What to do while waiting for a flight from Curacao to Bonaire?

[CUunderH2O]

Hi everyone,

I'm a little annoyed to find out that we have 6 hour layover in Curacao on our way to Bonaire (it's on a Sunday). It wouldn't be so bad if we were going for 2 weeks but we've only got the one week. The island hopper flights are apparently sold out, so what do we do? Hang around the airport for 6 hours?? Spending the first day of my vacation in an airport is not going to do anything for my sanity. I figure we can't dive in Curacao since we probably need a marine park orientation, nor can we snorkel for the same reason. Is there any way to get to Bonaire besides Divi Divi or DAE? Argh!!

 

[gangrel441]

Hmmm....My favorite parts of Curacao were all underwater, so I guess that's out...might want to see if you can do the Seaquarium and make it back on time for your flight. If not, at least there are plenty of restaurants in downtown Willamstad...

 

[Tamas]

Well you can go into town by grabbing a taxi, I would recommend you look/talk to the island hoppers airline directly. When I booked my flights via the travel agent (SqubaHolidays- are you also booking with them?) I was told the same thing, didn't feel like waiting around so I called the airlines directly and managed to get a flight 30 minutes past our arrival -- there were a total of 6 of us on the whole plane. They are not sold out, but rather do not pass the info on properly.

 

[CUunderH2O]

Well you can go into town by grabbing a taxi, I would recommend you look/talk to the island hoppers airline directly. When I booked my flights via the travel agent (SqubaHolidays- are you also booking with them?) I was told the same thing, didn't feel like waiting around so I called the airlines directly and managed to get a flight 30 minutes past our arrival -- there were a total of 6 of us on the whole plane. They are not sold out, but rather do not pass the info on properly.

That sounds like a better solution. Can you book flights when you get there? I haven't seen a toll-free number for either Divi Divi or DAE. As for catching a flight 30 minutes after landing in Curacao, I'd be a bit leery of that since my friends just returned from their trip and were delayed at customs and baggage claim in Curacao for longer than that. But anytime sooner than 6 hours would work.

How big are those island hoppers? I'm told that they don't honour the "sports equipment is not included in your baggage weight rule" that Skyservice has, and charge you for the extra weight.

 

[Tamas]

That sounds like a better solution. Can you book flights when you get there? I haven't seen a toll-free number for either Divi Divi or DAE. As for catching a flight 30 minutes after landing in Curacao, I'd be a bit leery of that since my friends just returned from their trip and were delayed at customs and baggage claim in Curacao for longer than that. But anytime sooner than 6 hours would work.

How big are those island hoppers? I'm told that they don't honour the "sports equipment is not included in your baggage weight rule" that Skyservice has, and charge you for the extra weight.

While you can book/purchase the flights when you get there, I would call ahead to do it. There are no toll-free numbers for them, you will have to use their number and call long distance.

The 30 minutes was after we got out of customs, the flight was actually 1 hour after our arrival with SkyService. Customs was a breeze, the longest part was filling out the papers.

The island hoppers are small 10-20 seaters or larger 40 seater, when we went they had no problem with the luggage since they knew we were going there to dive - they let it through

 

[djac5700]

Last year when I traveled to Bonaire, I went through Curacao and communicated/reserved directly with Divi via email. Response time via email was between an hour and a day, but everything worked out just fine.

Bonaire airline info:
http://www.bonaireairlines.com/

Divi:
http://www.baibini.com/

DAE:
http://www.flydae.com/

Of course, if it doesn't work out, you could always spend that airport waiting time planning on how to fly through Newark on Continental to get directly into Bonaire next trip... You will want to go back and you will want to fly direct to Bonaire

 

[Damselfish]

I figure we can't dive in Curacao since we probably need a marine park orientation, nor can we snorkel for the same reason. Is there any way to get to Bonaire besides Divi Divi or DAE? Argh!!

