We are yet another member of the Cape Cod we love Bonaire contingent. I have been reading this board for about 4 months but just got around to registering. We went to Bonaire in 1993 for 2 weeks and absolutely loved it. We stayed at Sand Dollar and it was great. I have not seen SD recommended in here much at all and am wondering Why ?? However please know I have already booked our 2 weeks there March 9 - 23, so if the news is real bad you might want to lie to me . Is there something I should know??
On a different matter will the airlines let me check in(as luggage not carry on) a styrofoam cooler with freezer packs and fresh meat. I was going to tape it shut but if they are going to want to open it I am sort of scre.... What do ya think??
I work outside on the water so I can't wait to be warm , I love reading you guys so nice meeting you and thanks for the grins & giggles as well as great pix

I have not had any checked luggage examined. I think the Xray machines do that? I have seen many with coolers but honestly, Cultimara has EVERYTHING so why trouble yourself?

When you come back, you can meet up with Kate (Nantucket) and myself (Dennis) to have a PBD party.



Annie
Cape Cod

Sand Dollar is alive and well. It is still the same friendly place. We will be leaving just before you arrive. The dock and restaurant seaside restaurant was destroyed by wave damage. The dive shop is operating just next to where it was located. The shore diving there is still great. They have built a new restaurant next to the pool.

We too have packed a cooler in the past but have since stopped. The Cultimara does have everything and the butcher, Yuri, is great. He will prepare anything for you. The prices are reasonable and therefore don't think it justifies packing a cooler any more.

If you have any other questions please send us an e-mail. We go to Sand Dollar twice a year and know it well.

Yeah...skip the cooler with meats..Cultimara has great butcher shop . One year my brother in law took cooler with dry ice and steaks only to have to pay extra handling fee for the dry ice then the cooler got "misplaced" rerouted..lost whatever by the time it got to Bonaire the steaks were thawed..not worth the hassel..we do bring our favorite coffee beans and cereal tends to be expensive and snax but same around the world..I bring just a few favorite things to add to the local fare and have fun shopping locally

Re: checked luggage.. we had our checked luggage examined by hand and machine at both Dulles and Miami.. This may not happen to you, but be prepared. I bought a cuddly tiger whilst in Virginia, and security waved their wand over that too! As for getting your meats, Cultimara is good, but also try and stop by the Warehouse..not the Supermarket part, but the building opposite.. they have an entire room full of meat and fish.. choose what you want (and if you need assistance, they're very helpful). They'll also cut it up for you to your exact requirements!..reasonable prices too. To be honest, we found them better than Cultimara meats.. it's worth checking out.. S

ps. I can never remember the name of the meat place, perhaps someone on island could chip in here?

Jack, we stayed at the zale's condo at sand dollar in september and had a wonderful time. we never experienced the dock, so we didn't miss it! Plus we don't have the bonaire beach entries here on the left coast so it was no big whoop to us. the condo's were very nice and had maid service every day. ocean view, nice breeze. we plan to stay there when we return sometime in the next 12 months. the group at sand dollar dive and photo are wonderful as well. they have lockers right there that are convenient, and again, the staff was really wonderful. bari was our favorite spot to dive (probably as it was sooooo convenient as well)...you must do a "dive at 5"....twighlight dive, was definetly our most favorite dives we made....

Oh, Jack, click here to read our trip report for more...trip report...have fun

Jack-
Greetings from Nantucket! Annie and Sarah (and everyone else for that matter) are right: no need to bother with the cooler. Cultimara (downtown) and Warehouse Bonaire and Consales (Kaya Industria) have everything you need. I stayed at Sand Dollar several times before we bought the house. Don't worry, you'll love it. Did you "register" with Chet Wood regarding BT'ers who'll be on-island in March? I think it's somewhere under "Everything Else". See you in March (?).

Kate

What about snorkeling right from the shore at the Sand Dollar. How is it? Has it been horribly damaged from the 99 storm? We used to stay at the Sunset Beach Hotel two doors down, but it is abandoned. So maybe we will try the Sand Dollar?

jennifer, we stayed at the sand$ a year ago. we did a night snorkel our first night as we had to wait until the next morning to go through the dive shop orientation, and there were a lot of soft corals and wonderful sea life right off the shore. on our last day, as we couldn't dive after 3, we snorkeled in front of sunset beach, then went back up all the way to buddy's and beyond, then back. saw tons of stuff, lots of cleaning stations, etc....

this has got me thinking, maybe alan and joan can answer as they were just there, there was a reef that extended perpendicular to the shore right in front of the steps going down to the beach, and it had an amazing amount of life, they didn't destroy that when they put in the dock did they?

The snorkeling at Sand Dollar is great, especially around the new pier being built. We filed a trip report last week. You might want to check it out. Another great place to snorkel is at Windsock down by the airport. Lets us know if you have any questions.