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Local Items: Protecting tourists
Bonaire Talk: Local Items: Archives: Archives 2001- 2004: Archives - 2001-03-08 to 2002-10-17: Protecting tourists
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Briley on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 1:11 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi - working on a magazine article about what U.S. travelers can do to protect themselves from harm, embarrasment and getting ripped off in the Caribbean. Anybody have any specific advice about boneheaded things you see U.S. travelers doing that could be easily corrected? Any phrases or gestures that are harmless in the U.S. but offensive in Bonaire?

Thanks a million,

John Briley
brileyj@ijet.com

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linnea Wimberly on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 3:09 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I would say that just doing normal, common sense things is all you need to do on Bonaire. Don't go around dripping expensive jewelry, flashing bundles of cash, and such. You wouldn't be mugged, but you could be followed 'home' and burglarized later. The only other precaution has been mentioned in many postings on BT. I.E. - don't leave anything of value in your rental vehicle and don't lock it.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linnea Wimberly on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 3:23 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

P.S., since I rarely use offensive phrases or gestures in the US, I can't help you out with that, but Jake or Michael G. would be the best ones to respond to that part and for any other precautions.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 4:03 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Oddity for Americans in Bonaire:

Your waiter will not offer you the check at a restaurant. You must ask for it. Reasoning is that they consider it rude to imply that you should leave by giving you the check.

A service charge may or may not be included in your check. And the amount of service charge may vary between places. I have seen 5, 10 and 15%. Service charge can be considered part of the tip when figuring out how much you want to tip.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 4:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Linda that is an excellent item. I have found if you offer the first friendly greeting when entering a store your greeting will be return in kind.

I can say I have never been "ripped off" in any transaction on Bonaire. I try to use Guilders and have found almost every shop or store has a calculator for US Dollar transaction and will make sure you receive the correct change (usually in Guilders). I have found Bonaire overall to be the warmest friendliest island I have visited.

For John I think the best suggestion is to forget you are from (fill in country)and therefore are the best of the best. When you come to Bonaire come as a visitor and guest. A few words in Dutch/Papiemento go a long way and even if you mess up the pronounciation, the smiles you will receive are well worth the effort.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 5:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Bon Tardi to you Kelly.

Even if you don't know the lingo, a friendly Hello in your native language works great.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 5:16 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I tell you, that's one thing I really like here - going into a place like a doctor's office and saying "Bon Dia" or "Good Morning" and having everyone else respond in kind, with welcoming smiles on their faces. Of course, I don't like going to the doctor's office, but this sort of welcome makes up for part of that, for sure.

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Anonymous on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 11:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

John.. The greatest thing that americans can do in my mind is to chill.. the concept of time in the sun is far different then it is in the main land... we spend too much time inthe US rushing from point to point worrying about this worrying about that.. there is more chance that the person the 7-11 at home who can barely speak english yet holds a work visa will rip you off because their compuerized register won't work and they can't count change in one currency then the person in bonaire who is balancing two currencies ( in their mind) and three languages minimum.. Don't be a rush.. don't expect things to YOUR time.. you are a vistor and hey you're on vacation ..RELAX..

early common sense things expressed here about possessions.. I do no different on island then I do in the US except I don't have to keep looking over my back on Bonaire

the concept of trying to use a local language is an excelleant point i have seen in every guide fromPhillphines to traveling in NYC..

anyway..enjoy your work

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peter Cabus on Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - 2:56 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Attempting the local language certainly helps. On Bonaire we recieved a very warm welcome when we spoke (-: ITALIAN. But that was in Capricios.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan on Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - 6:11 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

It always cracks me up when an American tourist is planning a trip to the Caribbean and asks if there are bugs or sharks. No offense but sheahhhh...there are..

We travel to new locations for new experiences so embrace all of it ..

:)

Annie
Cape Cod

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly on Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - 9:21 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ann, I am not sure you can lay this one only on the American tourist.

