Hawaii - Big Island - do I really need an SUV?

Title says it all - do I really need an SUV for a vacation on the Big Island?
2 adults, 2 kids (6 & 4), 4-5 nights west side, 3-2 nights national park / hilo / other sides.

Thanks,

I was on the Kona side 10 years ago and a regular car worked out well.

Title says it all - do I really need an SUV for a vacation on the Big Island?
2 adults, 2 kids (6 & 4), 4-5 nights west side, 3-2 nights national park / hilo / other sides.

Thanks,

We were on the Big Island (Kona) 3 weeks ago had a Mustang Conv. Drove about 800 miles to the south end, the north end and up to the volcano with no problem. So IMO NO you don't need one

Only a few places where you really need one:

1. If you want to go up to Mauna Kea on your own with the guided tour... where you get to go into one of the observatories. They require you to have an SUV to be part of the caravan.

2. If you want to go down into Waipio Valley.... I will remember that experience forever... just beautiful.

Otherwise, not worth the cost... unless you can get a steal for the vehicle like we did over our Anniversary in November.

Title says it all - do I really need an SUV for a vacation on the Big Island?
2 adults, 2 kids (6 & 4), 4-5 nights west side, 3-2 nights national park / hilo / other sides.

Thanks,

Are there a few things on the island that require an SUV? Yes

Do you have any of them planned? I don't know

Is there plenty to do w/out an SUV? Yes

Can you have a great time w/out an SUV? Yes

Only a few places where you really need one:

1. If you want to go up to Mauna Kea on your own with the guided tour... where you get to go into one of the observatories. They require you to have an SUV to be part of the caravan.

2. If you want to go down into Waipio Valley.... I will remember that experience forever... just beautiful.

Otherwise, not worth the cost... unless you can get a steal for the vehicle like we did over our Anniversary in November.

I agree to the above. I was there two weeks ago and got an SUV so I could drive to the Mauna Loa Observatory and do some hiking. We didn't need the SUV, although it made it easier to go over the potholes.

In general, it is unnecessary to have an SUV unless you were purposely off-roading or doing 1 or 2 above. Also, gas is around $4.50 a gallon.

Rich

Be useful if in South Point area, if you want to visit the green sand beach to ride in an SUV.

Mauna Kea summit is a must have SUV situation.. but do keep in mind most rental companies don't allow such travel in their contracts

save dough on gas..and get a reg car....you shouldn't take the a suv doing suv things anyways..it will break your rental car agreement...plus you can be doing lots and lots of driving...

do I really need an SUV for a vacation on the Big Island?,

No.

I live on the Big Island and my SUV is the least used of my 3 cars.

save dough on gas..and get a reg car....you shouldn't take the a suv doing suv things anyways..it will break your rental car agreement...plus you can be doing lots and lots of driving...

Big Island on March 27th for 10 nights, I've got a minivan for $603 all in, and a car for $328. We've been using the minivan for quite a few years, and I'm thinking of using a car this time out.

We've got two kids ages 2 and 6. Question is, do you think we'll be able to survive with just a car, or should we shell out the bucks for the minivan. I've rate coded everything out, and these options looks like the lowest prices I can get.

save dough on gas..and get a reg car....you shouldn't take the a suv doing suv things anyways..it will break your rental car agreement...plus you can be doing lots and lots of driving...

Big Island on March 27th for 10 nights, I've got a minivan for $603 all in, and a car for $328. We've been using the minivan for quite a few years, and I'm thinking of using a car this time out.

We've got two kids ages 2 and 6. Question is, do you think we'll be able to survive with just a car, or should we shell out the bucks for the minivan. I've rate coded everything out, and these options looks like the lowest prices I can get.

What do you mean survive?

What do you mean survive?

My wife has a concern that taking a car, there won't be comfort enough for the kids, and room enough for our luggages. I guess we're bit of a pack rat, my wife likes to bring more than enough on the trips and we often have 5 carryons, two car seats and three full packed luggages. Any thoughts to just getting the mini van and paying the big bucks or going with just a vehicle?

We have 2 kids and have never rented more than a 4 door sedan anywhere in the world. Carseats are not an issue, they go in the back seat and you can usually fit a couple of backpacks/carryons in between them. 3 full sized suitcases might be an issue depending on the trunk size.

We have 2 kids and have never rented more than a 4 door sedan anywhere in the world. Carseats are not an issue, they go in the back seat and you can usually fit a couple of backpacks/carryons in between them. 3 full sized suitcases might be an issue depending on the trunk size.

Thanks.. my wife is having issue downgrading to a full size sedan, saying that kids won't get the experience they would by driving a van. I'm leaning towards taking a sedan out on each of the three islands this go round because of the fact we are travelling 3 weeks Hawaii and 7 weeks Europe, so I wouldn't mind stretching out every dollar we can. So suffering one year in Hawaii in full size sedans doesn't sound too bad I guess.

Its just the 4 of us, and we have one large, one medium and one small suitcase, 7 carryons (purse, diaper bag, one car seat, computer bag, and three suit case carryon bags).

