beachgirl66

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!

CMWMAUI

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

here_today_gone2Maui

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.

nanajan

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!!

beachgirl66

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.

vacationdreamer

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).