By David Fox on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 8:52 pm: |
I read this site religiously not only for all of the good information I can learn about Bonaire, but also to keep a connection with the island when I am not there. What I have noticed in reading the trip reports lately is that many of them list a theft or some other criminal activity. Three of the last four reports I read have included something, including one from Terry Miller who related that the person entered their condo while they were sleeping in it!
|
By Rick Smith on Saturday, March 16, 2002 - 9:40 am: |
When I first posted last week about the theft question I felt it might be a lot of hype and wanted to get more info. Also, at that time I was determined not to let a few bad folks keep me from enjoying my first vacation in 5 years. Now that I have read the follow up I wish I could cancel my April trip but I would loose my money. I have no desire to have to keep a watchful eye open while I am trying to sleep on my vacation. I also do not want to worry every time I park the rental vehicle.
|
By Mike Endrizzi on Saturday, March 16, 2002 - 5:32 pm: |
Rick, I have made three trips to Bonaire over the past 5 years and plan to make another one this year. I have had things stolen from my car at least once on every trip. I learned (the hard way)not to leave cash in the car. Stores on the island don't blink an eye when you pay with wet money, so I now carry any cash with me on the dive if I need to stop and buy something on the way home. The one thing that I hated to lose on the last trip was disposable camera that had only 4 exposures left on it. The only other things I leave in the car are water, snacks towel and clothes (and a disposable camera). They don't usually steel clothes. I have lost some snacks.
|
By Dean Botsford on Saturday, March 16, 2002 - 6:15 pm: |
Rick, we have been four times, the only things we have ever lost was 1) my appendix-long story and 2) a roll of film we gave to rite aid in the US of A.
|
By Ann Phelan on Saturday, March 16, 2002 - 6:22 pm: |
Oh Dean..yes, the famous appendix..how is the scar coming along..well, it's a nice place for it to burst anyway..and u r ok..so that is good.
|
By Gail Thomas on Saturday, March 16, 2002 - 8:44 pm: |
Rick,
|
By Rick Smith on Saturday, March 16, 2002 - 8:52 pm: |
Thanks gang, I feel much better. I guess if I had taken more vacations in the past five or so years I wouldn't be so uptight. But I am changing my ways. Notice I was talking about another trip in September. Two vacations in one year, already an addict.
|
By Cynde Lee on Saturday, March 16, 2002 - 9:30 pm: |
ditto to annie...dean...so you are Mr. Appendixless! I remember reading the trip report many moons ago...
|
By Bea and Marvin Jones on Monday, March 18, 2002 - 6:03 pm: |
We've been about 5 times in the last 6-7 years and have never had any problems - but have been careful. The same precautions that we were given in Kauai years ago - leave nothing in the car and on the north shore of Kauai it was suggested to leave the car unlocked so they wouldn't break windows to get in.
|
By Dave Flook on Tuesday, March 19, 2002 - 11:57 am: |
Just back today. Flew home last night from a 12 day stint.
|
By Ken Brown on Tuesday, March 19, 2002 - 1:31 pm: |
In another thread, I posted my concerns about a recent break-in at the condos we'll be staying at - Bonaire Beach Villas. I wrote of my concerns to the caretaker, and received back a very kind and reassuring message. She noted that this is the first break-in there since she's been caretaker (almost a year). She mentioned that in this case, it was less of a break-in and more of a walk-in (the balcony doors had been left open).
|
By Rob & Kobi on Tuesday, March 19, 2002 - 9:45 pm: |
Dean,
|
By mimi greenberg on Tuesday, March 19, 2002 - 9:51 pm: |
I hope everyone who has been ripped off literaly or figuratively will file an e-mail report with Marion at the Bonaire Tourist Association.
|
By michael gaynor on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 7:54 am: |
There i is no such orgainization as the Bonaire bureau of tourism. Pehhaps you mean BONHATA, which represents a portion of the properties, while the rest belong to BMG, an equally responsible grouup (Plaza, Belmar, etc are members as is AB carental.) Your semtimments, Mimi, while admirable, are a bit misdirected. Aa for TCB, (tourism Corp. Bonaire) they represent all the ligitimate tourism related businesses on the island
|
By mimi greenberg on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 9:35 am: |
michael - thanks for clarifying this. I had no idea that 3 separate tourism organizations existed. why so many on such a small island? what is the function of each one? Why don't they consolidate their efforts?
|
By Jake Richter - NetTech on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 12:08 pm: |
Mimi - here goes:
|
By Carole Baker on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 1:14 pm: |
Seems to me that sometimes when there are "too many" organizations looking after the interests at hand that the "interests" do not truly get looked after...make any sense? How has it been working out on Bonaire? I am not familiar with the workings of such areas, so I certainly am not qualified to analyze the organizations and/or how they function. Just seems very interesting, indeed! Carole
|
By michael gaynor on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 5:15 pm: |
Almost all the tourism destinations have lots of different organizations. In addition to the ones Jake mentioned, we have BRA, the Bonaire Rest. Association, CURO, council of underwater resort operators, a taxi driver association, a snack bar association and I am sure I missed a few...(my apologies) So, for what it is worth, we are not any different here than elswhere and it does seem to work for us most of the time.
|
By mimi greenberg on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 7:00 pm: |
jake & Michael-
|
By michael gaynor on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 7:57 pm: |
Jake..I will defer to you...
|
By Jake Richter - NetTech on Thursday, March 21, 2002 - 10:38 am: |
Gee, thanks Michael...
