BONAIRE September 2011

[Scubapro Marcus]

Ok everyone my girlfriend and I are going to Bonaire from 9-2-11 through 9-18-11.

So far we are flying into Florida then catching Ansel Air to curc than Bonaire. We are staying at Eden beach and as of right now I only booked the unlimited air through Wana Dive.

Looking for Advice:
We still need to rent a car or truck and also I am looking for anything to do when we are not diving restaurants,beach bars,windsurfing,dinner cruse ect....

PS.
We have all of our gear any advice on luggage? Also should we wear dive skins or .5m or even a 1m suit? Looking to do night diving as well.
This will be our first big diving trip we just got certified.

Thanks in advance everyone!!

 

[gypsyjim]

Bonaire is our favorite. You will have a ball!

If the truck is not available thru Eden Beach, you can rent one on line from AB Rental, for abt $145 or so a week, last time I did it a la cart. The windsurfing on Bonaire is just as world class as the diving. Lac Bay on the East side is the place to go. Rental, training, everything you need to have a great time. I gave my son a days rental, for his 15th BD, and he pretty much taught himself, by watching and listening.

Packing? Pack light! You need to bring little besides your gear and a swim suit! No need for a lot of clothes, it's very informal. Do bring bug repellent if skeeters bother you, they can get wicked at dinner time, at times.

I only bring a dive skin. I never get cold there, but THAT depends on you. Some people I dive with get cold in the tropics, even in a 5 mil.

 

[jennfl]

We have been emailing several of the rental car companies for our trip in May.

These are the weekly prices I have gotten for their basic trucks with AC and CDW insurance, and all taxes.

AB was right at $300

Voyager Events is at $296

Bonaire Rent a Car is $277 (but cannot deliver the car until the next morning since they close earlier), so we have to add $15 extra for a cab to our hotel

Telerin (Poppy) is $390

Budget is $436 (don't know why they are so much).


AB seems to get the best feedback on these boards. As you can see we like to comparisson shop.

Good luck.

 

[gypsyjim]

From the AB Rental web site today:
AB Car Rental Bonaire - Our Rental Rates

Car Rental Rates in US$
4 April 2011 till 19 December 2011
Rent 7 days, pay only 6!



Group 01 - Mazda B 2200 Standard (no aircon.) Dive
Group 02 - Mazda B 2200 Deluxe Dive
Group 07 - Mazda BT 50 Deluxe Dive
Group 03 - Mazda BT 50 Deluxe Dive with tonneau hard cover
Group 04 - Hyundai Tucson Dive
Group 05 - Hyundai Tucson GL
Group 06 - Ssang Yong Korando 2.3 Soft Top
Group 08 - Kia Picanto
Group 09 - Kia Picanto Automatic
Group 10 - Mitsubishi Lancer GL
Group 11 - Mitsubishi Lancer GL Automatic
Group 12 - Landwind S.U.V. Dive

Daily
US$ 24.00
US$ 29.00
US$ 32.00
US$ 38.00
US$ 52.00
US$ 52.00
US$ 45.00
US$ 29.00
US$ 35.00
US$ 35.00
US$ 35.00
US$ 32.00

Weekly
US$ 144.00
US$ 174.00
US$ 192.00
US$ 228.00
US$ 312.00
US$ 312.00
US$ 270.00
US$ 174.00
US$ 192.00
US$ 192.00
US$ 210.00
US$ 192.00
Dive means that the rental car is especially suitable for divers.

Prices are in US Dollars including:

* unlimited kilometres
* free taxi and luggage service
* free 24/7 road call service when purchasing our full coverage plan

excluding:

* 8% sales tax + US$ 3.50 per day government tax. On July the 1st the goverment tax wil be increased to $4.-
* US$ 5.00 local fee
* insurance - find out more about our insurances
----------------------------------------------------------------------

We always rent just the basic Mazda truck, as it is the best vehicle for carrying gear to sites, in our opinion, so you are looking at @$144 to $174 for a week, depending on what is available when you make your reservation.

