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Car rental

cindi

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What is the usual rate for a car for a week in maui? Is it really around $400 which seems to be what I am finding?

We are going in April 2010 and I was just looking around.

It also seems that at OGG there aren't any right onsite cars, that you have to be shuttled? Bummer.
 
Have you tired Hotwire and Priceline? Not sure if this is Easter week but we can usually get around 300. We have noticed that Maui is more expensive for car rental than the other islands in general.

One thing we have done is to reserve the best rate we can get "now" and then try back closer to travel date. If they have alot of cars the rates will come down.

Hotwire even does email notifications for when the rates drop.

Good Luck!

Norma
 
I got a car through Avis for the end of April on Maui for $226, including all fees. That's for an intermediate size and using my corporate discount. You might do better closer to the time you're going to go when coupons start being available. I also agree with trying Hotwire and Priceline when it gets closer.
 
Thanks for the replies.

Is there any car rental place to stay away from or are they all ok?

I guess I will reserve something now so I know I have it, and then just keep watching the prices.

Hopefully they will go down.
 
SCORE! I usually use National for car rentals, and it was showing me $420 for the week. Well, I decided to try the AARP price, and I now have a rental for $282~! :whoopie:

I will keep watching for discount coupons, etc, but that is already a whole lot better than the original price.

Now, if I can find out how much time to allow between flights.....
 
Priceline BIDDING Site is very useful

SCORE! I usually use National for car rentals, and it was showing me $420 for the week. Well, I decided to try the AARP price, and I now have a rental for $282~! :whoopie:

I will keep watching for discount coupons, etc, but that is already a whole lot better than the original price.

Now, if I can find out how much time to allow between flights.....

I use the Priceline bid now part of their site and rent my cars that way. I am in HI right now, and my mid size is costing me $16 per day in Maui. I am positive that you can do better in Oahu than $282 per week. I bet you can get it for like $20 some dollars a day or so. It is usually more than 50% off of the lowest price you see on the internet sites. Yes, this correct. 50% off of the lowest!!
 
I use the Priceline bid now part of their site and rent my cars that way. I am in HI right now, and my mid size is costing me $16 per day in Maui. I am positive that you can do better in Oahu than $282 per week. I bet you can get it for like $20 some dollars a day or so. It is usually more than 50% off of the lowest price you see on the internet sites. Yes, this correct. 50% off of the lowest!!


How far in advance were you able to secure the car thru Priceline?
 
Is there any car rental place to stay away from or are they all ok?

My experience with Alamo on Maui was horrendous. I waited in a queue for about 30 minutes before getting to the counter. I got a really over-the-top, full-of-lies, hard-sell on additional insurance I didn't need. Then when I got to the car, it was missing a third of a tank of gas. They claimed it was just the gauge. I called them on it and pulled up to their re-fueling station where a guy apparently pretended to put fuel in the car, but claimed it wouldn't take any because it was already full. Amazing that I was able to fill it completely up during the week. Alamo in Kauai on the same trip was fine, though.

The last time in Maui we rented through Avis (via Priceline) and it was one of my best rental car experiences ever. I was in-and-out at the check-out counter in about 2 minutes with a brand new car with no hard-sell for insurance or upgrades.

If I was not using Priceline, I would avoid Alamo in Maui regardless of price and I would use Avis unless their price was significantly out of line with the others. That's my personal experience - your mileage may vary.
 
My experience with Alamo on Maui was horrendous. I waited in a queue for about 30 minutes before getting to the counter. I got a really over-the-top, full-of-lies, hard-sell on additional insurance I didn't need. Then when I got to the car, it was missing a third of a tank of gas. They claimed it was just the gauge. I called them on it and pulled up to their re-fueling station where a guy apparently pretended to put fuel in the car, but claimed it wouldn't take any because it was already full. Amazing that I was able to fill it completely up during the week. Alamo in Kauai on the same trip was fine, though.

The last time in Maui we rented through Avis (via Priceline) and it was one of my best rental car experiences ever. I was in-and-out at the check-out counter in about 2 minutes with a brand new car with no hard-sell for insurance or upgrades.

If I was not using Priceline, I would avoid Alamo in Maui regardless of price and I would use Avis unless their price was significantly out of line with the others. That's my personal experience - your mileage may vary.

This has pretty much been my experience with Alamo on ANY of the islands. I've pretty much stopped using Priceline for cars there and rent through Avis using a corporate discount. One thing that happened the last time I used Priceline (and got a car through Alamo) was that there was an additional, undisclosed, charge for a second driver, even if the second driver was my spouse. Just something to watch out for.
 
How far in advance were you able to secure the car thru Priceline?

