Troubles in Caribbean?

[gryffin]

Hi all:

Anyone traveled or traveling to Bonaire recently? Is the current US military activity in the area something to be concerned about? Have any Americans had a negative experience on the island? I’m a nervous traveler with an upcoming trip.

My non-diving friends think it is crazy for me to go.

Thanks for any insight.

 

[Rob9876]

We were there last week of July and all was fine. I'm friends with U.S. ex-pats who live there and haven't heard about anything negative towards U.S. folks. The island is pretty laid back, and also largely dependent on U.S. tourism (they use the U.S. dollar as their currency), so honestly I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[arew+4]

Hi all:

Anyone traveled or traveling to Bonaire recently? Is the current US military activity in the area something to be concerned about? Have any Americans had a negative experience on the island? I’m a nervous traveler with an upcoming trip.

My non-diving friends think it is crazy for me to go.

Thanks for any insight.

I'm headed for Curacao in 4 weeks. The odds of Venezuela invading (generally lower than 1 in 5,000 on any given day ) are greatly reduced in the current atmosphere. Only concern would be the growing global distaste for Americans, which is easily solved by not being such an American. Never really been a problem for us as we are not God & Guns entitled type Americans.

 

[kmoon]

I'll be traveling to Bonaire in October, and I've been worrying a little bit about the same thing. Less about the political atmosphere on the island, or hostile action, and more about an accident of some sort from itchy trigger fingers.

It's a big ocean, so not worried enough to cancel any of my plans, but I'd feel a lot better if there wasn't elevated naval activity in the Caribbean right now.

 

[tursiops]

The sky is not falling.

 

[agilis]

Just don't travel in an open boat in international waters.

 

[tursiops]

The island is pretty laid back, and also largely dependent on U.S. tourism

The Tourist Corporation Bonaire stats for 2024 say the Dutch are about 45% of the visitors to the islands and stay longer, US about 25%, Curacao about 13%. Most of the Dutch visitors (67%) are on holiday, not diving; the US visitors are 47% divers. Both Dutch and US age groups peak in the 55-64 age range.

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

Cut and paste: Bonaire is a Dutch island and a "special municipality" of the Netherlands within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. After the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in 2010, Bonaire, along with Saba and Sint Eustatius, became special municipalities, which are legally part of the Netherlands proper. This means Bonaire is subject to Dutch law and its citizens hold European passports. While not a member in its own right, Bonaire is covered under the collective defense arrangements of NATO through the Netherlands' membership. The North Atlantic Treaty states that an attack on one member is considered an attack against all. End Paste.

My guess is that Maduro does not want to mess with NATO

 

[Red_Rock_Diver]

I am currently in Curacao for a month. There have been no issues or even talk of any issues for U.S. citizens. Both Bonaire and Curacao are under a Level 1 Travel Advisory - Exercise Normal Precautions as issued by the U.S. State Department. Travel I would advise registering your trip in their STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) if you have concerns about your upcoming trip. https://mytravel.state.gov/s/step Here are some resources about news in the Bonaire and Curacao area - BES Reporter - News of Bonaire, St. Eustatius & Saba The Bonaire Reporter bi-weekly news in English Curaçao Chronicle - Breaking, Politics, Local, Economy, Tourism, Region, and Community News

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[tursiops]

I am currently in Curacao for a month. There have been no issues or even talk of any issues for U.S. citizens. Both Bonaire and Curacao are under a Level 1 Travel Advisory - Exercise Normal Precautions as issued by the U.S. State Department. Travel I would advise registering your trip in their STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) if you have concerns about your upcoming trip. https://mytravel.state.gov/s/step Here are some resources about news in the Bonaire and Curacao area - BES Reporter - News of Bonaire, St. Eustatius & Saba The Bonaire Reporter bi-weekly news in English Curaçao Chronicle - Breaking, Politics, Local, Economy, Tourism, Region, and Community News

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