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Getting to Bonaire: Bonaire virgins from New York
Bonaire Talk: Getting to Bonaire: Archives: Archives 2006-2008: Archives - 2005-04-02 to 2006-08-01: Bonaire virgins from New York
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charles (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Sunday, April 2, 2006 - 4:14 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi all,

Great board here, been reading all the great discussions, and was wondering if anyone could provide any tips on getting down to Bonaire from New York - I see that American flies down there thru San Juan, Continental thru Houston, and Air Jamaica thru Montego Bay, and when I did a search for airfares (thru Mobissimo), I couldn't find anything under $1,100 or so. We were hoping to go second or third week of April (yes, we may be crazy), but if impossible would like to know for the future. Also, is it better to consider flying to Aruba and then taking a flight to Bonaire? I see some people also use mileage - how good are our chances, how far ahead would we have to plan? We both have a decent amount of miles with American. How long are the flights and how many or how long are the layovers usually?

Also, when would be the best or worst time to go to Bonaire? Any suggestions on hotels, dive operators would be greatly appreciated as well. Thanks for reading!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barb Paepke (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Sunday, April 2, 2006 - 9:38 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

FF mileage this late is highly unlikely, especially with the Easter vacations and school spring breaks coming up, but many airlines (CO, Delta, AA) let you check for the availability of FF seats on their own websites. That will tell you if anything is still available at this time. If you opt for going later, you should check FF availability as far in advance as possible as seats are very limited and the airlines seem to be cutting back on the number per flight due to financial porblems.

Connections are not the greatest as AA only seems to have a 6:30 PM flight to Bonaire from San Juan and a 7:00 AM to San Juan from Bonaire. Going down will likely mean a fairly lengthy layover in San Juan. Air Jamaica has flights via Montego Bay but they do not fly every day of the week. Some have expressed concerns about getting stuck in Montego Bay if the flight doesn't go to Bonaire. Having never flown AJ, I don't know if this is a prevalent problem or not (others can possibly advise). We've only been to Bonaire once, about 2 1/2 years ago. We flew to Bonaire from Aruba (having spent a week there) on BonairExel, which is now DAE. Apparently there are currently no non-stop flights from Aruba; you have about a half-hour layover in Curacao on a hot plane. BonairExel used to have a website with their schedules and you could book flights on-line, with tickets to be picked up in Aruba or Curacao. DAE only has a phone number and e-mail. I have posted a note asking for info on schedules and costs as we are hoping to return to Bonaire next winter (I like to plan ahead!)

There have been postings that Continental is considering a non-stop from Newark but would not start service until late in the year, if at all. That would be great as we would gladly commute to Newark for a non-stop. If you think prices are high and schedules are bad from NYC, try getting there from Upstate NY!

As for for info on hotels and dive operators, there are many posts and trip reports on this board that should help. It all depends upon what you're looking for and what the budget is. If you provide a few more specifics (number in party, budget, need cooking facilities, etc.) I'm sure you'll get suggestions from others who frequent Bonaire.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry Gauron (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #483) on Sunday, April 2, 2006 - 12:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Welcome Charles!

As you can see, getting to Bonaire is not easy.

If you see a flight to Bonaire that is on the day you want to travel, hold it.
Then find a return flight that you can live with.
FF miles can be used with advanced bookings. 30-60 days.

I go to Bonaire in mid Jan to mid Feb every year and I book my flights as soon as they are posted.
I do use FF miles, 1st class, American from Boston to Aruba to Bonaire.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bea and Marvin Jones (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #110) on Sunday, April 2, 2006 - 1:01 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Log into AA with your FF info and see what is available - just say you are using your miles for a reward. We used FF last year, booked in January and our trip was in April and it worked, but I would think you would not be able to use your FFmiles this close to when you want to fly.

Also, I think AA only flys into BON 3-4 times a week, but I don't remember now what days those are. The early evening flight from SJU to BON works for us since we are from CO, but I know the east-coasters flying to Anguilla complain about the SJU layover. But, AA is trying to fill their planes, I guess.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2752) on Sunday, April 2, 2006 - 2:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Interesting range of opinion. I used to fly AJ out of JFK, but I became leery of them after their problems last year, and coach is very tight seating if you are at all large. Sometimes when booking a package you can get very cheap 1st class airfare on AJ. Their schedule is the nicest.
Now I fly AA out of JFK. I usually take the 12:30 flight, but if you are nervous about your connection, they have a 9:30 flight to SJU as well. It looks as if they fly every day but Monday and Thursday.


