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Everything Else Bonaire: Is it okay to bring food into Bonaire?
Bonaire Talk: Everything Else Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999 - 2004: Archives - 2004-09-01 to 2004-12-31: Is it okay to bring food into Bonaire?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kathy Vermoch (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 1:08 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi, the last time I was in Bonaire was prior to the new air travel regulations put in place after Sept 11, 2001. We always rent an apartment in Bonaire and in the past we would bring a cooler packed with frozen meat and other foods with us. We never had any problems doing this as long as the food was in the original packaging and the amount was obviously only for personal consumption. Does anyone know if it is still okay to bring food with you when traveling to Bonaire? Thanks, KathyV

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1536) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 7:02 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Kathy,

I think you may bring any item you wish BUT, I have shared my feelings before and if I may please ask why?? There are excellent grocery stores here. Leave the products you use daily and come try some new items from Holland, SA and beyond. Let me share my ideas:

Carcineria Latina - excellent fresh meats, canned goods and a SUPER BBQ on Sat.

More for Less - great organic produce every Thur. via KLM from Ecuador.

Exito - fresh breads, lovely Venezuelan delights, last minute items.

Cultimara - great bakery

Warehouse - meats, dairy, Dutch products

La Portugesa - fresh veggies

Op=Op - nightly take away smoked Chicken BBQ

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Blanchard (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 1:17 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We agree with Ann. We have been coming to Bonaire for 10 years and used to bring a lot from the States. Now we just pack a lb. of coffee to jump start the first morning. We have found shopping interesting and fun. Also, there are great fresh vegetables and fruit at the outdoor market downtown. Prices are surprisingly reasonable.

We even buy our booze on the Island. Two years ago we found a wine shop that delivers to your hotel. A good selection at very good prices. I forget their name but I am sure someone can tell you.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Julia Graves (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #502) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 1:38 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The Antillean Wine company and very good they are too! We have already put in our order to Marjolein and Noel for our visit at the end of the month, Looking forward to having a go at the Bonnaire Champagne, (The spelling is correct, it comes from France), for our wedding anniversary.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marabeth Owens (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #208) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 1:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Guess I should put in an order then soon too - we are going to be there Christmas and New Years and know that finding Champagne on the island has been a challenge for us. How would we go about doing that - placing an order with Antillean Wine company that is?

Many thanks,

Mara

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marabeth Owens (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #209) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 1:59 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Oh and Kathy - We also used to bring things in from the US but stopped because of too much other gear and stuff to bring with us. I would check your airlines website to see if there are any restrictions.

If you do decide to go shopping I would recommend a Dutch translation book - while many things you can translate by looking at the labels - not ALL products are completely identifiable and we have had a few surprises when we got back. LOL! But hey, it's all good and it's all an adventure.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By J.J zambrano mazzei (BonaireTalker - Post #48) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 5:37 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

here you can find a lot of US products and from all over the world, but if you want to bring something ask first to your airline for advise.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By jan van der List (BonaireTalker - Post #12) on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 - 2:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Bonaire depends on tourism. I hope we don't get too many no-budget tourists.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By KathyV (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 - 3:16 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

"Bonaire depends on tourism. I hope we don't get too many no-budget tourists."

This will be our 5th trip to Bonaire and we will again be spending thousands of dollars on this vacation - on travel, lodging, diving, truck rental, shopping, and by enjoying the restaurants and other attractions. Furthermore, we have encouraged many others to visit Bonaire as it is one of our favorite destinations. We have also contributed to the economy of other N.A. destinations by vacationing in Saba, Curacao, and St. Marten. However, we are not rich, we work hard all year for our vacation and we have to be careful of our budget. This is one of the reasons we, like many other tourists, have chosen to rent an apartment. We do not to plan to cook every meal we will eat, but eating out 3 times a day in Bonaire is very expensive. In general, we have found most dive destinations happy to welcome us and let us spend our limited funds even though we are on a budget. Have things changed, are the rich now the only tourists welcome in Bonaire?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Randy P (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #221) on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 - 3:52 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The heck with the groceries Jan, Bonaire depends on tourism, I hope they buy an effective police force. After reading of the brutal attack today, I'm really starting to wonder about continuing to rave about the island as a quiet, safe destination.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By jan van der List (BonaireTalker - Post #13) on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 - 4:36 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Yes Randy you are right. I guess it is not a big deal bringing your own frozen chicken. Crime is the bigger issue. Specially these kind of very brutal robberies. Although we have been living on Bonaire for 12 years now, I know my wife would want us to leave Bonaire should we ever be victims of a terrible crime like the one that happened last night.