What "experience" will a 4 and 6 yr old get in a van that they won't get in a sedan?:confused:

Thanks.. my wife is having issue downgrading to a full size sedan, saying that kids won't get the experience they would by driving a van. I'm leaning towards taking a sedan out on each of the three islands this go round because of the fact we are travelling 3 weeks Hawaii and 7 weeks Europe, so I wouldn't mind stretching out every dollar we can. So suffering one year in Hawaii in full size sedans doesn't sound too bad I guess.

Its just the 4 of us, and we have one large, one medium and one small suitcase, 7 carryons (purse, diaper bag, one car seat, computer bag, and three suit case carryon bags).

I'd practice at home. If you can pack a sedan before you leave and get everything to fit, I think you'll be fine. The only time you'll need everything in the vehicle is to and from the airport in Hawaii.

What "experience" will a 4 and 6 yr old get in a van that they won't get in a sedan?:confused:

LOL.. I'm kind of wondering that myself.:D

Although my wife doesn't have a problem me booking a convertible, as the roof off won't impede on the view rofl.:D

I'd practice at home. If you can pack a sedan before you leave and get everything to fit, I think you'll be fine. The only time you'll need everything in the vehicle is to and from the airport in Hawaii.

My S500 Benz will definitely fit everything in.. but the same car body that Princess Diana died in won't be representative of a full size sedan rented out of Alamo I don't think.. I mean the S500 vehicle is massive and oversized.

In my world a small suitcase is a 22 inch carry one, a medium is a 24" and a large is a 26". You have 3 carry on sized suit cases, and three progressively bigger than carryons for a total of six suitcases? This is 3 times as many suitcases as my family with two (bigger) kids takes on vacation. What are you packing? The clothes for a 4 and 6 year old are small. You are going long enough that I assume you are planning on doing laundry along the way. You have small children, so I'm assuming you aren't doing a lot of fancy nights out. This seems really, really excessive.

My S500 Benz will definitely fit everything in..

Just ask for one of those when you pick up your Full Size :D

On our last trip to Hawaii, we rented an Impala - the trunk was enormous and had room for two large suitcases, three carry on bags, a stroller, and probably a body if we needed it. The car itself just had the two car seats and plenty of room.

Just ask for one of those when you pick up your Full Size :D

On our last trip to Hawaii, we rented an Impala - the trunk was enormous and had room for two large suitcases, three carry on bags, a stroller, and probably a body if we needed it. The car itself just had the two car seats and plenty of room.

Got the Impala or similar full size rented out besides the mini-van.. I was reading its 18 cubic feet or something.. Got the convertible first island Honolulu at a great rate, but only 9 cubic feet of trunk space.. so I think if we keep the convertible, I might have to make a couple trips to get everything from the airport rental kiosk.. so contemplating what we should do.

The other two islands we've got the full size, so should work.

Does anyone know what's truly in the SUV fleets of either Hertz or Avis on the Big Island? Hertz says Equinox's, Avis - Ford Escapes.

Does anyone know what's truly in the SUV fleets of either Hertz or Avis on the Big Island? Hertz says Equinox's, Avis - Ford Escapes.

I have no idea what you're looking at, or where you got your information. But if you look at the Hertz site, you'll find the following listed in the SUV category:
Toyota RAV4 - Midsize
Chevy Equinox or Traverse - Standard
Chevy Suburban - Premium
Cadillac Escalade, Infiniti Q56, Infiniti FX35, Mercedes GL450 - all Prestige

And if you look at the Avis site, you find the following:
Ford Escape - Intermediate
Ford Edge - Standard
Chevy Traverse - Standard Elite
Chevy Tahoe - Fullsize
Chevy Suburban - Premium

SUVs on the island are often quite different than what the rental companies list on their websites--I've found the difference especially meaningful in the "intermediate SUV" category. We like the taller SUVs because of better visibility for passengers when riding, yet the cars in that class on *each* island seem to vary widely even within the same company.

To deal with this, I book the vehicle type I want (and *think* I'm getting something similar to based on the firm's website) but then I always call that specific pickup location directly (keeping Hawaiian time in mind) and ask what vehicles they rent as that class.

We went in '05 and rented a Hummer H2 using my Hertz points. It was so muh fun, I will never forget it. That said, you don't need a SUV except to go off road. The rental agreements prohibit offloading, so if you break something or get stranded it will be very expensive.

http://thaitum.com/photos_public/hertz/thumbs/th_dsc07083.jpghttp://thaitum.com/photos_public/hertz/thumbs/th_dsc07075.jpghttp://thaitum.com/photos_public/hertz/thumbs/th_dsc07009.jpghttp://thaitum.com/photos_public/hertz/thumbs/th_dsc06979.jpg

I've been there twice with kids, aged 10/5 and 6/1. Also to Oahu at 6/1, Kauai at 8/3 and Maui all three trips, as well as many other islands, vacation spots, etc. I've never rented anything more than a full-size car, even when skiing and having two sets of skis and ski/winter clothes.

I'm also not clear on what "experience" would be missed. I'm hoping you would actually stop at places like VNP, Akaka, Awini, etc. and walk around, hike, explore, etc. A vehicle is just a means to get somewhere.

As noted, there are only two places I can think of going with a 4WD, both of which are prohibited in rental contracts. The Observatory on Mauna Kea is great for kids - lots of folks with telescopes set up, programs to discuss the sky, etc. It's above any cloud layers and has incredible viewing. It's also not recommended to take kids under 16 to the summit, for health reasons.