Most divers/snorklers ask about sharks in hope of catching a glimpse or a picture of one. As to bugs, Bonaire has a special breed that is worth asking about. The Limpi (flying teeth) are worth warning everybody about. I tell anybody coming to Bonaire to purchase a local bug chaser with the highest percent DEET possible and de-tox after you leave the island. These devils are worse than mosquito's because they are invisible !!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Deal on Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - 10:55 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have to agree with Ann's closing sentence, at least. I am always amused by people who pay money to go somewhere far from home, and then spend their time complaining about everything that they cannot find...or is different...or should be made to be more like the US. As someone once told me, "If you expected to find everything just like what you left behind, why did you come in the first place?"
Enjoy the diffent! And Anonymous is right, get yourself onto island time.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Corney Ann Carter on Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - 1:19 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Bonaire is not the place to be pushy and loud. As the others have said, go with the flow you are on vacation.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linnea Wimberly on Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - 1:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Yeah, I forgot about going on island time since I'm from the "island" of Southern California, where the terms "laid back" and "let's party, dude" originated. I live just a little further north than Cynde, and have more trouble adjusting to the east coast way of doing things than to Bonaire's.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Barry Baker on Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - 3:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I made the mistake the last time I was there (February) of waiting for my check and getting upset that the waiter was ignoring us and not bringing the check. I later learned on BT that the waiter was not being rude. I guess the lesson would be not to take things for granted. If you are not sure about a local custom, ask.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Anonymous on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 2:31 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

How to avoid embarrassment: Please, cover up (a bit) when walking around town, riding mopeds, shopping, etc. Simple T-shirts & shorts are fine. Heaven knows we're not a fancy resort-wear type of place, but having tourists walk around town in only bathing suits, or men w/o shirts is mildly offensive (and perhaps even considered disrespectful) to the local population. However, shoes are still optional....

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 9:58 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Excellent point Anon. Swim suits are for the beach, boats and under wetsuits, in town island casual is in good taste.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jodie Simpson on Wednesday, November 21, 2001 - 1:14 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

From reading these messages I know I probably shouldn't ask but I am going to anyway. Can someone please tell me what insects, snakes, scorpions etc I should be worried about in Bonaire. My daughter and I are looking to move to Bonaire for 1.5 years and are bringing pets. Would be good to know what we are up against and what the pets should not be chasing! We live in landlocked Alberta and do not have any little beasts to worry about here. No rats, cockroaches, poisonious spiders or nasty things that bite - except pesky mesquitos. Although we have travelled extensively and don't necessarily worry about ourselves, bringing the pets is a new experience. I have a border collie who hasn't figured out that catching wasps in his mouth is not a good thing! See what I am working with. Thanks for any information.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Liz Ginocchio on Wednesday, November 21, 2001 - 10:12 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jodie,

How lucky you are to live in Bonaire for 1.5 years! What is bringing you to Bonaire from Alberta? My husband and I, in all the years that we have been going have only incountered a scorpion once. Don't know how dangerous they are to dogs, but I have heard that they can make humans pretty sick...not to death, but some locals have told me it was like have a very bad virus. Bonaire DOES have those pesky mesquitos to, actually the good ole' noseeum's are the worst. If I remember correctly Bonaire doesn't really have any snakes to speak of. Oh and what are you looking to pay for in rent? I have a couple of connections in Bonaire...may be we can help you out! Thanks!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor on Wednesday, November 21, 2001 - 1:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi..no snakes to speak of (one tiny one that is blind) the tale about the scorpians is a new one on me. In fifteen years, I have been bitten twice and it was less bothersome than a wasp. I wonder who the local was who spread such a story?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Liz Ginocchio on Wednesday, November 21, 2001 - 1:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Michael! We will be down on Sunday late afternoon with Folgers (red can) and a couple of NYT for you, stop by at our place #13 LBR. Anyway, when Ed and I were down last year we stayed at our then timeshare. It was night and we walked in and Ed saw something move on the floor. He was barefoot and was going to step on it then decided to turn on the light in the kitchen. Turned out to be a scorpion. Anyway, cannot remember, but we were talking to some local divers a few days later and they told of stories of them being in booties...a couple of people did say that they did hear of people getting wicked virus like symptoms, while some nothing. One women did say she was actually stung in the foot and did develop nausea, etc...for a day or so, but recovered fine. Cannot remember who it was...but definitely remember story...See you next week! Liz

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Wednesday, November 21, 2001 - 1:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Theoretically, if you're allergic to bee stings, some species of scorpions' venom have similar proteins(?) which would result in allergic reaction.