I'd say you can't dive in Curacao on a 6 hour layover between flights for the normal reason - like um, not diving and flying. Only part of the coast of Curacao is a Marine park and I'm not sure if they require an orientation even there, or that they require one for snorkeling.

If you don't have luggage to deal with (not sure if it would be checked through or you would have to recheck it), I'd suggest just taking a taxi downtown to sightsee, shop, maybe get something to eat, even go a casino if you're so inclined. Or go to the aquarium, between that and the hotels and retaurants right around there lots of hang out opportunities. Actually, if you're into casinos you might go someplace like the Marriott which probably has one of the nicer casinos, check any excess stuff with belldesk, check out their casino, eat, hang out there.

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

I'm not sure what altitude Divi Divi flies at, but you definitely don't want to dive any time soon before a DAE flight. Between Curacao & Bonaire they fly at 7000 to 8000 feet altitude.

Let's see, the recently remodeled Curacao airport has more stuff these days.

First, you'll want to check in for your flight to Bonaire and recheck your checked luggage. On DAE, when you do this, they will tell you if you have luggage in excess of their free allowance (quite likely this will be the case). If so, they will calculate the excess baggage fees but you can't pay those at the counter where you are checking your luggage back in (don't ask me why, it's just their somewhat exasperating way). So, they will write up an excess bagggage ticket wheich you then have to leave the line and go pay at the cashier's window at the other end of the airport buildings (by the bank). You will have to pay in cash (no credit cards, no travelers checks accepted), they will validate your excess baggage ticket which you then have to take back to the counter where you checked your luggage back in. This will burn up a portion of your layover, no problem.

So, you should reward everyone in your party with ice cream from the Lovers' ice cream stand. After that, buy a box of Cinnabon to-go to enjoy while you're on Bonaire - as one of your carry-on items. Worked for us!

If it's around meal time, there's a Sbarro and a couple of other familiar mall-food-court type offerings.

Relax. You're almost there.

Finally, start to go through the security lines to get to the boarding area. Pay your in-transit departure taxes (in cash) when you come to the appropriate counter. Go through the x-ray and metal detector stuff once again and proceed to the boarding area. Snack on some of the freebie chocolates at the gift shop in the boarding area.

Finally, they will call you to go outside, where you will wait some more, then eventually everyone gets to go down the outside stairs and board the island - hopper flight.

You're home free at that point. See, didn't that time just fly with all those fun activities? We did this at Thanksgiving in 2006.

Almost forgot - if you're flying DAE, the whole excess baggage fee stuff works exactly the same on your return trip. You will have to take your excess baggage ticket to the cashier, pay the fee (again, in cash) and then bring the validated paperwork back to where you check your luggage in at the Bonaire airport as well.

Have a great trip!

 

[CheddarChick]

Almost forgot how fun it is at the airport......
Warmwater, got your bags packed????? And what are you doing on SB at 1:30 in the morning?????

 

[CUunderH2O]

I'm not sure what altitude Divi Divi flies at, but you definitely don't want to dive any time soon before a DAE flight. Between Curacao & Bonaire they fly at 7000 to 8000 feet altitude.

I see I was misinformed about the type of plane and flight altitude. Thanks for the clarification.

<snip>
So, you should reward everyone in your party with ice cream from the Lovers' ice cream stand. After that, buy a box of Cinnabon to-go to enjoy while you're on Bonaire - as one of your carry-on items. Worked for us!

If it's around meal time, there's a Sbarro and a couple of other familiar mall-food-court type offerings.

Relax. You're almost there.

Finally, start to go through the security lines to get to the boarding area. Pay your in-transit departure taxes (in cash) when you come to the appropriate counter. Go through the x-ray and metal detector stuff once again and proceed to the boarding area. Snack on some of the freebie chocolates at the gift shop in the boarding area.

Finally, they will call you to go outside, where you will wait some more, then eventually everyone gets to go down the outside stairs and board the island - hopper flight.

You're home free at that point.

<snip>
Have a great trip!

Great advice & suggestions! Thanks!

I can't wait! 36 days...