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Getting to Bonaire: San Juan Layover
Bonaire Talk: Getting to Bonaire: Archives: Archives 2006-2008: Archives - 2007-10-01 to 2007-12-31: San Juan Layover
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chris Thorpe (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 3:23 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Very long layover time in Puerto Rico this February....We got jammed up this coming February and had to book on American through San Juan. I know that many Bonairetalkers have had this experience, I'm looking for suggestions! It will my first time using this flight. The SJU to BON layover is on a Friday and is 6 hours, the return layover is 12 hours on a Saturday. I am thinking about booking a room for the longer layover and a tour (?) or long lunch for the 6hr. wait.
Any and all suggestions would be very welcome! Thanks. Chris

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Freddie (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #9263) on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 3:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Chris and Welcome to Bonaire Talk. Please go to the bottom if this page and use the Keyword search engine that BT has.. I put in "San Juan" and got too many hits about layovers ,what to do and staying the night in San Juan..
Again welcome to Bonaire Talk

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chris Thorpe (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 3:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Freddie. I just read Cyn's very informative write-up from last year. I also checked Best Western for 2/23...they have no rooms available!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By scubadobadoo (BonaireTalker - Post #11) on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 11:09 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Take a cab to El Morro--the larger of the two forts (it'll be $19 (plus a certain amount for the number of bags you have--small). Check out the fort, if that interests you. You can also buy a kite from the gift shop in the middle of the big field in front of the fort and fly it, if it tickles your fancy...

Hop on the free trolley and take it around for a full loop, keeping an eye our for a fun place to eat lunch. We recommend Cafeteria Mallorca, typical Cuban/Puerto Rican/Domincan fare--a locals kind of place.

You can get a cab back to the airport or check out the other fort, San Cristobal, to walk off your lunch--its not far from the restaurant at all.

The cab ride take about 10-15 minutes if you're travelling outside of rush hour. We usually try to head back to the airport by 4. It sucks to get back to the airport so early, but its the safe way to go.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By pat murphy (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1252) on Thursday, November 22, 2007 - 1:38 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

another thing to remember is to check at the american airlines counter right near the area where you recheck your bags after clearing customs. ask if they have room on an earlier flight. we checked there last trip and they did...unfortunately we checked after dropping our bags at the rechecking area so we had to wait for our scheduled flight. we know better now.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sue from NJ (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #677) on Thursday, November 22, 2007 - 3:58 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I second the recommendation to visit El Morro. We did that on a 5 hr layover in 2006 and found it a relaxing and educational way to spend a the afternoon. The view of the sea from the top is wonderful.

We asked the Park Service employees at El Morro for a lunch spot recommendation and they directed us to a place they said was "Puerto Rico's version of Subway". I don't remember the name, but I hope you speak some Spanish or are adventurous with food, as no one there spoke English.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jason (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #225) on Thursday, November 22, 2007 - 4:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Stay at the airport and get hammered/blitzed/crap-faced/drunk/three sheets to the wind/messed up.

Then during this process ask your server if they are proud of their Mexican heritage. THAT will go over very well. :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chris Thorpe (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Friday, November 23, 2007 - 3:20 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank You Pat, Sue and Scubadobadoo,
For the shorter layover you suggestions sound great.I think we will head out to El Morrow and find a spot for lunch. I'm still trying to find a place to relax for the 12 hour ordeal. I read about the Best Western although it is booked solid on my date. Other places seem very expensive, I'll keep looking. And..Thanks for your help! Chris

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By PegiSue-goin' back in July! (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2420) on Friday, November 23, 2007 - 7:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Old San Juan is also a great way to spend the day. Very nice and lots to see and do. Lots of places to eat. And bring lots of money because there is a Dooney & Bourke outlet there!!(Maybe that only effects me...hmmm...:-))

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Boat Chick* (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3750) on Saturday, November 24, 2007 - 1:55 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Chris, I think that the Hampton Inn has a day rate. Of course, I'm partial:-) For anyone that wants the info, here is the link to the San Juan Airport and layover tips:-)

http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/29/255870.html?1147724205

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chris Thorpe (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Sunday, November 25, 2007 - 10:54 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

BoatChick (Cyn),
Thank you very much. All of your info is most helpful, I'll try to contact Hampton Inn and find out if they have "day rates".

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Taft (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #805) on Sunday, November 25, 2007 - 8:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Boat Chick got us started on the Hampton day rate and it was great. However, they do not book it ahead of time (as in you can't reserve the room now). When we called to ask we were told that we needed to call once we arrived in San Juan. We used our cell phone to call from the plane and they were ready for us when we arrived. I think we paid 149 dollars last December.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linnea Wijkhof-Wimberly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #875) on Sunday, November 25, 2007 - 10:26 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Two places for lunch are La Bombonera and El Meson. Both are on the same street, El Meson is about two blocks uphill from La B. The Central trolley goes right past La B. Watch for the Burger King on the corner where the trolley turns left and get off at the next stop. Walk back to La B. about 1/2 block or walk on straight to El Meson. Both are great places for sandwiches. Unless you have big appetites, get one sandwich and split it between two people.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ginny (BonaireTalker - Post #31) on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 5:08 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

El Morro is a great suggestion. we did that 2 weeks ago and wish we had done it on previous trips. On our flight to Bonaire we had 5 hr layover and took the bus for 75 cents to isle verde. Went to the beach and had a lunch at one of the places on the beach and then walked it off on the beach. Cheaper than the cab we took to the beach the last trip. We are still learning.
I would be careful about returning from OSJ during a busy time of day, or allow plenty of time.
Enjoy.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan - www.bonairecaribbean.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2980) on Thursday, November 29, 2007 - 8:03 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ginny, where did you get a bus for 75.00 cents?? From the airport?? Do tell...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ginny (BonaireTalker - Post #32) on Thursday, November 29, 2007 - 3:23 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ann,
Could not tell you exactly HOW we got to where the bus is but can give you an idea of what it is near. We did a bit of wandering around to find the bag check area. We checked our carry-ons and just took a beach bag with us. the bag check was about $3 for each bag. We headed outside from there and we were right near the hotel entrance on the upper level. We walked to the right a bit and saw the bus sign. We asked a few women who seemed to be getting off shift if we could get to the beach and they told us the bus number but suggested we also ask the driver. In about 10 minutes after 2 buses that did not go where we wanted went by we got our bus. Luckily we had quarters since they do not make change for you. In 5 minutes we were a block from the beach. We always like to take public transportation when we travel, and this surely was a cost effective way to get out of the airport. Surely you could haul your carry-on with you but since I think most of us take our regulators etc., it is a bit heavy but doable on a backpack.
Hope that helps.
Ginny

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Schamp (BonaireTalker - Post #89) on Thursday, November 29, 2007 - 4:10 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Just google San Juan Airport Bus and take it from there...
Here's one site that seems to have a bunch of information although the site's layout is confusing.
http://www.toandfromtheairport.com/puertorico.html

Looks like bus A5 to Old San Juan or bus C45 to Isla Verde.
A good map would be useful to track all these locations...

 


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