lynnindallas

We are going to be in Maui (OGG) 7/3-7/10 - wanted a convertible - the rates are horrible everywhere we have looked (Priceline, Orbitz, Cheap tickets) - any suggestions? Should we just land and see what we can get?

JohnD

The "horrible" rates I found on Orbitz, Travelocity etc, were around $55/day for a convertible at OGG. Priceline states that you may get up to 20% off other listed rates. Perhaps this could work for you. I have not used Priceline personally-I always book months in advance. Hope this Helps!

victors5a

Check out island car rentals they are usually 30-40 dollars a day. We use them and they are great.

bluefan

Try aloharentacar.com

I got the lowest jeep rental quote last July from them, but unfortunately booked my rental through priceline before I got their e-mail.

BTW, maybe the reason you're getting "horrible" rates is because you're going at the start of peak season and sort of late in securing a reservation. If you wait til you land, you might not be able to get a convertible. So check out the local rental agencies like the one victors5a mentioned as well.

JohnD

As I am always looking for a bargain, I could not find a website in hawaii for "island car rentals" nor could I find a convertible listed at "aloharentacar".

bluefan

uuhhh, JD, keep looking for some other local rental agencies. They might be able to provide you with an affordable rental compared to the nationals.

JohnD

Thanks for the info. bluefan, I noticed in the guidebook "Maui-revealed" (available at Barnes & Noble, Borders etc) that there are a couple of local car rental company phone numbers listed. I personally have satisfied my upcoming rental needs by booking in advance with Alamo using appropriate discount codes.
For the sake of lynnindallas, if you have triple AAA, we have occassionally obtained better rental rates by calling individual rental car companies and asking for a triple AAA discount.

glink

If you're going to try priceline, be sure adn read biddingfortravel.com. They list bidding strategies adn also have posts on current bids that have won/lost. I've seen convertables going for $33-35, of course it depends on the dates.

victors5a

Island car rentals is located at rentacarinmaui.com. Its only $35 a day for a mustang convertable check out there website.

Rusty

That's a THREE YEAR OLD mustang convertible !!!

victors5a

First of all they have 2 and 3 yr old convertables. Second there cars are in better condition then most larger rental places with alot less miles. They are still a great place to rent and they dont charge additional drivers or drivers under 25 as long as your over 21. They also allow you to take your car in what most places call restricted by other places. Its also a place only known by locals so if you dont like it Rusty its ok its for other people who want a good deal.

Rusty

Thanks for the additional information - and very politely stated !! I thought you might not be aware that the convertibles rented by this company are not new.

And it is great to know that their two and three year old cars are in better condition and with less mileage than the brand new cars rented by the larger rental companies. I wonder how they manage to do that ??

JohnD

Topping for ribar55. Hope this helps.

purple

Well I just sent off for a quote from rentacarinmaui for a convertible. I don't car if it's a few years old. At that price, it's worth it. Thanks to victors5a

victors5a

Welcome purple. Also Rusty the reason they have less miles than the cars at larger companies is easy. They dont get the turn around of large companies and are not widely known. They are a great company they even will come and pick you up and drop you off. They also let you borrow coolers other people bought while on the island and left with them. They are a great company.

pspercy

Rusty, I've seen cars from the "big" rental companies on Maui & Kauai that were far from new. The Camaro we had last September on Kauai was certainly not new, but it was fine anyway.

Rusty

Thanks victors5a for the information. You must be in the car rental business as you have an excellent understanding of the three keys to success in the car rental business (fleet size, utilization, and daily average rental revenue).

Thanks for the info,pspercy. It was my understanding that the fleets of the major car rental companies (Budget, Hertz, Alamo, Dollar, etc) do not keep cars in their fleets more than one year and usually only six months.

From what rental company did you rent the far from new car and how many years old was it? I would prefer to avoid that company.

pspercy

Rusty, think you're right re metropolitan areas but somewhere like Hawaii likely gets more use out of them. It was in fact a Firebird from Alamo and I think it was an 2001 issue (rented in 2002). Price was good, no complaints.

travelbug18

I really don't think that $55 a day is really a horrible quote. We rented a car in Aruba last year and it was approximately the same. I don't remember who we booked through though.

I think you really have two options...you could either do it when you get there, which is either hit or miss...sometimes its much more expensive sometimes it's cheaper.

Or, just book online. I like orbitz, but I know people that have had luck w expedia as well.