Hi gang,

Bonaire sounds like snorkellers' paradise. We've been trying to figure out how to get there from Vancouver (YVR). The Continental web site refuses to acknowledge a Houston/Bonaire flight. Any ideas? We don't mind red-eyes or multiple connections, but would prefer to do it all in one (very long) day. Many thanks from Comox

It flys out Friday nights.

Syd -

And if you haven't guessed, the return Continental flights to IAH are on Saturdays.

Your assumption is correct: Bonaire is snorkeler's paradise. We have snorkeled several places in the Caribbean and Hawaii and none even comes close to Bonaire for quantity and quality of the snorkeling experience. Do hope it works out.

Charles Poteet
Dallas

Hi Syd Welcome to Bonaire Talk

I can't help you with your query, but I know there's quite a few BTers from Canada, so I'm sure there'll be plenty of advice soon

Go to the CO website. Depart YVR and go to BON. Departure date of 1/26/07 at 6:00 am. return on 2/3/07 anytime.

Up popped three routings
YVR --> SEA --> IAH --> BON
YVR --> PDX --> IAH --> BON
YVR --> IAH --> BON

I depart from SEA. It is just a long ways from here to there. But it is well worth it for me.

Here are the major options I consider each year:
a) AA via MIA to CUR and then Divi Divi to Bonaire. I leave at midnight and arrive Bonaire before 4pm.
b) AA to SJU and then AE to BON. (Usually SEA to DFW to SJU to BON). I leave at midnight and get to Bonaire at 9pm.
c) CO to IAH and then BON
d) CO via EWR I will consider in the future.

Air Canada to Aruba, then Bonaire Excel, I think, from Aruba to Bonaire. This is one option.

The Houston flight leaves on Friday night at 11:30pm and arrives on Sat morning at 5:30am,then the return flight leaves early Sat morning the next week, it worked well for us in late Sept/early Oct.
I think the flight from EWR will leave on Sat night and arrive Sun morning, and then leave Sun morning of the next week.
So check on the night before your arrival date and you should find what you need.
We booked thru the Continental web site without any trouble.

Andy

Syd
The best track I see for you is Air Canada through Denver to Houston. There are several flights each day, the last one gets to Houston a couple of hours before Continental's departure direct to Bonaire. That may be a little to tight but the prior one is not too long a wait. Take a look.
Mickey

As with all such things, you need to figure out what makes one option better than another.

Consider:
a) Do you have certain likes/dislikes for specific airlines? (this can include things like wanting to earn FF miles, using miles, past experiences, etc.)
b) How important is price?
c) What is your schedule preference? Reduce time spent in transit? Reduce time spent in the air? Provide an ample cushion for delays?
d) Big plane or small plane?

For me, I would go YVR to IAH departing at 8:05 am arriving at 2:30 pm. I would consider doing something in Houston -- at least figure out a way into a club lounge. Depart IAH at 11:30pm. All on Continental.

The advantages: a) Two legs means less time in the air (total of around 9 hours); b) One stop means less chance for luggage being misrouted; c) two legs means less chance of a delayed flight; d) long layover (almost 9 hours) makes it almost certain you will be in IAH for a once a week flight; e) long layover means you have time to eat and relax in IAH; f) Even if the YVR to IAH flight is scrubbed, you can catch a flight via SEA that would still get to IAH in time.

The disadvantages: a) Longer time in transit; b) an early start to the day; c) a very long layover in IAH.

Next year, I will probably do the SEA to IAH to BON routing. While I hate getting in at 6am, leaving SEA at 12:30pm and being in BON a mere 13 hours later is amazing!! And it seemed fairly affordable from SEA all things considered (about $900 with taxes).

Can anyone suggest something to do on a long layover (about 11 hrs) in Houston. We leave Toronto at about 7:45 am and don't leave Houston for Bonaire until 11:30. We read that to go into the city is a $50. cab ride each way. Is there something to do close to the airport, or is there a city tour that leaves from the airport? We are saving about $200 each to leave this early. Later in the day (no long layover would cost a lot more. Don't want to spend our savings in Houston. Any suggestions?
Thanks.

Hi Cyd

We always go Calgary - Dallas Fort Worth - San juan P.R. - Bonarie...we go American Airlines the entire way..the benefit is that if you are going all in one day (we like to overnight in DFW) the bags can get checked right to your destination...less hassle changing gates, etc. Also AA has it's own terminal in DFW and SJ. Just a thought.