We arrived to Bonaire last night. Smooth flight from Chicago to Puerto Rico, met our friend Victor for lunch, smooth flight to Bonaire on American Eagle after that.

The condo at Den Laman is exactly was we expected and we settled in.

Had our orientation and first dive, and we are off to begin enjoying the island.

The only turn off so far is Total, the car rental company. First we were given a car without a functioning seat belt on the driver's, then a car with an a/c unit that did not provide any cooling but shook the car so violently that the rear view mirror became blurry, and then we were given a car with a deflated tire. The car we have now is also problematic: the seat belts are very difficult to unbuckle as they get stuck in the latch position.

Car issues have cost us two dives already and I am quite a bit annoyed.

Each car we had from Total thus far has over 52,000 miles on the odometer. This may be the root of the problems and I am not sure if there is a fix, really.

are you sure it is 52,000 MILES? it is probably kilometers. there are no seat belt regulations here .. if it's your personal safety you are concerned about.. then continue your issue with the seat belts .. for me .. rack it up to an adventure and don't let it stop your diving .. it really isn't of a major importance here ...its the tropics .. chill out and RELAX!!!!!!

Pietri..Americans have been completely conditioned to ALWAYS use seat belts. Most states have "click it or ticket" rules firmly in place. But as we're all aware of, it ain't the US! I completely understand Leo's annoyance.

Leo, the only suggestion I would give is to try & take it in stride if you're only down for a week & if they do not provide you with an adequate vehicle to not use them again in the future. Really, that's about all you can do. Enjoy your vacation & really try not to get too stressed out over it. And believe it or not, after awhile you'll probably even get used to it.

That's it guys. I am taking it in stride but this is a problem. It's the safety that concerns me not the rules.

I am driving an old, rusty truck without reliable seat belts and without an airbag. What annoys me, is the fact that someone promised me a safe and comfortable vehicle, took my money for it, and delivered none.

Pietri, I stand corrected: it's 52,000 km.

I agree fully with Leo. Seat belts may not be a legal issue but they are a safety issue. They are an absolutely proven way to prevent major injury and death. Rental cars/trucks on Bonaire vary enormously in their condition. I've previously rented trucks that should have been "junked" (as Leo did this year). I paid for a truck that should have been in new or at least almost new condition and that's not what I got. I resent that we pay premium prices and frequently get junk trucks. Worse yet that the rental agencies check over each truck as if they were brand new and if they find any little damage you end up paying dearly; in spite of the fact the smaller damages do not get repaired!
I will say that in recent years the trucks are in better shape but still there are some real worn out trucks being rented out for top dollar.
It's just not right IMHO.

PS. Forgot to write in previous message that right now I have a truck with a drivers seat that can not be moved. The agency did tell me to come down to their office and they would repair it but I'm here to dive so I struggle to reach the pedals.

Carter, I agree with what you are saying. I found it infuriating that the ladies at the Total office were aware of the shortcoming of each car, every time I brought the junk back.

My last two surface intervals were trips to the Total office for a car replacement!

At least if there was a good dive site next to the Total office...

-leo

W...O...W...

It could be worse...your mom could die while you are on vacation...in the Caribbean no less...and it's not because of the dang seatbelt...

W...O...W...also, a little bit of honey gets more than a little bit of vinegar...in other words...a smile goes a long way.

all I can say is that most of the cars on island are rusty, old, delapidated, and well...old. Drive safe, take care, and you will be fine. You are NOT in a big city. If that is the worst of your problems...well...take a pill...sorry, but life is too short to ruin your vacation over this. I've had car rental problems in the past and Bonaire is a S...M...A...L...L... caribbean island. If you want fancy cars and all the perks...well...maybe Bonaire ain't for you. It's all part of the "experience."

Sorry, but that's the way I sees it...

(Message edited by cyndelee on July 31, 2008)

52,000km???? How old must the thing be? On an island that's only about 100 square miles, it must take a very long time to clock up that mileage!

I use AB Car Rental, who usually supply vehicles in fairly good condition (although the downside of this is that they examine them microscopically for the smallest sign of damage on return).

We go to Greece quite a lot, and the contrast with car rental there couldn't be greater. In most Greek islands, the rental companies accept that the odd minor scratch is inevitable and just shrug their shoulders!

The seat belts would probably work if all the wet salty divers rinsed off the salt then dried themselves and changed into dry cloths before hoping back in the truck they rented. Instead they chose to hop in the rental in their wet salty wet suit and drive away trashing the truck.

*** Pietri, is your car a blue mazda pickup with over 60,000 km that you got from Total? If so, this is the first car they pushed on us.

*** Boat chick: I was all smiles the first time. After the 2nd and the 3rd car, when I found out that Total knew, beforehand, about the car issues, I stopped smiling. You smile in good faith. When you are being patently deceived, why would you smile?

I don't want a fancy car. I want a car with minimum safety standards (i.e., functioning seat belts) and basic comfort (i.e., a working a/c). Do you consider those to be the requirements of a fancy car?

