Sweet ride, right? My husband Paul and I just returned from an unforgettable 6 day visit to Hawaii. It was our 5 year anniversary, so I wanted to do it up right. It was amazing, and having this car made it even more fun. I told Paul that I think I need this car when we get home, but I don't think that will happen. This is a "specialty car" from Alamo. One of the best things about getting this car was that it cost me the same amount that someone else would have paid for a standard car. Awesome, right? The freedom of a rental car during a vacation makes vacationing that much more fun.
But as fun as it is, it can also be an expensive travel expense.
I always evaluate all the costs
associated with a rental car versus the NEED to have one. Things I consider: how long will I need it(daily rate)? how much is gas? will I have time to fill it? do I need to pay to park it at my accommodations? will I need to pay parking fees wherever I go? how far will I travel from my hotel during my stay? how much would it cost to use a shuttle/drive service for my stay? In our experience, I heard that when visiting Hawaii you don't REALLY need a car so I took it upon myself to decide. I'd never been to Hawaii, so I took to the internet. We were on the island of Oahu and had visits planned to the Polynesian Cultural Center, Pearl Harbor, several "must see" beaches,and a visit to Disney's Aulani(I'm a major Disney nerd, and have lots of tips coming for Disney trips in later posts.). I then looked at public transportation/ride service costs. After that I felt it was a "no brainer" to get the car, but then I quickly realized the costs associated with parking practically ANYWHERE on Oahu. $35 to park in a hotel garage A NIGHT? Sheesh! It better come with a free cleaning at that price. It doesn't, by the way. I digress....During this same time I was also looking for a place to stay...possibly something without an outrageous parking fee. I decided that finding a place with included parking was the best for us. We didn't have time in our trip to deal with the struggle of not having a car. I also found that there was a Costco near our accommodation where I could fill the car for a reasonable price (Costco can be a lifesaver while traveling. I'll have a post about that too.)
Now, going about getting an awesome deal on a rental car.......As soon as you book your accommodations, or even before, when you know you need a rental car, book it. I only use 2 websites when booking a car:
Costcotravel.com(if you don't have a membership, use a friend) and
Hotwire.com. I've stayed away from booking with a specific agency, but my husband has found his favorite so I'm going to have to evaluate their website as well when making my decisions in the future. The reason I choose these 2 is because I have found that they have the best rates, and don't charge a fee to cancel. There is one exception, Hotwire charges if you book a "hot rate" and try canceling. I stay clear of this promotion because I can always find the same rate at Costco, and then if I find better I'm not locked in. I like it best when Costco has the lowest rate, only because I think the rental agency is a bit nicer if you're a Costco member. Maybe it's just me, but I'm pretty sure they don't want to lose Costco as a customer so they are always more kind, and offer a no-nonsense booking. The reason I book immediately is because the farther out you are from the date, the more reasonable the rate. Do not book a rental car during the 2 weeks before you leave(there is one exception, that I'll get to), that is when the rates are the highest. I booked a convertible using Hotwire when I booked my hotel. The rate was exactly the same for a convertible as a full size car. I always choose full size because my husband's legs are too long for most economy cars.
After booking I was all set. But, I wasn't done. Every time I got on the computer to research more for our vacation I would check the rates again. I love doing this because I get to see the fruits of my labor for booking early. I like to give myself props for saving so much money as I see the rates climb. Now, for most people that would be the end of it. But, not me! 1-2 days before we leave(if I remember) I like to check the rates one more time. This is the one last time the rates may be lower. The agencies lower their prices in a last ditch effort to rent out their cars. On our convertible, the rates were $40 more then what I had paid by booking months in advance. I also took some time to research the agency and see reviews. I love reading reviews because it helps me prepare for what my experience will be like is the agency on location, or will I need a shuttle, what kinds of lines can I expect, and what condition the cars are in. I'm telling you I love researching these thing!!! I was reading reviews on the agency I had chose and was baffled by the reviews....cockroaches in the cars, long lines to get a car, and unfriendly agents. I panicked! But, I also felt prepared. Then I read some reviews on the company that was $40 more. They had awesome reviews that even touted a self check out kiosk. We could get to our sweet ride even faster. It was also through Costco, so I decided to cancel the Cockroach ride, and rebook with the company that was $40 more. Sure I paid a little more, but I was paying for peace of mind.
When we arrived at the agency we opted to talk to a real agent since there was no line. He gave us 3 recommendations for places to visit while in town. I wanted to invite him with us, he was so nice. One of the questions you always get asked is if you want the additional coverage. I grew up with a frugal father who believed this additional coverage was just another way to "nickel & dime" you. It's optional, but I always like to see what the reviews say about the agency. I'm also very aware of my own car insurance coverage that does cover rentals. Credit cards also offer limited coverage as well. It's always good to know what coverage you have before you spend more money to protect yourself. If there are lots of comments in the reviews about being charged for damages to the car, I will add it. I will also take photos and make notes on the agencies damage sheet before leaving. I had an experience with my parents in Puerto Rico that proved buying the insurance was well worth it. Sure, a horse sat on the hood of our car, but it didn't leave a mark!?! They wanted to charge us for damage that was on the side of the vehicle. We let them know that we had paid for the additional coverage, and they were deflated when they realized they couldn't get additional money from us. Researching the agency is super helpful in many ways. In Hawaii we went outside to hop in our car. The agents outside let us know that all of the "convertible" level cars were gone and we could take a "specialty" convertible(for no additional cost) or wait for another one at our level to come back. Duh! Easy decision. When cars run out, always request an upgrade. Most agents have the ability to upgrade you without the need for management approval. We took the fancy "specialty" car and loved it. I know that I loved it more then Paul, but it was also great seeing the smile on his face as we drove off on our adventure.
Renting a car is an important decision, and it can make your adventure even better. Just know what you want before you rent. A sweet ride can be yours too.
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