OSUcowboyinSPFD
Contributor
Makes for a very long day of traveling.[/quote]
Which is why Cozumel is my destination of choice.
Which is why Cozumel is my destination of choice.
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I've avoided American for years... Almost all our flights to the Caribbean are CO (cheap fare and miles to upgrade. )From NY you can catch a red eye on Continental from Newark, avoid American if you can. The San Juan airport, your connection using AA, is known as "the eater of cameras". From San Juan you fly on an American Eagle turboprop to/from Bonaire. Makes for a very long day of traveling.
I've avoided American for years... Almost all our flights to the Caribbean are CO (cheap fare and miles to upgrade. )
Problem for me with the red eye is that I'd be a zombie the first day there. No way I'd be diving. With the flight being weekly only for the non-stop that really cuts the dive days down.
If the Bonaire trips are Sept or Oct, those are the spawning weeks. We went to Curacao last year for the 1st spawn week and are going this year in Oct for the 2nd one. No sea wasps that we saw (and hope it stays that way :11: ) Even if you don't see spawning activity, there is more marine life out night and day those weeks. It was by far the best night diving we've done anywhere (well, maybe with the exception of the manta night dives off Kona). This year we're planning to do at least 2 night dives every evening.My wife sleeps from getting on the plane till after it lands. I have never mastered that skill, so I hear you about the red eye.
When we took the IAH/BON flight it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Had breakfast and got our truck/room sorted out and spent the early afternoon stocking the frig (a multi store trip on Bonaire). Got our first dive in around 4 that afternoon. Didn't do any night dive due to all the sea wasps in the water, eight divers got stung at Buddy's pier the first night we were there. Why my LDS always schedules their Bonaire trips for the week following the full moon I do not understand.
If the Bonaire trips are Sept or Oct, those are the spawning weeks. We went to Curacao last year for the 1st spawn week and are going this year in Oct for the 2nd one. No sea wasps that we saw (and hope it stays that way :11: ) Even if you don't see spawning activity, there is more marine life out night and day those weeks. It was by far the best night diving we've done anywhere (well, maybe with the exception of the manta night dives off Kona). This year we're planning to do at least 2 night dives every evening.
We usually fly out of EWR and park off-site about a 2min van ride from the terminal. I get discounts there and it works out very convenient and easy.Scubawife - Maybe this will work for you, maybe not -- but it's saved us a bundle on NY-area airport parking fees for trips that last longer than a week. (Started this after a car service failed to show for a trip to the airport at 4am -- there's nothing like being masters of our own destiny now...)
We rent cars -- there's a local Avis agency nearby & we rent a car the day before we leave for around $50 & drop it off at the airport. Same coming home - a rental from the airport to be returned the following day runs around $80. All of our rentals are 24 hours or less. If you do this, remember to take your EZ-Pass.