As divers we learn about all sorts of precautions, safety checks, rules, etc. We know that most of them are ultraconservative, yet we respect them. But at the same time you want me to think that a car with seat belts and properly inflated tires is a fancy car?

Just to give you an analogy: Would you go diving with a cylinder that is corroding in the inside, or do you prefer one of those fancy clean ones? Would you go diving with a free-flowing regulator or do you prefer a fancy one that doesn't free-flow? Would you go diving with a BCD that lacks half its straps or do you prefer a fancy one that has all its straps in tact? Would you start a dive with a half-empty cylinder or do you prefer a fancy one that is full?

*** Peter, when deciding where to stay in Bonaire it came down to a choice between Den Laman and Buddy's. I would have gone to Buddy's if they could guarantee me an apartment that had a/c in the bedroom. They couldn't, so we chose Den Laman's (which is a very nice choice btw). Buddy's on the other hand, has a fleet of great looking vehicles that look in much much better condition than anything I've seen on Total's lot.

As you pointed out, 52,000 km on a small island with rough roads is quite a trial for any car. Add to that the humidity in the air and the salt water that divers bring to the car. Every Total car was painted to mask, unsuccessfully, the rust. Not that I mind rust on a car's skin. It's the rust on the vehicle's structural elements, and the corresponding metal fatigue, that concerns me.

Walt, you are right. But that's an issue for Total and the other rental companies to address. By pushing unsafe cars to customers, the problem doesn't go ago. It becomes worst. Because one day the rusting arrestors of those belts will fail and someone will get hurt.

Anyone here who wants to get hurt because other divers may be inconsiderate or because Total does a poor maintenance on their vehicles? Anyone?

Also consider the practical problems: where exactly could one rinse between two shore dives? Are there any showers and rinse tanks at 1000 Steps that we've missed?

No. Rinsing after a shore dive is not the issue. Taking a towel with you, taking off your wetsuit, and putting on a dry tshirt and dry swimtrunks right before you get in the car may be the proper thing to do.

Please..most of the agencies have clean, newer vehicles and that is one of the issues that had to be addressed (age of their fleet) in order for them to maintain a presence at the airport..most who left took issue with that requirement. So, the majority of the cars on the island are NOT rusted hulks. The locals, taxi drivers, etc take pride in their cars. FYI, the folks who run Den Laman also run Total..If it were up to me, you can tell them to keep the car and rent another one from one of the agencies that has a newer fleet. I do agree, seat belts do save lives and if I am not mistaken, there is a law that is in the works here to make them mandatory. Curacao and Aruba do have it and in the interest of safety, it should also be passed here. As for agencies who do not have working seat belts in their vehicles, I would say they run a huge risk.

Wow, I'm so sorry to hear about your problems with Total and the cars! I guess we were very lucky to get a newer Mazda truck with only 8,000Km on it and in excellent condition. I hope you get this resolved soon, I agree that getting a rattle trap isn't acceptable.

A little perspective here.

Top speed in US: 65 MPH; Top speed in Bonaire: 60 KPH. Or about 42 MPH. General speed in Bonaire: 40 KPH, or about 25 MPH. Super highways in Bonaire: none. Traffic lights in Bonaire: none. If you are driving defensively, within the speed limit, and there are no donkeys to watch out for anymore...

Yes, a working vehicle with working seat belts would be nice, but I agree with Michael, if they cannot give you what you want, go to the next vendor, and if Total gives you grief take it up with your cc company. Don't forget to stay pleasant, but take names.

***Top speed in Bonaire: 60 KPH. Or about 42 MPH****

Seb.. i know you're referring to POSTED speed limits. However in the real world they are much much higher. Try walking along EEG or Van Eps some morning. I've seen vehicles at least do 65 - 70 MPH.

Really, I'm with Leo on this one. When I rent a vehicle, I want everything to work. His analogy with scuba equipment I believe is a valid one. I think that a vehicle in a good, safe working order (and I do mean no worn tires) is the least we should all ask for.

The rental agency I use is located right at the airport & I've always had good vehicles from them with only 1 exception.. I then complained & they gave me another in much better shape.

So as they say, in this arena, caveat emptor.

Mike: thanks for the info. The disrepair of Total's cars is quite noticeable by comparison to other rental vehicles on the island. And you've added to the puzzle: the owner of Den Laman went into such effort to build a nice property and went cheapo on the car rental business?

Seb, you may want to add the following dimension to the perspective you are offering: the minimum impact speed for traumatic brain swelling is well below 40 k/h. The minimum impact speed for skull fractions is also well below 40 k/h. The minimum impact speed for passenger ejection is also well below 40 k/h.

On to more positive stuff: we are on surface interval following the dive at 10,000 steps (you may know it as 1000 steps). It was worth every step down and every step up.

Rich aquatic life, fellow divers passing by saying hello (or was that an "out of air" signal for help?), a parrot fish taking a dump in front of your mask, the works.

Thanks for the chuckle Leo.... out of air signal. LOL!

