Saturday, February 12, 2011

Valentine’s Day Specials and Events Announced

Valentine’s Day is this Monday, February 14, 2011. To celebrate the occasion, several Bonaire businesses are offering some fun specials to choose from.

For those who enjoy music, Club Roomer is presenting a Valentine’s Day concert with contemporary folk musician Jim Gilmour, entitled “Not your Daddy’s folk music.” The concert will be held at Hotel Roomer, located at 97 E.E.G. Boulevard in Belnem. Entrance is free for members and $10 for non-members. Jim has worked for many years in the music industry and has two solo releases with his band: “Flatworld” in 2010 and “Quarterline” in 2003. To listen to his most recent CD release “Flatworld” click here. Club Roomer is a charitable organization which plans events to bring Bonaire neighbors and friends together. Proceeds from the events are given back to the Bonaire community for special events and needs.

Sunset Bar & Grill has a special Valentine’s Day menu including delectable choices for everyone’s taste including a special cocktail of strawberries, Absolute vodka and chocolate brittles, fresh oysters, shrimp and crab puff pastry with a brandy bisque sauce, Peking duck breast with an orange glaze, grilled beef tenderloin with Foie Gras shavings, roasted lobster, banana leaf steamed wahoo with cilantro, chili pepper and lime, and finished off with a special Valentine’s chocolate cupcake filled with raspberries and fresh cream in a white and dark chocolate sauce. Call 788-2698 to make a reservation.

For those who would like to be on the water, Compass Bonaire is offering a Valentine sunset cruise with champagne and tapas from 4:30 until 7:00 PM. The price is $50 per person and for more information or to make a reservation, call 786-7757. (Source: Bonaire Insider Reporter)

Friday, February 11, 2011

Antillean Wine Company to Hold Monthly Wine Tasting Tomorrow

For those looking for a fun outing with a nice opportunity to meet both locals and visitors to Bonaire, the Antillean Wine Company’s monthly wine tasting will be held tomorrow night, February 12, 2011 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM.

The wine tasting features a selection of six wines, with three whites and three reds, accompanied by snacks. The wines at this tasting will be a new grouping which will focus on wines grown in an eco-friendly manner. The cost is just $10 per person and will be held at their store, which is Kaya Industria #23 and all are welcome to join. (Source: Antillean Wine Company)

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Paradise Rebates Offers New Coupons for Use on Bonaire in 2011

Paradise Rebates (www.ParadiseRebates.com) was introduced in 2008 so that travelers planning a visit to Bonaire would have the opportunity to recoup some of the additional baggage fees which were introduced at that time.  Since that time, Paradise Rebates has evolved and now offers downloadable coupons for a variety of services and activities on Bonaire. Coupons are available for those who meet the use requirements and are no longer tied to baggage fees. 

The site has recently added new coupon opportunities good for various timeframes during 2011.  Feel free to visit the site to download any coupon which may be of interest:

--AB CarRental is giving a 10% discount off the rental of any vehicle, when purchasing a rental of at least seven days with CDW insurance.
--Bon Bida Spa & Gym is offering 10% off any day pass.
--Dive Friends Bonaire is offering free rental equipment for the duration of any dive course.
--Bruce Bowker’s Carib Inn has a coupon to receive a free boat dive with the purchase of a qualifying dive package.
--Budget Rent a Car has a coupon for a 15% discount off the rental of any vehicle when purchasing a rental of at least seven days with CDW insurance.
--China Nobo Bar & Restaurant has a coupon for one order of shrimp chips free with any dinner or lunch meal of $8.50 or more.
--The Mangrove Info Center has a coupon for 10% off a two-hour Mangrove/Snorkel excursion.
--The Massage Hut has a coupon offering $5 off a one hour massage.

To keep up-to-date on new listings, sign up for free email alerts, which will be sent when a new listing is added to the web site. (Source:  Paradise Rebates)

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Bonaire International Airport Launches New Web Site

Bonaire International Airport, also commonly known as Flamingo Airport, has just premiered a new web site, providing in-depth detail about flight arrivals and departures.

The new site, which can be found at www.flamingoairport.com, offers a wealth of information regarding the facilities and services available at the airport, parking fees, information on the runway renovations, links to the airlines which serve the airport, and customs and immigration information.  Of particular help, and a new service to the site, is the inclusion of real time flight arrival and departure information.  Now a quick check to the airport’s web site will provide up-to-date information as to when a flight is arriving or departing.  Flight arrival information can be found by clicking here, while flight departure information can be found by clicking here.  For frequent travelers to Bonaire, these pages are a must to be bookmarked.  (Source:  Bonaire International Airport Web Site)

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

KLM Announces Caribbean Expansion and Direct Flights to Ecuador

KLM has announced that effective October 30, 2011, service to the Caribbean including Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba and Sint Maarten will be expanded, and the flight to and from Ecuador which currently stops in Bonaire, will be replaced with a direct flight between Ecuador and Amsterdam. 

The additional flights will add 2,600 seats each week to the Caribbean, bringing the annual number of Caribbean seats available from Amsterdam to 500,000. When the new winter schedule takes effect on October 30, 2011, KLM will fly daily to Bonaire, nine times a week to Curacao, five times a week to Aruba and three times a week to Sint Maarten. KLM will operate two daily flights to Curacao on Saturdays and Mondays.

