YOUR VIEWS

Hire Cars

I empathise with Sandra from Bonaire. Options are to use Resort Hopper or alternatively buy a car. The last hire car I rented was falling to bits and cost me £500 for a week.

Having purchased a BMW pretty cheap, I drove this over from Mainland Spain via the Valencia ferry. With good friends talking me through the ownership, taxation and ITV issues, the car is now safely housed at Park and Fly at Palma Airport until I need it. I can really recommend these people.

I am also reliably informed that a non resident can keep a UK registered car on the island, as long as it is UK legal, taxed, tested and insured.
Working out the hire car costs, payback for me is 2 years and I have an asset at the end of it.
Kindest Regards,

Alan Wheat, Cala Bona and Sheffield

DEAR SIR

Hire Cars

HAVING read the letter from Sandra, Bonaire, this really does need looking into. I wrote to DB last year asking the same question and still do not have an answer. Although we did visit last year and will again this year we have had to find alternative transport.

Although companies are very good and good value for money it means that people like ourselves don't get around as much as we want to! When I say get around I mean that we are not able to visit the eateries that we once would, these mainly being off the main track meaning a car is needed! Some hire deals are available for this time of the year but only if you pay a surcharge for a full tank of fuel, returning the car empty with no discount for half a tank left. If your visit is for just a few days, as a lot of people will do at this time of year that makes it very expensive.

If the Island wants tourists to visit in their numbers these sort of things need to be looked at!

Regards, Nick Winter