My wife, Jonny, and I just returned last night from 11 days on Bonaire. This was our 6th trip to Bonaire in 9 years. We dove all over the place, enjoyed the restaurants and generally had the usual great time.

The only flaw in this trip was the last day of diving. We came back from a 1-hour dive at The Lake to find the left rear window smashed out of our rental truck and my watch and money gone. About $200 net loss. (Yes, I know the drill – take no valuables and leave the car open. But I'd forgotten to leave my wallet and watch at the room.)

Then, to add insult to injury, the car rental outfit, A-B, nicked us another $212 to repair the window – even though we were paying an extra $11 or so per day for CDW!!! That'll show you what CDW is worth at A-B. Forget it.

This experience left me feeling ripped off twice – once by the scumbags who broke into the car and once again by A-B car rental.

I don't understand why the Bonaire authorities don't take this business of car break-ins more seriously. It's a daily occurance on the island, an honest to gosh crime wave, that discourages visitors. You'd think it a simple thing to set a few traps and catch these scumbags, but the police don't take it seriously.

Lessons –
(1) NEVER take valuables and ALWAYS leave the vehicle open while diving
(2) Buying CDW with a rental car seems to be a complete waste of money.

—Warren—

Hi Warren...we are home also.

Eva is walking around in her Bonaire straw hat with a little sand in her hand from my shoes...looking very forlorn.

I'm draining the hot tub and cleaning out all the spring frog poop so I can clean my gear. Think I will run the temp to 81F and sit in the hot tub with all my gear on...and pout.

I think someone swiped my hat out of the car...either that or I left it on Patrick's boat (the parasail/dive boat). I hope Patrick has it. Then at least maybe a hair from my head is running around Bonaire.

I don't have a copy of the CDW insurance with me. But last time we rented a car, I also paid extra for the insurance, and looking at the fine print, there was a $350 deductible.

Hertz also charge extra for broken windows. We agreed a price of 41$ a day for 21 days including CDW. When we picked up the car we were asked if we wanted extra ins. for broken windows and also for car theft! We wondered what the ins. we'd taken out actually covered. We took a chance and declined as we found the cost of car hire in Bonaire the highest of any country we've been to. Also be aware of an extra couple of charges when you return your car. Americans are probably used to having sales tax added (here in the U.K. prices are quoted inc. tax) but there is also another Bonaire Government tax. We were unprepared for these. As far as I'm concerned when you agree a rate that's what you pay but it's difficult to argue about tax charges. We felt a little bit conned. We were in Bonaire for a month and I also commented on the lack of police presence. These car crimes are either being done by locals, in which case the police must know who they are. Or by tourist chancers. If the police patrolled the dive sites it would cut the crime considerably.

CDW is for accidents, not break ins or damage from thieves. I do agree that something needs to be changed re the insurance angle. I once suggested that all the companies self insure for broken glass and stolen apares with a one dollar a day vountary policy which could be put into a pool to cover these costs. As for the police, etc. I will refrain from commenting except to say that they do care and are as frustrated as much as the victims.

Solutions:

1. Use a MC or VISA to initiate and pay for car rental and, no matter what the desk agent says, DECLINE the CDW/extra insurance. I will not use A-B again because they refused to honor their advertised rate unless I paid for the CDW/insurance. This confirmed that the CDW is a scheme for some island underwriter to make lots of money; probably paying the car rental company a commission on each sale. Most credit cards provide foreign car rental insurance as a free cardholder benefit. The small SUVs and minivans are covered - but don't rent a pickup as they are usually not covered. This is typically a no-deductible comprehensive coverage, so it will protect you against a host of potential damages, and give you leverage against things like the $212 window scam. A little window for a hilux shouldn't cost more than $120, installed.

2. Get a good pocket-sized watertight container as part of your dive kit. That way a wallet or watch can go down with you if needed. The extra bouyancy is negligable. The peace of mind is worth it.

3. Always leave the windows open - not just to deter theft/damage, but to keep the car aired out so that the dampness brought in by your saline-soaked suits and gear doesn't create a rotten stench by day five.

4. Should anything happen, check out local repair options BEFORE going to the rental agent. A-B quoted something like $40 as the charge for returning with a flat tire. Wilfredo's shop next to Lisa Gas fixed our flat (4 cactus punctures!) for about $8.

-LS

Hmmm. We used AB on our last trip, and arranged the 199/week rate (a special advertised on InfoBonaire I think)

When we arrived (6 hours late) the agent didn't bat an eye when I declined the CDW, and we still had the same rate.

