We are leaving for Bonaire next Friday and wondering how much cash to bring with us. While we realize that the restaurant prices depend on whether it's fine dining or fast food, can someone please let us know the average cost of lunches and dinners, and if there are any fast food places like McDonald's on the island? Thanks so much and looking forward to reading your replies.

Welcome to BT Nancy,

There is a good KFC in town.

Lunch......$5.00 - $15.00
Diner......$10.00 - $???? with wine.

Most take Credit Cards.

When you get to Bonaire, pick up the dining Guide at the airport.

No, Micky D's, but the is Whatta Burger next door(north) to city cafe. nancy, where are you staying? If you have a reefer in your apartment, you can either buy lunch meat, or bring your own from home for sandwitches at noon. The bread at Cultimira is to die for, very good fresh breads. We figure $30 a day for 2 for dinner. I make breakfast, and lunch, and out to dinner every night. I do all the cooking as well. Diane deserves a break when on vacation... Hope this helps. PM me if you want to know how to bring your own lunch stuff... Ron

McDonalds!!!

Please wash your mouth out with soap! Generic globalised fast food outlets really are a blight of the world, especially on small islands such as Bonaire. I ain't gonna get on my soapbox about the environmental impact that these places have or the animal cruelty that exists because of them but needless to say that I would rather starve. I know that the argument exists that they are very popular but, so are cigarettes and cocaine, neither of which do the world or it's people any favours.

The day McDonalds lands on Bonaire will be the last time that I will. Rant over!

Nancy, try some local places. If it is not to your taste don't worry as they are not that expensive. There are plenty of places serving Western food at a variety of prices so enjoy.

WOW, what a very unhelpful response Mr Bond. I believe the question asked was in reference to finding out what were the average prices to food on the island to make an informed decision on how much cash to bring, and then made reference to local chain restaurants she is familiar with as an example. I think your response was uncalled for. You can take your soapbox elsewhere. How many people now think there are self righteous know-it-alls giving unwanted advice on this forum? Your views weren't asked for. You could have said, there are no fast food places, but I have some great recommendations and they are.... Your comments posted here are questionable if you are here to help someone, which I am sure was not your intent. Answer the questions on this board, and keep your personal opinions to yourself. Nancy, I hope you find the answers you are looking for to make your trip enjoyable.

Allan.

Your post is a little obnoxious for a first post. As the saying goes, "Methinks the man doth protest too much"

My comment "Please wash your mouth out with soap" was of course tongue in cheek as anyone who has seen my previous posts would know. I would be very surprised if anyone on here would want to see a McDonalds on Bonaire. My post was not aimed at Nancy but at the personal thought that the Golden Arches may appear on Bonaire.

As far as keeping my personal opinions to my self, maybe that is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. For someone to post such a volley of vitriolic rubbish to a complete stranger as a first time poster is very suspect.

Don't worry though Allan, I am no delicate flower and do not take too much heed of keyboard warriors who choose to hide behind a computer to vent their spleen.

Hey guys, take a step back, slow down. You don't want the GUARDS jumping in here.
Bonaire has it's own style of fast foods, we don't need Burger King.

Hey Jerry.

Don't start me on Burger King (he say's soap box at the ready)

Thank God for Spanoek............

Simma Down Now Simma Down.. !! the local SNACKS are the best fast food {island time,there is nothing fast about it! relax , listen ,smell the roses, feed the iguanas}

Nancy, here is the web site for the dining guide, that looks to be just updated. It is an excellent resource for someone new to Bonaire, and you should also see it and many other guides at the airport where you will claim your luggage, grab a few and have fun, eating is the second best activity on Bonaire.

http://www.bonairediningguide.com/

Check this out also:

http://www.bonaireinsider.com/index.php/bonaireinsider/category/Restaurants%20and%20Dining/

Have a great trip and post a report when you get back.

Patrick

I told you!


Good afternoon Miss Freddie.

There is a Subway downtown. I've never actually eaten there...don't eat lunch much.

I'm always sad to pass on the local snacks...I don't eat meat and that eliminates a lot of the local food for me. They look like fun...

