Car Rental
 

Hi - we arrive in Maui on December 13. My Aunt said she has always waited to arrive - to rent a car. Should we book now? Or will there be cars left?

Thks!

No way would I take a chance on that - and in high season. I'd reserve a car now.

Thanks - who do you usually reserve through? I bought my airline tickets through Orbitz.

I just checked out hotwire and they are even cheaper than Orbitz - anyone booked through them?

I always go with whoever's least expensive. This time I booked a package through Pleasant Holidays and they chose Dollar. When I'm booking everything myself, I usually book directly with the company online and often find that Hertz has the best deals.

THks - my FI is a gold card member but their rates are the most expensive according to orbitz. will have to ask him to call.

I have used
http://www.discounthawaiicarrental.com/
when I did not get a car/air with Pleasant Hawaiian, but someone mentioned here last week that they found a phenomal price with Hotwire.

here_today warned people off island rntal, and that was excellent advice!!

Do reserve now. getting your car at OGG will save you money on taxi/shuttle service.

It's early to get good rates for December. That being said, if you see a rate you like - book it, it costs nothing. Then if you see a better rate at either the same company or a different one, simply make another reservation and cancel the first, and so on. IMHO I wouldn't arrive mid December without a reservation.

P.S. My comments above assumed you were dealing with the rental agencies' individual websites. If you use Hotwire and the like you have to pay in full when you book so you're locked in. For Maui I've had good rates from Alamo but, like air fares, you have to watch and pounce :)

If you use http://www.discounthawaiicarrental.com/ you are guaranteed the rate they confirm, but you can always cancel your reservation, as they do not charge anything when they make your reservation. I have used them for a few years now and I can pretty much guarantee you, you will not find a better fare from them closer to the date, and they always beat the prices direct from the rental agencies. But if you reserve from them you have locked in a good rate and you can still search up until the day before you leave.

Thanks - where is this car rental agency located?

Message: If you use http://www.discounthawaiicarrental.com/

Did you look at the site? It is not a car rental agency, but rather a rental car booking service. They book with the major agencies, e.g. Thrifty, Dollar, Budget, Avis, Enterprise. They simply arrnage your reservation at a guarranteed rate below rack rate. You still rent directly from the agency, and still get all your points and membership perks.

I've just noticed that someone in this thread said that here today gone2maui has warned people off Island Car Rental. Why? Have there been problems with this company? Thanks for any advice.

Yes - I looked at the site, scanned through it. Prices looked good - but I did not see WHERE they were located. I assume they are at the airport. I think I would feel better off dealing direct with the car rental agency. Thks.

I used www.rentalcodes.com to find some good deals in Hawaii through National. To use some of the codes, you must be a member of the respective organization, but that isn't true for all. I found something called Vacation Outlet, which provided a discount code plus additional coupons.

I compared prices for a rental in December using www.sidestep.com. This site gives you a variety of quotes from the major companies and you can access the company's site to make a reservation directly from sidestep. I found a quote for the minivan we wanted from Dollar that was $200 less than the closest competitor. Even discounthawaiicarrental couldn't beat the price.

beachgirl, you are renting directly from the rental agency. This is just a booking agency, the same as Orbitz that you said you used to book your air. They take no money, they simply send you a confirmation of you reservation, which is made directly through the respective rental company. I don't understand what your concerns are. At one point you were asking for hotel brokers but placing your car reservation is giving you pause? Booking your car here would be no different than booking your air through Orbitz. I have used them on average 4 times a year for cars on Maui.

http://www.carrentalinhawaii.com/ is their homepage if you want to read more about this.

Here today--Are you lurking about today? I've already booked with Island Car Rental and have spoken with them twice and paid for the car. Should I be concerned? Both agents I spoke with sounded informative and helpful. Others on this site have said good things about them. Please alert me if I need to change. thanks a bunch.

Uhhh yeah - because others are saying there is reason to be CONCERNED! Not so with Orbitz! :)

"At one point you were asking for hotel brokers but placing your car reservation is giving you pause? Booking your car here would be no different than booking your air through Orbitz. I have used them on average 4 times a year for cars on Maui."