However, no one I've ever spoken to on Bonaire who has been stung by a scorpion has ever had more than a pain similar to that of a wasp or hornet sting, with residual pain for up to a day or so.

The idea of scorpions in booties is not myth. I find them in my dive gear on occasion, once in my booties, and other times in the crate I use to store my dive gear.

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill & Cheryl Rathborne on Wednesday, November 21, 2001 - 3:18 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Well that's it then! As a Scorpio I belong on Bonaire. I wonder if they make interesting pets?

Bill

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sarah on Wednesday, November 21, 2001 - 7:26 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Scorpions!

So, I shall be checking my shoes, (and just about everything else, for that matter)!! They don't get in the bed do they????

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem on Wednesday, November 21, 2001 - 9:59 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Only rarely, Sarah. ;–)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sarah on Thursday, November 22, 2001 - 4:50 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Glen, that's comforting..:)S

Have a good day all.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Evans on Thursday, August 1, 2002 - 5:29 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

OK. Just a warning about this "don't lock your vehicles message." If you do that you invalidate your insurance. If you lock the vehicle, they break the glass and you pay for that. If you take every possible care guess what they do? Well in my case they got into a locked gas tank without doing any damage. When I tackled the rental co. they all acted innocent, like "how could that happen." I tell you - only with the spare key!!!
Another warning. Look after your credit cards, use cash if possible. I got back home and a month later someone tried to run $700 throughg my Amex card on a false authorisation code, a date when I was not on Bonaire and to the benefit of "Economy Rent A Car" who I had never heard of! The only people on the island who had those details were the rental company - Budget. (see more on Getting Around)
I got a simple message to all the good folks on Bonaire - GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER. When I was on the island in June it was dead. Why? Probably because us tourists do not like having to survive a crime wave only to get home and find someone is trying to use our credit cards as a free meal ticket.
I'm not coming back, my scuba students won't be visiting or my customers. Until you deal with the street crime (vehicle theft now, mugging next) and shut down the businesses who abuse our good nature and spoil our vacations your island is off my travel plans.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Deal on Thursday, August 1, 2002 - 11:56 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I just called both Amex and Visa in anticipation of our visit and, under the coverage provided by each, leaving the car unlocked would certainly invalidate a claim in case of theft, but not however in the case of damage to the vehicle. As has been noted previously, trucks are not covered, but mini-vans and small SUVs are covered.

No doubt that you had a bad experience with Budget, but I think that it is a bit much to say that this constitutes a crime wave.

For our part, we plan to continue coming to and sending friends to Bonaire, prefering it to any other Caribbean island.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Leif S on Thursday, August 1, 2002 - 11:57 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Response to John:

1. June is "dead" because the tourist season is, shall we say, definitely not June. As a SCUBA professional, I would have thought this would be common knowledge to you.

2. You certainly have every right to be ticked off about having your gas tank siphoned. I don't see where you personally experienced anything more than that one event. Are you sure you want to impeach an entire population as a result of just one incident?

3. No place is paradise. Perhaps you should visit Jamaica, where the chances of being the victim of a truly violent crime is astronomically higher than it is in Bonaire. Or would you rather be kidnapped at a Mexican resort?

4. I was also in Bonaire in June and experienced nothing criminal. Then again, I did nothing that would have made my property or person tempting.

5. If you reject CDW and pay with a VISA/MC/AMEX, whether you lock the car or not will not likely make much difference. The reason to leave the windows open is to avoid a claim in the first place. Think about it; it's a small island, so actually stealing a whole rental car is simply not a good idea. Rather, crime tends to be more petty; theft of items from within a car, rather than the car itself. If you leave windows open and don't leave valuables in the car, what is there to steal? (Gas excepted, of course).

