Bon bini to Bonaire
To escape the cold temperatures in the Netherlands for a while, a loyal customer, Hanny, went on holiday to Bonaire. Bonaire is located in the Caribbean and is part of the ABC islands. The island enjoys pleasant temperatures all year round, thanks to a refreshing breeze. Below, Hanny shares her experience with renting a car on Bonaire through Alamo.nl.
Picking up the rental car at Bonaire International Airport
"Bonaire is a small island, about twice the size of Texel, with a laid-back and relaxed atmosphere. After a comfortable flight of around 11 hours, with a short stopover in Aruba, we arrived on Bonaire. The airport is small, and after collecting our luggage it's just a short walk to the car rental areas. All rental companies are located together in a kind of pink building. Since we had booked our car via Alamo.nl, we went straight to the Alamo/Enterprise/National desk. We were greeted kindly, and the staff member even knew our name. The car was already waiting for us: a red Kia Sportage, spacious and comfortable. It had a few minor scratches, which is quite common on Bonaire due to the unpaved roads in the national park."
Explorig the island by car to Sorobon, Kralendijk and more…
Sorobon, located on the other side of the island, is a true paradise for windsurfers. There is always a strong breeze, allowing surfers to glide across the crystal-clear-blue water. Even if you don't surf, it's great to watch. The area has a relaxed surf vibe, and you can enjoy lunch with your feet in the sand. Further along the coast, you'll see many paragliders in the sky, taking advantage of the cooling breeze.
Since we had the car at our disposal, we drove via the southern part of the island to our accommodation, just below Kralendijk. Along the way, you pass the yellow slave huts. In the past, enslaved people from Rincon had to walk more than seven hours to work on the salt flats during the week; it's a place that makes you pause for a moment.
The capital, Kralendijk, is a lovely place. Around 22.000 of the island's 24.000 inhabitants live here. You'll find a small centre with charming shops and plenty of places to eat and drink. For example, visit the salsa night on Thursdays at the Cuba Company or have dinner at La Cantina or 't Consulaat. At Karel's by the harbour, you'll often see large cruise ships, and it's also the departure point for the water taxi to Klein Bonaire.
A paradise for diving and snorkelling enthusiasts
Klein Bonaire and Bonaire itself are a true paradise for underwater lovers. Along the coast, there are more than 60 different diving and snorkelling spots. Through small openings in the reef, you can enter the sea and drift comfortably along with the current, passing colourful coral and countless fish. We saw turtles at Thousand Steps, Caribbean surgeonfish, parrotfish, young angelfish, trunkfish, jewel fish, sergeant majors and many more."
Tips for driving on Bonaire
Wil jij ook een auto huren op Bonaire? Hanny raadt aan een (grotere) SUV te reserveren. “Wij hadden bijvoorbeeld een SUV IFAR, een auto zoals een KIA Sportage (of gelijkwaardig). Een uitstekende auto met goede vering is een absolute must gezien de staat van de wegen op Bonaire. De maximumsnelheid is 60 km per uur. Tip: rijd naar en door het avontuurlijke Washington Slagbaai National Park. Het uitzicht onderweg is magisch, maar de weg door het park is onverhard en er liggen stenen. Dat zorgde in ons geval voor een lekke band! Na contact met Alamo brachten we de huurauto de volgende dag naar een lokale garage, waar het voor nog geen 20 dollar werd gerepareerd. Daardoor konden we snel weer op pad en hebben we de rest van de vakantie genoten van het comfort en gemak van een huurauto op Bonaire.”
Are you planning to rent a car on Bonaire? Hanny recommends reserving a (larger) SUV. "We had an IFAR SUV, such as a Kia Sportage (or similar). A comfortable car with good suspension is essential given the condition of the roads on Bonaire. The maximum speed limit is 60 km/h.
Tip: drive to and through the adventurous Washington Slagbaai National Park. The views along the way are incredible, but the roads in the park are unpaved and rocky. In our case, that resulted in a flat tyre! After contacting Alamo, we brought the rental car to a local garage the next day, where it was repaired for less than 20 dollars. After that, we were quickly back on the road and were able to enjoy the comfort and convenience of having a rental car on Bonaire for the rest of our holiday.”