1 week this time. In that past, ususally less than that. What I would do is secure a best reservation I can, and then do better.
 
This has pretty much been my experience with Alamo on ANY of the islands. I've pretty much stopped using Priceline for cars there and rent through Avis using a corporate discount. One thing that happened the last time I used Priceline (and got a car through Alamo) was that there was an additional, undisclosed, charge for a second driver, even if the second driver was my spouse. Just something to watch out for.

I agree that Alamo is not the greatest in any of the islands, but I am not sure who is that much better. Avis and Hertz, maybe, but very expensive.
 
This has pretty much been my experience with Alamo on ANY of the islands. I've pretty much stopped using Priceline for cars there and rent through Avis using a corporate discount. One thing that happened the last time I used Priceline (and got a car through Alamo) was that there was an additional, undisclosed, charge for a second driver, even if the second driver was my spouse. Just something to watch out for.

I must be a bad guy. I always ignore that charge thinking that it does not matter. I decline all coverages since my auto covers me and my wife.
 
I agree that Alamo is not the greatest in any of the islands, but I am not sure who is that much better. Avis and Hertz, maybe, but very expensive.

I use Avis, but with the corporate discount I can use it's generally not bad.
 
I must be a bad guy. I always ignore that charge thinking that it does not matter. I decline all coverages since my auto covers me and my wife.

Well, I goofed since the reservation was made in my name and dh was going to be the principal driver. I told them that when I picked up the car. Boom. The extra charge automatically was applied. So, what I'd suggest is to make the Priceline reservation in the name of the principal driver, then if you want to ignore the extra fees go ahead.

From what I've read with most rental companies if you rent with them directly there is no fee for the additional driver.
 
Yikes! I will stay away from Alamo.

Anyone used National on Maui?

Avis just came in at $209 for a mid-sized car out of OGG (Maui) 2/26 - 3/4, 2010 using http://www.discounthawaiicarrental.com/discount-links.htm

I've used Alamo before there with few problems, but others here on TUG have had issues. Personally I'd use them again & keep them in the mix, certainly for pricing purposes. I've received the hard sell at all the rental car company counters at one time or another...and at both Avis, Dollar and Alamo I had two agents at the counter...one giving the hard sell, one no hassle and lucked into the no hassle one.
 
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Jeep Wrangler Unlimited??

I know you can rent a Jeep Wrangler on the islands, but can you get the larger Wrangler Unlimited? I'm specifically looking for one on Kauai. If so, where?
 
Avis just came in at $209 for a mid-sized car out of OGG (Maui) 2/26 - 3/4, 2010 using http://www.discounthawaiicarrental.com/discount-links.htm

Thanks for the link! We'll be on Kauai January 2nd to 9th, and Maui January 9th to 16th, and I'd been looking for a reasonable rate. DiscountHawaiiCarRental just got me compacts from Avis for $194 out of LIH (6 days, 15 hours), and $230 out of OGG (7 days, 9 hours). Those are the total rate, including taxes. That's better than I've seen anywhere else, so I'm happy.
 
Yikes! I will stay away from Alamo.

Anyone used National on Maui?

Yes, I've used both Alamo and National. I've had no issues with either aside from waiting a long time for the shuttle. Since then we've learned to send the women to the baggage claim to pick up the luggage. The men make a beeline to the queue, rent the car, and then pick us up at baggage claim.

I've also learned to rent a midsize car for the cheapest I can find it (using whatever coupons I can get my hands on) and then wait for the upsell. My friend upgraded his midsize car ($150/week) to a small SUV for an additional $6 a day. I rented a midsize SUV outright for $300/week. He paid $100 less than me for practically the same car.
 
Since then we've learned to send the women to the baggage claim to pick up the luggage. The men make a beeline to the queue, rent the car, and then pick us up at baggage claim.

We do this the opposite way. I go get the rental car (it's usually been booked in my name) and dh and the dds wait for the luggage.

And another advantage I have in using Avis with my Wizard account is that I usually don't have to wait in line to pick up the car.
 
From Advantage (now a sub of Hertz) I just reserved a Pontiac G6 (Intermediate) for May at Kahului. Total price for 7 days (excluding any insurance) is $185.86.
 
From Advantage (now a sub of Hertz) I just reserved a Pontiac G6 (Intermediate) for May at Kahului. Total price for 7 days (excluding any insurance) is $185.86.

Thanks for this tip. I went to the Advantage website, put in the discount code they show and got a midsize for $169.05 (excluding insurance) for 7 days. This is for Maui, end of April.
 
It's "ADVAN". I think they mention it in the upper right corner of the website.

Yep, that's the code I used, and it was on the website.
 
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