Alamo convertible in Kona
 

What type of convertible does Alamo rent in Kona? We are going in 5 weeks and got a great deal thru Priceline. Do they typically rent Mustang's or Sebring's?

Thanks

pompa, their website shows a Sebring.

May I ask what your deal was (what you offered and how far ahead of time)? We are going in September and I cannot find a convertible for less than $450 for the week (all taxes and fees included). Haven't tried Priceline yet. I have booked one for Honolulu, but that is only $300 inclusive.

Thanks!

I offered $25 per day for 7 days and it was accepted within 5 minutes. Total is $237.68 with taxes and fees. I booked it last Wednesday for travel 8/2 thru 8/9. In the past we have rented both Mustang's and Sebring's. Both cars are nice but I like the Mustang better. If you want to go to the green sand beach you will need a Jeep.

Pompa, thank you thank you thank you!!!

I am off to Priceline to try my luck - I will post back when I get a deal.

Well, do you think the green beach is worth renting a jeep over versus having that open convertible sky view all week? We are beach nuts, collect sand from each in local beer bottles. We definitely don't have any green sand in our collection (but it sure would look pretty next to our pink Eleuthera sand!).

Do the jeeps have open-able tops, and is it a fairly simple thing to put up and down (I realize no button like the Sebring).

Joan,

The Jeep top is very easy to put up and down but you have to unzip the side windows and roll them up in the back. I have a wrangler at home and I always bring my car cover that just goes over the windows for when we park. We have done this on several trips and never had a problem with theft.

The green sand beach is very unique. It is at the south end of the island. If you don't have a 4 wheel drive it is a VERY long walk and then you have to climb down to the beach. My son and his family are going also and will rent an SUV so my wife and I will just pile in with them this time rather than renting the jeep. The drive out to the beach is loads of fun and not very difficult but a rough ride.
The green sand is Olivine which is a semiprecious stone. If you find a nugget in the sand which sometimes happens you can turn it into jewelry.
Where are you staying on the Big Island? Last time we stayed at the Hapuna Prince. This time we are going to try the Hilton at Waikola Village.

Let me know how the car works out.

Mike

Mike, I wanted to get back and update this thread. Because I am convinced we want a jeep in Kona, I checked Orbitz etc first to see what the going prices are.

Well, they don't seem to offer jeeps on the big boy websites, nor Priceline, but they do offer them on the individual ones. Going rate was over $500 for a week.

So I discovered Discount Hawaii Car Rentals from reading different forums (including here on Fodors). I tried them, and got a jeep for $271.

Purty darn good!

I also got a convertible for our first week, HNL, for $290. Ten dollars less than my original res with AA vacations. I think that one would still be worth doublechecking with Priceline, do you?

Regarding accommodations, we are searching for a cottage. I thought I'd found one in the Kona area, called the little Red House, and started a thread on Trip Advisor. Wow! that started a giant locals-argument regarding Vog, and the merits of staying in Kona versus outside. Not sure now, got a little time. We are looking at Hale Keawe on Kealakekua Bay near the Capt Cook Monument.

http://www.halekeawe.com/

Trying to avoid a condo or hotel. Any thoughts/comments are welcome!

Hi Joan,

I just read your thread on Trip Advisor. Sounds like a pretty serious argument by the locals about VOG. The engineer in me makes me lean more toward Shea's facts from NOAA. That is why we decided to stay at the Hilton hopefully north of most of the VOG. I have been watching the webcams everyday and the air looks pretty clear based on views out to sea.

Your going to love the Jeep. They are loads of fun. Hopefully you will get one of the newer ones. We always paid around $300 for the Jeeps in past years but I had to search for deals.

I don't have any input on cottages in the Islands as we always do Hiltons due to our HHonours Gold which gets lots of perks or we do timeshares.

I think that the Islands are so therapeutic that it doesn't matter where you stay as the object is to just relax. We spent 2 weeks in Kauai and Oahu in 2006 to recuperate after some fairly serious cancer surgery. I recovered so well based I'm sure on a large dose of Aloha that we have vowed to return every year around the same time frame. Our oldest son and his family come with us every year. I love snorkeling with the grand children.

Have a wonderful vacation in September,
Mike

I was just reading on Trip Advisor that the VOG at Kealakekua Bay has been really bad. Might be something to consider if you are thinking of a cottage there.

http://onemansblog.com/2007/12/16/of...4x4-on-hawaii/

The link above will give you a video feel for Jeeping on the Big Island.

Mike, yes you are right about the Aloha spirit - it really is real, isn't it!

Thanks also for the heads up on KBay, I went back and read the threads, and besides the vog problem I learned how you have to change 2000' of elevation to get in and out of the area. I think that would be too isolated for a whole week. We had planned on going out quite a bit and it would be a chore.

I also got hooked on the jeeping video. I am debating showing it to my DH because then he'd never let me get a chance to drive LOL!

thanks again!

By the way, do the rental agencies let you actually USE the 4WD in these jeeps (off road?)?

I did it and saw lots of other people do it. I think the rental companies tell you not to go off road. You will be fine so long as you don't break the car.

I have a Wrangler at home and can tell you that they are pretty durable. Obviously be careful driving into water holes that you don't know how deep they are. Try to never get into a situation where you are tilted more than 30 degrees. Avoid driving over sharp lava fields. Other than that you'll be fine.

Driving on rough roads in the dirt can be loads of fun. You might go home and decide to buy a Jeep.

Enjoy,
Mike

I can't really say I enjoyed the extremely bumpy ride out from GSB. But, as we'd walked in & part of the way out (& the sun was setting), we were glad when the aloha spirit overcame a couple of guys DS had met on the beach, and they offered us a ride!