My wife and I are considering Bonaire for a 2 week holiday in January. We are just starting our planning and are considering our options.

During the 2 weeks we have - we would also like to see another island or islands.

Would visiting Bonaire, Aruba & Curacao be too much for the time we have? If we had to combine Bonaire with 1 other island, what would make the best combination. Thanks to all for any thoughts

Chris welcome to BT.

Probably you should do Aruba but do it first and Bonaire second. At the end of the second week you will asking why the he11 you ever went to Aruba (IMHO).

Aruba is a nice island but way over build/touristy. I do not have an opinion about Curacao as I've only visited the airport (to many times for to long). My impression is that it's very big and every thing is far away. The diving sounds a lot like Bonaire.

If you are divers, you'll lose a day while waiting to off-gas before flying to the second island. For that reason, doing Aruba or Curacao first makes sense...more to do on the off-gassing day. But if you are divers, then I don't see the point of Aruba or Curacao! And if you are not divers, then a week on Bonaire might be a long time...

The lost dive day may not be necessary. Take a portable altimeter with you on Divi-Divi or DAE and see what the max cabin-pressure equivalent altitude is on the way over. If under 2000 feet ASL, then you'll be OK after diving in the morning. Big jets go up to 7000 or 8000 feet equivalent altitude and THAT will be a problem.
I did this flying small turbo-prop back to Provo *twitch* from Grand Turk in May *twitch* after two AM dives and haven't *twitch* noticed any ill effects

We won't be diving so flying is not a concern. From what we've read a week in Bonaire for non-divers might be a bit long - so we thought a combination of islands might work. We would go there for the snorkeling and because it seems like a unique spot.

Chris, I don't know what you guys enjoy doing but I can tell you a bit about what Aruba has to offer. I just don't know much about Curacao. Aruba has mile after mile of truly incredible beaches. I also love driving along the north coast (4 wheel drive in places) because I love the look of the rough ocean and desert like scenery. There is horse back riding, sunset sails, many good restaurants, night clubs and casinos. Shopping is also very good there, but that's an activity that drives me nuts! You can find pretty much any food you are used to getting here in the US in the Supermarkets if you decide to book a room with a kitchen in one of the many Timeshares. There is also a rather large choice of good hotels. Aruba has almost 7 times more people than Bonaire but is smaller and is therefor a lot busier. I love the people there, but then, I have family and many friends there. If going to both islands, my choice would be to go to Aruba first, then sit back, relax and soak in the ambiance above and below the water in Bonaire.

Chris,
My wife and I are not divers and we go to Bonaire for 2 weeks at a time. there is a lot to do. We snorkel 2 or 3 times a day at least, sometimes more. Also see the park, photography , birding, caving, biking , mangrove kayaking, going to Klein bonaire and lots more.
It is easy to take a day trip to curacao($100 each person, round trip) on Divi Divi airlines and shop , cruise or even spend a couple of nights.

Don't worry about boredom in Bonaire--relax-island time--and enjoy.
Vann Evans

We are going to Curacao and Bonaire for a week each at the end of this month. We went to Bonaire last year, but this will be the first time to Curacao which is our first stop. We can't wait to get back to Bonaire, but wanted to check out another island. I will let you know our opinion of Curacao while I am there or when I get back.

We are doing all three islands, but not by intention. Our flight from Amsterdam was to Bonaire and the way we booked (points) the next flight home was in November so we booked a flight home from Curacao. Due the Regatta there are no seats available to Curacao this weekend, so we fly to Aruba on Sunday and overnight there and then fly to Curacao. At least we will have time to do some sight seeing.

I stayed in Bonaire for two weeks. I'm a diver, my wife and 3 of my kids are not. I dove with my oldest daughter. Two of our daughters made a “test dive” which they liked very much.
No one got bored during these 2 weeks. We all love to snorkel, visited Slagbaai and made several tours around the island. It was a very relaxing holiday.
So, if I were you I would stay for 2 weeks on Bonaire.

If you want to visit another island, I would prefer Curacao to Aruba.
Is has more variety, although not as many sandy beaches as Aruba. Which I find charming, because I prefer the smaller beaches of Curacao. But that’s a matter of taste.
Beaches you would like to visit on Curacao are:
Boca St Michiel, Daaibooibaai, Playa Jeremi, Playa Forti, Playa Kalki, Playa Lagun

The Christoffel park is a nature reserve, which is nice to visit. You have the sea aquarium where you can swim with the dolphins. You can drive the rugged north coast.
Willemstad is a colorful place to be with a lot of shopping, the floating market, lots of restaurants, the Curacao Museum, the Jewish synagogue, Fort Amsterdam and the pontoon bridge. It dates back to 1600

I would not be fait not to mention the drug related crime on Curacao. I have not been on Aruba for a long time (as you might have guessed from the above) but I assume the crime rate on Aruba is lower. Maybe someone with more recent experience on Aruba could elaborate on that.

You absolutely need a car on Curacao.