Few Questions About The Island.

[MikeM_scuba]

Hi. We are planning to go to the island in the fist week of August. Last time I've been there with my buddy. It was about 10 years ago and I don't remember much besides great diving we did. This time I go with my family. Will stay at Divi Flamingo or rent one of the apartments from Airbnb. Have choice between having or not having a little kitchen.
Few questions about food on the island. How expensive is it? For example, how much is the breakfast/lunch for two? I am not asking about extreme cases like very expensive restaurant or very cheap rat hole. Just normal, average, clean place, something similar to average place in US like Friendlies for example . Second question is how safe the food there? Do you know of any cases of food poisoning etc? Any places to avoid at all cost?
About equipment. We will have our own equipment. If we stay at Divi Flaiming are there place where we can safely store our equipment for the night or we will have to haul it back to the room every night?
About security. Is it safe to leave tablets, laptop in the room? Are rooms in Divi Flamingo have safe boxes big enough for tablets and cell phones? When diving is it safe to leave anything in the locked track, cell phone for example or wallet with DL and a credit card?
And the last question. Are there any place to rent a truck with automatic transmission? I am not sure I will remember how to drive stick shift since it was more than 25 years since I did it last time.
I know there are as many opinion as there are people so please feel free to share your experience, thoughts, knowledge. The more is the better. I appreciate each and every response.

 

[diversteve]

Food is pretty expensive since it's all imported. I'm pretty sure it's safe...

Since you're thinking of the Divi - what it costs to eat there - and a few other places that have menus online. Also there's at least one Subway there now and KFC for cheaper lunch options. Plus local sandwich places like Between the Buns. One nice thing about the Divi is it's about the only dive resort walking distance to downtown for many other options. One other change in the past decade is cruise ships now dock at Town Pier sometimes. So you both can't dive it any longer and they're pretty close to the Divi's house reef.

Restaurants in Bonaire - Chibi Chibi & Calabas Restaurant
Rumrunners at Captain Don's lists prices also. Rum Runners Bonaire, oceanfront restaurant
Our go to place for a nicer meal was It Rains Fishes in town It Rains Fishes Bonaire

It's not clear from your post but if you're considering a kitchen at the Divi - both of the large food stores - Warehouse Bonaire or Van den Tweel are a short distance east on the road in front of the Divi also.

Dive lockers at Divi are on the dock. IDK if you need to bring a lock.
Dive boat and dive lockers - Picture of Divi Flamingo Beach Resort and Casino, Kralendijk - TripAdvisor

Can't help with your other Divi specific questions as I've not stayed there.

Here's one option for a dive truck/Automatic (3rd listing) but I've not found many others. First Choice Rentals - Island Car Rental Bonaire
Check some of these for other options:
Getting Around - Bonaire Official Tourism Site

I think most of the rental companies don't allow dive gear in the SUV's but IDK for certain. A lot of those are automatics if you could find one that will rent to divers. Maybe one of the bigger chains at the airport - we rented an SUV on Curacao from Budget once with no comment. And it was pretty obvious what was in our dive gear travel bags when we did the inspection with the agent.

Read previous comments here - or the information provided on Bonaire - or some even have a sticker pasted on the glovebox - all will say do not leave anything of value in the truck and leave the windows down/doors open while diving. All the broken glass in the parking areas - that's people who didn't listen.

I use one of these for car/room key, folded cash etc. No need to carry a c-card/credit card unless you plan to rent tanks from someone other than at the Divi. Witz from LeisurePro - not sure I'd trust their phone case though - it's a pretty thin o-ring so even a hair or something could cause a leak.

 

[DiveMaven]

I think you'll find the island similar to when you were there 10 years ago. We find food prices to compare to other islands, like Hawaii....fairly extensive! You can find relatively inexpensive places to eat, but your best bet is to rent a place with a kitchen and make some of your own meals. You can also stay somewhere that has breakfast included like Buddy's or go all inclusive like the Plaza. We've never had a problem with the food not being safe, but food poisoning can happen anywhere.

Clearly you don't remember the "rule" of leaving your truck unlocked, windows rolled down, and NO valuables inside while you're diving. It is highly likely that you will come back to broken glass and missing valuables if you don't follow the rule. Unfortunately, petty crime has NOT improved over the years, but by following the rules, we haven't had any issues in any of our 4 trips.

Security in your accommodations is a completely different issue. It appears that rental houses are a big target for burglars. Break ins at the resorts seems to be more rare, but people have had dive gear stolen out of common storage areas (probably by other divers). I'd guess most places (particularly resorts) have small safes for valuables in the rooms.

Because of these factors, we've always chosen to stay at Den Laman. The rooms are on the 2nd and 3rd floors, which require a key to access the stairway. The balconies are good sized, so we can leave our gear out overnight and don't have to worry about it walking off. We have a full kitchen, it's ocean-front, has a drive up tank room, close to town, and a small enough complex that we aren't tripping over other people.

