Local Tips
- Plan to pick up and drop off your car at the Kona airport.
- Visit a discount Hawaii-based travel website, such as "Hawaii Car Rentals." (http://www.hawaiicarrentals.net/) or "Aloha Rents" (http://www.aloharents.com/). Your goal is to obtain a discount code. You will plug in this code directly into the coupon box of the website of the major car rental company of your choice (e.g. Budget, Avis, etc.)
- The island's discount travel sites have great deals but are extremely difficult to navigate.
- My advice: From "Hawaii Car Rentals" website, choose the word "Daily" "Weekly" or "Monthly" under the box at the very center top that says "Amazing Rates." A page will open that lists rental specials, but the page doesn't list the brand names. For example, "Major National Brand #1" is Avis rental car company. (Hint: To find out what brand is being offered, click directly on the words "Major National Brand #1"). Look for the data row that represents Economy/Subcompact cars.
- The first number represents the daily rate and the second number is the weekly rate. For example, if the listing says "$28/142," the weekly rate is $142 (NOT including taxes and fees which are expensive).
- When you locate the deal you want, click directly on the words "Major National Brand #3" (or whatever you chose) in the boxes naming rental companies. You will be taken to that company's website with the "Promo Code" or "Coupon Code" or "Corporate Code" or whatever box filled in automatically. I suggest you write this code down.
- Continue to book online through the specific car company's website.
- When you pick up your rental car make sure to obey the speed limit and drive courteously! If you exceed the speed limit, you will be pulled over and given a ticket. This is not California - no tail-gaiting, honking, or road rage. Be wary - cops here drive their own SUV's and are hard to spot. Be especially careful on Queen K and Alii Drive.
