Bonaire - Plan the vacation, vacation the plan?

[Ruu]

Well I pulled the trigger today - bought tickets and booked the hotel. A word of warning to anyone in Bonaire in early September though - bad things seem to happen when I travel. There was a military coup last time I was in Fiji, and the time before last when I went to Dahab someone went and started the second gulf war.

Something to look forward to.

Dave

 

[KathyV]

where did you decide to stay? have fun!

 

[deco_martini]

Well I pulled the trigger today - bought tickets and booked the hotel. A word of warning to anyone in Bonaire in early September though - bad things seem to happen when I travel. There was a military coup last time I was in Fiji, and the time before last when I went to Dahab someone went and started the second gulf war.

Something to look forward to.

Dave

I'm in Bon Sept11-18. I was also in Fiji during the 2000 coup. However, I've been traveling frequently for the past decade and nothing else bad has happened.

The Fiji coup wasn't so bad either. The kava kept flowing.

 

[Ruu]

I'm at the HV for almost 2 weeks leaving on the 16th. I was going to stay in multiple places, but now I think what I shall do is rent a truck for the final week (giving me some time on the house reef and some time to figure things out) and just stay in HV for the whole time. I hear they keep yahoos like the rest of you out, so that seems to be an advantage.

I'm in Bon Sept11-18. I was also in Fiji during the 2000 coup. However, I've been traveling frequently for the past decade and nothing else bad has happened.

The Fiji coup wasn't so bad either. The kava kept flowing.

Yes - that was the year I was there. When people think Military coup, they think about tanks rolling down the road and people dodging bullets behind cars. I was on a little island stocked with Fiji bitter praying that they would close the airport so I couldn't get home.

Dave

 

[Jersey]

How bad are the insects likely to be in September? I've done Algonquin in June (the Ontario park, not the new york hotel), so I am familiar with whole-head mosquito protection from ungodly aggressive biters, but I was possibly cautiously optimistic that the insects might have a low season like they do in other places. And that this would be it. In retrospect this may be more like blind stupidity - how bad could it be?

How bad? I've seriously thought of packing mosquito netting to cover the bed. I've had sleepless nights when a couple got in the room and you hear them bbbbzzzz near your ear. (I since roll towels to place at the bottom of the door when we turn in) We engage in the 'Great Mosquito Roundup' in the bathroom every day, swatting them with towels ~ "Got me 6 - 3 in the shower, 2 on the mirror, 1 on the door". They don't even particularly bother me and I'm used to flesh eating salt marsh horseflies that require leashes. Look for the folks with ulcerations (typically legs) from bites ~ first timers! I dread getting out of water after a night dive. There is no low season for a mosquito ~ it's all high dengue time! Leave your wetsuit out overnight, then shake it out in the morning and tell me - they swarm out. Truly - I pack the Off w/ Deet BEFORE I pack my gear. One bottle stays in my handbag and God forbid we head out without it. As soon as the sun starts to set, the breeze dies off, the bugs come up. Wet seasons are worse, but they are always there. Even paradise has its' pitfalls... Go, dive, have a blast, write us all about HV! ...And no cheesesteaks on Bonaire either...make that 2 pitfalls.:biggrin:

 

[Ruu]

I'm at the HV for almost 2 weeks leaving on the 16th. I was going to stay in multiple places, but now I think what I shall do is rent a truck for the final week (giving me some time on the house reef and some time to figure things out) and just stay in HV for the whole time. I hear they keep yahoos like the rest of you out, so that seems to be an advantage.

Re-reading that, what I actually meant was that I will be in Bonaire from the 4th to the 16th (as in leaving Bonaire on the 16th), just in case anyone else will be about. Not even sure if I speak English any more.

Dave

 

[Sik_Z33]

A bunch of my buddies have been to Bonaire (and rave about it) and never had any problems with crimes of any type. Just be careful as always and have a great trip!

 

[jcroy66]

I got eaten alive last year. The one dive site in the south - we made it from the truck across the swamp to the water before we realized my tank had blown out the one gasket. I told my husband to go snorkel with his parents and I would watch our dive gear. Decided to walk it back across the swamp. By the time I made it to the truck, I had dozens of large welts, including on skin that was covered by my dive skin. And a good half dozen quarter sized welts on my face. I was nearly crying by the time I made it to the truck. Immediately grabbed the off, sprayed all over. Once I found the truck keys in my hubby's gear, I rolled the windows up and sat in the a/c and just wimpered. After that, I sprayed with the off every time I left the room, even if it was just to go diving. As always, YMMV.

 

[tracydr]

We left our dive gear in the truck, nothing stolen for two weeks! Stayed in a nice house near The Golden Reef, by owner and it was a great deal.
If navigation and shore skills are shaky stay off the ends of the island as some of the entries and exits, current can be tricky. Get a compass and learn to use it, ESP at night! Consider VIP Diving as a guide if you want to go somewhere more challenging since you're less experienced. Ask Bas to take you to Taylor Made, an amazing, unmarked dive.
We didn't use a guide but hubby and I are pretty experienced, our last trip was Galapegos and he's an instructor.