We are heading to Bonaire at the end of the month and 2 of us checked with our credit card companies ( visa and discover ) and with our local insurance agent ( allstate ) and were told we would not be covered in Bonaire. We were advised to take the CDW. They do advertise a 500.00 Deductable!!!
Mark

Great news, take a look at an earlier posting. The police just caught a guy for breaking into cars. There is a link to the newspaper article

My Visa and Mastercard cards both provide coverage AS LONG AS you decline the CDW. I'm getting a small van this year as it really ticked me off to get the CDW last year when I got a pickup.

Susan:

In my most recent experience with A-B the low rate that they had advertised on their website, and which I had reserved for, was explained to me this way when we arrived: "Oh, that rate is all-inclusive, meaning you get the CDW no matter what. If you want to waive the CDW we have to charge you the regular rate" The net difference was about $35 more for the week to NOT have the CDW (and thus to ensure that I had VISA-provided, no-deductible full coverage). Thus, it actually cost me $5/day to get the better insurance that my credit card extends - but I was still put off by the way it was handled. Of course they have several employees; some may be more customer-service oriented than others.

-LS

Odd. We were there Dec 7-14. I got the bill: I was charged $199. And as I said, I declined the CDW.

Hmm. Leif - maybe it's personal? [grin]

Jake

maybe the idea is to rent a jeep. no top, no windows - no reason to break the glass

We rented from AB at the email quoted rate...and declined extra insurance...no problem...no hassels.

But then I'm a big bald headed bearded dude wearing killer shades.

We've never had a problem with AB...they send me the rate via email (along with the discount for dealing direct) and that is the rate when I pay at the end of the trip. No surprises at all. Nice folks, great service and with a smile, too! Carole

AB once accidently quoted me a discount on the government charges and honored their email quote.

Jake: You have must a good sense of humor with the AB Car Rental advertising banner on this page. Coinsidence or Comedy???

Kevin

I swear it was just here !!!

What on earth do you need a watch and wallet for on Bonaire? A few dollars in your bc and you should be set.

Kevin - ads rotate here on BT.

Seb - I lose stuff if I put it in my BC pockets. I dive with NAF 50 in my swim suit pocket (or internal Wet suit key pocket).

Jake

AB - Jake, Susan:

Since I always start out polite, I think it was probably not a personal issue. The difference between my experience at the counter and Susan's could have been just different staff, which would make it a personnel issue. I too had booked by email. Certainly I must schedule another trip to confirm that what happened on the last one was just an exception. Actually, I could make it scientific by repeating the experiment at least several times. Of course, each would have to include at least a week of diving just to maintain consistency in the sample data!

-LS

With the ever increasing theft of spares from car rentals, here are a few suggestions to consider: (1) always check your rental *prior* to delivery to verify that a spare tire is with the vehicle, (2) If you do *not* plan to take out insurance to cover possible theft of spare, then consider requesting rental to remove spare before taking delivery of vehicle, (3) if you decide to take out theft insurance, read the fine print on the deductible amount for full understanding of the coverage offered.

For what it's worth: AB made sure to show me not only the spare, but all the tire-changing equipment (jack, etc.) behind the seat at the time of the rental. And we'd just spent 6 hours popping on and off and back on again a plane in Montego Bay, so they could easily have skipped that without my complaining, one bit.

I guess they've had enough people claim that the tire or changing tools were missing before they even rented the car, that they wised up. I think that is actually wise, for everyone's peace of mind.

i see a pattern here...maybe...it seems that when there are more folks on the island, there is more crime activity...just an initial observance. i truly am sorry for those that have been victimized. i have had that happen to me in the states a few times, and it is very very disturbing.

hrm, so if all those pesky tourists left, the crime problem would disappear?

dan, i know, it was late for me yesterday...i was just thinking that during the busy time on bon, more people seem to report crime events that have happended to them...when i get some spare time i will try to back my mouth up by searching in last years archives and see if there is a pattern

Hope my small attempt at humor didn't offend. Many factors may be at work. It's possible during high season, more folks report crimes, rather than just quietly stewing about them. I did find it discouraging to be told by locals not to bother reporting theft, as the "police wouldn't do anything about it anyway." Whether that advice is accurate or not, it does indicate underlying problems.

thanks dan i was also thinking, that when there are more divers on the island, the thieves have more opportunities or things to pick from...(ie, more folks leaving stuff in their vehicles?)

what does "CDW" stand for? Can anyone explanation of what this is?

It's collision damage waiver. There is still a deductible of $572. Some credit card companies will cover vehicles (not trucks) so you can waive this option. The problem is that if there is an accident I believe you have to pay up front and get back from your insurance or credit card insurance company.