Ive rented from three outfits in bonaire , so far they have all been wrecks , OK for throwing dive gear around but no safety features and lots of non working accessories . It is a catch 22 for if I owned a fleet of new trucks I wouldn't want salty divers and gear breaking trucks in .
The vehicle rental business is a cash cow for the large companies in bonaire .
The best protest is to complain to head offices declaring you will never use their company again if this is the way their logo is represented in small countries .
My next trial will be one of the small owner operator companies in bonaire . They get few complaints on this forum as compared to the franchise agencies .

Lloyd,

How can you make a blanket statement that the vehicle rental business is a "cash cow" on Bonaire?

Are you privey to the Profit and Loss statements for these companies? You have no idea how much their costs and operating expenses are.

I think it is unfair to the hard working owners of those businesses to imply that they are just rolling in the bucks.

I know it seems that, from an outsider, their revenue exceeds their expenses, but without detailed knowledge of their books, it really can be deceiving.....

From my own encounters and storys on this forum , they charge me 120 for a scratch on a truck that was allready scratched and dented . Who needs accountants , each one of those dents and scratches adds up to a lot of dough.

Payroll
Rent
Liability Insurance
Advertising
Workman's Unemployment Insurance
Worker's Injury Insurance
Employee taxes
Employee healthcare
Taxes
Licensing
CAM expenses
Credit Card Expenses
Depreciation
Debt expenses
Professional Fees (accountant, lawyer, etc)

Not to mention maintenance on the vehicles that would eventually HAVE to be done that isn't covered by CDW:
Tires
brakes
exhaust
wheel bearings
starters
alternators
batteries
axles
oil changes
radiators
differentials
u-joints
shocks
struts
springs
a/c recharge
etc....

In all fairness, Lloyd, you have no idea how much these expenses are. Nor do I. But I know what they are in the States, and I can almost guarantee you that they are much greater on Bonaire.

Regardless of the perception, I think it would take a lot of $120 scratches to make these businesses into cash cows.

I just returned from a shore dive at the WindJammer and rinsed my gear and myself, dried myself and changed back into dry shorts to drive back to the shop. I do this after every dive I do. Almost every dive I do is a shore dive. A couple of 2 liter bottles and a towel is all that is required to make it happen.

The first 2 trucks I owned down here didn’t even have seat belts let alone working ones.

40 kph = 24.85485 mph

60 kph = 37.28227 mph

Best way to not need your seat belt - pay attention to where you are going and what others around you are doing. Worked for me for the last 30 years I haven’t traded paint with anyone.

If you want the car rental agency to have perfect trucks for rent that is easy for them to do. All they have to do is outlaw diving from them and not allow renters to drive on roads that are not paved. Just because the seat belt does not work does not mean the truck is not safe. If it had bald ties and brakes that did not work that would be unsafe.

Oh and the guys diving with me had a truck from Total and it looked just fine. They didn’t complain about anything.

When Ma passed the seatbelt law many yeras ago, that is when I started wearing one. If I do not wear one, I feel naked. I also like how it keeps me still in the seat, and gives me a sense of security. It's everyones personal preference.
In fact if most of the rental companies actually maintained their fleets as mentioned above, Leo would not have reported what he did. I will not drive a truck with bald tires and non working seatbelts, bad brakes, alignment issues, vibration problems etc. Because of that, I am willing to pay more.

my car is a beautiful 96 nissan 4-door with over 150.000 kms. previous owners "customized" by cutting out the seat belts. the name is BARBIE as i covered the rust with pink and purple enamel paint. on the road, i am recognized by all .. even waves from the polis. barbie runs like a dream. i'm with walt.....been driving here for over 30 years without an incident.. just be sensible. just take a notice when you are out and about .. the majority of locally owned cars are "vintage" and we take delight in our customizing. Do you have any idea of what the cost of maintaining a car here is? and we don't even address keeping ahead of the rust on this salt mist island ..i even had a stove fall apart from rust when i lived near the seaside... the cost of a replacement part -if available- then special ordered and especially shipped- is out of sight. let's start with the over $$$ 200.00 per year just for the plates then in addition the required insurance. I wonder also .. if the rental companies keep updating their fleet. the rental costs will certainly go up .. to import new cars the cost is astronomical and then.. what does bonaire do with all the "old" ones???

They sell them to locals. I had a rental truck recalled on my last trip because the agency had sold it. The rental agency gave me a better one to replace the one they took from me to sell to the person.

I've rented from Avis the last 8 times I've been down there and have nothing but good things to say about them. We even lost our keys at the Land Sailing place and Avis came out, gave us a new truck and didn't charge us a dime (the keys were eventually found.) We will be down next weekend and renting from Avis for the 9th time for 2 weeks and expecting great things (cross fingers, toes, arms etc.)

Keith

Wait, wait, it gets better.

During the surface interval between the 100,000 Steps and Witches Hut, I was told that Total has a "nice, upgraded" car for me. So I drove to total (3 time in 3 days) to get my 4th car, a Chevrolet S10.