CB,
Cultimara has little cheese patties (pastachies?) at the bakery counter. They do go quickly....
Mare

Nancy,
It is hard to answer your question without peppering you for info.
Where are you staying -- and do you have a microwave and/or toaster oven?
I like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with a few raw carrots for lunch. I usually refrigerate the bread because it will get moldy a lot quicker on Bonaire than it would at home.
Toaster ovens are great to re-heat leftover pizza and store-bought pastries.
You can eat quite well on a budget in Bonaire.
Mare

Barbara.

It will be difficult for me this time as I have become a veggie so my old haunts will be redundant.

That said, I am doing fish so my options are still plentiful.

Antony (Without the "H")

Mare, I never knew what pastachies were...I'll look for them!

Anthony, no fish for me, so that narrows it down. I kind of shake my head at the number of pasta-with-grated-carrots-and-cabbage meals I've had in restaurants on Bonaire, but I find the pickings are improving. And we don't go to Bonaire primarily for the food, right?

Gouda, cucumber, and tomato lunches are a staple for me, while Eric adds cold cuts and bread.

I've always just gone to the Cultimara and gotten whatever they have, but I think I'll have to try the Warehouse after reading about it here. Just as long as shopping for food doesn't take away from dive time...

Nancy, Julios in town has great burgers, and I do like KFC in the afternoons when nothing in town is open

Barbara.

My Wife has the same problem as she doesn't eat meat or fish.

However, Pasa Bon was always a success as was Cappricio. Joes veggie pasta is superb, even for a meat eater..

Antony (Without the "H")

Antony(without the "H"), I agree. And Garden Cafe has the best salad on the island, I think.

Barbara.

I don't want to appear to be sycophantic where Joe is concerned but....................

His garden salad with the blue cheese dressing.....Mmmmmmmmmmm

Antony (without the "H")

(Message edited by Bondy on February 29, 2008)

Nancy, There are ATMs on the island that dispense both US cash and NAFl (guilders)so you can replenish anytime. The good news is that you really don't have to use much cash on the island if you don't want to. You can use credit cards almost everywhere: the restaurants,super markets, and shops.

Dinner costs at the restaurants vary, and I can only tell you my experience from the restaurants I frequent such as Capriccios, Richards, Lion's Den, Patagonia,Casablanca, Donna and Giogio..etc. and the cost is usually in the $70 to $100 range for two with wine, dessert, tax, and service factored in.

Nancy, Bonaire has a wide range of resturants, You can spend pretty much what you want. We usually get by with between $20 to $40 a night for dinner. But neither of us have alcoholic beverages with our meals. We will have an after dinner drink or beer occasionally.

we eat in at breakfast and lunch which saves money so we can go out in the evening without feeling the money pinch,

Andy

Nancy

This link shows prices from one of the waterside restaurants

http://www.habitatdiveresorts.com/bonaire/rumrunners-restaurant-menu.html

Just make sure you call your C/C company and tell them you are going to Bonaire! I have had a card STOPPED before for that reason... Ron

If you want the best meals on the island, try Mona Lisa's or Wil's. IMHO The dining guide previously mentioned is a must. Food cost about the same as here in the states, just depends on your cash flow.

We are on Bonaire now and have had meals from $30 to $55 for two with wine. The low was Mi Bananna The high was La Flamboyant. Bar Hap at Monn Lisa was $52 for two with drinks. Mona Lisa is still great.

If we are eating out three meals a day we figure on average $100 per day for two.

There are many ATMs around. We take it out as guilders, 350 at a time (approx $200). We get a better exchange rate than the prevalent 1.75 if we use dollars, so even after the 1% international service charge the 350G costs us slightly less than $200.

Lovers for lunch is good and inexpensive

Wise advice for first time foreign travelers, Ron, inform your CC company before you go. Once you establish a pattern, you needn't bother.

You cann't beat the Bar Hap at Mona Lisa, both for the value (I think it was $11) and taste. If you don't read dutch ask the bartender about it. Not a full dinner(no salad or soup) but plenty of food and presented beautifully. Delicious!

Seb, Oh great Seb, I contact my CC companies every year! After 12 years of going to Bonaire, 4 years ago I had a problem with a card! Better to be safe then sorry! It only takes a few minutes for piece of mind... Ron

Ron, Oh golden Ron, I had no idea. I just knew I hadn't called them b 4 a trip in quite a while.