6. Have you done your due diligence by reviewing local police records? Your accusation that the rental agency itself is complicit in a siphoning scheme would be supported if its cars were reported as the subjects of similar crime at a much higher rate than the others. It is equally possible that your gas was not siphoned, but merely that you drove more than you thought you did - miles to km, gallons to litres, and all that. Vehicles on the island seem to me to be not especially efficient. Nor does it appear you have any specific evidence that anyone on Bonaire was responsible for the attempted fraudulent charge on your AMEX. Certainly you have used your AMEX lots of places other than in Bonaire...

And most importantly, I have NEVER been mugged at a depth of 5m or greater. Although a gang of barracuda did give me a menacing look once...

I think it is of value to hear both the good AND the bad about Bonaire, but to blow either extreme out of proportion gives casual observers (who might one day experience Bonaire themselves) the wrong impression.

...End of Counter-Rant.

-LS

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker on Thursday, August 1, 2002 - 5:16 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Mimi???

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sarah on Thursday, August 1, 2002 - 5:28 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

My memory has been jogged here. As I said above, we've always rented from Budget without a problem, BUT.. On the day we did our Ladanias Leap to Karpata snorkel, we left the car with plenty of fuel in it, this is something I often check, as there aren't many gas stations on the island, when we started up to leave, the fuel light came on! How strange, we thought, the car had plenty of fuel in it when we arrived, we had only just filled up at Lisa Gas a couple of days before, and we don't really drive around the island that much. But then we thought, how can this be as the fuel tank is locked? We didn't see fuwl under the car either. A mystery indeed. BUT, we'll be back in 4 months!...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde Lee on Thursday, August 1, 2002 - 6:11 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

a thought on the credit card charge, that wasn't yours. when we were there, almost 99% of the places you use a charge card DO NOT blank out the credit card numbers. So if you throw your reciept away, your number is on it and if someone picks up the reciept, they can charge your card. We had actually been warned about this prior to our trip, and made sure that we kept our receipts and destroyed them. John, maybe someone grabbed a receipt.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker on Thursday, August 1, 2002 - 9:44 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Also, be certain to destroy the original "swipe" imprint of your card IF you use cash or travelers checks when you turn the vehicle in at the end of your trip. They have always given it back to me to destroy, but some other places, other than Bonaire, have not done so. This leaves the merchant with a blank check, so to speak, if you pay by another form/method other than the card they "swiped" thru the machine initially. I have always demanded the "carbons" on all card transactions, too, for decades. One gas station on the NY Thruway gave me a hard time and I called the State Police to the scene....he eventually "surrendered" the carbons to me in the presence of the Trooper! If someone wants to "steal" your card info, it is very, very easy to do so just screen all charges very carefully with each statement coming in. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Leif S on Friday, August 2, 2002 - 10:27 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Carole:

No, let's not have another episode like in the last days of Mimi... I will not escalate into derision and personal insults. I endeavor to keep both my rants and counter-rants limited to "just the facts"...

John's angst over Budget is spread across at least three different topics already, and on the issues he raised there is room for argument - so I have respectfully not formed any conclusion that he is outright wrong. Just posing questions and pointing out facts lest we rush to judgment...

-LS

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker on Friday, August 2, 2002 - 6:24 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Only teasing you, Leif! I concur. It's peaceful without her, tho, isn't it? I guess I should not even bring it up at all....Ayo. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Saturday, August 3, 2002 - 9:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

From personal, semi-recent experience, when gas is siphoned from a gas tank, the incision is made in the section just below the gas cap, under the car, above the fuel level of the gas tank. If the gas theft is done well, it can be done without leaving a noticable trace (gas puddles everywhere, or even a leaky fill), other than a reduced gas level in the tank. In my case I noticed I had a problem when I went to refill my tank and found a third of the gas was ending up on the ground instead in the tank with the rest of the gas. However, in speaking with the guys at BoCarBon - the repair place I used, which also services all AB Car Rental cars, the more experienced gas thieves can and do siphon off gas without leaving such an obvious problem in its place (or needing a key). It doesn't happen often, though - once or twice a month I was told. Given the number of cars the shop sees and the number of cars on the road, that's minor, I think.

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By joe chandler on Monday, August 5, 2002 - 11:53 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Wife was looking in an octopus den the other day to see if he was home. He was sitting on a rock about a foot above her head watching her do this.

I guess the critter was concerned about all the crime on bonaire.

 


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