OldSouthernBelle

I posted this once, but cannot find it anywhere...ugh!

I have a rental convertible 'on hold' with National using AARP and the $20/wk.
Entertainment Book coupon for $418.22/8-days(Maui) and $374.98(Oahu). I placed this 'hold' a few weeks ago.

Today, checking Travelocity (compares all the rental companies), and National, Avis and Hertz individually (trying to use various codes or coupons), the best deal is still the one listed above!

This seems high to me and I was just wondering if anyone had any other suggestions for getting a good deal.

Be mindful that I really want a good quality car...not something that will give us problems.

Has anyone had any good/bad experiences with priceline in terms of quality of car or service? What's your best deal?? Mahalo, Belle

here_today_gone2Maui

Did you checfk here yet?

http://www.discounthawaiicarrental.com/

OldSouthernBelle

Mahalo, here today:
I had forgotten, I did correspond with them for the Maui leg of the trip and, you are right, their rate with Thrifty was better $326.73 'base total'!

I failed to input the Oahu request at that time (but have rectified that now!).

I think the reason I didn't go further with that reservation was that I'd read on this site that some posters feel that National provided more reliable cars in better condition.

Do you have any experience with this site or Thrifty Rental? Belle.

back2nc

try rent a wreck - their cars are decent, cheap, and most importantly, won't look like a rental- there are so many car break ins in hawaii. alamo is the cheapest on many of the islands also. good luck!

here_today_gone2Maui

Nearly everyone who visits me books through this company. I don't about National on Maui, as I can't remember anyone renting through them. Most of our guests rent through Thrifty or Dollar. The cars are all new. The rentals all look the same to me anyway. A Sebring is a Sebring.

I rented with National in LA a few weeks ago and they tried to pull a bait and switch on me. I had reserved an economy car and my agreement had the economy rate on it when I left the counter, but the attendent in the lot told me they don't have economy cars and I'd have to take a compact car. When I brought the car back, they tried to charge me the compact rate, which was a few dollars a day more than the economy rate. I had the time to argue my case inside, but if I had ben late for plane or not paying attention they would gotten me for a higher charge than I was expecting. But I consider all rental companies he same, and that could have happened at any of them, anywhere.

sk84fungirl

OSB,

I rented with National in Maui in April using the Entertainment coupon. My total was 105.44 a wk for a full size car. This included taxes. Had absolutely no problems with the car or the company.

OldSouthernBelle

here today: That makes me feel better (about that site)! Am working on it. Mahalo! Belle

enjoylife

My best price was through Priceline.

Spikeit

Just returned from Maui. Want to warn you about what the car rental companies are up to now to get you to buy their insurance. Since car rentals are covered by most people's car insurance or credit card companies they now have a "down time" clause. This means that if you are in an accident and the car has to go to the shop for repairs and someone wants to rent that type of vehicle and one is not available because it is in the shop you get charged for the days that car is not available for them to rent. I called our insurance company from Maui and they didn't cover any such thing and credit card companies don't either. Dollar Rentals will charge you $17.99 a day for coverage for this. I called some other rental companies and they at least had some cheaper insurance options. What a rip! When we returned to the mainland I am told some rental car companies in the east are doing this also. I would check with each company about their collision/insurance options and be sure to ask about "down time". They told us is was a law in Hawaii. Probably isn't, but who wants this headache on their vacation? This was the only bummer in our trip. We LOVE MAUI. I will post a trip report. I did love the Sebring convertible but didn't like the insurance headache.

here_today_gone2Maui

Spikeit, it sounds like you are talking about "loss of use" and this is nothing new. In some states your normal auto policy does include this. I'm not sure which states they are. But, yes, some credit cards do cover this. You should check with your cc company. Be very careful with what the counter people tell you vs. what is the fact. I read somewhere recently that in Texas that have passed a law requiring rental agencies to post a sign telling consumers that they probably do not need to buy the insurances offered to them by the renatl agency.