Oahu - Car Rental
Aug 27th, 2004, 03:49 AM
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Oahu - Car Rental
I am looking into car rentals in Oahu for March. I will be there 7 days and plan on spending a couple of days out of Waikiki, a few days out of the North Shore, and then a couple back in Waikiki.
My questions are:
1. I am assuming it is cheaper to get the car at the airport. Usually is in most cities. Anyone know for sure? Thinking it might be worth renting from the airport for a week, rather than paying more from the Waikiki area for the few days and paying transfers to/from the airport.
2. I see a lot of people mentioning getting a Jeep Wrangler when they rent. Is a Jeep necessary/useful for some areas? I think it would be nice to have a Jeep or a convertible for driving around, but noticed that it is about $100/week less for a Mustang/Seabring convertible than for a Jeep wrangler. Wondering if it is worth the extra. (or if it just better going with a regular car for another $100 less)?
Thanks.
My questions are:
1. I am assuming it is cheaper to get the car at the airport. Usually is in most cities. Anyone know for sure? Thinking it might be worth renting from the airport for a week, rather than paying more from the Waikiki area for the few days and paying transfers to/from the airport.
2. I see a lot of people mentioning getting a Jeep Wrangler when they rent. Is a Jeep necessary/useful for some areas? I think it would be nice to have a Jeep or a convertible for driving around, but noticed that it is about $100/week less for a Mustang/Seabring convertible than for a Jeep wrangler. Wondering if it is worth the extra. (or if it just better going with a regular car for another $100 less)?
Thanks.
Aug 27th, 2004, 05:59 AM
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When I went last year, I'm pretty sure I remember the cost of the airport and off-site rentals to be the same. I was in Oahu for 5 days and only wanted a car for one, so I arranged a Mustang convertible for a day through the hotel concierge. It depends on if you want a car for everyday. If you do, definitely rent from the airport since you would have to pay to get to the hotel anyway, either by taxi or shuttle.
As for jeep or convertible, I don't see any reason to need a jeep. The Mustang or Sebring should be fine.
As for jeep or convertible, I don't see any reason to need a jeep. The Mustang or Sebring should be fine.
Aug 27th, 2004, 02:34 PM
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If you rent at the airport for a week you'll probably have to pay hotel parking - which can signficantly increase the cost. Even if off airport rates are higher (I think they aren't, BTW) you'll save over paying for extra days plus extra parking.
You don't need a jeep on Ohau (or really, for most purposes on any of the islands.) A convertible is nice as long as you don't overdose on sun. Remember your sunscreen, hats, etc.! I personally like a regular car becuase they are more secure, give a break from the sun, and usually are significantly cheaper.
I've found good rates going through places like travelocity, expedia, etc. YOu can cancel and rebook if you find a better rate - which sometimes comes up if you check back periodicaly.
Have a good trip!
You don't need a jeep on Ohau (or really, for most purposes on any of the islands.) A convertible is nice as long as you don't overdose on sun. Remember your sunscreen, hats, etc.! I personally like a regular car becuase they are more secure, give a break from the sun, and usually are significantly cheaper.
I've found good rates going through places like travelocity, expedia, etc. YOu can cancel and rebook if you find a better rate - which sometimes comes up if you check back periodicaly.
Have a good trip!
Aug 30th, 2004, 11:05 AM
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This past month, we rented a compact car, a Jeep, a convertible and a Town and Country Van as a daily rental in Waikiki.
The Jeep, convertible and van were all free upgrades. The employees at Thrifty on Seaside Ave and Avis at the airport were beyond generous.
When we arrived, we used the car to go to K-Mart to buy bicycles, later, the van to get out of Waikiki and view the meteor shower, and at the end of our trip, the convertible to get to the airport.
If you can get the $20. airport drop off fee waved, taking a $32. one day car rental to the airport could be a good plan. You can use the car to revisit Hanauma Bay or one of the distant flea markets the morning you leave.
The Chevy Jeep gave us a very hard ride with little storage space, a low ceiling and the extra stiff steering wore out my hands and arms.
We enjoyed the convertible, this car is super fun, we kept the top up during the midday summer heat, but, taking the Round Top/Tantalus drive with the top down was spectacular.
