Bonaire - airfare and options

[staggsSevin]

I keep watching the flights but so far I haven't seen them lower than $783/pp for me. Keeping an eye out using ITA Matrix for July/August, almost like there isn't as many Delta flights this year. Looking at the last few flights there it ran around $703/pp and that was with upgrades to economy plus via United. Looks like I paid $863/pp in 2013 via Delta once....guess I didn't use to be as cheap.

 

[jimw]

Lately, the ITA Software Matrix has not shown the lowest fare Miami--Boaire. I see a $308. fare on a Kayak fare email I get each morning--Inselair Aruba, which I assume is owned by Inselair--anyway it stops in Aruba instead of Curacao. For the price I would be tempted.........

 

[staggsSevin]

Got flights for $552/pp.....headed for 8 nights at the end of July. Looks like DenLaman doesn't have space so we will have to figure out a new place to stay. We really like the setup at DenLaman & BDA for the last several trips we've taken.

 

[diversteve]

so we will have to figure out a new place to stay.

An option could be Belmar south of town - about the same level of furnishings as Den Laman - the place itself is maybe a decade older. But it's a smaller, compressed property like Den Laman. All the condo patios/balconies face west. Decent small pool but no beach at all - everything is steps down the ironshore to one of two docks. One downside is there's no food within walking distance except the restaurant at Hotel Roomer - about 2 blocks away. It's kind of meh. Town is 5minutes north around the lagoon - the Plaza's restaurants are about the 1st thing you go past. Belmar Oceanfront Apartments Bonaire - First Class Accommodations

The other Buddy Dive shop is onsite and due to the size they only have one of Buddy's boats available - sometimes moored there, sometimes they bring it down in the morning. Also you get to use Buddy's drive-thru when diving north. If you get a ground floor room there's a locking closet outside your back door, upstairs all get lockers in the dive shop area. One nice thing is your key lets you into the public area 24/7 for tank exchange, wetsuit drying and the nitrox analyzer. The shop is on the far south end and tank storage is 30' from the road.

Not as great dive as Bari but we liked it enough to do twice. It's kind of one end of Corporal Meiss and IIRC the double reef is out there - I think it starts around Windsock slightly to the north.

 

[boat sju]

staggs,

If you don't mind being up north a bit check out Caribbean Club. It's associated with Buddy Dive too. Right by Oil Slick, Jeff Davis and Witches Hut.

 

[wwguy]

Got flights for $552/pp.....headed for 8 nights at the end of July. Looks like DenLaman doesn't have space so we will have to figure out a new place to stay. We really like the setup at DenLaman & BDA for the last several trips we've taken.

Sand Dollar has several units available. You could still dive with BDA and enjoy Bari as your house reef.

 

[staggsSevin]

Thanks Guys,

I'll be pulling up some old threads and reading reviews today. I was looking at Belmar, BeachComber Villa, Buddy Dive, and CC.

---------- Post added May 17th, 2015 at 09:47 AM ----------

wwguy, I'm actually considerinb beachcomber villas's based off your comments. Is it fairly easy to get tanks and dive cliff off of the back side? Wife did want me to check into sand dollar but seems I'd have to do some extra research as to what condo to rent.

 

[wwguy]

We get our air at Dive Friends Bonaire's Hamlet Oasis shop, located just a few doors north from BCV. If you're already at BCV and have full tanks you can easily dive the Cliff right out the back gate. (You do have to walk along shore about 1 house distance north to get to the sand channel out to the reef.) But if you need fresh tanks anyway it's just as easy to dive the Cliff from the dive shop. The upside to diving from the dive shop is that rinse tanks are already full and waiting upon your return. We've done it both ways many times and don't really have a favorite strategy. We just do whatever seems easiest at the time.

 

[diversteve]

Some of the Sand Dollar condos are on vrbo.com also. I've read somewhere it's cheaper than going thru the SD website. Here's one: Lovely Oceanfront 1 BR Condo at Sand Dollar... - VRBO

IDK if you/wife care since there isn't one at Den Laman but Sand Dollar's pool is behind the condos in the parking lot.

 

[RJP]

staggs,

If you don't mind being up north a bit check out Caribbean Club. It's associated with Buddy Dive too. Right by Oil Slick, Jeff Davis and Witches Hut.

Stayed there with my buddy in December. Great value and great accommodations.