Trip recommendation

[BDSC]

I went here Rates and downloaded the drive and dive pdf file. We would be going during the Summer/Fall. 2 person in a hotel is 943 each and you deduct 117 each if you only want shore dives. I think I did the math right.

Yep! You were right on the money. I forgot about deducting for not going boat diving. I think the only place you really have to think about booking in advance is Buddy's. They tend to fill up quicker than a lot of places but you are so far out right now I wouldn't book anywhere. I'd just keep watching the airfare and then jump on it when it gets to the pricepoint you were thinking about. There are just so many places to stay you'll be able to find a room in your price range.

 

[Doc]

@RoatanMan: I'm just curious. Have you ever been to Bonaire? The dive op that I used (and others have similar policies) gave certified divers complimentary unlimited nitrox. The math is simple: additional cost for nitrox = $0. If you were presented the choice between diving air only or a 32% nitrox mix and the nitrox didn't cost extra, I think you'd choose to take the nitrox. 32% is a nice mix for doing the 60 - 100 fsw dives I like doing there.

I love Bonaire, I've been diving there a whole lot. I like the Divi Flamingo because it's cheap. It also has the world's largest outdoor rinse tank. Stay away from the casino.

When you see the word "FREE" you actually go through life believing that it isn't wrapped into the price? Really?

32% may be a "nice mix", but for the quantity of (and I like them shallow, too) 60-100ft dives you like doing there, it is not required for NDL improvement.

If you believe that it is "FREE", then by all means, go right ahead and pay for it. Otherwise, shop around.... plain old, icky air will be cheaper.

(BTW- tuck up your gauges, they might start to love you in Bonaire!)

 

[pro99line]

(BTW- tuck up your gauges, they might start to love you in Bonaire!)

????????

 

[pro99line]

@RoatanMan: The more inexpensive accommodations won't have an oceanview, but that doesn't bother me...I get that at home. They also won't be luxurious by any means. The way I see it, I'm there for the diving. Heck, I've done a trip to Baja Mexico (La Bufadora) where we camped in tents by the shore and did our diving out of little fisherman pangas. I'm low maintenance that way.

Airfare is rarely a great deal too far in advance. Start looking about 5 months out. You'll see the prices drift up and down. Of course, as the date of your vacation gets closer (less than a month), the prices may increase significantly. I've found the sweet spot to be around 2-3 months out. YMMV.

We really don't care about looking at the ocean cause we hope to be in it most the time. I really hope we would not be stuck in the room for any strange reasons. Thanks for the advice on airfare. I will just keep watching. So far the Golden Reef Inn still has mine and my girlfriends vote. They have been very responsive to emails and seem very helpful. We would prefer to be at a less crowded place anyway. We are not very social.

 

[pro99line]

Pretty good conversation going on here. May I join?

One place I often check for pacage rates is Bonaire - Bonaire Travel and Bonaire Information : Bonaire Pros. They list several places and packages.

I'm going in Sept. for the 7th trip there in 5 years. I've stayed at Buddy's once and Plaza the others. This time me and a couple friends are trying to try the frugal route. You know. Cooking in, peanut butter and jelly just like you guys are talking about. I can do this. I'm there for the diving, not the gourmet.

We worked out a special deal to stay at the Caribbean Club. 2br, 1 bath, truck rental, unlimited air (free Nitrox upgrade), breakfast daily, all taxes---$1120pp, for 2 weeks. Add on airfare we got for $615 from Philadelphia, and lunch and dinner, and were thinking around $1900 pp for those two weeks.

By the way, airfare sucks right now. I got my reservation about 4 months ago from Philly to Bonaire on Delta for $615. The price as of yesterday was like $840. Always l;ook at airfare first and get the best deal on this. There are enough places to stay in Bonaire that you have your choice.

Just FYI, check the ABC/Lesser Antilles section. Check the Marketplace section at the top. Always see what Dvrliz has to say about what's going on in Bonaire. Some very good deals to be had right now.

Thanks for the website link and info on Caribbean Club. I will check it out.

 

[robint]

Roatanman nevers sees the point in nitrox. I think he just doesn't have a computer that works with it.
Personally, I love nitrox and want to extra safety factor anytime I can get it.
We stayed at Buddy's a few years ago and loved it, the free breakfast buffet, the drive through tank station, the shore dive, the truck that is included with every package, and the free nitrox. It met our needs perfectly.
The house reef there is one of the best dives on the island, too. We did Buddy's reef at least once a day, morning, afternoon, or night. Excellent dive with tons of critters! Here is a video, compiled from all we saw there on those dives:
[vimeo]3207050[/vimeo]

I think the Caribbean Club is a sister hotel to Buddy's, giving you full access to their dive facility, boats, and shore dive.

The GoldenReef Inn looks like a good deal, too. No shore dive there though so you must drive somewhere to do every dive. Not a big deal most likely, but just something to consider. Also, I don't think they include a truck in price.

robin

 

[lmorin]

A Sand Dollar studio condo with full kitchen is about $1017-1150 (season dependent) pp incl. 6 boat dives; subtract $113-$137 if you only want shore diving; includes truck and daily breakfast. Diving is with Bonaire Dive and Adventure; nitrox is included for no additional charge (and there is no reduction if you only use air). Pretty good deal, if you ask me. And, you get Bari reef, site of the most documented fish species in the Caribbean, as your house reef. See here for more info.

 

[pro99line]

So far I have basically received the same response from most all the places I have emailed and that is to wait until later in the fall and they will have their specials figured out and posted for the year 2010. I guess that's the plan right now. It looks like I can't go wrong with any of the choices and it will just come down to which one has a better deal for the "off" season when we are going. For now I will just keep watching airline tickets and try to get the best deal on them. I really want to thank EVERYONE for all the help and advise.

 

[robint]

So far I have basically received the same response from most all the places I have emailed and that is to wait until later in the fall and they will have their specials figured out and posted for the year 2010. I guess that's the plan right now. It looks like I can't go wrong with any of the choices and it will just come down to which one has a better deal for the "off" season when we are going. For now I will just keep watching airline tickets and try to get the best deal on them. I really want to thank EVERYONE for all the help and advise.

don't buy airline tickets yet..... prices will go up and down dramatically. I have found that about 3 months out is the best time, sometimes right up until a month out.