Our favorite was the Town and Country Van. It's so easy to get out of your seat and on the street with this van. The space in the back is huge and there are three doors for easy accessibility. The Town and Country also gives you a bit of a higher ride. We really fell in love with this van and kept it for two extra days.
We rented the vehicles from Tours 4 Less, located in a travel kiosk on Kuhio Avenue.
800. 823. 8535
Tours 4 Less pre-reserves cars from Thrifty and on the day we went looking for a car, they were the only one that had a car available.
Tours will give you a coupon that you take a block over to Thrifty Car Rental, which is part of Budget. Another car rental company that has merged is Avis and some company that I can't now remember.
Anyway, a one day rental for a compact was $32. Which works out to $224./week. Don't know if this is a good weekly rate, but the day rate was the least expensive we could find, during our quick search around the streets near the condo we rented.
At the airport, we volunteered to give up our non-stop seats HON ? ORD, which AA accepted twice.
Later, after AA decided to give us $1,400 in travel coupons and put us up for the night, we made a 7 PM phone call from the unoccupied car rental booths at the airport using the direct phone lines that are available and chose Avis.
The airport was empty, most of the flights leave in the morning to Japan. At Avis, the friendly agent, discounted the price, ($32.) and upgraded us to the Jeep.
The traffic is horrible around Honolulu, even for a couple that comes from Chicago.
The Jeep, convertible and van were all free upgrades. The employees at Thrifty on Seaside Ave and Avis at the airport were beyond generous.
When we arrived, we used the car to go to K-Mart to buy bicycles, later, the van to get out of Waikiki and view the meteor shower, and at the end of our trip, the convertible to get to the airport.
If you can get the $20. airport drop off fee waved, taking a $32. one day car rental to the airport could be a good plan. You can use the car to revisit Hanauma Bay or one of the distant flea markets the morning you leave.
The Chevy Jeep gave us a very hard ride with little storage space, a low ceiling and the extra stiff steering wore out my hands and arms.
We enjoyed the convertible, this car is super fun, we kept the top up during the midday summer heat, but, taking the Round Top/Tantalus drive with the top down was spectacular.
Our favorite was the Town and Country Van. It's so easy to get out of your seat and on the street with this van. The space in the back is huge and there are three doors for easy accessibility. The Town and Country also gives you a bit of a higher ride. We really fell in love with this van and kept it for two extra days.
We rented the vehicles from Tours 4 Less, located in a travel kiosk on Kuhio Avenue.
800. 823. 8535
Tours 4 Less pre-reserves cars from Thrifty and on the day we went looking for a car, they were the only one that had a car available.
Tours will give you a coupon that you take a block over to Thrifty Car Rental, which is part of Budget. Another car rental company that has merged is Avis and some company that I can't now remember.
Anyway, a one day rental for a compact was $32. Which works out to $224./week. Don't know if this is a good weekly rate, but the day rate was the least expensive we could find, during our quick search around the streets near the condo we rented.
At the airport, we volunteered to give up our non-stop seats HON ? ORD, which AA accepted twice.
Later, after AA decided to give us $1,400 in travel coupons and put us up for the night, we made a 7 PM phone call from the unoccupied car rental booths at the airport using the direct phone lines that are available and chose Avis.
The airport was empty, most of the flights leave in the morning to Japan. At Avis, the friendly agent, discounted the price, ($32.) and upgraded us to the Jeep.
The traffic is horrible around Honolulu, even for a couple that comes from Chicago.
Aug 30th, 2004, 11:25 AM
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I called Bernadette at Tours for Less, love the 800 numbers.
She told me that the convertibles range, (low/high season) from $54/69 per day and $309/340 per week.
The compacts were $198. per week, summer 04.
When Thrifty was out of the compacts, they upgraded to what ever cars were on the lot, or called over to Budget for a Seabring.
Thrifty would hold our reservation while we walked over to Tours 4 Less to get the coupon.
She told me that the convertibles range, (low/high season) from $54/69 per day and $309/340 per week.
The compacts were $198. per week, summer 04.
When Thrifty was out of the compacts, they upgraded to what ever cars were on the lot, or called over to Budget for a Seabring.
Thrifty would hold our reservation while we walked over to Tours 4 Less to get the coupon.
