Good info for people to have. Thanks Deb

I buy my Costco gas with my bank VISA ATM.

DebitNM, thx for the Costco suggestion. The price I found was the member price - I think only members are allowed to book. I just looked to see if it would be worth getting a membership again. We were members when we lived in a different locale. I had read that Costco was one of the least affordable places for mac nuts - and we need to get a LOT of them for gifts (I planned on getting them from Longs/WalMart).

explanation, and can you pls also clarify what "my bank VISA ATM" is - is that a debit card? not sure what the "ATM" means in the context of a bank Visa.

We don't have an AMEX card and won't want to bother getting one for just this, so just curious what your card was.

Enjoy-la!

If it has a visa or mcard logo...its a debit card. No logo...its an ATM card.

Costco has cash card that you can load with $$$$ and then use for purchases.

DebitNM, thx for the explanation. After we join as members, I guess I can just go inside the store and get a Costco cash card? Since we have to pay cash for that too, we'll probably just pay cash for gas and everything else.

Enjoy-la!

You CAN pay cash for things inside Costco but but you CANNOT pay cash for gas - hence the need for some type of accepted card for gas.

Just a little tidbit Klam_chowder, go to Costco before you have lunch and have lunch there. They have large hot dogs and 20oz drink for $1.50, I love hotdogs so this was a treat every time we needed to shop, the cheapest lunch on the island!

Funny story - we joined costco on the big island about 3 years ago so my picture on my membership card is of me looking frazzled from snorkeling at two steps earlier that day...it is not the romatic beach-y hair look that I was going for at all, but I look back at that picture and laugh that I am reminded of the Big Island when I go to costco.

You can be a costco member without their tru earnings credit card but you have to pay with an amex (or I guess debit card but I've never done this). You cannot pay with a regular visa or MC credit card. If you sign up for the costco tru earnings credit card, they put your picture on the credit card so that now becomes your membership card too.

FWIW, I always go for the best performing car when I rent. Particularly on Vacation. The relatively insignificant additional cost for me is more than outweighed by the comfort and safety of a drivable car

DebitNM, that tip is much appreciated!

cd, I LOL'd - we used to be members about 5 years ago, and when we shopped I ALWAYS made sure we had lunch/dinner there. Yup, hotdogs, pop, and churro for me, ice cream for DH. I grind my own beef as I don't trust what's sold at the store, but I love hotdogs - can't explain it!

tifa2276, great story. If that were me, I'd smile everytime I whipped out that card. Great to know to test my debit card (I don't use it but have one) so I know whether we have to have cash or not. Might be more convenient with debit as I always get carried away at Costco.

Rich, I agree. We'll go with the intermediate (we don't like driving big vehicles) with peace of mind we won't need that extra power but it'll be there if we do. It's only $15 more for the entire 10 days so it's not the cost but the comfort-level of driving around a huge car. I prefer driving smaller cars and since they all come with a/c, auto-everything the difference is in the roominess, which for 2 of us isn't a big deal.

Enjoy-la!

Amex is the only credit card allowed.

You can pay with cash inside Costco, but not at the gas pumps.

Certain Debit cards are allowed inside and at the pump as long as you have a Costco membership card.

You can buy Costco gift cards and use them at the gas pump with your Costco card.

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For Mac nuts, etc, Walmart is the cheapest in Hawaii. Costco is cheaper on certain multi-packs. Longs only comes into the competition if they are having a sale.

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The only time you need a big car on Hawaii is if you have a lot of people. You will need a 4WD if you go to the peak of Mauna Kea. If so, I recommend you rent one just for that day.

The only rental car company that allows it's cars to go to the summit of Mauna Kea is Harpers.

Other companies may rent 4WD, but your contract with them does not allow you to drive the vehicle fully up to the summit.

Harpers is a great deal more expensive.

Thx for the extra info - Fodorites are fab!

We're going in winter and definitely will not be heading to Mauna Kea summit - just to the Visitor Info.

Our last move brought us to a market that was Costco-less. We just moved in the past 6 months and DH was just talking about joining Costco again as we'll need snow tires in the winter so it may all work out. I know - boo on me talking winter when spring weather just began. Enjoy-la!