btw I did not mean to offend anyone. It just sounded a little silly, bringing your own frozen meat.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Taft (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #399) on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 - 6:15 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Kathy ... seems as if no one really did answer your question directly. Everyone has given you a great list of places to get food and we have relied on these places over the last several years. But we also will add small non-perishables into our bags if we have room -- things like cereal, iced tea mix, lemonade mix, peanut butter and some spices. As far as a cooler you should check with your airline. Most are not a problem as long as you do not have dried ice. You should not have any trouble arriving in Bonaire with your cooler.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Randy P (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #222) on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 - 6:15 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

And my sincere apologies to you Jan if I sounded like a pompous donkey's rear-end.

I live in Chicago in a high crime area. Violence becomes a way of life at some point and you are simply glad it isn't happening to you. I can't imagine how the local folks must feel on what has always been viewed as such a peaceful isle. My best wishes for a speedy recovery go out to the crime victims and my heartfelt wishes for a speedy painful death go out to the criminals.

I have LOVED my two trips to Bonaire in '01 and '02. Two of my bad habits (eating daily and living indoors) have prevented a return visit to date. I hope to go back there someday. But the current perception of crappy police and little if any punishment to offenders does NOT have me putting my pennies away so far.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Burdette (BonaireTalker - Post #65) on Wednesday, October 13, 2004 - 9:43 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

This isn't so much an answer for Kathy but a comment to everyone else who answers posts about bringing in food from home. We shouldn't forget that there are those people who have very specific dietary needs that may not be met when traveling out of the country. It's not always a matter of budget but sometimes a matter of necessity.

Richard

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech (Moderator - Post #2020) on Wednesday, October 13, 2004 - 9:58 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Because I travel with 2 children I always have some packaged food, drinks, and water in carry-on and checked bags. My kids (and myself :-)) need to eat on a regular basis which airlines don't seem to have a clue about. Three flights in one direction and no food is served at all, but the opposite direction you get food on every flight. It also takes care of late arrival snacks after the hotel restaurants are closed and that first day before you get to breakfast or shop.

One BTer was in search of salt and pepper in a one week quantity naturally. If you plan on cooking in your condo, some basic spices might be a great idea to pack.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Julia Graves (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #505) on Wednesday, October 13, 2004 - 10:14 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Bob and I take his mum out regularly for a cup of coffee in various cafes and we always try to acquire extra sachets of everything from salt to sauce to sugar! I store them in a plastic container and bring them on our trips.
Sand dollar grocery usually has individual salt and pepper sachets.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Greta Badstebner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #599) on Wednesday, October 13, 2004 - 4:29 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Check www.tsa.gov for things they allow/disallow during air transit. If you have a question that's not answered by the website, you can give them a call and someone will gladly help you. I did this last summer and they were very helpful. Good luck!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Johnson (BonaireTalker - Post #58) on Sunday, October 17, 2004 - 11:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have taken a cooler with me every trip and have never had a problem. Things to avoid: dry ice (TSA prohibits this) and fruits/veggies (I have been asked by Bonaire customs). I recall an earlier post where a person tried to bring loads of meat and did have a problem on the US end.

Some things are just not available in Bonaire or are very expensive. Other things are close to the same price (and sometimes cheaper) than what I pay in the US. Here are some things that make their way into my luggage: premium cheddar cheese (not really available in Bonaire); beef jerky (ditto); spices (no need to buy a large container for two weeks of eating); zip lock bags (getting easier to find but still expensive) and some snack type items such as almonds, etc.

lso, I love Ann's answer.

 


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