679 thoughts on “Savings Guide: 2023 Hawaii Car Rentals”
Timmie
It’s beginning to sound like less and less fun. Covid test, high car rental rates, dishonest car rental companies, washed out roads . . .we can still cancel and try again someday? Please and thank you but I’m no longer as excited. . .
Also check to see if you can use your corporate car rate for personal use. Some companies allow this as a perk. Also don’t always go for the cheapest – if you have any status with a given rental provider, status cAn help with any problems or issues you may encounter.
Take into account that all car manufacturers in the world have millions of cars sitting unfinished in their yards. The computer chip shortage is not expected to loosen up soon. When the pandemic started the manufacturers pulled back the quantity of chips deliveries because they all use “JUST IN TIME” inventory, so the chip companies where inundated with orders from computer, office electronics etc. manufacturers with long term contracts. Cause: People are working from home causing exploding sales of office electronics.
There is no end in sight for car manufacturers to get microchips for their cars. This is going to negativily impact our economy considering that the largest manufacturing of vehicles is here in the US.
No the huge problem… to make a new manufacturing plant for chips takes a minimum of 2 years due the complexities of making chips. There cannot be any contamination in the super clean rooms. Because one tiny speck of dirt will ruin millions of dollars in microchips…
SORRY DONT KILL THE MESSENGER
Could this be considered price gouging at this time of a pandemic, as I just rented a car a month ago for a third of these new prices? Just doesn’t seem right.
Thanks for this timely reminder. We are coming back to Oahu in mid-July and my head was already spinning making sure the flights and hotel were booked, safe travels accounts set up, and appointments made for the Covid test (we are both vaccinated but figure this isn’t going to change). I wasn’t even going to look at the car rentals yet but boy, they are high! The Costco Travel option has been the best so far, picking up at the Sheraton not airport (thank goodness for Uber). 14 days is just at $1000. Still very high, but will keep checking as your tips mentioned. Thank you for all the helpful information.
Aloha! You touched on a topic that is hot in our household. All the add-on fees are ridiculous! One more tip that has been successful for us this past 3mos. Check your loyalty/rewards pts programs for rental car deals you can reserve with your points and points plus cash. We used Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards pts to fully cover a 6day car rental in Maui Dec 2020 and are using my Marriott Bonvoy pts+cash to fully pay a 6day car rental on the Big Island this coming 1st week in May. We’ve saved over $1000. For Marriott Bonvoy jist click their redeem points link on the website. With SWA look under their Rewards-Redeem for More Reward section. Mahalo for your timely info as always.
I just returned from 2 weeks in HNL and used Discount Car Rental–I frequently fly to HNL and have found DCR to always have the best rate. Plus I always get my user points. I typically use Dollar as it has been the least expensive. I discovered from this last trip that Dollar and Thrifty have merged their counters to save costs. So the line was ENORMOUS. Luckily, I went straight to the Express counter and saved an hour or so. My wait was less than 10min. Their inventory is down. I hope when I return, they’ll have rebounded enough to operate separately. Another best practice, because there is no advance payment with DCR, I checked weekly for a better rate, sure enough, it came down a week prior to departure to $300/week.
I made a booking through Discount Hawaii Car Rental back in December for a July trip. I just did a search for the same dates in July, and it would now cost me fully three times the December price. In other years I have seen big savings when booking six month ahead, so it’s always a good idea it seems.
Aloha Rob & Jeff.
Thanks for all the daily updates and great to hear some folks from the States are getting back to visit, but any news about International visitors getting back. Have had one jab and expect the second in April. My rescheduled trip (2 or 3 times changed) is due in September…Fingers crossed.
One other point. I’m a timeshare owner with Marriott & Westin with weeks on Oah’u, Maui & Kaua’i. All fees are paid, but no allowance seems to have been made about our not being able to get into the U.S. I’m wondering if this has come up at all or whether any of your readers has any comment.
Mahalo as always for your help and apologies for adding another gripe to the many on your list.
International remains down the list following domestic travel resumption with nothing yet in sight. Issues exist both here in US, and in UK among other places. It still feels as though international just isn’t going to happen for a while. We look forward to your being able to return as well as our being able to travel.
It’s beginning to sound like less and less fun. Covid test, high car rental rates, dishonest car rental companies, washed out roads . . .we can still cancel and try again someday? Please and thank you but I’m no longer as excited. . .