This beauty has 32,000 km on it so it's brand new by comparison, right?

Well, the seat levers are missing, i.e., you cannot adjust your seat. Well, what the heck, I don't really need to reach all the way down with the clutch now, do I? So I take a deep breath, smile at the nonchalant ladies at Total, and drive away.

The moment I make a tight turn, I can hear the truck's CV books going crack-crack-crack... Great. At least I hope it's the CV boots and not the CV joint.

We are taking it in stride with my wife, wondering what's the next piece of junk that Total will push on us between our dives.

I am off to dive Bari again. Please stay tuned for the next surface interval and what junk Total might bring this time.

PS: Mike, we stopped by the store on our way to the Hut, to show you the "upgraded" piece of junk but you were out to lunch.

Rent-a-wreck is fine as long as the cost is discounted to reflect the state of the vehicle.

Paying primo $$ for a P.O.S. is not a reasonable customer accommodation IMHO.

There is nothing wrong with demanding a functioning, safe vehicle from the rental company. If that takes 5 tries then that's what it takes and vote with your wallet next time.

Perhaps you can turn it in to Total early and get a rental from another outfit?

We just returned from Bonaire - Stayed at Den Laman and used Total.

In general, I have zero positive comments regarding Total.

I will leave it at that!

Leo,
How about throwing some dive reports in with the rental stuff?
Thanks, Skip

Skip, we did the Hut around noon under a bit overcast skies. It affected the visibility a bit but it was spectacular. Plenty of parrot fish, and quite a few tiny shrimpies -- to be identified -- when we got closer to the wall.

Water at 100,000 Steps and at the Hut was notably cooler than Bari, but not uncomfortable at all.

We just finished our afternoon dive at Bari. We splashed at 1630 to catch the light from the west and the commuting activity and boy did we see commuters. My wife spotted a ray flying under us and it was quite spectacular (a bit heart racing too). Coming up at about 35ft we watched some parrot fish feeding frenzy. Visibility was great while the sun was out but we got intermittent clouds . It was ok though because it was our cue to get a bit closer to the wall and check out the little guys.

We are heading to Casablanca for dinner in our 5th Total car!

LOL....100.000 steps

FYI, CV boots do not make noise but CV joints can.

Leo..Something tells me that the folks at Total will be glad when your vacation is over.

Greg, all the more reason then for Total to hire a car mechanic.

Vince, they'll be on the tarmak at Flamingo, ensuring that I step onboard the ATR and that the flight takes off. Then they'll sacrifice and feast on a goat which will be duly roasted on a pyre that will be lit in the flatbed of the first truck they gave me. Then they'll rent the same truck to the first unsuspected diver who'll walk into their office.

Thanks Leo,
I appeciate your report (more please).
Sorry for all your rental problems.
Skip

How many of you wash and wax your truck before you take it back to the rental office? We clean our rental up so that it will be turned in clean (as clean as we can get it). We've rented from AB Rentals and have only had minor problems--we've never had to pay for damage. In fact, the last two times we were in Bonaire, we had the same rental--we knew by the license plate.

We sweep out the excess sand and leave the rest to them. That's their department.

We use AB and have not had a problem about damages. I rely on the Amex premium insurance, and they can go fight it out amongst themselves if there is a problem. Which there has not been.

A friend of mine lent me his car, once. I had the car washed before taking it back. As a costumer, I would never wash a car for a rental company or wash the dishes for a restaurant. It`s already include in the bill.

I use Telerin because of Poppy. She is just an awesome lady who runs a great operation. She is always there for me waiting, and we are off. She meets me at the airport at departure, looks everything over, and we are off. This trip she told me she is giving me a Deer Great Wall. I did a search, see they are made in China, and are pretty good trucks.

Poppy is awesome. The truck she rented us was not new and fancy ... which suited us just fine, since we didn't have to worry about it as much. The seatbelts worked. The seats moved forward or backward. The AC worked great. And her customer service exceeded our expectations.

Buddy Dive has all new rental vehicles this year. Our little green double-cab pickup was scratched a bit down the sides by people taking it into the park, but the air was great, everything worked, it was clean and nice. I'm sure they made a huge investment to buy a completely new fleet of vehicles, but they are very nice.

Marcio, it depends on how dirty you leave it. Charges for returning a vehicle excessively dirty are quite common in my experience. A wash and wax is over the top, however.

I bet you're not a costumer either. Though you are from Brazil...

Hi Seb! OK, your opinion makes sense. We have a point here.
You are right again! I will rent my first "bonarian" truck next month, that´s why i got interested in this subject and in many others.
I just didn`t understand the relationship between being or not a costumer of a car rental in Bonaire and where i am from...it was funny indeed.
Any way, i won`t wash my truck! But i promise not leave it too dirty. Deal?

Car rental agencies have their own costumers now? Awesome. I bet "Pirate" is the best seller; how trite. It would be funnier to see a Donkey driving down the road - like maybe he escaped from the Sanctuary. Or maybe a goat driving by Maiky Snack, giving the Evil Eye. Heh.

