First trip outside the USA! - Bonaire!

[reefdiva]

Rottielover, your numbers sound about right. That being said, we rarely eat lunch out because it takes too much time from diving! If you have a refrigerator at your place you might want to pick up some lunch things to have a quick bite. We usually leave home with about 200 in cash and use our ATM card on the island. There are many available and you can choose to take your money out in guilders or dollars. If you use dollars you will get your change in guilders. Many of the smaller "snacks" (small, local restaurants) do not take large bills. Most dive shops add your Marine Park Fee into your total bill and the departure tax can be paid by credit card. Remember not to leave anything of value in your truck when you are diving. If you feel you want to take a few guilders in your BC pocket, know that all the merchants are used to soggy money!

 

[CLEAR BLUE]

We split up our money - put some in a safe , hid some, carried some etc.. We bought food items at the grocery store. Except for dinner in the evening, we didn't think much about food - too busy diving. We went through the Shore Diving Made Easy book before we went and had a good idea what dives we wanted to make first. Have a great time and safe diving!

 

[herman]

For me your numbers are a little high but I rarely buy alcohol or deserts at restaurants.....Lovers Ice Cream is a different matter. We typically do PBJ for lunch and a good meal in the evening.
I typically carry around $200-300 cash with me to Bonaire. For most restaurant and resort bills I use a CC. If I need more cash I hit the ATMs. So far, neither my CC or my bank have hit me for charges on Bonaire.....they ate me alive in Coz.

 

[divelizard]

One of the things we found that worked well for lunch was to order a big dinner the night before and use the leftovers for lunch. It saved a lot of time.

If you get a chance, hook up with a local divemaster and do the Salt Pier. It costs about 35.00 and you have to be with a local dm. Security reasons. They also have to prearrange it, so give them some notice. Hope you have a blast.

 

[djac5700]

I agree that $1500 is a lot to carry in cash. Like others recommend, I bring ~$200 in cash and have my ATM card and 2-3 credit cards with me. While precautions can be taken, you won't get back any stolen cash. Losing a card can be a hassle, but will not cost you nearly as much in the end.

You should take more than one card though, just in case you have problems with one of you cards while on the island (gets blocked by the bank, you lose one, etc). See my earlier post for related tips.

 

[rottielover]

Thanks again everyone!

 

[herman]

Another quick suggestion, you may want to contact your CC company and tell them you will be on Boniare, esp if you have just one. They may put a security freeze on it for "unusual" charges. I was on Boniare for a week and a month later in the Keys. They ignored the Bonaire charges but put a hold on it in Fla. I was on the boat when the dive op informed me there was "trouble" with my card. Took a while to straighten it out but at least it was a US phone call.

 

[djac5700]

Just note - if you do run into trouble with your CC while abroad, there should be a number on the back of your card for you to call (it'll look like a normal US number with area code, not the 1-800 number). You can call that number collect.

 

[rottielover]

wilco, thanks again

 

[rottielover]

OK, I thought of another (maybe stupid) question, that I haven't seen anyone discuss online: Gas (Fuel for car) on Bonaire?

Since we'll only be there a week, I can't imagine having to fill the tank on the rental more than once, maybe twice... but I was wondering about the gas station(s) ??

Being a new international travler, has me wondering if things like "pay at the pump" are as common around the world as they are here in the US.

My apologies if this is utterly dumb...