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Trip Reports: Trip - 1/9 to 1/23/10
Bonaire Talk: Trip Reports: Archives: Archives 01-01-2010 to 04-30-2010: Trip - 1/9 to 1/23/10
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Blanchard (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #348) on Sunday, January 24, 2010 - 8:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We just returned from our 15th trip to Bonaire and it was terrific as usual. We used Delta from Atlanta and had no problems either way. Our stay at the Divi in a time share unit was perfect and the weather was ideal every day except one.

I will write comments in the accomodations, dining,and snorkeling sections.

Bonaire is suffering an economic downturn and it is evident by the smaller number of people on the Island. My only complaint is the number of cruise ships visiting. I guess they may help some Islanders but on the whole they do not contribute much to the economy and have done damage to coral and reefs. Of course they do not eat in any restaurants and don't seem to frequent the bars.

Overall, it was a great trip and we plan to return for number 16 in January 2011.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By a retired Grunt (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #942) on Sunday, January 24, 2010 - 9:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Your thoughts on cruise ships echo mine and others.
Glad you had an enjoyable trip.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By R J (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #171) on Monday, January 25, 2010 - 5:38 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for report. Glad you had an enjoyable visit.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vin Petrini (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 - 8:49 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the update. Does anyone have a sense of when the cruise ships usually hit the island so we can avoid the crowds?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2745) on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - 7:31 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Vin..Welcome to BT.. See this link for the 2010 schedule..
http://www.infobonaire.com/cruises.html

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vin Petrini (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - 8:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks, Vince. Really helpful. Does anyone have a recommendation on a good catamaran snorkeling day trip?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince DePietro-www.bonairebeachcondo.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2755) on Thursday, January 28, 2010 - 6:47 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

That's an EZ one! See the below link. They do a great job & I think you'll really enjoy it!

http://www.woodwindbonaire.com/

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Blanchard (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #355) on Thursday, January 28, 2010 - 3:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Vin, the Woodwind is great. Dee and her crew will show you fish and coral you would never see on your own. Her trips are now all at Klein Bonaire.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Austin Orton (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #9) on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 8:57 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Having just returned from a 3 week stay in Bonaire (our eighth), it saddens me to say that we see a deterioration in Bonaire on the economic and safety front. Obviously, the world economic crisis is having an effect. The island is much quieter than it was a few years ago. Cruise Ship traffic has increased and has not been good for Bonaire. The coral reefs have suffered and these tourists only spend in the tourist shops. My biggest concern was the fact that the street lighting along the sea front in Kralendike is virtually non-existent with broken lamps or bulbs. With bad street lighting and closed restaurants, the result is some pretty dark areas. My wife and were subject to a mild attack by a gang of approximately 8 to 10 youths near the customs area when they tried to stop us as we were driving northwards towards Donna and Georgios. They jumped in front of the truck and started banging on the roof and the bonnet (hood), shouting abuse at my wife and myself. It was scary for a few moments but I managed to pull away from them. We saw them do the same thing to a 'locals' car in front of us. This was probably a one-off incident but very sad nevertheless as we had always felt safe in Bonaire. I also had my rental truck deliberately scratched with perhaps a screwdriver or knife whilst parked in the main car park area near Subway during two separate occasions - both during the evening. Again where the street lighting was inadequate. So we now have a choice - do we continue coming to Bonaire? Coming from the UK it is very expensive but have always felt its been worth it in the past. Bonaire was always safe with great diving and great people but maybe times are a' changing!!?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chris (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #225) on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 11:56 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sounds like I encountered the same group of youngsters, bored and up to no good. I had to pass them for a couple of days on my walk back to the Divi back gate (just passed D&G). They were throwing rocks (big rocks) across the street, regardless of cars or pedestrians coming by. During the cruise ship docking they were particularly active,this was the first and only time I actually felt threatened on Bonaire. I looked them straight into the eyes and walked by head held up high. I was not going to be intimidated. But I felt relieved to enter the Divi compound. Could they have hurt me? yes. Would they have? I am inclined to think, no. Yong Bonaire and the schooling opportunities in Holland only reach a fraction of the islands young people. I don't think this incident is limited to Bonaire, we have bored youngsters in the States, what they do is worse. Our "paradise" is suffering from growing pains with all positive and negative aspects. It must be very difficult for the local population to find a new identity.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #187) on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 6:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Is there a boat that goes to Klein Bonaire that has diving and snorkeling combined.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chris (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #231) on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 6:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Yes, my husband dove with Dive Friends Bonaire (4 locations) and I signed up as a snorkeler. I wasn't the only one. We were at least 4 on each trip and about 10 diver, 2 DM's. The orientation addressed divers and snorkelers, the dive sites were picked with us in mind, too.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ***Ron Gould*** (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2225) on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 - 10:24 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Snorkelers are welcome if there are not enough divers. There is a difference in the fees... Ron

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chris (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #233) on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 - 10:36 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

We were told snorkelers would always be accommodated, even if it meant to add another boat. Which they did during our trips. This was DFB at Yellow Sub.

 


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