 

[Waterskier1]

I'm on Bonaire right now. I *thought* Eden Beach had a package price for lodging, dive air, and rental truck? It is usually cheaper to get it through a package deal. That said, I didn't. I got a great deal at Golden Reef Inn, but Liz wasn't doing packages. I got unlimited air & Nitrox (free) through WannaDive. I searched for rental trucks and was told by locals that some of the big rental companies (Total, AB for example) had not replaced their trucks in a long time, so they were really aging. The is a general comment, and I'm sure there are some newer trucks there too. I also found many companies quoting 2 or three different prices: 1) the truck rental only, 2) truck rental with CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) and some, 3) Full damage waiver. I believe that CDW is the minimum insurance you would want, unless you have coverage for TRUCKS, outside your country (like I understand AMEX Blue). The unlimited is almost twice as much, but covers damage that you are not responsible for (like theft, natural disasters, etc.). Make sure you compare apples to apples. Also, some companies have high rate times and low rate times. Some state they do, but don't necessarily enforce those rates.

As far as Eden Beach goes, as discussed on another thread, it is under renovation. I haven't check out the rooms yet, but the exterior had been painted. Most notably, the old restaurant is currently under renovation, and they have set up canopies on the beach for beach side service. I haven't eaten there, by the new restaurant owners also own "It rains fishes", which has been reported to be very good.

I come here to dive, so can't help out a lot on the other extracurricular activities, but much has been written about them. Do a bit of search.

 

[knives]

Truck rentals can vary as you have seen.....I usually end up paying about 250. a week with the insurance. As for wetsuits ....I take my 5 mil , after a couple of days in the water and so much bottom time I do get cold.....hate cutting my dives short because of the cold.
Windsurfing , Donkey Sanctuary , and make sure you do the drive through the park it is very beautiful ,also Slagbai where the flamingos hang out ....Jibe City Bonaire Windsurfing on Bonaire Rentals sales and lessons.
STINAPA - Washington Slagbaai National Park

ohh and the food is pretty good .....make sure you visit Bon Pizza , it is close to Eden, and Don Giorgios , down past where the cruise boats dock and Casa Blanca is also worth a visit....
Enjoy.....we always do

 

[gypsyjim]

When water is in the 80's even 4 to 5 dives every day, I never needed any suit. The skin is primarily to protect my skin, ever since my 11 yr old son tangled with jellyfish one time.

Before that I always dived Bonaire in just a swim suit, and maybe a T shirt, but then I have been well provided with self insulating bio-preen. Even 20 to 24 dives a week, day and night, I don't ever feel cold.

Others, especially thin ladies, find 5 mil to 7 mil very helpful.

 

[jennfl]

And remember that the prices you see on the rental car websites don't always include all of the taxes they add on, or the insurance.

AB, for example doesn't show the total cost until you go through their reservation page and fill everything out. Then you get to actual total cost for the week.

So if you start out with their base price of $174 for the week, you would then add the two or three different taxes and the cost of the insurance per day. For just CDW it's $11 per day. For full coverage, it's like $19 per day.

Then you get totals closer to the $300 range for the week.

For us, that's for a truck with AC. The ones without are a little bit less.

 

[Scubapro Marcus]

thanks for info,

As far as the truck goes has anyone had any problems with theft ect... do most of you just get the CDW or full coverage? Also don't you have to have a 4wd for the park t drive through it?

Wetsuits
I think I will be ok with a rash guard or a 1m but my girlfriend on the other hand she has to wear a 5m in the pool when we took our Classes and it was 80deg. she is little to around 5'1 and 108 so im thinking at-least a 1m or 3m.

 

[gypsyjim]

Theft, especially at some of the dive sites, can be a problem, if you do not take simple precautions. You will be warned to leave nothing in your truck, and leave the windows rolled down. Listen to this advice, and you should have no issues at all.

The two wheel beater trucks we rent will go practically anywhere, which makes them great for accessing the more rugged sites, and some of the rougher roads to the north.

I have paid extra for insurance, because should you have an accident you will need to settle in full, before leaving the island. Better safe than sorry.