Bonaire, GC, BVI......????

[DiveMaven]

My DH and I decided to exchange our Maui timeshare and go somewhere else. We may have choices such as Bonaire, GC, BVI, Turks & Caicos, the Keys, USVI, Aruba, Bahamas, etc. I'm trying to list the order in which our preferences would be in case there is limited availability. So far, in order of preference, I have:

Bonaire
Caymans (either GC or Brac)
???
???
???
Bahamas would be at the bottom

Help, I need some advice in how to fill in the rest of my preferences!

 

[diversteve]

My DH and I decided to exchange our Maui timeshare and go somewhere else. We may have choices such as Bonaire, GC, BVI, Turks & Caicos, the Keys, USVI, Aruba, Bahamas, etc. I'm trying to list the order in which our preferences would be in case there is limited availability. So far, in order of preference, I have:

Bonaire
Caymans (either GC or Brac)
???
???
???
Bahamas would be at the bottom

Help, I need some advice in how to fill in the rest of my preferences!

1. Compared to Maui, Bonaire is realllllyyyyyy quiet. Better diving though.
2. Grand Cayman took a beating last fall from Hurricane Ivan, a lot of the condos in some areas were damaged. So I'd inquire about the amenities before any exchange.

 

[herman]

From what I hear, trading for a timeshare on Bonaire is near impossible. There is only a few of them and those who have them use them.

 

[DiveMaven]

Thanks for the feedback, it's very helpful. Herman, you're right, there is only 1 timeshare listed in Bonaire for possible exchange, so I'm likely going to scratch them off my list and concentrate on Grand Cayman to start. Fortunately, we're not looking at anything for awhile yet, so that'll give Grand Cayman time to rebuild more before we attempt to exchange.

We really enjoyed diving the Rhone in Tortola and want to go back, so that seems to be creeping up the list. We also want to go back to the Keys for a week to 10 days, so that's a possibility too.

Worst case? We'll go back to Maui.....gee, rough, huh?

 

[herman]

As an alternative to Bonaire, how about Curacao? I would think there would be more time shares there and from what I hear the diving is close to the same.

 

[Amy WJ]

As an alternative to Bonaire, how about Curacao? I would think there would be more time shares there and from what I hear the diving is close to the same.

I would wait a while (years) before going back to Grand Cayman. We were there during Hurricane Ivan and the island was devastated. Not sure the impact on diving but have had some friends travel there recently who said it's still in bad shape. The diving was good before Ivan but not as good as Cayman Brac or Little Cayman.

 

[DaveChandler]

My DH and I decided to exchange our Maui timeshare and go somewhere else. We may have choices such as Bonaire, GC, BVI, Turks & Caicos, the Keys, USVI, Aruba, Bahamas, etc. I'm trying to list the order in which our preferences would be in case there is limited availability. So far, in order of preference, I have:

Bonaire
Caymans (either GC or Brac)
???
???
???
Bahamas would be at the bottom

Help, I need some advice in how to fill in the rest of my preferences!

Hello, I was out in Bonaire about 2 months ago and loved it, how ever if some one in the group is not a diver, I do not know what they will do there, once you drive around the island there is no need to do it again, I do not think there is much to do there if you are not a diver! but the diving is fantastic, there is so many shore dive spots that you do not have to go on all boat dives but they are real nice too and you should do a few of them also. Stay at Buddy Dive if you can they have drive-up air and you can take as many tanks as you need for the shore dives that you want to do that day, and the diving is great right off there dock also. I would like to know why the Bahamas is the last on your list?? I am leaving to go there March 19th. for the first time and will be going to Nassau for 1 week, did you not like it? Talk to you later, Dave

 

[Tim Ingersoll]

On that list I have been to all but Bonaire and would put Turks and Caicos at the top of the list if its all about the diving. I would rank it as follows:
Turks & Caicos
Grand Cayman
Bonaire
Bahamas
BVI
USVI
The Keys

 

[DiveMaven]

Thanks for the suggestion of Turks and Caicos. I've been reading more about it and it seems like a great dive destination. Not sure we can exchange to there, but it's now looking like we're going to keep our timeshare week instead. But we will need another place to go besides Maui (since we do 2 vacations a year), so all these suggestions are wonderful, thanks!

 

[Allison Finch]

My sister traded hers for Cancun Mex. While the diving isn't as good as Cozumel, Isla Mujeres wasn't too bad and the cenotes ROCKED!!!