bvbellomo
Contributor
I know Indonesia has been closed since the start of the pandemic, but I want to start planning a trip, even if I don't go any time soon. This has been my dream destination for years now.
Liveaboard seems the only way to do either destination, and boats are booked ahead of time, but flights are unreliable. I could do < $200 for Spirit from Cleveland Ohio to LAX round trip, then around $1000 for round trip to Indonesia. But flights get cancelled or delayed, Spirit is especially bad, but no airline is immune. If I go somewhere land based or unlikely to sell out, I can literally book accommodations when I land (I've done this with Hotels on my last 2 trips). The larger airlines have enough flights to Denpasar and Jakarta that I can get there with a day or two flex time, but from there I am on domestic flights and really take chances. With Indonesia, if there is a delay, I miss the boat (literally). Most of the Raja liveaboards don't even start and end at the same airport, making round trips and booking even more challenging. Do people book their liveaboard months ahead and just pray their flight happens? What if my flight actually makes it and the liveaboard cancels? Is getting stuck in Sorong or somewhere more remote without an option to dive a realistic fear? Is there any other way of doing this? At least with Komodo, Labuan Bajo seems to be the common start and end. I can only take off 2 weeks of work (but I can work remotely in LA). Both destinations are year round, but Raja seems more popular during the United State's winter, and Komodo during the summer, so that steers me to Raja. But flight coordination seems easier for Komodo.
Since nothing has happened for 2 years now, I anticipate it will be very busy and crowded once it reopens. Am I better waiting until 2 years after the pandemic?
Liveaboard seems the only way to do either destination, and boats are booked ahead of time, but flights are unreliable. I could do < $200 for Spirit from Cleveland Ohio to LAX round trip, then around $1000 for round trip to Indonesia. But flights get cancelled or delayed, Spirit is especially bad, but no airline is immune. If I go somewhere land based or unlikely to sell out, I can literally book accommodations when I land (I've done this with Hotels on my last 2 trips). The larger airlines have enough flights to Denpasar and Jakarta that I can get there with a day or two flex time, but from there I am on domestic flights and really take chances. With Indonesia, if there is a delay, I miss the boat (literally). Most of the Raja liveaboards don't even start and end at the same airport, making round trips and booking even more challenging. Do people book their liveaboard months ahead and just pray their flight happens? What if my flight actually makes it and the liveaboard cancels? Is getting stuck in Sorong or somewhere more remote without an option to dive a realistic fear? Is there any other way of doing this? At least with Komodo, Labuan Bajo seems to be the common start and end. I can only take off 2 weeks of work (but I can work remotely in LA). Both destinations are year round, but Raja seems more popular during the United State's winter, and Komodo during the summer, so that steers me to Raja. But flight coordination seems easier for Komodo.
Since nothing has happened for 2 years now, I anticipate it will be very busy and crowded once it reopens. Am I better waiting until 2 years after the pandemic?