Hi Timmie.
There are many other places to visit in the world if Hawaii doesn’t suit you. Happy travels wherever you may go.
Aloha.
Yes, go somewhere else Timmie.
Also check to see if you can use your corporate car rate for personal use. Some companies allow this as a perk. Also don’t always go for the cheapest – if you have any status with a given rental provider, status cAn help with any problems or issues you may encounter.
Take into account that all car manufacturers in the world have millions of cars sitting unfinished in their yards. The computer chip shortage is not expected to loosen up soon. When the pandemic started the manufacturers pulled back the quantity of chips deliveries because they all use “JUST IN TIME” inventory, so the chip companies where inundated with orders from computer, office electronics etc. manufacturers with long term contracts. Cause: People are working from home causing exploding sales of office electronics.
There is no end in sight for car manufacturers to get microchips for their cars. This is going to negativily impact our economy considering that the largest manufacturing of vehicles is here in the US.
No the huge problem… to make a new manufacturing plant for chips takes a minimum of 2 years due the complexities of making chips. There cannot be any contamination in the super clean rooms. Because one tiny speck of dirt will ruin millions of dollars in microchips…
SORRY DONT KILL THE MESSENGER
Could this be considered price gouging at this time of a pandemic, as I just rented a car a month ago for a third of these new prices? Just doesn’t seem right.
Thank You
Thanks for this timely reminder. We are coming back to Oahu in mid-July and my head was already spinning making sure the flights and hotel were booked, safe travels accounts set up, and appointments made for the Covid test (we are both vaccinated but figure this isn’t going to change). I wasn’t even going to look at the car rentals yet but boy, they are high! The Costco Travel option has been the best so far, picking up at the Sheraton not airport (thank goodness for Uber). 14 days is just at $1000. Still very high, but will keep checking as your tips mentioned. Thank you for all the helpful information.
Aloha! You touched on a topic that is hot in our household. All the add-on fees are ridiculous! One more tip that has been successful for us this past 3mos. Check your loyalty/rewards pts programs for rental car deals you can reserve with your points and points plus cash. We used Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards pts to fully cover a 6day car rental in Maui Dec 2020 and are using my Marriott Bonvoy pts+cash to fully pay a 6day car rental on the Big Island this coming 1st week in May. We’ve saved over $1000. For Marriott Bonvoy jist click their redeem points link on the website. With SWA look under their Rewards-Redeem for More Reward section. Mahalo for your timely info as always.
Hi Suzanna.
Thanks. We appreciate your sharing those tips.
Aloha.
Thank you so much for this! I just saved $400 if booked from other places. You really rock by providing this helpful article!
I just returned from 2 weeks in HNL and used Discount Car Rental–I frequently fly to HNL and have found DCR to always have the best rate. Plus I always get my user points. I typically use Dollar as it has been the least expensive. I discovered from this last trip that Dollar and Thrifty have merged their counters to save costs. So the line was ENORMOUS. Luckily, I went straight to the Express counter and saved an hour or so. My wait was less than 10min. Their inventory is down. I hope when I return, they’ll have rebounded enough to operate separately. Another best practice, because there is no advance payment with DCR, I checked weekly for a better rate, sure enough, it came down a week prior to departure to $300/week.
I made a booking through Discount Hawaii Car Rental back in December for a July trip. I just did a search for the same dates in July, and it would now cost me fully three times the December price. In other years I have seen big savings when booking six month ahead, so it’s always a good idea it seems.
Aloha Rob & Jeff.
Thanks for all the daily updates and great to hear some folks from the States are getting back to visit, but any news about International visitors getting back. Have had one jab and expect the second in April. My rescheduled trip (2 or 3 times changed) is due in September…Fingers crossed.
One other point. I’m a timeshare owner with Marriott & Westin with weeks on Oah’u, Maui & Kaua’i. All fees are paid, but no allowance seems to have been made about our not being able to get into the U.S. I’m wondering if this has come up at all or whether any of your readers has any comment.
Mahalo as always for your help and apologies for adding another gripe to the many on your list.
Hi Michael.
International remains down the list following domestic travel resumption with nothing yet in sight. Issues exist both here in US, and in UK among other places. It still feels as though international just isn’t going to happen for a while. We look forward to your being able to return as well as our being able to travel.
Aloha.