Early arrival in Bonaire

[avlena]

So, our Bonaire trip is almost here, YAY!! We fly out on Aug 29th, and arrive super early (5am, yikes!) on Saturday, the 30th. We're staying at the Divi Flamingo, which has a check-in time of 2pm. So, my question is - what in the world do we do between the time we get into town, and the time we can check in? Since we've been drooling over images of that warm Caribbean water for months now, I'd love to jump into the water ASAP, but what do we do with our stuff, and how do we change? For all those Bonaire vets out there, do you do a lot of diving on the first day, or do you spend most of your time settling in?

by the way, thanks to everyone who posts on these forums - I've gained so much knowledge about Bonaire, and it's really helped me to prepare for our trip and make informed decisions!!

Thanks!

 

[texas-buzzard]

Check with Divi as they have provisions for early arrivals. I think they have an early check-in if a room is available. As far as diving, you are required to go through orientation and pay the marine park fee then you do a checkout dive. I think orientation is at 10:00 am.

We are heading back to Bon on saturday. HAVE FUN!

 

[kmcneer]

sounds like we are on the same flight. My plan is to dive eat and sleep in the hamocks by the water until my room is ready. I think the check out dive is at 9:00. Divi will give you a gear locker on the dock so you can dive until your room is ready if you want. You could put some dry clothes in there also just incase.

 

[avlena]

Thanks kmcneer, that helps. We'll probably use the dive lockers. Oh, btw, I finally got an email back from the resort - the orientation is at 9:30.

 

[DiveMaven]

When we went to Bonaire earlier this year, we reserved an extra night in our room so we could check in at 6am. We felt it was definitely worth the extra $100 and will do the same thing next year.

 

[BonaireDiver]

Arrive, get transportation/pickup (by the way most, not all, of the car rentals are now located at the plaza resort, they have vans to shuttle you), go do orientation, do a dive, then find out when the room should be available, I ask the maids themselves, $5 or $10 bucks will do wonders here. figure out how much time yourself and your group need to leave to go shopping, Cultimara, Warehouse, More for Less, and depending on the day you arrive one of these may be closed, get back, stock the room. Take a nap......Dive, rinse, repeat....

 

[kmcneer]

Tipping the maid is a good idea. We were looking at booking the extra night to have the room on arrival too but have not decided yet.