Hello All,

I have searched and searched but cannot find a thread on the best type of currency to bring to Bonaire.

Here is a quick rundown of my stay. There will be two of us and we will be there for 8 nights. My hotel and car rental are already paid for. We will be eating most breakfasts and lunches at home, but dining out. We will be taking a trip to the park and doing the "regular activities".

What is the best type of currency to bring to Bonaire?

I bring some US dollars, and also use my ATM card to top up on US dollars from M&C bank machine downtown. I tried traveller's checks once, but that was more of a PITA. I have some local currency left over from my last trip and I'll use that too.

The ATM will give you local currency if you wish, making it easier to pay without currency conversion. I have to agree travellers checks area PITA.

Nathan-- Don't forget to notify you bank if you plan on using any kind of credit card
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With all the Identity fraud a memo in your account might save you some angst

On my first visit I had this happen, and you can't blame them for trying to watch out for you?

We just take us dollars . Also we take a credit card with in case we don't want to spend the us dollars. Dollars are excepted everywhere

Unless you don't mind the ATM fees and credit card "exchange fees", bring Travelers checks. We cash 2-3 hundred at a time for local currency. You get the best exchange rate at the bank and, if you time your bank visits, it only takes 10-15 minutes.

(Message edited by sparty on February 27, 2009)

Have never been charged a fee when using ATM next door to Michael's Chat n Browse or downtown across from where Julio's Snack is.

During three trips, we used U.S. Dollars without a problem. During our fourth most recent trip, we went to M&C Bank downtown and exchanged our U.S. Dollars for Guilders (bring your driver's license and/or passport to the bank for identification). I think this worked a lot better for us because we did not have the hassle of figuring out if we got the right change after paying in U.S. Dollars and getting Guilders for change. Whatever floats your boat--U.S. Dollars are accepted everywhere but you will almost always receive Guilders as change.

We take US dollars as well, with a CC backup.

We took a lot of travelers checks in $50 currency and never had a problem because we carry our drivers license for proof of who we are when using them.

I agree with Tom's comment on the ATM fees.
We have only used the one close to Chart n Browse and have never been charged a transaction fee.

We always take US dollars with a CC for back up. Then when we get change in Guilders we use that and donate whatever is left over to one of the donations boxes at the airport. I also agree, let your CC company know you will be travelling. Ours was denied once and we had to call to find out why. It was because they noticed "unusual" activity. Nice of them to do so, but embarrassing when we got denied.

Hi Bt'ers.. I've always brought USD and my debit/credit card. I've been to Bon' approx. 7 times and have had no issues at all. It's a very easy way to pay!