By Jim Taylor (BonaireTalker - Post #16) on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 2:19 pm: |
AB now charges you the total amount of the rental (not a hold) when you make a reservation on line. For me it was $768 on charged to AX on February 24 and I do not arrive in Bonaire until later this week. The person at AB that answered told me this was a new policy for the protection of AB. It seems like a rip to me. To late to change but I am going to try.
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By shawn thiele (BonaireTalker - Post #97) on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 2:37 pm: |
Hmmm I made a reservation about 2 months ago and they didn't even ask for my credit card and sent me a confirmation.
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By Marcus L. Barnes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #533) on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 2:42 pm: |
I've had reservation with AB for several months now and they haven't requested a credit card from me yet.
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By Jim Taylor (BonaireTalker - Post #17) on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 3:12 pm: |
Apparently the on-line reservations are now pre-pay. You pay 100% of the rental with no refunds and in return get a better rate. However, the rates appear to be the same.
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By Marcus L. Barnes (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #534) on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 3:38 pm: |
They maybe doing that to try and make up from some of the revenue they are losing by people using the AMEX Truck Rental option instead of buying rental insurance from AB. They probably figure at least some customers will be forced to canel along the way and they will get to keep their money. Pure speculation on my part, but it wouldn't surprise me.
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By David Frank (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #410) on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 4:21 pm: |
I would not rent from a company that demands full payment in advance and will not allow cancellation. I suspect this policy will backfire resulting in lost customers.
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By Jeff Stine (BonaireTalker - Post #85) on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 8:59 pm: |
I have rented from AB many times in the past. If they charge the full amount up front, I will rent from someone else. There are too many variables in traveling to Bonaire to do otherwise. Of course, I might be wrong.
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By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3036) on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 10:12 am: |
I believe the same holds true if you rent online with Budget.
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By ton van berge henegouwen (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 10:17 am: |
My name is Ton van Berge Henegouwen and I'am the owner of AB Carrental.
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By Bev Delarue (BonaireTalker - Post #52) on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 8:48 pm: |
I used AB in Feb and had no problems at all and would use them again in a heartbeat.
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By Jeff Stine (BonaireTalker - Post #86) on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 9:38 pm: |
Thanks for clarifying things Ton. That is what makes this site great; I appreciate you setting the record straight. As I said, I have rented from AB many times and have had not problems; in fact they were quite reasonable to work with when we were delayed in Jamaica and then delayed in leaving because of a hurricane. Jeff
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By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5795) on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 10:26 pm: |
For those put out by a non-refundable prepayment in exchange for a lower rate, I should point out that a number of U.S. hotel sites (Marriott for example, when I was booking a room for NYC last night), do a similar thing. If you're sure about your stay, you can save a bundle by prepaying, but you risk losing the money if you cannot use the booking for some reason down the road. For that reason, I usually am willing to pay more because I can cancel without penalty (or a smaller penalty). But I know others who love the bargains prepayment can offer.
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By shawn thiele (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #104) on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 10:29 pm: |
aye, i learned this the hard way with airline tickets. It's better to pay that extra just in case the unforseen happens.
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By seb (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2662) on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 9:01 am: |
Jake, I'm going to ask Ton to clarify this, but from reading his unmoderated posting, I believe that the prepayment online option actually costs MORE than e mailing AB and avoiding the website.
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By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5796) on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 9:18 am: |
In the numbers you guys took out of Ton's post, the prepay amount included the daily CDW fee, while the e-mail booking amount (which was about the same amount) did not. So, if you'd do the CDW anyhow, then the prepay would save you a fair amount of money.
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By seb (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2667) on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 9:49 am: |
OK, thanks guy, I didn't get a good look at it.
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By Rashley Bayne (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 12:48 pm: |
In researching car
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By Ton - AB Carrental (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 2:43 pm: |
We also learned from the BT comments.
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By Renee Thomas (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Thursday, March 9, 2006 - 11:13 am: |
I thought this "Bonaire talk" session would be the appropriate place for my comments/concerns regarding vehicle rental. We will be diving Bonaire in late May and I literally have spent hours on the internet researching hotels, diving, and transportation. I am very disappointed at the number of warnings I have read regarding "break-ins" that occur to rental vehicles parked at shore-dive locations. How sad that Bonaire is the "shore-diving capital of the world" and that we are considering only boat diving! With respect to rental vehicles, I have read warnings to "lock" your vehicle and I have read warnings to "leave the windows open and use the car rental security system." I am now very confused. If we choose to rent a truck (as most shore-divers tend to do), there is nowhere to leave anything out of sight (such as the trunk of a car). Also, I read that someone experienced damage to a rental car as a result of a break-in and they were responsible to pay for this damage because the insurance would not cover that particular type of damage (what type of damage would that be?!). I would like to know (and maybe Ton could reply since he knows all the "ins and outs" about the rental business) how safe it is to rent a vehicle, should one leave the windows open or lock the vehicle, and what type of insurance is needed to cover "everything" that could happen! If we choose to rent a vehicle, I would at least like peace of mind about it! Thank you in advance to anyone who is willing to address this issue.
