One more question about car renta???

[rmaldon]

Is it safe to just rent a car at the pier without any reservation?

 

I will like to get the best deal posible without making a comitment with one rental.

[gambler]

You can, but it is best to do it ahead of time. We rented with Royal 2 weeks ago and were very pleased. We booked in advance for $75 for a jeep. The going "street rate" at that time was $125. If you just want a compact car, you might be ok, the jeeps go fast.

[sally r]

We rented last week at the pier from All Drive or something like that. It was $55 (including insurance) for a Suzuki SUV. No problems or hassles. Car was kinda beat up but the four of us fit in just fine.

[Arubalisa]

That close to Christmas? If you want a vehicle, I would want to have a reservation ahead of time. In 13+ trips to the island and all the different rental companies we have dealth with, we have never been able to get anyone to "haggle" with us over the price. They offered a price, take it or leave it. It is doubtful that with a cruise ship or two in town with 1000+ people(?) they would have to worry about "giving" cars away.

[bohunk72]

? Is it necessary to have 4-wheel to see most of the east side sites. I have thought about going to some of the caves on the SE side.

[Arubalisa]

Not a problem as long as you enter Arikok National Park from the direction of San Nicholas/Seroe Colorado, versus entering through the interior of the island where the terrain is not suitable to a car.

 

Stay on the "main path". At points in the National Park, there is a dirt road, but depending exactly where you are it gets a little thin. The caves are easily accessible by car though, just stay out of the hills beyond there, again, because of the terrain. BTW, you do know you can only go about 20 - 25 feet into the caves? Just don't want you to be disappointed.

 

In the photo below you can see a section of the road where it is nice and wide. The caves are in this vicinity. If you look closely in the background on the right you see a rock overhang. This is typical of what the outside of the cave will look like, but more massive.

 

BTW, in case anyone wonders, yes there are about 90 donkeys which roam free across the island (mainly here in Arikok National Park) and then there are about 60 donkeys cared for in the donkey sanctuary. This year was the first time we had seen wild donkeys in about 4 years, so obviously they are ALL finally being well cared for. There are many many more goats roaming all over the island, some are wild such as those in Arikok and some are kept by owners for milk and <<gulp>> meat. Some of the "local" restaurants serve goat dishes. Another piece of trivia, don't know if it is still there, but up until at least a few years ago, the island had a goat processing plant.

[rmaldon]

Thank you all I think I will play it safe this time been my first time in aruba.:D