Bonaire Jun-Jul 2023

[Jake 10]

advice for anyone going to Bonaire

1. take a good pair of water shoes or diving boots for entering the water
2. food is very expensive, be prepared to bend the budget ($80 pp/pd)
3. J&J baby shampoo is great for mask fog
4. pay your STINAPA and VISITOR TAX online before arriving, will save you 1/2 hr wait time
5. have fun

 

[tkaelin]

We stayed a week last year and food was half that

 

[Doctorfish]

I agree with tkaelin. There are many local restaurants that are reasonably priced and it is also possible to stock up at the grocery stores if you want to prepare some of your own meals.

Restaurants like Roos, Mi Banana, Bobbejans, Rumba Cafe, Exito, Pasa Bon; all come to mind as reasonable.

 

[Jake 10]

a lionfish burger for lunch is $25 + soda
a regular burger for lunch is $14 + soda
an appetizer for lunch is $14 + soda
a good dinner is anywhere between $25 and $45 pp

 

[tkaelin]

It all depends on how you like to dine on a dive vacation. Some eat all meals out. Some eat most meals in. Your prices above sound right but you must be eating out almost all meals to get to $100 pp/pd.

We eat all breakfasts in and most lunches. Dinners out include some take out which helps keep down the cost.

The main thing is though did you enjoy your trip to Bon?

 

[Jake 10]

It all depends on how you like to dine on a dive vacation. Some eat all meals out. Some eat most meals in. Your prices above sound right but you must be eating out almost all meals to get to $100 pp/pd.

We eat all breakfasts in and most lunches. Dinners out include some take out which helps keep down the cost.

The main thing is though did you enjoy your trip to Bon?

We ate breakfast at Captain Don's Habitat, it was included in the lodging price. We had lunch wherever we went diving (food truck, hole in the wall, local restaurant). Dinner was a treat for my wife since she does not dive.

My son and I had a blast with all the sites we dived. He loved Salt Pier and I liked Angel City. The wife on the other hand said she is not coming back since there is nothing much to do besides diving. Did I mentioned she does not dive? Yes, it broke my heart, but she said we can come back whenever we want... I'm booking my next trip to Bonaire

 

[tkaelin]

Check out Curacao first if you have not already. Your wife may like Curacao better. More to do topside. Beautiful beaches. Check out Lion's Dive to see if that is something your wife would enjoy more than Capt. Dons. Glad you had a great time.

PS I had no interest diving salt pier my first couple trips down and now at late afternoon before sunset it is one of my favorite dives with the low light coming through the piers.

 

[Jake 10]

Check out Curacao first if you have not already. Your wife may like Curacao better. More to do topside. Beautiful beaches. Check out Lion's Dive to see if that is something your wife would enjoy more than Capt. Dons. Glad you had a great time.

PS I had no interest diving salt pier my first couple trips down and now at late afternoon before sunset it is one of my favorite dives with the low light coming through the piers.

I mentioned Curacao and Aruba for next trip and she was OK with it. Let's see.
Now I need to get a MF-2 Backscatter at a good price. Any store you may know?

 

[tkaelin]

You will have to ask others. I have a simple sealife set up

 

[Jake 10]

You will have to ask others. I have a simple sealife set up

Thanks