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By Randy P (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #436) on Thursday, March 9, 2006 - 11:24 am: |
Hi Renee,
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By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3050) on Thursday, March 9, 2006 - 11:35 am: |
Hi Renee, I just got from Bonaire and was there for three weeks. I do own my own truck, and I experienced no damage/theft at all during that time. I do keep all my windows rolled down, and leave nothing in my truck of any value just in case, this trip, we did leave a water bottle and old towel in truck. All was there when we returned. Been going for over 12 years and I guess we have been very lucky and hope it continues. That said, in answer to your question about insurance. A/B offers CDW and FULL insurance. Not all rental agencies offer FULL, but since you researched it, you probably already know this. If you get just CDW, you are not covered for any damage caused by theft to your vehicle. If you have the FULL, you would be. Every rental agency has an insurance page on their website which states what it covers. I would suggest getting CDW with FULL insurance for the most coverage. Maybe Ton will read this too and elaborate more on this. It's always a roll of the dice when vacationing anywhere and there isn't a 100% guarantee that damage won't occur to your rental even if you don't shore dive. It can happen anywhere, so don't let that keep you from enjoyed all the freedom of shore diving Bonaire has to offer.
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By Renee Thomas (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Thursday, March 9, 2006 - 11:52 am: |
Thank you Randy and Debbie for the quick replies. They provide useful information. I will check back this evening for more posts.
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By Grasshopper (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #17294) on Thursday, March 9, 2006 - 1:19 pm: |
Renee, it really isn't that big of a deal to not leave anything in the vehicle. The island is small so you are not far away from your accommodations (unless you go through the Wash Park up North). I leave an old towel, cheap flip flops in site, and I slip my little bag of ear drops and mask defogger under the driver seat. I have water bottles for rinsing afterward in the back bed of the truck. I have a waterproof pouch I put some guilders and a credit card. I slip my script sunglasses in a cloth case in my BC along with the car keys. When you shore dive on Bon, you just learn to "travel light" which is actually more relaxing as you don't have a lot of "stuff" to carry around. Less is more...
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By Ton - AB Carrental (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Thursday, March 9, 2006 - 4:23 pm: |
Renee, please feel free to take a look at our insurance matrix, you will find this at: www.ABcarrental.com / insurance
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By Greg Kiyoi (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Thursday, March 9, 2006 - 7:14 pm: |
Ton - I have sent two requests to info@abcarrental.com for price quotes, availability and how to book once I receive the information and have not heard back.
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By Ton - AB Carrental (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Thursday, March 9, 2006 - 8:17 pm: |
Hi Gregory,
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By Renee Thomas (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Thursday, March 9, 2006 - 11:39 pm: |
Thank you, Ton and Grasshopper for additional advice. It sounds like we just need to "pack some common sense" (and pack light!) and get plenty of insurance!
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By Greg Kiyoi (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 12:46 pm: |
I appreciate the "personal attention" Ton provided in sorting out my car inquiry.
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By Jim Taylor (BonaireTalker - Post #22) on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 12:07 pm: |
Since I started this thread you may be interested in the results. All went great with the service and no surprises (except the origional complaint for prepay). I had a nice car for three weeks and returned it early Wednesday morning to the AB location at the airport. They did put a $500 HOLD on my card in addition to the prepay amount of $678 for insurance coverage but that was expected. They seemed to have a newer fleet of cars and were easy to deal with.
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By Professor Tribs (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2430) on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 3:01 pm: |
Hi Ton! Since you asked...is there any way you can put on your website a section so that clients can check/change their reservations? I had to extend mine and did it via email, but now I don't have the confirmation page with the new cost. I've kept the old confirmation with the rate etc, and will have the printed out email to confirm that you extended my reservation, so I am not worried. It would just be nice to have that new information on a confirmation page.
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By Ton - AB Carrental (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 3:37 pm: |
Hi Professor,
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