Travel to Bonaire via Aruba, question?!

[amajamar]

I am planning to travel to Bonaire in March via Aruba. Once I get to Aruba on JetBlue or US Air, do I have to go through Customs then pick up my luggage, then check into DAE airlines, then go through Customs again?

Seems like there should be a way to do it without going through Customs in Aruba, no?

 

[highlandfarmwv]

You get off your plane and pick up your bags. Exit the buildling and go pick up your boarding pass at the DAE booth (turn right outside of the terminal you exited from); Go to incoming area of the Aruba airport and check your baggage. there is no "customs" going to Aruba and Bonaire, but coming home, you will have to go through US customs in the Aruba airport, which is infinitely better than having to do it in the US! All it really amounts to is picking up your bags and putting them on another belt. they check a small percentage of bags. When you get back to US you just go home.

The Aruba airport is all new in the area that you wait for your flight in. It is quite pleasant. I've done that route to Bonaire 3 times.

 

[amajamar]

You get off your plane and pick up your bags. Exit the buildling and go pick up your boarding pass at the DAE booth (turn right outside of the terminal you exited from); Go to incoming area of the Aruba airport and check your baggage. there is no "customs" going to Aruba and Bonaire, but coming home, you will have to go through US customs in the Aruba airport, which is infinitely better than having to do it in the US! All it really amounts to is picking up your bags and putting them on another belt. they check a small percentage of bags. When you get back to US you just go home.

The Aruba airport is all new in the area that you wait for your flight in. It is quite pleasant. I've done that route to Bonaire 3 times.

Don't you have to go through customs when you arrive in Aruba from the US? I have been there twice and I didn't think there was any other way to get your bags unless you go through the customs area.

Did you make your own flight arrangements? In general, how was that route to deal with? I don't want to turn my trip into a travel nightmare. I would have flown into Bonaire directly, but I want to stay for 10 days.

I have been doing some research and it seems that some people have had many problems with DAE.

 

[reefdiva]

I am planning to travel to Bonaire in March via Aruba. Once I get to Aruba on JetBlue or US Air, do I have to go through Customs then pick up my luggage, then check into DAE airlines, then go through Customs again?

Seems like there should be a way to do it without going through Customs in Aruba, no?

When you arrive in Aruba you will need to go through Immigration. Just mark your card as "In Transit to Bonaire." Then you pick up your luggage, go through Aruba Customs and exit the building. You will then check in at DAE and go through security to get to the gate for DAE. Keep a relaxed attitude as sometimes DAE is less than reliable and you may end up flying at a later time. In Bonaire you will fo through Bonaire's Customs and Immigration. On the way back through Aruba you will clear US Customs and Immigration there so be sure you have left enough time to do so as the lines can be quite long. Good news is that once back in the US you will have already gone through C and I.

 

[dvrliz1]

We just got back to Bonaire last week from the States going through Aruba. You will do exactly at reefdiva says. A couple of hints though:

Be ready wait to go through Immigration. There were actually very loud arguments between people. About 11 planes come in at the same time so the hall is PACKED (between 1:30 and 4pm) The Immigration Department in Aruba has no "lines" set up so everyone just packs in and if some people cut infront of others, it is not a pretty sight. The Immigration Department REALLY needs to do something about this. They did have a door that said "In Transit" as soon as you come down the escalator, but the door was locked and no one could get through.

It took us about 1 hour to get through immigration, and our luggage had already been pulled of the belt and was on the floor. To be safe I would coordinate your DAE flight no less than 2 hours after your arrival on Bonaire.

We loved going through Customs and Immigration in Aruba rather than the states...much faster, great thing.

Enjoy!

Liz

 

[amajamar]

Great info reefdiva and dvrliz1! Thanks!

Is DAE reliable enough to use? Since there are only three flights daily each way, is there a chance that they will cancel a flight if there is not enough tickets sold? What about an early flight back to Aruba? What's the chances that I won't make my departure to the States?

 

[highlandfarmwv]

Don't worry--they rarely ever cancel. What date are you going in March? In the slim chance that it is Friday, Mar 13, I'll see you there! We're going to Bonaire thru Aruba from CLT. (Arrive Aruba at 4pm, DAE to Bonaire at 7:15pm. That is an easy connection.

Coming home, if you have many hours in Aruba, rent a car and see the island or go to the beach. Dometimes I plan my trip just that way, because Aruba is worth spending a day in!

Also, if you go on Saturday, you will have more than double the crowds in Aruba airport. wometimes it's cheaper to go a day early, tickets are cheaper also. then use the saved money to stay an extra night.

 

[dvrliz1]

Agree with highlandfarmwv. We have taken DAE as well as Tiara. Tiara does not fly on Sat to Bonaire, DAE is the choice. We normally take DAE from Bonaire to Aruba on Sat (leaves Bonaire at 8:00 am, arrives Aruba at 9:30 with a stop over in Curacao, but you don't get off the plane), then we go into town and have breakfast at a little place called Rumba's right behind the Renassiance in town, then walk around the mall. Our flight that we normally take back to the states leaves at 3:55 (Spirit Air), so we head back to the airport around 1:00 pm.

You will not be able to check your luggage when you arrive on Aruba at 9:30, but the bell hops at Renassiance held it for us while we were in Aruba.

If you want to go the night before (and for a relaxing vacation, I highly recommend it!) Stay over at the Arubian a reasonable small resort close to the low rise area or if you want a really nice place in town, definitely the Renaissance.

Liz

 

[amajamar]

You know, I think I'll be sticking with the major carriers. Even though I could get a nonstop to Aruba then jump over to Bonaire, it may be simpler to just take a one or two stop flight and be done with it. I have not been to Bonaire before, but I have been to Aruba a couple of times. I don't want my first trip there to start (or end) on a sour note.

As far as the stopping on Aruba is concerned, do you have to pay multiple departure taxes if you do that route? That's another thing I'd like to avoid!

 

[highlandfarmwv]

No, keep your boarding pass, and they do not charge the departure tax even if you spend the day in Aruba.