If the bookmarks are not saving this may be a permissions issue.
Safari stores its bookmarks in ~/Library/Safari/Bookmarks.plist
If this file cannot be updated (i.e. if permissions are wrong), then the bookmarks won't be saved.
Check the datestamp on this file. It should be updated every time you add a bookmark. If it isn't, then this is likely the cause of the problem.
To fix it, you need to fix the permissions. Try Repair Permissions in Disk Utility. If that doesn't work, try the following:
1) Delete that file while Safari is running - then go into Safari and add a new bookmark. This will create a new bookmark file with all your bookmarks.
If you delete the file while safari is not running you lose all your bookmarks - so make a back up of the file. The safest thing is to rename it.
It seems that it may be tied to the Fetch New Data setting in Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
When I change that setting to Push, the bookmarks are sent out straight away.
What I don't understand is why the Photo Stream pushes out changes immediately, even if 'Fetch New Data' is set to 'Every 15 Minutes', but the Bookmarks (which appear to have nothing to do with 'Mail, Contacts, Calendars', are not.
Later:
I've just seen the "Advanced" setting in "Fetch New Data". This seems to have a manual override
With Fetch New Data set to "15 min", (and Push is Off), and iCloud set to "Push", I expected to have the bookmark pushed out straight away.
But this doesn't happen: I also have to turn the main "Fetch New Data" setting to Push, in order to have the bookmarks updated immediately.
Best Answer
Your iPad or any iOS/macOS device logged into an iCloud with Safari sharing in
Settings -> iCloud -> Safariwill sync history, bookmarks, and logins. Any changes to the bookmarks will trigger the sync, forcing you to wait. Its a pain in the arse to manage bookmarks with this always popping up.Disable the syncing in your iCloud settings under Safari.