Recently we spent two weeks on Bonaire (1/6-1/20). We had a wonderful time and since we stayed at the Tropical Inn, did not need a rental car. For the last two days we did decide to rent a car so that we would have transportation to the airport. Unfortunately we chose AB Car Rental at the airport to rent the car from. I say unfortunately because we called up from the hot line at the Plaza Hotel on the 16th to reserve a car from AB on the 18th and 19th. They took my name and suggested that we call Sunday Morning at 8AM to arrange to be brought to the airport and get a car from them. I agreed to do so and at 8:05 AM on the 18th,I called them 4 times till 8:20 AM. No one answered the hot line phone. Rather steamed about this, I walked to the airport and found them at their stations. The Woman at the window Seemed a bit surly to me, as if she was being put out by me being there. But after pursuing the issue, I finally did rent a car from them.

The fun part of this transaction comes when you have to return the car and get through the airport for your American Eagle flight to Puerto Rico. The flight boards at 6:15 AM. The AB Car Rental personnel get in at 6:05 AM. Three other renters were turning in vehicles at this time. They (the AB personnel) take their sweet time as you wonder if you will make your flight on time. If you tell them about your concerns for making the flight, they smile and laugh at your situation (not making this up). That really gets you steamed up a bit. I told them that I did not see the humor in the situation, they just shrugged it off. What a wonderful experience renting a car from AB is.

Nettys car rental personnel were there at 5:45 and have dealt with Alamo in the past, they came at 5:00 AM, claiming that they did what they had to do (I thanked and tipped them for their concern). In six trips to Bonaire, I Have never rented a car from AB Car rental before, and I doubt if I will ever rent one from them again.

Regards, Darian Paganelli

i have rented from abcarrental the last few times i've been on the island and have been pleased. our only problem involved the fact that we had to switch credit cards at various times. (an credit card policy, not ab's). visa will only insure a vehicle for 30 days, mastercard for 14 days. we were there for 47 days. as a result our final charge was not what we had been told but that was because of weekly discounts and such. marc looked into it and we got a credit on our next credit card bill.

We have used AB for every trip to Bonaire and have never had a problem. They have always been polite, friendly and have gone out of their way to help us in times of need. We continue to use AB...CArole

Darian was kind enough to contact me personally after his post and I hope my reply to him was satisfactory. We have been using these opening hours for years and only in case of disaster do they cause problems. However, if more people feel that 6am is too late, we will re-evaluate them.

Darian, I forgot to offer my apologies in the mail with regards to the phone issue; the hotline has been giving us random problems, where calls weren't coming through. Or it might have been that the hostesses were out in the parking lot and forgot to take the handset; I will remind them to do so.

Marc
Manager, AB Carrental

The airport personnel tend to move you along past the security and into the waiting room on the AA flight out. Last time I had to go back out through security and leave the key, I don't remember if anyone was there yet. I know I've just tossed the key into the window before, and I am more comfortable doing that now that AB has the more inclusive insurance so I don't so much feel the need to check the vehicle in.

But isn't the plane boarding by time AB opens up?

I guess one has to walk a few miles in the other fellow's shoes to understand his view point on life.

Marc van Wijk (Manager AB Carrental)did indeed respond to me about my post. Hopefully my post will NOT dissuade anyone from using AB Carrental in the future. They do have some of the most reasonable rates and the most versatile insurance options of any rental operation on Bonaire. I have figured out a way around my problem with the tight schedule and will take care not to create this bottleneck for myself next time I have an early departure from Bonaire.

Thank You Marc for your response and I hope that this note will serve to cap this email thread.

AB is a decent operation and It is managed by a person who puts a lot of effort into doing the right thing.

Regards, Darian Paganelli

marc, 6AM might be a little too late to open if you have more than two cars getting turned in for the 7AM flight. we were ok last time because a.) we were the only people turning in a car to abcarrental who were on that flight, and b.) the flight was delayed three hours.

i would suggest that if you have three or more cars getting turned in for the early flight you might want to consider opening at 530AM, or 545AM at the latest.

Darian:

I am glad to see you came around. When I read your first post, I thought; "Wow some one has used their very first post on this site to go negative, and this is after 5 or 6 previous trips to Bonaire. I wonder why they go back to Bonaire if all they have to say is negative?"

I have felt that it is not fair to publicly complain and privately praise.

I gotta admit that I have not used AB but, I have only heard good things about them. Budget Car has always been there for me. Actually I can not think of even one bad, or rude expereince with any shop keeper, on Bonaire. Only had one bad experience with an Inn keeper, but I solved that by going somewhere else (That somerwhere else being Buddy Dive). Always a wonderful Experience on Bonaire.

Hope you enjoy your future trips to Bonaire, and please give a little praise too.

Dave

Marc,

What is the plan when daylight savings time returns and the AA flight departs at 6:00AM.

Will AB open at around 5:00AM?

Thanks,
Ernie

If you want to avoid the rush (squeeze) when you return a rental car prior to the 6:15 AM boarding of the 7:00 AM American Eagle flight to Puerto Rico from Bonaire; turn in the rental car a day early and call Bonaire Tours.com (599-717-7447) at 22 Kaya L. D. Gerhart downtown Kralendijk. They provide airport transfers for about 15 dollars a couple. In the past, they have picked up around 4:30 AM.

They are the outfit that pick people up from their hotels who have an arranged vacation package with included airport transfers.

They have the blue and white bus most times and stop at the Plaza and Divi Divi to deliver you to the airport. I think this will ensure a smooth exit next visit. Hope this post might also help others also. Happy Diving!

Regards, D. Paganelli

Darian,

Interesting idea, could save a whole day of car rental fees also...hopefully you can get somebody to pick you up at the airport after dropping off the car

I don't know if it's policy but AB for example, probably won't charge for that extra day.
(Your mileage may vary)

It's all about the stress though, of turning in the car and getting on that plane in time.
If you miss it, you really get messed up because there're just aren't a lot of options if you miss a plane in Bonaire.

Ernie

Oops, sorry for the bad grammer.

I meant to say "there are not a lot of options"