. I would suggest that you check in with plenty of time to spare so you make it on that flight.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #876) on Thursday, February 9, 2006 - 3:44 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The person who owns Divi Divi told a close friend of his on Curacao recently that the airline still might get the Aruba to Curacao route started this month; if not, in March.
Roger, the employees have no information to use to make reservations on this route yet, but this does not mean that they might not get started before you need to fly.
Of course, this is uncertain, so you might want to fly DAE anyway.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Friedman (BonaireTalker - Post #12) on Thursday, February 9, 2006 - 4:29 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Roger- Dutch Antilles Express (DAE) has flights on March 6 that currently depart Aruba for Curacao at 4:30PM, 6:30PM and 9PM. These are your only current connection options. These schedules are subject to change also by the airline

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Friedman (BonaireTalker - Post #13) on Thursday, February 9, 2006 - 4:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I meant to say March 11 (not March 6) Sorry

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #879) on Thursday, February 9, 2006 - 4:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

No, Natalya, Aruba has no luggage storage at the airport. Bummer!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By roger kreager (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Thursday, February 9, 2006 - 7:13 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank you for all of your help.
If divi was 100% I would book my flight, but I guess I'll take the AA flight from Newark to Miami to Curacao. Minor upset but I'll get over it once I'm in the water in Bonaire.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Natalya Calhoun (BonaireTalker - Post #29) on Friday, February 10, 2006 - 2:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Why oh why is it so hard to get to BOnaire.
THanks for all your responses. Larry how do you know which flights are soldout?
Do you think it's possible to check in and then hop on a cab and still dip in the water during those 5 hours on Aruba? Or you have to be at the check in at a certain time?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Friedman (BonaireTalker - Post #14) on Friday, February 10, 2006 - 2:37 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Natalya, I helped DAE (at that time called BonairExcel) put a program together for tickets to be issued in the US for them. Paper tickets can be issued by any travel agency in the US, if they know how to do it. So I can see their current schedule and availability in the CRS (airline computer). This is not difficult to do for any sharp travel agent. If you are looking at their web site (still called BonairExpress) which is still not very functional at this time, you will not be able to see anything but the main page. Good luck on your trip tomorrow, I am sure that you will be just fine. Bonaire is a great place and you will love it.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4430) on Friday, February 10, 2006 - 3:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Natalya, you can check in early, but only at the DAE office. Later when you come back from the beach, go to the last building on the right. There you check your bags, exit right and go in to the departing flights building. Turn left half way in to the security area that is not US flights. There will be a long line for the US flights do not get in it.

Up to the left is the international waiting lounge, that is where they will call the Bonaire flight. Have a blast.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #891) on Friday, February 10, 2006 - 7:49 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

It's the last building on the left, not the right.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4432) on Saturday, February 11, 2006 - 9:41 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Correct Tish. I was thinking as you drive up. If you look at the front of the airport, it's the far left building.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #896) on Saturday, February 11, 2006 - 10:35 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Righty ho, Cecil. Well, Natalya will find it today. It's not like anybody can get really lost at the Aruba airport. :-)
Just noticed this week that Curacao is nearly ready to open its huge new airport expansion. Let's hope they will put in a real restaurant now.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michael (Marty)DeReus (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Sunday, February 12, 2006 - 4:58 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Natalya,
The answer to your questions are - no,there are no baggage lockers available and no, there isn't anything you can do at the airport. The best bet, IMO, is find a seat, cold drink, and day-dream of Bonaire realizing it will all be worth it. Enjoy the diving.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michael (Marty)DeReus (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Sunday, February 12, 2006 - 5:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Natalya,
Sorry, I just noted you've already left.
marty

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2312) on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 5:18 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Everyone who stops in Aruba, particularly if you go out of the terminal for any length of time, should be aware that there is a significant level of Dengue Fever (called 'West Nile Virus' in the US) happening there now. The government has not declared an epidemic but a 'Dengue Outbreak Team' has been established and questions are being asked formally about the exact level.

Amigoé Online has an article today at http://www.amigoe.com/english/ ; scroll down. It is a headline page and the link with this article may not last many days; Amigoé's 'Archives' link still says 'Coming Soon' or something similar.

(Message edited by glenr on February 13, 2006)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nathalie (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #139) on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 7:36 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services web site indicates that West Nile virus belongs to a group of viruses which also includes Dengue, but they are not the same disease. But, in any case, we should all do what we can to avoid being bitten.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Wulfken (BonaireTalker - Post #37) on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 7:44 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Nathalie, you are correct. There have been historical outbreaks of Dengue in the USA (particularly the southern US). West Nile is a recent entrant.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2313) on Monday, February 13, 2006 - 9:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I defer to DHHS on the equivalence; the media here has equated the two diseases.

The main point, as Nathalie and John noted, is that there is disease and everyone should be extra careful.

First time Dengue can be 'just a flu case', the second time is likely to be Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever which is frequently fatal.

Even Bonaire has a few cases of Dengue each year. Be careful.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #915) on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 3:57 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

West Nile Virus and Dengue Fever are not the same disease, but both of them are already found in the US.
The link in Amigoe no longer works for yesterday's edition, so I don't know what it said, but the Bonaire Reporter said some weeks ago that a small area of Aruba is infested with Dengue-Fever carrying mosquitos. Since mosquitos fly perhaps they will spread throughout Aruba, move on to Curacao, and eventually end up on Bonaire.
Somebody on Bonaire is occasionally diagnosed with Dengue, but that does not prove they were infected with it on Bonaire. It is present in Caracas and along the northern coast of Venezuela. on Aruba, in the US, and in many other parts of the world. Like other diseases, the transmission could have taken place off Bonaire. We don't know for sure.
It is very important for everyone who lives on Bonaire or travels to Bonaire to avoid letting water remain in any spot where mosquitos can breed and to avoid bringing the insects to Bonaire in a plane's cabin or in luggage.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2314) on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 8:59 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Mosquitoes fly but... the good news is that Bonaire is the windward island, Aruba the lee. Difficult for mosquitoes to fly in the Trades, as we all know from bug-free days on Bonaire. Maybe this has been helping so far, and will continue. Aruba is close to Venezuela, also. :–)

The luggage and cabin thing is important.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tish (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #921) on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 8:16 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Excellent point, Glen, about which way the wind usually blows. Of course, we do get wind reversals now and then.
And, yes, Aruba is closer to Venezuela than are Bonaire and Curacao.
Let us all remain vigilant about not importing these insects from other locations.

 


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