OK guys, you got me. Forgive me for my misspelling and thanks for your sense of humor.

Marcio, you should try to read their Portuguese....

Boat Chick,
with all due respect........ no, the writer did not lose his mother while on vacation like you did. What you went through was tragic and incomprehensible.I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. Not having seat belts can be a problem, though. Maybe this person could get into an accident, and have his loved one killed. On Bonaire, the roads are not always the best. What would happen if you had to swerve to avoid someone or something? And what happened if the truck then rolled over? Would you want to be ejected from a vehicle? Paralyzed, maimed, killed?
I was an ED trauma nurse for more than 27 years, and I have seen all of those scenarios. Seat belts are not an option. They are a necessity. Just because you are on a beautiful island with beautiful people doesn't mean you can't get hurt. Personally, I don't care if the truck I'm renting is not brand new. But I want it safe. I want good brakes, I want seatbelts, and I want air conditioning. Renting cars on Bonaire is not cheap. As a customer, one deserves to be treated fairly, and not given a piece of unsafe junk.
And to assume the person wasn't nice to the Total staff is just ridiculous. Maybe they did smile. Maybe some people, including Bonaire business owners are trying to get over on other people. I am just very happy to say that I haven't had bad the experiences others have had, but don't minimize their experience because yours was more tragic. I have said this before, people use this site for their own agenda/therapy, etc. People need to keep their personal issues to themselves, unless it can help another person. If it can't, well then, that's what therapists are for.

Seb, Marcio and CB thanks for making me giggle!

Lisa I think Boat Chick was making a point of not taking the little things to seriously and to enjoy the day. I can't speak for her but I believe that she takes each day with a smile and lets lots of stuff just roll off her back...Leo's post sounded angry and honestly I wouldn't have wasted so much time of my precious vacation worrying about the truck.

On another note I do wear seat belts everytime I get in any vehicle here in the states. While on Bonaire I only made sure my kids were safely strapped in and went without a seat belt because it was rusted and unable to secure properly.

And the fun continues...

The last car Total gave us had no working reverse. I gave up. I drove it to the places where we wanted to dive, and parked in on an incline to get gravity to do what its gear box could not.

As my first trip to Bonaire comes to an end (we're flying home tomorrow, Tuesday), I can summarize my impressions as follows:

- Diving: spectacular and easy (will provide reports and photos upon our return);
- Lodging at Den Laman: very nice, clean, spacious, condos (at least the YellowTail room where we stayed; will provide report upon return);
- Dining: some ok, some terrible (more will follow).
- Bonaire Dive and Adventure dive shop: laid back and friendly. Their retail store has quite decent prices. You need to be careful with air tanks though. About 15-20% of the tanks we had were filled to 2500 PSI. There is a pressure gauge at their loading bay to use but there is no such at the dock side; use your regulator and gauge to ensure that you have enough air.
Fish Eye photo store: a show case for professionalism (I'll write more upon return).

What to avoid:

Total rental, unless you are fine driving cars without functioning seat belts, reverse gear, etc.

The Sunset restaurant at Den Laman (formerly known as the Reef, it re-opened under new management and name on 8/1). Any restaurant that claims to serve the freshest food available on Bonaire but lists salmon as its first entree, is a joke. When it takes 40 minutes to get a glass of wine to the table, then it's a bad joke.

(Message edited by lgreco on August 4, 2008)

(Message edited by lgreco on August 4, 2008)

Beg to differ with you re salmon..I buy whole filets of fresh salmon (3-5 lbs that is flown in weekly from Henk at TESORO at least once a month. I guarantee it is fresh from the price I have to pay!

Michael, That's good to know, as I would not order salmon in the past. The only thing is, I can tell fresh salmon from frozen once it is cooked. You'll have to tell me where you get it, so I can purchase some next year.

I am going back to Bonaire on 9/12. I can't wait. To me, everything is better on Bonaire. Even the problems or troubles. I'd rather have car trouble there, I'd rather have a bad meal there, I'd rather break my leg there. Why... Because at least I'm there. I go for the adventure, the unknown, the what will happen next. It’s like camping without the tent. J

If I want a perfect choreographed vacation... I’d go on a cruse.

I must qualify... I have never had a bad experience while there. I have no complaints other then the fact I am not there often enough.

Just my 2 cents, take it for what it’s worth...

We’ve got thunder storms and tornados in Northern Illinois tonight... I’d rather be on Bonaire drinking Brights.

I have to agree with everything being better on Bonaire. If we had a problem I can't remember it. The diving was so great, people nice & food good it over powered any negative. We leave in 18 days, are almost packed. The weather in Houston is not so great tonight either, watching to see what storm is going to do. Wish I was on Bonaire!

RA, it's very possible that Boat Chick was just trying to say not to take things so seriously, but I was always taught not to blow out someone else's candle just to make yours burn brighter.
Leo, sorry for your lousy experience with Total. I guess at this point you will have to chalk it up to experience. But I agree with you. You should get what you pay for, not what someone wants to dump on you.
Again, I'm very lucky. Only once did we get a truck with bad brakes, but the car rental people switched it right away.

