Bonaire currency

[DiveMaven]

According to an article on InfoBonaire, Bonaire is moving to adopt the US Dollar as their official currency. That's great new as far as I'm concerned since there was talk by some Dutch locals when we were on island this summer about moving to the Euro. If they had moved to adopting the Euro, I could see any vacation ideas I ever had of Bonaire go up in smoke as it would have been just too expensive.

We'll see how it all pans out and when the dollar is officially phased in, but I'm breathing a small sigh of relief with the news anyway.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Did you read that anywhere else DiveMaven??? I would love to read it for myself (confirming articles as well) and to pass it along. I am in Bonaire in 4 weeks and have left over Guilders from my last trip, so I guess I need to try to bring back zero dollars this trip so that my next one can be using USD.....

Thanks for the good news.

 

[Kukuisa]

Don't throw away your guilders to early, because the final decision has to be made later and the whole process can take a few more years. You might be on the island one ore more times before that.

The InfoBonaire wbsite has a link to the article which is on
The Bonaire Insider - News Item: Bonaire Opts for U.S. Dollar as New Official Currency

 

[DiveMaven]

Thanks for posting the link, and reinforcing that its not policy yet and will take awhile before it's all said and done.

We used dollars a lot on our July trip so can't see how the switch is going to make things much different for how we travel. The only difference I can see is that we'll get change in dollars instead of gilders, which is a minor change IMO since using gilders was just as easy. Also, it seemed like all the resorts and dive shops charged in dollars (which was appreciated since my credit card company didn't charge extra fees), so I'm not sure what effect the change will really have for US travelers.

 

[ScubaSteve]

As I recall, many places did not display prices in USD, only in Gilders, which meant you had to convert the prices in your head to make sure the charge was an honest charge. This is an act I will perform anywhere just so I know and not because I believe the islanders would knowingly charge extra.....it is just good practice to double check your bill anywhere. So the change would make it much simpler for many travellers because the base currency would then be a widely known and converted one.

 

[DiveMaven]

Excellent point Steve, and you're 100% correct! I actually created a little conversion card for myself to cheat so I didn't have to think too much when paying.

 

[salth2owannabe]

US dollars would be great, but it kind of surprises me.
Many of the stores did only list prices in Gilders and most wouldn't take US bills larger then a $50.
We just went to the bank and exchanged a few hundred dollars and then didn't have to worry about making the conversion at the store.

 

[dvrliz1]

Ok, I can make the announcement official now.....

Spent the last 3 days in our yearly Bonaire Tourism Marketing Meetings. The Minister of Tourism Burney El Hage made announcement yesterday that the island council, the day before yesterday voted and approve that the official currency of Bonaire will be the US$. We have not heard the official date of change over or any timetable as to when the guilder will phase out.

I suspect it will be quite a while, and will not happen overnight. As stated a plan will come up to transition from guilders to dollars....

Liz

 

[ScubaSteve]

Of course it will take some time but this really is great news for many tourists to the island (especially Americans). Selfishly, I am happy more because it is one less currency I will need to worry about as I do hope to make Bonaire at least an annual trip.

 

[ClayJar]

On the one hand, woo-hoo! It'll make for one less step in the mental calculations! On the other hand, oh, no! I won't be able to pass off the initial sticker shock as "Oh, that's just in guilders..."

Honestly, it should make it seem less expensive. The group I was with was constantly thinking about prices, as they just *had* to convert every single one. If the prices are in USD, they'll still have that initial "This is more than in Baton Rouge..." feeling, but I'd venture that they'll adjust more readily, as they won't constantly be studying each price.

As for me, "It is what it is." was my M.O. for shopping, but I like cooking (and creative culinary constructions), so I had a blast picking up a few almost random seeming things and turning them into delicious meals. (I'm still *really* sad about having forgotten my last couple slices of Pasa Bon Pizza in the fridge. That was *excellent* pizza, and it still feels a tragedy that I *forgot* it.)