I am confused Here_today -

Above you mentioned: "I have used http://www.discounthawaiicarrental.com/
when I did not get a car/air with Pleasant Hawaiian, but someone mentioned here last week that they found a phenomal price with Hotwire."

Then you say:
" beachgirl, you are renting directly from the rental agency. This is just a booking agency, the same as Orbitz that you said you used to book your air. They take no money, they simply send you a confirmation of you reservation, which is made directly through the respective rental company. I don't understand what your concerns are. At one point you were asking for hotel brokers but placing your car reservation is giving you pause? Booking your car here would be no different than booking your air through Orbitz. I have used them on average 4 times a year for cars on Maui. http://www.carrentalinhawaii.com/ is their homepage if you want to read more about this. "

Which is a different website right?

I never said I was "concerned", just said I would feel better dealing direct with the car rental agency - I asked where the agency was located as their website does not clearly state that.


In a different discussion I was asking about hotel brokers - and yes, using a random rental car company did give me "pause" - so what? What is their to understand? This is my honeymoon - I want to be sure I am dealing with a respectable company - Orbitz is a little bit more well known then a random rental car agency on Hawaii - LOL. If my questions are not understandable to you, then I am sorry, but that is how I am.

Thks for your help though!

I booked with Island Car Rentals as well and have been pleased with their service this far. I, like Nanajan, spoke with a CSR a couple of times and paid up front.

I would love to hear if anyone has had a different experience with them.

CMW

nanajan, there is nothing wrong with Island, they just have an older fleet, and I have not found their prices to be really any better than you can find by shopping the rates at the majors. I have always been able to find the same, or even better rate, than Island for a new car, instead of one that is a few years old, that is all. They fill a need as they rent to those who cannot rent from the majors, i.e., no credit card, under 25, etc.

beachgirl, the first URL I gave you takes you directly to the page with info on the car rental companies with whom they book and the discounted rates they offer. It is the same page you can get to that page by clicking on "Rates" from the second URL I gave you, which is just their homepage. more than one domain, but if you look the phone numbers are the same, as is the information. I just have the first URL bookmarked from a very long time ago. It is still the same website.

Who is saying there is a reason to be concerned by booking your rental car online with discounthawaiicarrental.com? I have used them for a few years, and know many others who have as well, others here have used them. There is no location because this is not a car rental agency, anymore than their is a location for orbitz. I find booking my car this way perferable to hotwire or priceline, because here you are simply locking in a rate and making a reservation. You are giving no one your CC info until you are stranding at the car rental counter, with your email confirmation from them in your hand, and you can cancel or change your reservation anytime.

I have never used sidestep. com, but I will check it out, because I am always looking for the best value and I have fam,ily coming in a few weeks.

Thanks for the car rental clarification, Here today. Sometimes when you get into the middle of a thread, it's hard to tell what's been said exactly before. In fact, I read through a bunch of your answers to try to trace it back. I had checked out Island Car Rentals with the BBB before booking, so I'm feeling ok with the BMW we're renting now. Thanks so much. I'm really enjoying all you have to share about Maui. By the way, I became a Nana again yesterday--an 8lb girl!!

Here2day - No one said anything about the car rental agency you mentioned - I was referring to the other one someone said had a poor reputation - and I just made the comment that I might be safer going with a company direct - not realizing that these other places represent the companies themselves.

When I said I was concerned it was not so much about giving out my CC number as it was - getting to Maui on my honeymoon at the holiday time and having no car. :) Now that would stink. I guess I do wonder how they can do business with people without securing a car by way of CC # - I would figure a lot of people might bail which would be tough on them. And on the flipside would Hertz or Alamo owe me anything if I got there without a deposit and the guy next to me did? I don't know - maybe I am worrying too much!


Thks for the info - I will give them a call.

If you book directly with car rental companies, you don't need to give a CC# and there is no charge for canceling (or not showing up). It is somewhat weird, I don't know why that is standard, but it is. Whether they'll have the car you reserved ready to go when you show up, now that is another matter (think of Seinfeld and take a reservation/hold a reservation).