Lisa, using a metaphor for saying something nasty still emits nastiness. Perhaps you should lighten up.

From this post and the other one Leo wrote makes me think Bonaire is not his kind of place.

I'm all about enjoying life and don't understand people who put a negative spin on everything. Peace.

I'm wit chu R.A. Two posts and neither very happy (but clearly stated) Under a month away till Bonaire, and I'm bout lighter than air.
Brang on the difficulties...I shall prevail
for I am

VACATIONMAN!!!!!

joe

Lisa, it's obvious by your posts here, and in the past, that you don't care for me, so be it, can't be friends with everyone. I was not making so much light of the seatbelt issue, I was trying to make a point that focusing on the sucky things in life that are transient in nature are a waste of good energy. I was not assuming Leo was not nice to the staff, however, in general, I have found that if you are rude to someone employed, particularly in a foreign country, you generally get now where, or are worse off. I was not minimizing his experience, nor was I trying to blow out someone's candle to make mine shine brighter. You do not know me, you have never met me, and I have never had any email exchanges with you. If that is your perception of me, so be it, but you are 100% off the mark. And your quote (which you have posted before)

---

quote:

I have said this before, people use this site for their own agenda/therapy, etc. People need to keep their personal issues to themselves, unless it can help another person. If it can't, well then, that's what therapists are for.

---

Interesting analogy Liza, since a candle is a flame.

I can only assume that Leo had a prepaid or included rental.

I think it is likely that if you get an awful car from a vendor, that it's the best they have at that time, unless someone is saving one for their mom. Until and unless they get a better vehicle back that is rented out, all they can do if you demand another car is give you an even worse piece of crap.

If they do not have any decent cars available soon, find out if another operator has a car you find suitable, call your credit card company, and explain the situation. You can even do that from Total and hand the phone over to the counterperson.

Moreover, you can do all this and remain calm and mildly amused. Then everyone would be happier. You'll be remembered as that nice, classy guy who was concerned about seat belts.

My new Bonaire Career move - seatbelt replacement.

I've been on BON more than once when there was NO rolling stock available for hire.

At least the O.P. didn't get tailgate grease on the wet suit - now THAT would be an issue!!

Marcus, bad boy... Although I would hate to see my black wet suit getting dirty with dark grease...

I happened to speak with the mechanic who uh..."did it" when I was getting my truck tailgait fixed one trip...we had a little chuckle He's a really nice guy

Cars are very expensive on Bonaire because of import taxes and transportation costs. Spares are at a premium and some parts have to be imported from Europe.

The salt air is a killer to all things mechanical. Divers park by the sea and the vehicles are left to rot slowly. Everything rusts and seizes up.

Trained mechanics are few and far between, accredited ones with recognised qualifications are practically non existent. Because of the draconian labour laws, Bonaire does not make it attractive for skilled tradesmen to work on the island. If they do decide to go through the red tape, they are only allowed to work for three years before having to relinquish their position. As a result, many garages and hire companies have to rely on self taught mechanics.

There are many reasons why Bonaire is how it is and for me, its many foibles make it endearing.

If you want to drive a shiny new truck, eat McDonald's and be able to find your favourite soft drinks and candy bars in the local stores, I have heard that Mexico is nice.

Leo,
thanks for the report. Sorry about the car troubles. I know if I'm paying for something I'd like it to be in decent working condition. Doesn't have to look pretty but being functional would be nice, ie seat belts. Like you said in the title "minor turnoffs"
Just think if you had said everything was perfect you would have only gotten 10 responses to your post

Scott

Boat Chick,
You are correct, I do not know you. Nor do I dislike you. Nor have I posted bad things about you. It's just that some people have a tendency to downplay other's remarks when they are not complimentary. I think if Leo put a post on this site, maybe it made him feel better and let out a bit of his frustration.
As far as peace,I have quite a bit, and I wish you the same. No hard feelings.

RA, whether Bonaire is my kind of place, I'll leave it up to the facts to speak for themselves. We have already booked our next trip.

To put things in context about the Total car, we went through 5 (five) cars all with serious mechanical problems. If this is not a big issue for you, then hats off to you, your patience, and magnanimity.

In my opinion, the flaws were unacceptable. And I took comfort in discovering other BT members who also had some issues with Total -- perhaps Bonaire is not their kind of place either?

Leo, I hope your second trip proves to be a more positive experience for you.

I have travelled many third world countries and encountered a multitude of problems. But I always enjoyed my trip. Apparently even though your posts came across negative you must have enjoyed your trip also or you wouldn't return.

I'm glad you found solace in knowing others had issues with Total. Perhaps I am more patient than most and would not have let this ruffle my feathers.

Peace to you.

Leo, when are you returning to Bonaire? Will you stay at Den Laman again, or somewhere else this time?

