Kona Car Rental

Kona car rental agencies are located a short bus ride from the Kona airport terminal. Budget Hertz and Dollar just to name a few are all located right there at the airport.

An independent rental car company named Harper, rents 4wheel drives and motor homes. They're also located right there at the airport. I've rented trucks from them before and they definitely don't come under the "cheap" rental car concept.

This only works if there are 2 or more in your party. One of you gets on the shuttle to the rental car agency and the other person goes and waits for the luggage at baggage claim. Then the person with the luggage's waits out at the curb for the other person to pull up with the rental car to load the luggage.

This beats hauling your luggage on the shuttle to the rental car agency. Not to mention you beat the other 200 people on the plane to the rental cars.

It depends if you're a back roads adventurer or not. If you are, rent a 4 wheel drive. You'll need it for some of the more secluded places on the island. Like Waipio Valley for example. You can not drive a 2 wheel drive car down into the valley. The road is super steep and you need the 4 wheel drive to get back up the road. Most rental companies don't allow you to take their vehicle off-road or to Mauna Kea and Wiapio Valley. If you violate the terms of your rental agreement and the vehicle breaksdown in one of those locations, you're screwed. Hope you have about an extra $1000 to pay the tow company. Oh yes, you're paying baby. You were specifically told in writing when you signed the contract. Remember?

If you're not into getting off the beaten path, then just rent a car.

I see a lot of folks driving around in convertible rental cars, their great in the winter. But I wouldn't be driving around in the summer with the top down, unless of course you have a desire for major sunburn.

Last but not least, make sure you reserve your car rental before arriving in Kona. I know someone who works at one of the rental car agencies that told me people call after they get off the plane looking for a car to rent and guess what? Sometimes they're out of cars! This is not the big city folks. Plan ahead or you may not get a rental car. Really.

And whatever you do, don't rent from Alamo. On the mainland they're OK. But we're not in Kansas anymore...

It's not unusual to arrive here at night and find out they don't have any cars to give to folks who reserved months in advance. They over book so they can make maximum profits.

A lot of times when this happens they give you a ride to your hotel and then string you along for a day or more until they have a car to give you. They are the epitome of greedy corporate America.

If you've already made arrangements with them, just scream long and loud, they'll give you discount coupons to shut you up. The squeaky wheel gets greased...

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