|
By mimi greenberg on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 1:38 am: |
thanks, jake. the reason i asked so many questions was I hoped I might find one tourist organization that espoused the philosophy "the buck stops here." Instead, I found there is no "here" there. no more questions.
|
By michael gaynor on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 7:55 am: |
see Jake, I told you you could do it! Mimi, your propose an interesting scenario. Does the US have a buck stopper? Do chambers of commerce and BBB's function in that realm. BTW...I am not a member of any tourism association either. I do lend support to tbe rest. association and lots of NGO's involved in youth programs. (The Rest Assoc. just finished an ambtious program promonting a training student chefs at the high school. Had the best goat stew there last night!)
|
By mimi greenberg on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 3:52 pm: |
Michael - yes, we have lots of buck stoppers in the USA with regard to problems w/ hotels, restaurants, and other merchants. And let me include in this category: anyone who charges a fee for expert and/or professional service.
|
By Linda Richter - NetTech on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 4:35 pm: |
If anybody is interested, here is more on the Windjammer cruises which incidently I received today.
|
By Jake Richter - NetTech on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 4:59 pm: |
Ah Mimi,
|
By Jake Richter - NetTech on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 5:13 pm: |
I guess Linda posted a comment unbeknownst to me while I was composing mine...
|
By Ann Phelan on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 5:15 pm: |
I used to work for Windjammer when I lived in Antigua. I sailed on the illfated SV Fantome that sunk off of Honduras with Hurricane Mitch.
|
By Laurie Kennedy on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 6:01 pm: |
I suggest that Mimi contact Bonaire Beach Villas and get the other side of the story before posting such negative (and unfounded) comments. I was in the hotel business for years and can assure you that no tourism organization in the US would get involved with an individual's dissatisfaction with their accommodations.
|
By michael gaynor on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 6:39 pm: |
Mimi...I must comment that I first met you at the solar eclipse a number of years ago. If you have had so many grieviences with out island, than why have you continued to return? While we are quite willing to listen to your complaining, just what is it you want to say?
|
By Cynde Lee on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 11:05 pm: |
Jake, you really must stand up once in a while to see if Linda is at her computer, and know by "husband's intuition" that she is a micro second ahead of you...(tsk tsk)...i like it when girls get the first post...sorry if i was off the subject Michael...
|
By David Fox on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 11:06 pm: |
Not that anyone needs my two cents worth, but I simply will not book a hotel or condo or whatever if they won't take a credit card. I have had two instances where I have had rooms that bordered on squallor. In both instances I tried to get another space, was refused or given excuses. I documented the room with photos and a written description, immediately moved out and booked another place and called Citibank Visa and told them what had occured.
|
By mimi greenberg on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 2:02 am: |
Touchy, touchy!! I hit a nerve. If Bonaire Tourism doesn't police itself, it will be done for them in the form of live-aboard dive cruises. And most likely, what you are seeing now with Windjammer, is just the tip of the tourist ice-berg.
|
By michael gaynor on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 8:42 am: |
I have no doubt that you have been in small claims court numerous times! As for my adivice re diving with MS, it was based on personal experience and that of DAN as well, so your blase insult has fallen on deaf ears. What is your problem? I find you insulting, rude and without the social graces I am sure you were taught. I knew many people who have disabilities and who put those who don't through their paces with demands that they be accomodated. As you know we share the same problem, but not the same attitude. My advice to you still stands and if you ever end up in the recompression chamber with an "undeserved case of the bends" don't say you were not warned an try to sue the dive shop/opertator that allowed you to dive. Also, shame on you for insulting Jake and Linda. BTW, This is the last word I will air publickly. I will not respond again to your commentas on the this board.
|
By Jake Richter - NetTech on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 10:25 am: |
David, It was a lesson learned, the hard way, for us, but I now agree with you fully and completely.
|
By scott and sharon barlass on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 2:11 pm: |
I've followed this discussion with some interest as I've experienced a lack of satisfaction with certain hotels I've stayed at in the US (I travel 70,000+ miles per year).
|
By Peggy Bowen on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 6:01 pm: |
Re: Liveaboards
|
By mimi greenberg on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 7:04 pm: |
I too will express my final thoughts on this topic:
|
By scott barlass on Sunday, March 24, 2002 - 12:06 am: |
Gee I didn't know this was all about crime...I thought it was about a hotel problem!
|
By Dave Flook on Monday, March 25, 2002 - 10:19 am: |
Ok into the fray we go:
|
By Bob Davison on Tuesday, April 16, 2002 - 11:41 am: |
Wow .... drop off for a month or two and the sparks start to fly!! Let me say that forums like this and others on the Net do an excellent job of "identifying" issues and raising consumer awareness. No amount of additional goveernment/private agencies and beauracracy will solve the problem .... can someone tell me why we want to export the general onerous and ineffective environment from the States to the Caribbean? Anyone been to St. Thomas? Puerto Rico? These have all the "protections" that Mimi espouses and are still ridden with crime. The problems in Bonaire are trivial compared to other locations. Forums like these and concerned local residents like Mike, Jake etal are the reason why tourism will increase.
|
By mimi greenberg on Wednesday, April 17, 2002 - 1:14 pm: |
bob - the timing of your post is perfect. I just returned from diving BVI. Stayed on Virgin Gorda at the Little Dix Bay resort and dived with them too.
|
Visit: The Bonaire WebCams - Current Bonaire images and weather!
The Bonaire Insider - the latest tourism news about Bonaire
The Bonaire Information Site, InfoBonaire
Search Bonaire - Search top Bonaire Web sites