Guess we were lucky to have a newer car from Total...hopefully our luck will hold for our trip next year. ;)

One question for Leo: Was the Total vehicle part of a Den Laman package? If so, on your next trip will you rent outside the package from another vendor? I am planning a trip for a large group to Den Laman and have an interest in your response.

Curious Antony - have YOU ever been to Mexico? My wife (an Irish Cunningham) and I (sorry English) actually met a really nice older Scottish couple one trip in Mexico, great fun talking with them and they loved Tequila!

I have to admit, next to Bonaire reef diving I love going to the Mayan ruins in the middle of the Yucatan in my shinny new car with a big mac and fries....well....nope, just kidding.

Our last trip we used AB, third time in a row. Noticed early on that our tank rack had been put in backwards, so just went to their shop one day and had them fix it, took all of 45 minutes, never even thought to post it in my trip report. Truck had +/-4000km, not a scratch, still smelled new, not like wet dog...I mean diver and (seriously) I do wear my seat belt.

Just had a BLT for lunch, tasty, fun BT reads today!
YUCATANPAT

Divewarm and NoGoSlo:

We'll be back to Bonaire in January. I will definitely stay at Den Laman -- I cannot say enough positive things for the quality of the property. We will not, however, rent a car from Total. We'll do just the condo from DL and go with a third party vendor for the rental.

Pat...I had the same issue with the tank rack. I was told they put them in that way (the correct way) so that if the tailgate falls off the tanks don't fly out the back. I explained to them that by putting them in that way (which is really backwards) the tanks fly forward into the bed of the truck and roll around. They said that is better than having them fall out. I strenuously disagreed and they turned the rack around, but it took a couple of hours to get the mechanic to do it.

RA, by referring to your trips to third-world countries do you imply that Bonaire is such? The cost of lodging and meals alone suggest that Bonaire is far from a 3rd world country.

In some respects Bonaire IS rather 3rd World (lack of sewage treatment comes to mind)also education, opportunity for the locals etc.

It DOES however come at 1st World prices. Not as pricey as many destinations (Wally World included -lol) but by no means "inexpensive".

Strange view on what some consider 3rd World.

Crap, why didn't one of you tell me it was third world before I bought my condo....and I trusted BT for advise.....What till I tell the wife.........

Hey Tribs, good to hear from you, hows life "Off Island"???

Apologies for hijacking a good thread on crappy rental vehicles.

No offense intended by my depiction. I feel the same way about much of Mexico. There really is no "accepted" standard of the "worlds" and lots of grey areas. There is even discussion of adding the term 4th World to indicate countries that have remained agricultural or nomadic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_World

To my uneducated eye there does seem to be a striking and substantial difference in lifestyles between the European residentsm,"Native" Bonarian citizens and certainly the tourists. The term 2nd World used to refer to the Communist countries of the world so it doesn't apply either. Beyond tourism it seems to me that there is little industry to offer the native population a path to great advancement. Crime has in the past on this website often been connected to lack of opportunity for the youth?

I gladly defer to those better in the know but view a slight 3rd World notion of Bonaire to be not entirely incorrect.




(Message edited by chicagorandy on August 6, 2008)

Randy, if lack of sewage treatment, problematic education, and opportunities for the locals are defining criteria for 3rd world classifications, there are quite a few regions in the US that would qualify as 3rd world areas.

The N.A. are not a 3rd world country. Granted, that Bonaire is perhaps the most disadvantaged region in the NA but that's not enough to classify it as a 3rd world country.

"Third World" is a 20th century classification that has outlived its usefulness. The NA were part of the Third World but I believe that that have made substantial economic, social, and political advances and have moved on.

Leo, No, I do not view Bonaire as a third world country, although Bonaire has many qualities of a third world country. And I beg to differ that the term has outlived it's usefulness. I know from your profile you are well travelled and well educated so I'm a bit surprised that you say that, have you spent any time recently in India, Pakistan or Africa? Yes, many cities are teeming with technology, wealth and medical expertise but what about the thousands of small villages that have not made that jump. Trust me, It's very third world, I've seen them first hand.

ANYWAY.....wasn't this about a bad experience you had with Total car rental?

Leo, safe travels wherever they may be and may all your experiences be better than your Total one.

By the way I find this thread extremely interesting since the topic has taken a turn.

RA, it's the term "third world" that has outlived its usefulness. No one suggested that there are no more underdeveloped, impoverished, politically and socially unstable countries in the world. They exist but they are classified according to more precise socio-economic and political indices instead.

Every country, no matter how developed, has its impoverished regions. But when classifying the country, as a whole, you look at the big picture. As such, the N.A. are not part of the third world and I am glad to see that you agree with that. (Which begs the question: what prompted your reference to the 3rd world in a discussion about Bonaire then?).

And yes, this was a discussion about Total's lack of quality service. But it's turning to an interesting thread nonetheless.

Wait a minute....we actually agree on something?

My point of reference to third world countries was, never mind I feel like I'm being drawn into a never ending debate here.

