Air travel from Chicago to Bonaire

[KathyV]

This one has it all. Matrix - ITA Software by Google...This seems to be kept current also as to your available travel options. Some of the Delta/United flights are seasonal IIRC. Info Bonaire - Airline Information and Connections

Thanks, DiverSteve!

---------- Post added December 29th, 2014 at 06:49 PM ----------

Kathy, We're hoping to go to Bonaire this March and haven't booked flights yet...Anyway, flying from Chicago should be pretty straight forward. United through Newark or Houston. Delta through Atlanta. I would think you could get fares somewhere from $750 to $850 per person depending on how patient you are.

Thanks! Where will you stay on Bonaire?

---------- Post added December 29th, 2014 at 06:52 PM ----------

Insel Air is the only carrier flying to Bonaire out of Miami, and their route requires a plane change in Curacao. I doubt this route qualifies as "direct" and I'm certain it's not nonstop. The only North American carriers flying nonstop to Bonaire are Delta via Atlanta and United via Newark or Houston. American Airlines does not fly to Bonaire. More info is available here:
Info Bonaire - Airline Information and Connections

Thanks! I thought that American didn't fly to Bonaire any longer; that's why we had so much trouble finding suitable flights the last time we went there.

 

[boat sju]

We plan to stay at Caribbean Club up by oil slick.

 

[KathyV]

We plan to stay at Caribbean Club up by oil slick.

We've never been there, let me know how you like it!

---------- Post added December 29th, 2014 at 07:35 PM ----------

This one has it all. Matrix - ITA Software by Google

This is a great site, I've bookmarked it! It looks like United via Newark has lots of options, thanks!

 

[boat sju]

This will be our third time staying there. It's pretty quiet up there but nothing's really very far on Bonaire and me and my buddy don't really care about the nightlife anymore anyway.

 

[Hintermann]

I thought that American didn't fly to Bonaire any longer; that's why we had so much trouble finding suitable flights the last time we went there.

My apologies. I did not realise that AA had stopped those direct Saturday flights.

But AA do fly from Miami to Curacao and are probably a more reliable option than Insel. It will still mean connecting to Insel from Curacao to Bonaire but this route involves using Insel in only one sector and might be a lot cheaper than going on Delta via Atlanta.

 

[Maverick17]

I fly a lot for work and leisure. My suggestions are to use matrix as suggested. Quick monthly searches for March for the one post and October for the other, I'm finding $607 fares on United for one week trips ORD to BON. Don't forget to include Midway and Milwaukee in your search if those are possible starting points, but in this case ORD comes up cheapest.

If you have any miles saved up, the expensive Caribbean type destinations are a great value. You could probably buy points and go for closer to 400 or 500 if you have the patience and desire. If you want to send me a message with your exact dates of travel (or post here if you're up for it, but don't post any personal details), I can help look at more exact dates and ways to get there for a bit less.

 

[boat sju]

Be a bit careful with your searches and make sure the layover times are reasonable. Also, I'm not real excited about the redeyes. We did that before and ended up paying for an extra day accommodations so we could have a room to get some sleep upon arrival.

 

[hanglide]

It's not out of Chicago, but I booked 2 round trip tickets on JetBlue yesterday JFK to CUR for $725 TOTAL (taxes , fees included). My wife and I have been trying to get to Bonaire for awhile now and I was expecting to pay about this much for 1 round trip ticket.

I wasn't planning on buying a trip -just day dreaming about diving in the middle of winter in the great not so white north- but when I saw the prices I couldn't resist. I have to add ~$220 bucks for 2 round trips to BON on Insel.

Now, we just need to find a great deal on a place to stay! Any pointers?


FWIW I noticed Insel baggage allowances are pretty tight on size (weight is ok) - Is Insel very strict on sizes? The next flight to BON is 90 minutes after our arrival in CUR which I'd normally say is too tight for an international connection and the next flight is 3 1/2 hrs after our arrival? Any thoughts? Would they just push us back to the later flight if we didn't make it or are those flights pretty full? Mid to end of June

 

[DeputyDan]

We will normally do AA to Curacao and then the Divi Divi from Curacao to Bonaire.

Divi Divi operates like something out of the 60's but we have never ever had an issue using them....

 

[KathyV]

Be a bit careful with your searches and make sure the layover times are reasonable. Also, I'm not real excited about the redeyes. We did that before and ended up paying for an extra day accommodations so we could have a room to get some sleep upon arrival.

I totally agree, we did a redeye the last time and had to pay for an extra hotel night too. I would rather pay a higher fare for a better flight option; thanks!

---------- Post added December 30th, 2014 at 08:47 AM ----------

It's not out of Chicago, but I booked 2 round trip tickets on JetBlue yesterday JFK to CUR for $725 TOTAL (taxes , fees included)... I have to add ~$220 bucks for 2 round trips to BON on Insel. Now, we just need to find a great deal on a place to stay! Any pointers?

Thanks for the information. I know that it won't be cheap but I am looking for reasonable options, and I want to avoid the miserable redeye flights that we took last time. I don't know about the airlines and flights you will be using but I am sure that others can advise you.

The last 2 times we visited Bonaire we stayed at Den Laman and dived with BD&A and it was great. Eating out 3 times a day is very expensive on Bonaire (and everywhere else too!) We like to get a kitchenette or apartment and cook some of our meals when we visit Bonaire. Breakfast and lunch are easy and then we can go out for dinner and enjoy the local cuisine.

I don't much care for studio apartments, because you are cooking in the same room that you live and sleep in, but that's just me. We tried one of the studio suites at SandDollar one year, and the resort and room were very nice but that's when I decided to look for a kitchenette with a separate bedroom in the future. But if you look for an apartment pay attention to air conditioning if that is an issue for you. Some places only have AC in the bedroom(s). I would rather pay more for a fully air-conditioned space.

The Plaza Resort is now an all-inclusive resort with meals and diving included with the price of accommodations. I have never stayed there but it may be worth looking into. If you search this forum you will find lots of information about places to stay; have a great trip!

---------- Post added December 30th, 2014 at 08:56 AM ----------

I fly a lot for work and leisure. My suggestions are to use matrix as suggested. Quick monthly searches for March for the one post and October for the other, I'm finding $607 fares on United for one week trips ORD to BON. Don't forget to include Midway and Milwaukee in your search if those are possible starting points, but in this case ORD comes up cheapest. If you have any miles saved up, the expensive Caribbean type destinations are a great value. You could probably buy points and go for closer to 400 or 500 if you have the patience and desire. If you want to send me a message with your exact dates of travel (or post here if you're up for it, but don't post any personal details), I can help look at more exact dates and ways to get there for a bit less.

Thank you! We haven't absolutely decided the dates (or even the location yet!) but Bonaire in late October is currently high on our list of possible trips. We do have some points saved up and I will look into that, thanks for the suggestion. I once got free round trip air to Belize using points! MDW is definitely a possible departure point, but usually only to take Southwest to Florida and then take another airline to the Carribbean; I agree that ORD seems to offer more choices for Bonaire.

Thanks for the offer to help, when our plans are more definite I may be in touch!