KLM currently operates five flights a week to and from Ecuador which includes a stop in Bonaire. These flights will be replaced with three direct flights each week from Amsterdam to Quito incorporating a stop in Guayaquil. The direct flight will shorten the connection time for passengers flying between Amsterdam and Ecuador. (Source: KLM Press Release)

Monday, February 07, 2011

Continental Airlines Reinstates Second Seasonal Weekly Flight from Newark

Effective Friday, February 18, 2011, Continental Airlines will reinstate the second seasonal weekly Newark (EWR) flight arriving and departing Bonaire on Saturday, February 19, 2011.

The flights will rotate as follows:

Continental Flight #1553 departs Newark at 11:59 PM Friday evenings, arriving Bonaire at 5:33 AM on Saturdays.  Continental Flight #1556 will depart Bonaire at 7:00 AM on Saturdays and arrive back at Newark at 10:38 AM.

The regular Houston flight on Saturdays, as well as the Houston and Newark flights on Sunday, remain as previously scheduled.  (Source:  Bonaire International Airport)

Friday, February 04, 2011

Zumba Comes to Bonaire’s Bon Bida Spa and Gym

After a well attended Zumba Party on Wednesday, regularly scheduled classes in Zumba will begin on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 from 7:30 to 8:30 PM at Bon Bida Spa and Gym.

For those not yet familiar with Zumba, it’s a fusion of Latin and international music that creates a dynamic, exciting, and effective fitness system.  When participants see a Zumba class in action, they can’t wait to give it a try. Zumba classes feature exotic rhythms set to high-energy Latin and international beats.  Certified Zumba instructor, Wendy van der Kaag, has been teaching Zumba on Bonaire for several years, but now brings a new class to Bon Bida Spa & Gym.  Individual classes are $8.00 per class, and visitors to Bonaire are welcome to come in for a class when they are on-island.  Residents can take advantage of a ten-class card, for $60.00.

For more information, inquire by email by clicking here. (Source:  Bon Fysio/Bon Bida Spa & Gym, Wendy van der Kaag)

Thursday, February 03, 2011

Results of the Sixteenth Annual Lora (Parrot) Count Announced

More than 30 volunteers participated in the sixteenth annual lora (parrot in Papiamentu) count on Saturday January 29, 2011. The annual count revealed only 550 loras, down from 800 last year.

Fundashon Salba Nos Lora (Save our Parrots) organized the count along with the Department of Environment and Nature (DROB)and STINAPA. Volunteers this year included a group of pupils from Bonaire schools. The volunteers counted in 15 places in the middle and northern parts of Bonaire, including ten areas in Washington-Slagbaai Park, while receiving assistance from STINAPA staff. In nine places, no loras were seen.

The Fundashon expected a lower number of parrots in the count this year and attributes the lower number to the fact that they believe the birds are currently moving around on the island. The very wet rainy season this year and food supply in the outer areas are important factors in the parrots’ movements and activity. When it is dry, the parrots will come into residential areas to find food. When food is plentiful, they will stay in undeveloped areas. To increase plant variation and improve food supply for the parrots, the Fundashon Salba Nos Lora has planted indigenous fruit-bearing trees and shrubs in recent years.

The count was concluded with a breakfast at the entrance of Washington-Slagbaai Park for the volunteers provided by STINAPA. (Source: Press Release Fundashon Salba Nos Lora)

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Bonaire International Airport Runway to Undergo Renovation

A major renovation of the runway at Bonaire International Airport, also known as Flamingo Airport, will begin on Sunday, February 13, 2011 and will take approximately four to five months to complete. To reduce flight interruption, the work will be done during the evenings, and not during the day, but there will be evening flights which are affected by the airport closings. 

Passengers should be aware of the renovation schedule. From February 13 to March 27, 2011, the airport will be closed on Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays from 6:00 PM until the following morning at 4:00 AM. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the airport will close at 7:45 PM and open the following morning at at 5:45 AM. On Fridays and Saturdays, there will be no renovation and the airport will be open normal hours. The schedule for the remainder of the renovation will be announced when it becomes available. KLM has announced their flight schedule will remain the same, but passengers planning to fly in or out of Bonaire during this time frame are encouraged to check with their airline to verify flight times. For passengers connecting into or out from Curacao and Aruba, it is recommended they check with their connecting airlines for schedule changes and availability.

The renovation was approved and announced last summer and will bring the airport into compliance with international safety requirements. The renovation consists of removing and replacing the top five centimeters of runway asphalt, building two new turning areas for aircraft, along with new lighting, indication signs and approach lights. The control tower will also be equipped with a new electrical and control system, and there will be a new fence around the entire airport. The Fire Department will have a new access road to the runway, and eventually a new fire station will be built. The cost of the renovation is approximately $20 million and will be funded by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment. (Source: Bonaire International Airport Press Release)

Please note update on February 8, 2011: Click here (in PDF format) for a slightly revised schedule of runway closures for the time period of February 13, 2011 through March 27, 2011.  Please note “LT” stands for “local time on Bonaire” while “UCT” stands for Universal Coordinated Time, the same as GMT, Greenwich Mean Time. (Source:  Bonaire International Airport)