But being me I have to explain..my reference was being that Bonaire has many qualities of a third world country I have experienced many similar circumstances in Bonaire that I have in other countries. Never once has it left me posting negative comments. And quite honestly many of the instances were far worse than having a truck that wasn't up to US standards.

Perhaps I see the world through rose colored glasses and frankly I'm glad I do.

I am assuming you are Greek and I am Italian, are we headed for another great debate? (this is said tongue in cheek)

I think that the politically correct term for those countries that do not match Western standards is the "Developing World".

It depends on how one quantifies developed.

Usually countries and for that matter people, are judged by their financial worth. I look at things a little differently.

Example one. A Friend of mine in England has a pretty good job that earns him around $200,000 a year. He gets up at 5.00am, drives 3 hours to work and returns home at around 9.00pm where he falls asleep in the chair. He has no social life and finds himself keeping up with the neighbours in a race to purchase the latest car or technology. He is stressed, mortgaged to the hilt and is heart attack material.

Example two. A friend on Bonaire lives in a container. He owns it outright and the piece of land it stands on. He works repairing boats. He finishes early afternoon and has a siesta. He knows everyone on the island and they know him. He has a great life, does a little fishing and is always smiling. He is in great shape and looks 10 years younger than his age.

I know who is the richer. More importantly, I know who is the fool and who is the smart guy.

Antony, an important point we can't ignore.

That's it, I'm selling everything, moving to Bonaire, buying a piece of land, putting a container on it and living happily ever after

Boat Chick, can we be neighbors?? I do cook lots of food with garlic and the aroma drifts, can you handle it?

The best cooking starts with olive oil & sauteing garlic! No matter what comes after, it's usually yum yum.

I agree Vince and I suspect we have had many home cooked dishes that are the same

Antony,
Love your examples. Considering what the "First World" and "Second World" have done to poor ol' Mother Earth - I'll take Bonaire any time. Someday I hope retire there & help keep her unique from those first two "worlds."

RA, I love garlic...so ajoining lots it is

Ooooops wrong place, I thought this was a trip report.

Leo, thanks for your report - all of it. Any pics?

Note to self, never mention the two restaurants on Bonaire that you will NEVER return to and don't even hint at the reasons why.

Tom, pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lgreco/200808BT

Leo, thanks for the link to your online photo albums!

I just sent a private message through this board's software.

Off topic (sorry), I just wanted to be polite to Pat. Hi back at ya! Life off island is sad, boring, and diveless. I miss Bonaire. 9 months to go!

I guess we were lucky enough to not have any problems while on the island outside of running out of gas at the entrance to the gas station, no hot water for 3 days and a couple of rude locals.

Was it a 5 star comfort and driving experience. Not even a 3 star. Was it a 5 star experience. You bet it was.

Go dive and be happy and don't trash the island. Leave it in better shape than you found it and so the generations to come can enjoy it as much as you.

Nude locals?????


Did I miss something?

Maybe your bifocals Joe.

I'd have to loose a focal.....I was born before zipcodes, and the superbowl, computers that don't consume a stadium and a buncha other stuff


but after velveeta

alwayscheesy
joe

I love going to Bonaire and not wearing a seatbelt....ahhhh.

Not n u d e locals. r u d e locals. LMO.

Would someone please tell those two areas of interest in the Alantic to go away until after the 22nd. If we can make it to the plane on the 22nd they can do what they want. the call would sound like "Hello Statefarm I am in Bonaire and can not get out. The house has a tree in it and you have a problem."

We are getting our vehicle from Telerin so I guess that is a very good thing.

I have a question after reading some of these posts - I have been told by the dive shop here (we are not going with a dive shop, just on our own)to not leave ANYTHING in your vehicle and to leave them completely open. They said don't even leave clothes in there because they will be taken in hopes of finding money. How can you change into something and get out of your salty, sandy, wet clothes if you shouldn't leave anything in the vehicle?

I am new to this board and I am clueless about Bonaire. I figured it would be just like Curacao so I didn't even worry about studying up. I was very wrong apparently.

Deborah, leaving clothes in the unlocked car presents minimal risk in my opinion (assuming that you are not changing into an Armani suit after the dive).

We left our doors unlocked, windows open, and our clothes and towels in the back seat or on the flat bed. We did not have a problem.

In most dive sites we drove there were other divers coming and going, and my feeling is that as a community we watch out for each other.

Basic clothing gear (swim trunks, t-shirts, shorts etc) are, in my opinion, safe in the unlocked car. Even if they take them away in hope to find money in the pockets, they'll discard them on the road and you may be able to recover most of them.

Deborah, I felt safer on Bonaire than I ever did anywhere (including home). Just use common sense in what you leave in the vehicle. I was told only leave the things you wouldn't mind giving away.

Thank you April and Leo. I rarely lock my doors at night and I leave my purse out just about anywhere so I am kind of oblivious to things. Not a good thing sometimes.

I feel much better now. I was getting almost a little worried. Now it sounds like it will be just fine.

Yay.