I was talking with a friend who said Bonaire is wonderful but extremely expensive and said that when he bought a case of water it was "like 40 0r 50 bucks" - I know islands are expensive because they have to import everything but just to be on the safe side: how much more expensive are commodities on Bonaire?
Thanks
Michelle

Well drink the darn tap water, they should charge you that much when great water is provided free to the tourists! Good lord, they have to dispose of all that plastic and IT'S AN ISLAND.
All that said, I am dubious about the $50.00 case of water. Sounds like an "island legend"
Prices are higher in BON than mainland USA, for sure. Maybe less sticker shock for me living in NYC.
Though when I stayed on St. JohnUSVI We used to love watching the newcomers at the Maho Bay Store freak out when they found out that the personal sized bag of potato chips were five dollars.

Not sure why they would want to buy a case of water as Bonaire's tap water is desalinized ocean water and purer than pretty much any bottled water one can buy.

That aside, some things, especially perishables imported from the U.S. or Holland, are quite a bit more expensive than in those respective countries, but meat (from South America) and fish (caught locally) is cheaper.

Jake

I thought that Bonaire made water - ok - thanks - i'll just stick with filling up a jug to take to the park and not buying water. Good point about the plastic waste involved..... I didn't think seafood would be outlandish and since that is my favorite food - I don't see a problem....Thanks!
Michelle

I agree with Jake and Seb. Tap water is better then any you could buy.

Seb, We should think about bottling Bonaire water and selling it here. LOL I'm in Northern NJ

yer, prurify the water from Fontein, give it a nice marketing ding dong and away ya go lol

Allthough locally available ... some seafood like lobster and conch is mostly imported. Thats a good thing cause there isn't a lot left here.. cant even remember the last dive/snorkel I saw a live conch.

Never had a problem with the Bonairian Cocktail(water from the faucet).Always tasts fine to me and it's "free"!

water: Bonaire Punch
Water with ice: Eskimo punch!

ENOUGH ABOUT WATER HOW MUCH DOES A BOTTLE OF AMSTEL COST?

LOL - good point, Ida! We drink lots of beer while on Bonaire, never thought the cost was prohibitive. (Not like on Cayman Brac, where our group decided to do without beer for our whole 2 weeks there as the prices were astronomical.) And we have never given any thought to buying bottled water in Bonaire - tap water is fine.

as of Feb/Mar 2002:
6 pack Polar $6.20 (at Cultimara)
6 pack Rubano $4.86 (on sale at Sand$ grocery)
6 pack Heineken $6.26 (at Cultimara)
4 pack Duval $5.34 (at Cultimara)
these are probably all approx 9 oz.cans/bottles
Chet

Seems like beer is very very reasonable on this island - ;)
Michelle

Masha Danke Michael, always get those mixed up. Need to come back soon to get it staighten out again.

Michael...are we still trying to figure out how to get the water off island??? You can still utilize Joe's expertise.....Just curious. See you next week! Carole