Aulani & Car Rental Recommendations

[Meemoo]

Hello

We are staying at Aulani for our 2nd trip this coming November. We will be there for 11 nights and this time we would like to rent a car. Does anyone have any recommendations on where to rent the car for a good deal? We are tossing up whether to just rent one of 5 days or so or the entire trip - or if we should rent it when we need it direct from Aulani?

Thank you in advance

 

[karebear06]

Discount Hawaii Car Rental is who we are using. You can get a great deal round trip from the airport. It saved us more than $250 for a 5 day rental. We thought about renting a car for one day direct from Aulani, but we couldn't justify the price.

 

[Meemoo]

Thank you, I had a look & the rates look promising!

 

[DisWitt]

I'm a AVIS member, but my vouchers don't work in Hawaii. Plus, all of the rentals at HNL require a bus ride to the car (hint, mom and kids stay at the airport to get bags, dad fetches car and comes back to pick you up). Some of the rental places are further than others, but not more than 10 minutes and the bags at HNL take forever anyway (island time). I used Hotwire.com and got a good deal last time from another national company. When you return the car, have DH drop you, bags, kids, etc at the terminal, then return the car and just hop the shuttle back while you do agricultural inspection.

In your budget, don't forget the parking charge at Aulani... Unless you're a DVC member and it is free!

 

[eandesmom]

Costco!


Rates have been going steadily down as it gets closer to our 5/21 date. I've rebooked 4 times now for 7 nights. Started at $261 and am down to $137.

 

[zeferjen]

Costco!

Rates have been going steadily down as it gets closer to our 5/21 date. I've rebooked 4 times now for 7 nights. Started at $261 and am down to $137.

That sounds great. I am at 240 or so for my August trip but I keep checking for lower rates

 

[karebear06]

Discount Hawaii Car Rental is who we are using. You can get a great deal round trip from the airport. It saved us more than $250 for a 5 day rental. We thought about renting a car for one day direct from Aulani, but we couldn't justify the price.

I also wanted to add that we received a confirmation direct from Alamo when we booked through Discount Hawaii Car Rental. I'm not sure how they get such good rates, but it was cheaper than any AAA, Costco, etc coupons I could find.

 

[HD1]

I also wanted to add that we received a confirmation direct from Alamo when we booked through Discount Hawaii Car Rental. I'm not sure how they get such good rates, but it was cheaper than any AAA, Costco, etc coupons I could find.

We will be there in June and reserved with Dollar Rent a car...1 week for 123.08 out the door for midsized from the airport.

 

[bakenatj]

You don't have to take a bus to the car rental places, at least Dollar and a few others. Just outside of baggage claim 1 there is a cross walk that goes right to where you pick up your car if you rent from Dollar. Learned this the hard way. BTW, rent a car. The money you save on eating will pay for the car rental. Plus 11 days is a long time without the freedom to explore. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Meemoo]

Awesome, thank you We are DVC members so we wont need to worry about the parking! We are Costco members too so will check on their rates, as well as the ones recommended that you can collect straight from the airport, that sounds the most ideal after a 10 hour flight!

 

[jekjones1558]

You don't have to take a bus to the car rental places, at least Dollar and a few others. Just outside of baggage claim 1 there is a cross walk that goes right to where you pick up your car if you rent from Dollar. Learned this the hard way. BTW, rent a car. The money you save on eating will pay for the car rental. Plus 11 days is a long time without the freedom to explore. Enjoy your trip!

Seems like HNL's website says Dollar requires a shuttle. I wonder if their other info is correct.
http://hawaii.gov/hnl/ground-transportation/car-rentals
The text says Dollar is onsite but the list says it isn't.

 

[bakenatj]

Seems like HNL's website says Dollar requires a shuttle. I wonder if their other info is correct.
http://hawaii.gov/hnl/ground-transportation/car-rentals
The text says Dollar is onsite but the list says it isn't.

After we picked up our bags we used the Dollar phone and they said they would send a shuttle. We did a loop around the lot and got dropped off just across the street from baggage claim. While I was waiting for our car I walk maybe fifty feet from the desk to see a cross walk from baggage claim. A lot faster to just walk.

 

[cbnsoul]

I think Dollar may have moved recently. When you book a car through them it states they are now at a new location on Nimitz Highway.

 

[bakenatj]

I think Dollar may have moved recently. When you book a car through them it states they are now at a new location on Nimitz Highway.

Hmmm....must be real recent. I was just there in February.

 

[kvichi]

Hmmm....must be real recent. I was just there in February.

We used dollar in march and had to take a shuttle. They were located at the Nimitz location mentioned above. Not a big deal.

 

[DenLo]

We booked with Alamo. We didn't have a good rate at the beginning, but would check the rates from time to time. Six weeks from checkin the rates dropped. We cancelled our original reservation and rebooked at the rate that was half the original amount. This discount was better than any of the offers people were mentioning like they did here.

So whatever you reserve, make sure you can cancel and get a full refund if you find a better deal closer to your check in date.

 

[karebear06]

We booked with Alamo. We didn't have a good rate at the beginning, but would check the rates from time to time. Six weeks from checkin the rates dropped. We cancelled our original reservation and rebooked at the rate that was half the original amount. This discount was better than any of the offers people were mentioning like they did here.

So whatever you reserve, make sure you can cancel and get a full refund if you find a better deal closer to your check in date.

Discount Hawaii Car Rental doesn't require a credit card and you can cancel anytime with no penalty.

 

[Meemoo]

Thank you for the info - I will need to get a car seat for my youngest, 4 years old. They charge an additional $12 a day, this adds up for an 11 night trip!

 

[jekjones1558]

Thank you for the info - I will need to get a car seat for my youngest, 4 years old. They charge an additional $12 a day, this adds up for an 11 night trip!

Carseats can be checked on airlines for free. Why not bring one?

 

[Meemoo]

I shall look in to bringing one if we rent the car for the entire trip - thank you, great idea