After a horrible incident with airport personell in Bonaire this past Christmas, I said I'd never go back. To many places I have yet to dive to go through what we did at that airport. But, I am happy to say that after being compensated nicely by the airlines as well as having almost a year to calm down and really contemplate the trip as a whole {instead of just the airport incident}...We have just made our reservations at Eden Beach (which we adored) for July of 2005!
I know , I know, who cares. I am just really excited and wanted to let anyone who remembers my trip report from December (Vegas does Bonaire) know that I took all of the good advise and decided to try it again.
Besides, we got back from Cozumel in July and after much reflection...I'll take Bonaire.

For those of you who are wondering what the hell problems I am referring to...
http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/1022/136353.html?1079446291
by the way, when I signed back on the board since way back then, I had to re-register on this board.

Rich, I'm glad that you decided to return to Bonaire despite luggage/ticket problems.

Seb and I also vowed never to return after ALM lost a piece of luggage on our first ever vacation as certified divers to Bonaire.

http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/29/160985.html?1082581259#POST188039

I spent a half-year holding the spare luggage key to my forehead and chanting "Luggage come back to me, Luggage come back".

Then I let go.

Six months later my luggage turns up.

Needless to say, we've returned again and again to Bonaire.

Rich

Maybe it is a Bonaire initiation thing, our first trip was also a nightmare (the week before Lenny) our roof leaked badly and we had other problems and changed rooms four times in one week and I had a camera stolen. But we also went back and have just returned(yesterday)feeling good after our eigth trip. Not long now till our Christmas visit to Bonaire.

Hi, Rich! I just read your new posting and smiled a huge grin! I went back to the original posting and read that along with my response to your incident. It does pay to pursue the airlines and sit back a distance and reflect on the overall trip. I'm so glad things worked out well and that you are returning to Bonaire again to enjoy all that she has to offer.

Joe and I had a nightmare experience in 2002 and I sat down at the PC and wrote out a letter to the airline....took me three hours to get the final product done and then submitted, but it definitely paid off in the end.

Glad to hear you did recall the good times on your trip and that you are properly being compensated so you can return to enjoy Bonaire again in July 2005!!! Now you have the Pre Bonaire Anxiety phase to live through! LOL. Ayo. Carole

The decision was hard. We had been to the Keys twice and loved it. Dove Jamaica. Dove Cozumel. Trying to figure out where to next, and Eden Beach kept popping into our heads. That place is just way to great not to go back for seconds. Then we started talking about all the great grub. Then we pulled out our logs and a Bonaire dive map and realized how many sights we still had not dove. The straw that cracked it was, for a guy who doesn't drink beer, (whiskey w/water back please) those Amstels are sure excellent! If they lose my luggage though...I'm twisting some necks!

Rich, having had my luggage lost, let me assure you, it's just stuff. Okay, some of it may be your favorite stuff, and some of it is quite expensive, but that's why we have insurance.

Now I pack with the idea that this stuff that I pack might be lost. I can do without it.

The same goes for whatever I bring in the rental car. So I wear rubber island shoes in the car and I bring the sunglasses whose lens will occasionally pop out.

It's just stuff. Let it go and it will come back to you.