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Everything Else Bonaire: Cash Scams?
Bonaire Talk: Everything Else Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999 - 2004: Archives - 2004-02-26 to 2004-08-31: Cash Scams?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe Pacific (BonaireTalker - Post #34) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 9:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have done some independent traveling in Europe and found that in many places, you have to be really careful about counting your change. (Mainly in Paris and larger Italian Cities, although a BANK TELLER in Germany once tried to give us change for a $50 traveler check when it was a $500 that we gave him.)

Do the Bonairians partake in these amusing antics when making transactions with tourists? Any stories?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech (Moderator - Post #1715) on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 8:39 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

If you use US$ you will get 1.75 rate in the stores rather than the 1.78 rate that you would get at the bank. I have never heard someone having a problem in a local bank. We don't have currency exchange businesses here either.

The biggest hassle for Americans probably is the use of coins for 1 and 5 guilder. I heard someone complaining about getting short changed and it had to be pointed out that he had a 5 rather than a 1. The coins are very similar in size so it can be confusing. We also have 25 notes not 20 notes.

So if you are paying with US$, remember $10 is equal to nafl 17,50 and $20 is equal to nafl 35,00.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb schulherr (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1457) on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 9:41 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

If you insist on making cashiers do conversion math, you will eventually run into someone making a mistake. Because they are human, and that's what humans do. It's simply easier on everyone to use the local currency, and it's more fun too!
I use $4 = f7, it's simpler than $1 = f1.75

One of the tourist books has a conversion chart in the back, I cut it out and put it in my notebook for rapid figuring (OK, Mary actually cut it out and put it in)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By herman mowery (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #317) on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 9:48 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

"The biggest hassle for Americans probably is the use of coins for 1 and 5 guilder. I heard someone complaining about getting short changed and it had to be pointed out that he had a 5 rather than a 1. The coins are very similar in size so it can be confusing. "

Linda, that happened to me on my first trip. I was positive I had been short changed when I gave a clerk a $10 US for a Coke and got back several coins....Lucky for me I decided to "learn my lesson" and just walk away rather than make a scene on my first day in a new country....sure glad I did, I go the correct change. The lesson I ended up learning was how quickly 5 guilder coins (about $2.86 USD) add up. I still keep count of the change within a couple of cents and so far I have not had anyone try to cheat me. There was a story here a couple of years ago that one particular waiter/waitress was cheating people....and was quickly fired.

A quick, while not exactly accurate, gauge I use is 1 guilder= $0.50 US. It's close enough that you can fairly easily tell if the change is in the right ballpark.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb schulherr (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1460) on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 10:20 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I do the same thing, Herman

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Flook (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #176) on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 1:55 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Rather than doing the conversion thing, simply pull local money from the ATM machines. So much easier to use the local currency, or a charge card. Just be sure if you use a charge card that the amount charged is in the local currency, do not let someone convert the amount to "your" currency (Just another un-needed conversion. Let MC or VISA figure it out).

After a few Amstrels who wants the mental frustration of working out ratios anyway.

Dave

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe Pacific (BonaireTalker - Post #38) on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 7:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Righteeo,

Thanks all.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By joe brannan (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #329) on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 1:08 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I practiced "change jingling" while on bonaire and pretty much got the skill for discerning 1 guilders and 5 guilders. It's proved quite useful since we got dollar coins in US now. I never got shortchanged in two trips, or at least didn't notice it

el chee
se

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1733) on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 9:24 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Banks give 1.77 for cash, 1.78 for travellers checks. The best rule of thumb to calculate dollars from guilders is if it costs nafl 10...divide in half and add 10% making it $5.50

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lorraine Meadows (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #787) on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 7:19 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We've never had a problem with the correct change, never an issue. But the ATM's do give guilders too. I do the same as Herman.

 


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