Kona Car Rentals?

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

After receiving several replies from "Trip Advisor Big Island Forum", TUG, and here, I am now convinced that I need to rent a car for the week on the Big Island. I did a quick search and found a good deal with Alamo for a full sized Chev Impala at $187 /week + fees = ~$250 total. I will try Priceline in a couple weeks. Does anybody have any recommendations?

We are staying at Kona Coast Resort II. Is parking free?

[aliikai2 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close aliikai2]

You will be much happier with a car

Parking is free at the KCR , and it is easy to park in most locations close to the restaurants etc.

I know you don't want to cook, but you may wish to visit Costco for snacks , drinks, etc. They also have the best price on gasoline, around 35 cents a gallon less than the next cheapest place.

fwiw,

Greg

[tennisWalt Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tennisWalt]

Try Hotwire!

I have been using Costco Travel. They have discounted rates with several major Auto Rental Companies, including Alamo, National, and Avis. However, I now have used Hotwire for Hawaii, Sacramento and Florida in the last 3 months.

I was on the Big Island January 2010. I first booked a Full Size with Costco Travel and National Car Rental about 6 months before the trip. They had the best price I could find at that time for $475.72.

I later was able to rent from Hotwire for a full size car at $264.96. I was also able to save money on the auto insurance from Hotwire.

The only down side is you have to pay up front when you make the reservation. You don't know which Car Rental Company you are getting until after you pay for the rental. In Kona it was Alamo, in Fort Myers it was National and in Sacramento it was Hertz.

Walt



Rate InformationItem: Prices (USD)Car Class: Fullsize 4-Door/Automatic/AirRates:Time & distance 1 WEEK @ $245.42 $245.42Extra - time & distance 5 DAY @ $35.06 $175.30Extra - time & distance 0 HOUR @ $17.53 $0.00Unlimited distance-time & distance 0 DISTANCE @ $0.00 $0. Included(1) Additional Driver IncludedUnlimited Miles IncludedSub total............................................. ........$420.72DiscountsDiscount ($21.04)Costco Web Offer 08 ($25.00)Surcharges:Customer Facility Charge 1.00/day $12.00Concession Recovery Fee 8.11 Pct $30.73Rental Mtr Vhcle Schg 3.00 Usd/dy $36.00Vehicle Reg Fee And Weight Tax $4.20Taxes:Sales Tax (4.1660%) $18.11Total Estimate.......................................... ......$475.72(Country of Residence: US) (USD)Approximate Estimated Conversion: Total $475.72


Car rental
Car daily rate: - Hotwire Hot Rate $13.95
Rental days: 13
Subtotal: $181.35

Tax recovery charges and fees: $83.61

Total price: $264.96

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

Parking is free at the KCR , and it is easy to park in most locations close to the restaurants etc.

I know you don't want to cook, but you may wish to visit Costco for snacks , drinks, etc. They also have the best price on gasoline, around 35 cents a gallon less than the next cheapest place.

fwiw,

Greg

Thanls Greg,

We will go to Costco for snacks and drinks. Is there a Sam's Club there. We love their big muffins.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

I have been using Costco Travel. They have discounted rates with several major Auto Rental Companies, including Alamo, National, and Avis. However, I now have used Hotwire for Hawaii, Sacramento and Florida in the last 3 months.

I was on the Big Island January 2010. I first booked a Full Size with Costco Travel and National Car Rental about 6 months before the trip. They had the best price I could find at that time for $475.72.

I later was able to rent from Hotwire for a full size car at $264.96. I was also able to save money on the auto insurance from Hotwire.

The only down side is you have to pay up front when you make the reservation. You don't know which Car Rental Company you are getting until after you pay for the rental. In Kona it was Alamo, in Fort Myers it was National and in Sacramento it was Hertz.

Walt



Rate InformationItem: Prices (USD)Car Class: Fullsize 4-Door/Automatic/AirRates:Time & distance 1 WEEK @ $245.42 $245.42Extra - time & distance 5 DAY @ $35.06 $175.30Extra - time & distance 0 HOUR @ $17.53 $0.00Unlimited distance-time & distance 0 DISTANCE @ $0.00 $0. Included(1) Additional Driver IncludedUnlimited Miles IncludedSub total............................................. ........$420.72DiscountsDiscount ($21.04)Costco Web Offer 08 ($25.00)Surcharges:Customer Facility Charge 1.00/day $12.00Concession Recovery Fee 8.11 Pct $30.73Rental Mtr Vhcle Schg 3.00 Usd/dy $36.00Vehicle Reg Fee And Weight Tax $4.20Taxes:Sales Tax (4.1660%) $18.11Total Estimate.......................................... ......$475.72(Country of Residence: US) (USD)Approximate Estimated Conversion: Total $475.72


Car rental
Car daily rate: - Hotwire Hot Rate $13.95
Rental days: 13
Subtotal: $181.35

Tax recovery charges and fees: $83.61

Total price: $264.96

Thanks for the info. I just checked Hotwire and their rate for a full sized car is $197.50 total including all fees etc. That is an excellent price.

[aliikai2 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close aliikai2]

I don't think so John,

There is a Wal-Mart, and a K-Mart along with Safeway, but I don't remember seeing a Sams-Club,

The Costco muffins are a pretty close second

Greg

Thanls Greg,

We will go to Costco for snacks and drinks. Is there a Sam's Club there. We love their big muffins.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

No Sam's Club on the Big Island. There is a Target now though.

[konaemi Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close konaemi]

Costco has the best prices except when Alamo has the Hawaii deal. You have to log into Alamo and Hot Deals for the Hawaii special rates link

[starlifter Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close starlifter]

We are going to Kona for 10 days in about two weeks. I had a reservation with Alamo for a full-size for $272. I went on Hotwire earlier tonight and got the same exact reservation with Alamo for $12.95/day, totaling $195.