We are going on our honeymoon in late November to Maui (7 days) and the Big Island (4 days), and staying at both Four Seasons resorts. Should we get a rental car from the Maui and Kona airports? Or should we get a lift to the Four Seasons (I've heard they'll come pick you up at the airport--probably for a fee) and rent a car at the hotel? We're not sure. Thanks.

Both of these islands beg for a car. There is so much to see you'll want to get around to some of it!? Get a convertible and take along some sunscreen. Both places rental car pick up and return are easy.

My answer seemed lame when I read it. Let me try again. The car rental pickup and the car rental return are very easy at the airports on Maui and Hawaii that you should pick up the car when you arrive rather than be shuttled to your hotel.

When I went to the Four Seasons on the Big Island a rental car was included in our package - see if you can get a package deal.

Rent a car through priceline.com. It will be right there at the airport. You can get rental cars for cheap at both airports (but only at the airport through priceline.com) We did this and only paid about $15 per day. In Maui they were out of the compact we paid for so they upgraded us to a mustang convertable! Tom

To answer your question, you should probably pick up your car at the airport and drop it off at the airport when you fly out. Why bother with shuttles when you can drive yourself on your own schedule, even if the shuttle is free? And it makes no economic sense to pay for a shuttle and then rent a car when you get to the resort. If you are thinking of renting a car at your resort and then dropping it off at the airport on departure there is usually a drop charge of about $30.

We too rented a car (compact which was perfect) from Priceline.com once and one other time I believe we got ours from hotwire.com Both were in the neighborhood of $18 per day (can't remember who was cheaper but I think it may have been hotwire.com...though close) Anyway, we picked our car up from national Car rental. It worked our perfect, our reservation was already. Check with hotwire.com for their best price or bid on priceline.com You will get your best rate this way, picking it up at the airport. Good Luck. Lucy