As to a truck with automatic transmission, you may have to contact the different rental companies to find one...if there are any to be had.

 

[MikeM_scuba]

Thank you very much for detailed response. Much appreciated.

Since you're thinking of the Divi - what it costs to eat there - and a few other places that have menus online. Also there's at least one Subway there now and KFC for cheaper lunch options. Plus local sandwich places like Between the Buns. One nice thing about the Divi is it's about the only dive resort walking distance to downtown for many other options. One other change in the past decade is cruise ships now dock at Town Pier sometimes. So you both can't dive it any longer and they're pretty close to the Divi's house reef.

Restaurants in Bonaire - Chibi Chibi & Calabas Restaurant
Rumrunners at Captain Don's lists prices also. Rum Runners Bonaire, oceanfront restaurant
Our go to place for a nicer meal was It Rains Fishes in town It Rains Fishes Bonaire

It's not clear from your post but if you're considering a kitchen at the Divi - both of the large food stores - Warehouse Bonaire or Van den Tweel are a short distance east on the road in front of the Divi also.

Dive lockers at Divi are on the dock. IDK if you need to bring a lock.
Dive boat and dive lockers - Picture of Divi Flamingo Beach Resort and Casino, Kralendijk - TripAdvisor

Can't help with your other Divi specific questions as I've not stayed there.

Here's one option for a dive truck/Automatic (3rd listing) but I've not found many others. First Choice Rentals - Island Car Rental Bonaire
Check some of these for other options:
Getting Around - Bonaire Official Tourism Site

I think most of the rental companies don't allow dive gear in the SUV's but IDK for certain. A lot of those are automatics if you could find one that will rent to divers. Maybe one of the bigger chains at the airport - we rented an SUV on Curacao from Budget once with no comment. And it was pretty obvious what was in our dive gear travel bags when we did the inspection with the agent.

Read previous comments here - or the information provided on Bonaire - or some even have a sticker pasted on the glovebox - all will say do not leave anything of value in the truck and leave the windows down/doors open while diving. All the broken glass in the parking areas - that's people who didn't listen.

I use one of these for car/room key, folded cash etc. No need to carry a c-card/credit card unless you plan to rent tanks from someone other than at the Divi. Witz from LeisurePro - not sure I'd trust their phone case though - it's a pretty thin o-ring so even a hair or something could cause a leak.[/QUOTE]

 

[MikeM_scuba]

Also considering Breezy Loft Waterfront Apartment. Anybody had any experience with this place? How safe it is? How divers friendly it is? Any input is appreciated a lot.

 

[glimmertwins]

Quick safety note while diving Bonaire. Kite surfers are infringing on dive sites as far north as Tori's Reef. Be very careful if you see any in the area because they will not watch out for you, and come right up to shore at extremely high speeds.

 

[MikeM_scuba]

One more question. Do I have to have a cash there or credit cards accepted everywhere? Can I pay entrance / exit taxes at the airport with credit card or they demand cash? Thanks

 

[jimw]

You will need cash for the Marine Park tag ($25.) for each diver.You need to buy those at orientation. Normally departure tax is included in the ticket price--but should you need to pay it--cash is best. The last time I had to pay it some years ago--it was $35.00 each.

 

[drrich2]

Keep the paper receipt for your marine park tag; when I was there before, you could use that for free entry to Washington-Slagbaai Park up north, if you want to drive though, and save yourself the $10 entrance fee.

I've rented trucks with automatic transmissions a couple of times (well, Dive Hut and Buddy Dive Resort arranged it for me, rather); it was roughly $150 extra for the week and these arrangements were made well in advance. If you want one you can likely get it, but don't plan to show up on Bonaire and say 'Hey, I'd like an automatic.'

Richard.

 

[Jersey]

I think you will find the food prices comparable to your home market. Some more, some less, but no cheesesteaks or Wawa's. As with any where in the world you can economize by eating locally - food trucks (Cactus Blue and Kip Tukee),less expensive restaurants (Mi Banana, Whattaburger, the Chinese place up from Capt Don's) and the grocery store. Small plates at Cuba Companie are also a good way to kick back and enjoy at the end of the day. For any of the nicer restaurants reservations are pretty much mandatory if you want a table. (For something different check out the new wine bar on the water south Kralendjik. Grab a glass and enjoy complimentary peanuts and delicious spicy olives and take in the scene)

Leave nothing in your truck. Ever. Wouldn't worry about being out without a DL. This is just common sense in any major city or island I've stayed in or on. Bring as few valuables as possible. iPads, computers, other electronics are just one more thing to break, lose or have stolen.

Bonaire is the perfect place to refresh your manual transmission skills - mostly flat, reasonable speeds, little real 'traffic'. Not like the Schuylkill or Blue Route on a summer Friday of a 3 day holiday weekend..

Departure taxes are part of your airfare. If you use FF miles, you will still pay the tax.

DO pack plenty of DEET containing bug spray and apply liberally. Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika are not the trip mementos you want to bring home.