Good Luck,
Seb
http://www.aatimetable.com/aa.pdf

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charles (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Sunday, April 2, 2006 - 4:20 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Wow, this is all great info, I guess we'll have to suck it up and pay a premium if we are to go in April, otherwise we'll just wait, plan more thoroughly for a later date using FF miles. I did hear about the nonstop Continental flights rumor, that would definitely be awesome if they actually started that route. I checked AA with my FF miles, and saw that earliest award travel dates are November, would that be a good time to go? Are there any times when it would be bad to go? I would be going there with my girlfriend. Thanks for all the replies!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DIVER DEBBI (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #470) on Sunday, April 2, 2006 - 10:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

we used AA FF and got as far as Curaco..everything else was booked up...you will have to be very creative this late in the game but where there is a will and some time there is a way...so try different departure cities and then get to Curaco or Aruba , then pay for flight on Divi Divi to Bonaire..good luck

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mary Mueller (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4440) on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 12:28 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Charles - I just booked a trip late in April using FF miles to get to Curaco (from RDU to Miami) - and them am flying to Bon on Divi Divi - just like Debbi suggested. It seemed wide open at that time

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By MONTY FORBESS (BonaireTalker - Post #40) on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 5:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I do have a suggestion if flying aa through san juan, be sure and check when the next scheduled aa flight is, we did not get our luggage and made several unnecessary trips back to the airport the following day and the next, there was no one whom we could talk to, to discuss when our missing luggage might arrive, if we had checked prior to leaving as to when the next aa flight would arrive in bonaire, then we wouldn't have checked back so many times, no one at the airport, including the offices in the back would help at all and no aa rep was there either, this year, if our luggage doesn't arrive, we know not to check back for 2 days at 8:00 pm,

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barb Paepke (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 5:48 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Flying thru San Juan on AA is always interesting as many of the planes leaving there are quite small, so they often have "overweight" problems, which means you may go but your luggage may not. Last year we were waiting for a flight to St. Kitts and sw the same people trying to get to St. Croix board and unboard the plane twice because of overweight problems (they were still there when we left). For our flight we were called to board the bus to take us to the plane and got to the bus door before being told to go back to the waiting room. We were told it was a mechanical issue but later found out that it was more likely too much weight. Fortunately we arrived with all our luggage but our friends, who came two days later, did not. Also, if you're meeting an someone coming in on an American Eagle flight, you may find that your friends are not on it, as we did when on friend tried to join us in ST. Kitts. If there is any glitch in weather or any type of delays, people can miss their flight in San Juan and since the planes are small, there isn't always room to accommodate them on the next plane, which may not even be until the next day, depending on what island you are flying to. This is particularly problematic if flying during the popular vacation periods around school breaks.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Frederick Lee (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 6:13 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Question; With all the interruption of flights to Bonaire, during this time period.Is it less/more of adventure flying down in the mid October time period. Like 12 Oct to 21 Oct.
Fred

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Grasshopper (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #17711) on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 6:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Fred, you should be fine in October. Here are some great San Juan Airport tips.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barb Paepke (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 6:48 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'm sure you'll get various opinions about this but October IS hurricane season so even though Bonaire is pretty far south and less likely to get hit by a hurricane, if you are flying AA thru San Juan or AJ thru Jamaica, you could have problems. Hate to be the bearer of bad news put the preliminary reports are for another "active" hurricane season this year, with something like 17 tropical storms and 8-9 becoming hurricanes.

These days, any time you fly can be an experience. We've missed connections coming back from Mexico, amongst other places, which caused us to have an unplanned overnight somewhere; been stuck in St. Maarten an extra day due to a broken airplane windshield; been one of only 12 people flying on a 737 because our original flight was overbooked and Delta needed to shuttle a plane back to Cincinnati; and literally had to have to an agent open the door to the jetway for us to make a flight to Vegas from Atlanta (fortuantely the gate knew we were delayed and were waiting for us), just to name a few of our "adventures". In contrast to the problem of arriving without our luggage, we actually had our luggage arrive before us. We arrived in O'Hare from Belgium and tried to get an earlier flight out but were told there would not be enough time for us to get to the gate and get our luggage to the plane. Ironically my brother and sister-in-law were on the earlier flight from O'Hare, coming back from HI and while all of their luggage did not make the flight, ours did. The rep at AA thought it was amusing that we were in O'Hare with the their missing pineapples (and some luggage) but our luggage was in Albany.

One needs to have a sense of humor and a lot of patience when traveling these days. It's always good to have an idea of alternate flights, even if they are on different airlines. I've gotten us on alternate flights just by being able to provide the agents with different options. Doesn't always work but it's worth a try. And don't forget to have a change or clothes, toiletries, and other necessities in your carry-on because you never know when you might be stuck some place or not get your luggage for two days, as indicated in an earlier post!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Grasshopper (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #17712) on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 6:59 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Barb, please don't say that 'H' word when talking about flying ;-) [wink]

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Frederick Lee (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 8:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Grasshopper,Gracias.
Now the okay for the vacation and then on to make reservation for everything.Must use Alaska Airline to Dallas/Ft Worth. Then AA to Miami to San Juan to Bonaire. Wish me luck.
Thanks to All.
Fred

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Grasshopper (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #17717) on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - 10:13 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Fred, good luck! And as we like to say, start your vacation when you get on the plane and don't let anything "crush your groove." As someone who has "lived through the worst" on a vacation (most know what I'm talking about)...make the best of any snags as they are just that, little snags, snip them and make the best of it...it sure beats working:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barb Paepke (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - 10:44 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Fred,

Glad to see that those of us in Upstate NY aren't the only ones having to use multiple airlines with multiple stops just to get where we want to go!

