Car rental suggestions Bonaire

[ntmainstrm]

If there already is a thread about this please point me in that direction.
Planning on the Divi for April 14-28. Can anyone recommend car rental and insurance types and locations. This is our first trip to Bonaire and we are looking for a similar experience to Isis in Coz.

 

[wwguy]

My preferences, in order:

1. Telerin Car Rental - Small independently-owned operation with no web site or storefront, and low overhead. Contact is via email or telephone, contract and credit card is set up ahead of time. Representative meets you right outside baggage claim, shows you to your truck in the short term lot, then you sign a paper and are on your way. On return you just gas the truck up and leave it where you picked it up. Great service, good vehicles, and super-convenient. Reputation is good, thus demand is high. It's often difficult to get a reservation with short notice.
   
   Contact information:
   Marcolva Henriquez (Poppy)
   Cell: 599-9-5163001 (24Hrs)
   Cell: 599-7886401
   PIN: 20D44BFA
   Telerin Car Rental
   telerin@bonairelive.com
   marcolva@hotmail.com
2. Budget Car Rental
3. Total Car Rental

Mexico isn't our thing, so I can't compare to your previous experience.

Tips for renting on Bonaire:

• Rent a truck if you plan on doing any shore diving (which you should definitely do!) They're easiest to load your gear and tanks into, and the tailgate is a great platform for assembling gear before/after the dive.
• Never leave any valuables in the truck while diving, and always leave the doors unlocked while diving. Pilferage of vehicles while diving is a long-standing problem on Bonaire. Plan around it and you'll won't have any problems.
• Most Bonaire car rental companies don't accept American Express. Telerin is the only one that currently does, as far as I know.
• Most US auto insurance policies, and many credit cards, don't cover international automobile rentals. Of those that do cover international rentals, many exclude pickup trucks and SUVs from coverage. For this reason CDW insurance coverage is pretty much considered mandatory on Bonaire. CDW coverage isn't an "upsell", as often perceived here in the US. Coverage usually runs $10 to $12 per day, and is often included in the rental quote. If you're not sure... ask.
• Almost all rental vehicles are manual transmission. If you're stick-shift challenged and require an automatic, you'll have likely have to shop around to find one.
• Don't expect the same quality of vehicle as in the US. Getting a truck with a few scratches and dings is actually a good thing, because that scratch you inevitably will put in it won't be so obvious.
• While driving watch out for donkeys, goats, iguanas, bicycles, scooters, and monster potholes. Don't worry too much if you hit one of the meandering pod-people from the cruise ships... there's plenty more where they came from.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[phelana]

Poppy is great..I also recommend Budget who does take AX.

Ann

 

[RJP]

If there already is a thread about this please point me in that direction.
Planning on the Divi for April 14-28. Can anyone recommend car rental and insurance types and locations. This is our first trip to Bonaire and we are looking for a similar experience to Isis in Coz.

Where are you staying? Most resorts offer packages that include truck rentals. (You want a truck, not a car, for Bonaire shore diving.)

If you get the truck through your resort you have the benefit of being able to go to the front desk if you have a problem and saying "Make it right."

Ray

 

[wwguy]

Where are you staying? Most resorts offer packages that include truck rentals. (You want a truck, not a car, for Bonaire shore diving.)

If you get the truck through your resort you have the benefit of being able to go to the front desk if you have a problem and saying "Make it right."

Ray

The OP already wrote above that they're staying at Divi Flamingo. Divi has an affiliation with the local Hertz franchise, operated by Inter Island Car Rental.

No matter where you rent, you can always ask the rental agency to "make it right" if you have a problem. Divi is only about 2 KM from the airport car rental locations.

 

[diverrex]

I rented once with Poppy, probably the easiest rental experience I've ever had. Everything arranged through email ahead of time, someone meets you as you exit customs, shows you the truck, you sign a paper and off you go, all in about two minutes.

 

[ntmainstrm]

Thank you all for the great suggestions. We finally reserved a truck with Poppy. Sorry I took so long to reply. Just getting finances in order.

 

[akirawut]

Thank you all for the great suggestions. We finally reserved a truck with Poppy. Sorry I took so long to reply. Just getting finances in order.

You made the right choice, never have I had such a great car rental experience. With everyone else (not just in Bonaire, anywhere) there has always been something that didn't quite go right. No issues with telerin at all, it was wonderful.