We have enjoyed the posts here over the years and hope we can give back a bit. This was our fifth trip; weather was wild... imagine a foot of water in Cultimara... police closing streets due to flooding....and oh what mosquitos!!!
All this after an experience with Bonairexel from Curacao that made us wish for ALM (now that got the attention of any long timers!)

We tried to make the best of it; I'll mention a few high points. Snorkeling was difficult due to waves but the reef at Sorobon was nice. Restaurants of note: Casablanca steaks are unbelievable both for flavor and tenderness. Ruth Chris could only wish...., Rains Fishes was excellent, I think even better than last year; We ate at Mona Lisa twice, once in the dining room and once bar hap and as usual the meals were outstanding. There is a great lunch deli about 30 yards straight out from Mona Lisa under a walkway - forget the name... something Brassarie or such. The lady makes beautiful and delicious sandwiches; pricey but worth it. We also tried the new Paris Bistro up by Pasa Bon Pizza. Food was superb; owner a true gentleman; needs to decorate a bit but he already seems to be drawing good business. The dinners were not just a meal but a work of art. We thought we were in Grand Case for a while!

Rental car was from Netty's and as usual, a good vehicle at a good price.

If you need internet service, the one in the litle mall that runs between the waterfront and Kaya Grande is reasonable and staffed by really helpful people. I forgot my timecode one day - most places would have said "sorry" but the manager took 15 minutes to search for the couple letters I could remember and helped me find it.

But getting there....you have to love the place to go through what we go through. We do so we do it but it will be a great day when competition comes in. Bonairexel is not exel....

Thanks for the report, John. Sorry you had a hard time of it getting to Bonaire and then had the heavy rains, but it is good to be on Bonaire at any time in my book! Sounds like you had some wonderful dining out. Ayo. Carole

what experience did you have with bonairexel? We might have to use them soon and would like to know what to expect.

Sorry for the delayed response; just got back to check this board. I'm sure there are travellers who used BE and did not experience what we did. But there is no way anyone can dismiss what we faced as "island time." We have been travelling to the Caribbean for many many years and are well acquainted with "island time." But when you come to an office literally packed with people wanting a ticket on a flight that leaves in an hour, and after 1/2 hour you notice that everyone is still in the office, and the office personnel are acting as if they are drugged....you realize there is a problem. When I finally got the office manager to look at the printout of the email FROM HER COMPANY (BE) that assured me that our reservations were in order and we were given a confirmation number, and this was signed by someone at BE, and she had NO IDEA what it referred to, could not find the reservation, and finally decided to start the process all over - for the next flight.....and then proceeded to spend a great deal of time unfolding the wrinkled corners of each little sheet of carbon paper, and with many interruptions insert each piece between the sheets of the ticket book, times 2 for both our tickets, it was like I was in a dream trying to run in molasses....When all this was finally done, she told me that I could go out and pay the cashier, as she tossed the completed ticket in the cashier's file. But the cashier was waiting on a man who needed forms filled out for some items he was shipping, and she decded to tape the forms to the boxes. She kept tearing off short pieces of tape and putting them around the edge of the forms, as if she was making an artistic design; a couple inches of tape here; then a couple more next to it etc. etc. until the top of the sheet was complete........now we'll work on the left side.....are you getting the picture? Half way through this process she leaves her desk and goes searching for new tape. The roll she was using was not gone, but she decided to search out more anyway. Quite a line of people had formed with money in hand waiting to pay as she was the only cashier. She knew this, and acted as if she was enjoying making everyone squirm. NO ONE who has spent time in the islands can tell me this is to be explained as "island time." I could only hope that those who serviced the planes were not of the same mindset as those in the office!

We love Bonaire, but if we do attempt to return, we will use Divi Divi, or insist on a ticket IN ADVANCE or choose a different island. In past years we read many woe stories about the service people got from ALM, and it was no prize, but Bonairexel could take some lessons from the ALM staff for sure.

Thanks for your response. We have decided to book a flight on the Divi Divi charter. We have been going to Bonaire for 7 years now and it gets harder to get there each year. We were hoping that BE would help out that situation but it appears they have not. We love Bonaire but like you may have to look elsewhere. We are spending 2 weeks there starting Christmas day and truely hope it is not our last. Thanks again.