SHOULD I SEE ALL 3 ABC's?

[DvrRick]

I have the opportunity to take a weeks vacation and split it between Aruba and Bonaire. Or I can go all out and spend two weeks (15 days) and spend 4 days on Aruba, 4 days on Curacao and 7 days on Bonaire. Money is an issue unfortunately. Is Curacao worth spending the extra $ on? I would hate to not take the opportunity to do all 3 islands since I am there. I'm just afraid to pull the trigger on this and am looking for some encouragement.

 

[Warmwater Wank]

Do all 2 weeks on Bonaire. Are you going mostly to dive or to sight see? If you suspect it will only be a few dives, with mostly above water activities otherwise ("???"), I guess do all 3. How would you be getting between the islands? Gotta fly, yeah? You don't want to lose dive days due to "no-fly" days. There's more than 2 weeks of great diving on Bonaire alone. My .02 // ww

 

[DvrRick]

Do all 2 weeks on Bonaire.

I don't think my SO would go for that. Maybe we can do 4 weeks? 2 on Bonaire and 1 on each of the others? I'll have to fake an illness for work and probably start selling drugs on the corner to finance it, but hey, it'll be worth it!

I'll be diving more than anything else while I'm there so I do need to take the flying into consideration. I do want to soak up the local culture while I am there though. That is why I think seeing all 3 islands would be good. Are they all similar topside?

 

[reefdiva]

Have not been to Aruba so cannot comment on that part of the ABCs. Curacao and Bonaire are "similar" in that they both are arid, mostly flat, islands. Curacao is "busier" than Bonaire with more cars, more people and more commercialism. I have been to Curacao for business and enjoyed seeing the floating bridge and colorful buildings and staying in a resort for a few days. We regularly visit Bonaire and prefer the "laid back" feeling, the great diving and the wonderful restaurants. In Curacao our hotel had a small beach; beaches in Bonaire are small or rocky if they exist at all.

 

[nmbonfire]

Curacao is wort it for diving, most of the great sites are walk-in for a small fee, 2USD for a "beach fee", just look for the dive painted rocks on the side of the main road and drive down . If you go, hit the mushroom forest, it is truly a great dive, boat access only. Be ready for the locals to think your Dutch, and start speeking to you on Dutch, just don't respond in German as i did, they hate that. But to be honest the diving is great, but as a well traveled American i did not feel welcome there, kind of a cool reception when they figure out your a Yank.
Sean

 

[Warmwater Wank]

I don't think my SO would go for that. Maybe we can do 4 weeks? 2 on Bonaire and 1 on each of the others? I'll have to fake an illness for work and probably start selling drugs on the corner to finance it, but hey, it'll be worth it!

Ah, the SO factor. Hmmm. Well, assuming they are a keeper, you might want to do the full meal deal and add to the itinerary. If not, seriously consider your 4 week option! // ww

 

[dvrliz1]

Rick,

I have been to all 3 islands. Your original plan sounds good. Your SO, if not a diver will enjoy Aruba with shopping, beaches, and the "creature comforts" of the USA. It has become very Americanized. Curacao is a bit "in between". It has many "Americanized" creature comforts, but is also very "Antillean" still. The shopping area is nice and the architecture is beautiful.

And of course there is Bonaire. We are very comfortable here, but the only shadow of the USA here is a small KFC and Subway. I think it would be a great ending to your trip. It is very "Antillean" and if you enjoy learning about different cultures, you will really enjoy the island. The restaurants are amazing, if you know where to go we have nice beaches, the people are the friendliest out of all 3 islands, most do speak English, the diving is probably the best on all 3 islands.

Please feel free to PM if you have any questions.

Liz

 

[Damselfish]

I have been to Bonaire and Curacao many times and Aruba once (I didn't dive in Aruba) and they are very different.

Aruba is fairly Americanized with lots of larger hotels and beaches. And it seems the diving is not in the same class as Bonaire and Curacao, though certainly some people do enjoy it.

Bonaire is a quieter, less populated place. Curacao has a real city, more people, more shopping, restaurants, much more of everything for better or worse. But if you stay in the more remote areas of Curacao it will look much like Bonaire. The diving is pretty similar, I find Bonaire to be fairly similar in quality and appearence wherever you dive with a few exceptions. I find a little more variety in dive sites in Curacao, but it is also more important to choose sites and operators more carefully to get the best experience there.

I would say do not try to cram too much in, if it's a week trip do 1 island, it it's 10-14 days maybe do 2, not 3. Otherwise you waste time drying/packing/traveling/worrying about flying&diving and it's much less relaxing. The islands are not going anyplace.

 

[sinistar]

Ahh, Bonaire!

I've been to Aruba and Bonaire (diving and vacationing). My knowledge of Curacao comes from dive buddies who have went there and compared it to A&B.

I think your decision should be based on whether your SO will be diving with you or not. Assuming they also dive...

I would recommend going first to Bonaire and spend at least 9 diving days there. Between the diving, restuarants, pace and weather I can assure you that you will not want to leave

Then I would recommend hopping back to Aruba for 3-4 days and just relax. This will ease you into your PBD! Your SO will probably find this to be a great ending to a dive vacation. And on your last day, you'll be heading to a big airport with lots of flight options so you won't be ending your trip worrying about prop-jet hops, connections, luggage, etc. If you still have the diving bug, just do a couple of dives while in Aruba. They are interesting but they will not compare to Bonaire (IMHO). We like staying on the other beach (Eagle?) in Aruba where there are less high rise hotels. There are some fantastic restaurants there as well (ie Flying Fishbone, etc).

I think I would skip Curacao if I only had two weeks, partly because of feedback from friends who have been there and partly because added hops cost you diving time.

And, if you have a really good direct Jet flight option out of Bonaire (skipping San Juan, no inter-island hops, etc) and your SO is a mega-diver (like you) I would reverse the trip starting with a 2 or 3 day mini-vacation in Aruba followed up by 10 or more days diving in Bonaire.

If your SO is not a diver at all, spend a few more days on the other islands and few less on Bonaire - but that will not be easy for you!!!

Bonaire is a gem. As soon as the plane lifts off you'll be wanting to go back

 

[DvrRick]

Thanks for all the advice! I have a tentative plan and would appreciate some feedback (pick it apart!)

Depart LAX and arrive the next day in AUA and then transfer to CUR (All night and day on a plane won't be fun but we can do it)
Spend 4 nights in Curacao
6 nights in Bonaire
3 night in Arub to relax and stick our toes in the sand

From the posts above I am thinking of more Bonaire time now.

I found decent fares on Insel Air. Is anyone familiar with them and/or have other recommendations?

And my SO is a new but very avid diver.