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Getting around Bonaire: Car needed for entire week?
Bonaire Talk: Getting around Bonaire: Archives: Archives 2007- 2008: Archives - 2007-06-01 to 2008-12-31: Car needed for entire week?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jennifer Parmley (BonaireTalker - Post #13) on Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 8:26 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi- My mom and I will be coming to Bonaire in July. We are snorkelers and will be staying at the Divi. we plan to rent a car but are wondering if a car is necessary for the whole week? If we waited until Tues or Wed to rent a car we would hopefully do a snorkel with Renee on one of the days we don't have a car, but I'm wondering are there restaurants within walking distance of the Divi for those days we don't have a car? Is there a car rental place that will bring the car to the Divi or will we have to go pick it up? Thanks
Jen

(Message edited by love_to_snorkel on June 14, 2007)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bob (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2097) on Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 10:00 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

The divi is the place to be if you have no truck...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dr. Director (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #383) on Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 10:04 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

There are quite a few of the restaurants most visitors frequent (i.e., almost all except a few at the northern resorts) within walking distance of the Divi including Richards, Donna et. Giorgios, Casablanca, etc. etc.

Will let others answer your other questions.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By karen gaffner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #171) on Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 10:18 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

divi has a car rental place on the property. you can walk to lots of restaurants easily but without a car you're missing much of the island. i personally love the freedom a car gives.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1837) on Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 1:04 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We always wait a few days to settle in before we rent a truck. The hotels (Habitat, probaby Divi too) often include transfers from the airport in their rates, and it makes it less stressful after a long day flying to not have to stand in line for an hour at the airport for a car/truck.

That said, you might want to book it ahead of time - depending on when you'll be there, if the island is busy it may be difficult to get a vehicle in the middle of the week if you wait until you get there.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lorraine Meadows (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1101) on Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 11:35 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Divi is a great place, easy to walk to town ,and a great house reef, my sister never wanted to go anywhere else, but you would be missing out on other great places if you don't rent a car.
The salt pans, flamingo's, donkey santurary, a ride over to the "wild" side to see the waves crashing and the windsurfer's on Lac Bay south, and a ride "up north" are not to be missed.
You'll have a wonderful time with Renee', she knows "her" critters and will show you them, but a car will give you more freedom in between.
I think you'll get a better price renting one for a week then for 5 days too. Check that out also.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barbara Lee (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 11:57 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

We just returned on July 15th and I hadn't reserved a car ahead of time. Getting a taxi to Sand Dollar at 5:00am was no problem. But we didn't realize how limited we were without a phone to check around for car rental options. After getting a cell phone on Monday (and buying phone cards), we had to call several companies before finding one that had a rental available that would be allowed in W-S Park. It was a bit nerve-wracking; next time I would definitely reserve ahead of arrival. We used Total and they came to get us at the SD to take back to the airport for the truck. No problems, good vehicle, nice people. They were open at 4:00am at the airport for us to return the truck--no extra charge!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Johnson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #319) on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 6:52 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I would suggest reserving a car in advance whatever you decide. (My preference is a pickup -- great for hauling wet stuff, has sufficient clearance to tour the park and is usually cheaper.

Do you need a car? It is a reasonable walk to town from the Divi. That puts many restaurants as well as a few grocery stores (Cultimara, Jokes) within walking distance. You can for sure do without a car for several days. (Walking in mid-day can be tough though...)

That said, you will often find that a weekly rental is about the same price as a five or six day rental. So you may or may not save much by not having a car for a few days.

If I were going for a week: a) reserve the car in advance; b) take a cab (or transfer) to your hotel. This is way easier than getting a rental car when a big plane lands.; c) Pick up your car on whatever day you reserved it for. Most will pick you up at your hotel. You will then return it at the airport.

Before your last day, pay your departure tax at the airport. This eliminates one step in departing. On your last day, drop off one person and the luggage at the airport curb. They can get in line. Park your car. Walk and check in your bags with your companions. Then return your car. It is then about a one block walk back to the departure gate.

 


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