Rent Car onsite at Four Seasons BI?
 

We are staying at the Four Seasons on the Big Island for four days and are wondering whether it will be more cost effective to rent a car for the entire time from the airport, or to rent from the hotel's onsite agency on an as needed basis. We will be coming from Kauai, where we plan to do lots of exploring/hiking, so we are probably going to be more interested in relaxing on the BI. Does anyone know who runs their onsite agency or have their contact info? Are their any restaurants in walking distance of the hotel, or is it necessary to drive? Thanks!

I've stayed at the Four Seasons (BI) three times. The first time we rented a car but the other times we didn't. There are three excellent restaurants there, so you never need to leave. The town is about 20 minutes away, so if you want to eat somewhere else you'll need to drive or use their limo service. You could always rent a car once you're there if you think you need it. I don't think you'll want to eat anywhere else. The poolside restaurant has great theme dinners, too. The beach BBQ is a lot of fun and Asian night had the best sushi I've ever had.

We rented a car and drove to the 4 seasons and in hindsight I wish we hadn't We really only used the car two or three days and it would have been easier to rent it at the hotel.

Dont forget to look at the 4 seasons Big Island car and room package. In the past it has been as cheap as the hotels standards rates for rooms only. That way you might just get the car for "free" and have it whenever you need it.

We're booked at both Hawaii Four Seasons for early next year and I can tell you that the breakfast pkg. and the car pkg. cost the same amount of money ($25 over the cost of the room). We've opted to rent our cars at the airport because we found the breakfast pkg. to be the better deal since the Four Seasons airport transfer rates are so high.

When you get off the plane in Kona, there are very nice FS reps that "lei" you, get your luggage, and call a taxi. It's a 20 minute drive to the hotel and I think the cost was about $20. I'd call there and ask.