Anyone who does any kind of traveling, whether for business or pleasure, has their "horror" stories to tell. Makes you appreciate even more the times when everything goes smoothly. We actually made it to/from the Dominican Republic in March without a glitch! Both flights even landed early, so the system does work, at least sometimes, although one would wonder after last week's report on passenger satisfaction and on-time performance of the airlines!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charles (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - 3:36 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks again for all the suggestions, we'll decide in the next day or two whether to go there or not. Saw FF awards available in on April 19 to Curacao, coming back on the 27th, but that would mean sacrificing extra vacation days and going mid week. Currently leaning towards going to Bonaire later, maybe November or next year, and maybe going somewhere else in April - any one have experience with Honduras (Roatan or Utila), or Dominica? Heard those places were also good, maybe not as good as Bonaire, but still pretty good marine life.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mary Mueller (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4448) on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - 3:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Charles - just as a heads up - I have never been able to use FF miles going to Bonaire on the weekend - I have used them on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. But you may have more luck than me!!!:-):-)

Good luck with your trip - I have seen great reports from Roatan and Utila!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By MONTY FORBESS (BonaireTalker - Post #43) on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - 4:02 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

HI CHARLES, we've been to both roatan and utila, stayed at anthony's key on one side, and then a small resort on the other side of the island called the reef house, we both loved roatan but it has been several yrs since we were there, there wasn't very much fish life then, but the verticle walls on the reef house side were incredible, the critters such as the beig eels and crabs were enormous, people ext friendly, anthonys is a very very beautiful place to stay, utila was less devel but a great exp, went there to have a chance to snorkel with the whale sharks, but weren't fortunate stayed at a new resort, can't remember the name but it was really nice the owner was named troy bodden, who was a wonderful local with worlds of knowledge of the sea around utila, but, utila also seems to be somewhat fished out, once we went to bonaire, we just haven't been able to escape

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lorraine Meadows (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #988) on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 8:23 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Try Kim @ Caradonna Tours (1-800-328-2288)
She has come thru twice for me this year, she's wonderful.
I don't know if it's too close but it's worth a shot.
You can use your AMEX miles thru Air Jamacia(35000) a ticket. That has to be done thru Air Jamacia direct.
I like Air Jamacia thru JFK only 1 stop in Montego Bay,we have had pretty good luck with them last few times.(fingers crossed) You get to Bonaire at 2:30 pm which is terrific. cheaper tickets may be hard to come by this late, I imagine.
Good Luck!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DIVER DEBBI (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #473) on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 4:29 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hey Monty...sorry to hear Honduras has lost its dive appeal..I thought that when we saw alot of fish being collected for aquariums and speargun fishing..commercial Red Lobster has alot of boats there...but we had some great times at little Reef House, i always called it scuba camp, because it reminded me of summer camp being so basic...I sure hope the Marine Park preservation in Bonaire will keep it's rules and regs..it makes a difference

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By MONTY FORBESS (BonaireTalker - Post #45) on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 5:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

HI DEBBIE, didn't know anyone would know of reef house, what an experience, 2 sets of divers all week long was all that was there, take you anywhere you wanted and then drop you off to dive back into the lagoon, it's hard to go to places like cayman or coz after those types of exp.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charles (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Thursday, April 6, 2006 - 1:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

This is great, didn't think I would be getting so much great info on Honduras from a board on Bonaire!! My girlfriend actually is thinking of going to Honduras now, but not sure if she wants to do Roatan or Utila - maybe both? we would have up to 9 or 10 days available. Also it should be easier to get to than Bonaire, no? Thanks again everyone!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Andy & Dave Bartlett (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #443) on Friday, April 7, 2006 - 2:31 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Charles
The Continental Flights went into effect mid December. The resorts Have set up for the early morning arrival and some are providing breakfast and a place to put your bags until your room is ready, unless your room happens to be ready for you already. The last flights I checked on Continental to Bonaire are ranging from the high $500's to the high $400's per person.
Andy

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DIVER DEBBI (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #474) on Friday, April 7, 2006 - 10:29 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I can recommend Laguna Beach resort in Utila...good diving, great boat set-up and whale sharks, all meals included, house reef..you can drink the water there...still see more fish and shore dive from Bonaire,but sometimes you have to check out something different. There are actually smaller VERY cheap and basic rooms to be had in town of Utila if you are adventurous, and then dive with Utila Dive...have fun and safe diving where ever you go....

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charles (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 7:48 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions. As of now, we have decided to postpone Bonaire until the Fall when we can use our frequent flyer miles and plan better. We are now looking to go to the Galapagos in the first week of May. It won't be a diving vacation (unless I can squeeze a couple of dives in somehow), more likely we'll go to see the wildlife on land this time, maybe do some snorkeling, as my girlfriend is not experienced enough to handle the currents diving there. Will definitely go back again someday to hopefully dive with Hammerheads and whale sharks! Maybe we'll get lucky and see some while snorkeling! Thanks again!!

 


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