Hi,
As we are staying in an appartment I would like to shop for breakfast, beer and soft-drinks. We will arrive @ 5pm on Saturday. Are the shops still open ? What is a good supermarket ?
Thankx a lot.
Alrik

Alrik, welcome to Bonaire Talk. I think Cultimara is open until 7PM on Saturdays. You should be able to find all the things you need there.

I'm not sure what the hours for Warehouse or More for Less are.

okidoki. thank you for the quick response. where can I find Cultimara ?

Alrik.. Cultimara is right in town.. Ask anyone..
I think they are also open on Sunday for 1/2 day if you get delayed on Sat.

I would be careful on purchasing frozen goods from Cultimara as their freezers have the habit of warming up and cooling down when you are not looking... Never had a problem but I have put back several potential purchases because they were soft rather than frozen.....

Our preference is to use Cultimara for urgent stuff - or even Lisa Gas can provide Long Life milk, breakfast cereals and beer..... - and to do the big shops at Warehouse or More 4 Less

Just a personal preference expressed.

The Warehouse seems to have a wider selection for what I am after. Romaine lettuce, spices and condiments, small bags of charcoal, etc. Turn left at Lisa Gas as you are heading to the airport. It's on the right about a quarter of a mile down.

Cultimara is convenient for me, as I stay at Buddy's, but like Trevor said, use them for urgent stuff. If you are staying north, when you hit town and the road curves to the left, it is about 3 blocks down on the left.

Sand Dollar grocery has REFRIGERATED eggs, as opposed to sitting out in the open.They are on the road to the north, right before you get to Buddy Dive.

I always take a cooler of food down when I go. Do not take fruits or vegetables! Get everything you can at home, and check it as you would any luggage. Keep it under 50 pounds, of course.

Tad, I'm always wondering why people would bring their own food. We've been coming down for years now and we NEVER brought our own food. There is (like mentioned before) Warehouse and Cultimara, but what about More-for-less and tropical flamingo? More-for-less has an excellent meat supply and tropical flamingo is in the down-town area. And yes, sometimes things are not in stock, but then we try other stuff. Isn't that part of vacationing? Trying local food, shops and so on?? Just my 2 cents.

Martin,

I like my ribeye steaks and inch and a half thick. I like my pork chops a certain way, and the same with chicken breasts. Same for lunch meats and breakfast items. Also, I like certain garnishments that are available only in the US.

I also have a decent size grill that I carry on vacation with me to get that great charcoal flavor. A biggie however, is the cost. I just got back yesterday, and you will now pay almost double what you do in the states for the same items.

I go out for a local dinner the day I get in, as well as one other night. Same for lunch. Buy my plane tickets several months in advance to save money.

I've been traveling to Bonaire (and the general Caribbean) for years, and have found that if you plan in advance, and take most of your own food, you can stretch a 1 or 2 trip a year vacation budget into 2 or 3. No matter where I go, I'm into the diving, and not the restaurants every night.

With one checked bag for dive gear, and another for the cooler, it is no problem. I carry my clothes, reg and mask on board. Regardless.....to each his own. If it work for you or me, and we're happy with it, keep doing it!!

Tad, can I travel with you next time? lol!

We only use cultimara for last minute things. I agree that Warehouse has a better selection of items I like (hot dogs and good cheese) and More for less has the best fresh baked bread (have to get there early as it's gone fast). They also IMHO have the best selection of meats as martin said.

And the Sand$ grocery does have good items and is open later/all days/etc.

Boat Chick, and everyone else...

Bonaire is worth it, no matter whether you take your own food, or eat out every meal. Personally, I have never found grilling out on the beach with a beer in your hand, or cooking breakfast on the deck, to be very hard work!!

Get in 3 dives a day and you are still back by 1 or 2PM at the latest!! That is....as long as you are at the first dive site by 8AM. Take your lunch, and a couple of beers to off gas with between dives! From 2 to 5, take a nap on the beach, and try to keep that BAC level up there. Or else go exploring! Shower, cook dinner and you are ready to hit the town, or do a night dive.

Can you spell anal-retentive when it comes to dive vacations? Again, sorry guy's, but to each his/her own!! We'll all be going back down.....regardless! I'm heading back at the end of February!!

Later........I've got a lot of stuff to rinse out, wash, and clean up!!

Warehouse is air conditioned! That's a BIG plus in my book! We always shop there. Cultimara has great baked/bakery goods, too, tho. cb

Tad, I don't think anyone is saying your doing it wrong or anal

Heck, if it didn't take 2 days for us to get to Bonaire, i'd bring some nice big fat fresh organic filet mingon's and t-bones to grill...yummmoo...The meat isn't as good as what we get at the local organic place, but it has to do for us

I do know qutie a few people from the East coast who bring meat with them

Carole, I like the AC as well...lol! Could stay in there all day...

Ehh...beer in between dives?

Tad, keep drinking the beers between dives and one of these days you will be FISHFOOD!!!

Again guys, to each, his or her own.....

I have no desire to get into a discussion about what is proper or not in the way you handle your life. It's none of my business!

Ever drive home after a couple of drinks with dinner? Not drunk, but just a couple of drinks. Ever tell one of your friends that they are overweight, and killing themselves? Or smoking and destroying their lungs? Ever see someone with a pony bottle and tell them that if they can't track their own air, they are a risk to us all.

Bottom line is that I could care less about the personal decisions other people make. Just don't ask me to pick up the tab if something goes wrong!!

How is that someone with a pony body is automatically deemed to be incapable of managing their air properly? Pony bottles are also used as a redundant air supply in case of equipment failure or while solo diving (which I am SDI certified to do by the way). We did our 9th trip in September and thought the Warehouse was alot better super market than Cultimara. I didn't always think that was the case, but do now. Check it out Alrik.

Wouldn't be the last time we needed to rescue people drinking and diving...in that case, yes you are a risk to those people who have the obligation to rescue you.

Thank you