Jun 3, 2019, 10:34 am
Last edit by: FlyinHawaiian
If you are a Costco member, the Kailua-Kona location has the cheapest gas on the Big Island and is close enough to KOA to fill up before returning your car. https://www.costco.com/warehouse-loc...na-hi-140.html
Consolidated "Renting at KOA; What Kind of Cars to Expect?" Thread
Nov 20, 2017, 5:10 am
#16
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KOA is a decent station but pretty spartan. There's no Gold Canopy or Ultimate Choice service there, so you'll need to get your keys from the Gold Desk. As a PC member with a mid-size reservation, I would expect you to be assigned a full-size car like a Nissan Altima or a mid-size SUV like a Nissan Rogue.
Nov 20, 2017, 6:41 am
#17
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KOA is a decent station but pretty spartan. There's no Gold Canopy or Ultimate Choice service there, so you'll need to get your keys from the Gold Desk. As a PC member with a mid-size reservation, I would expect you to be assigned a full-size car like a Nissan Altima or a mid-size SUV like a Nissan Rogue.
In both cases my name was on the board and the keys were in the car so check-out and return were both quite seamless. Our one-day rental was a decent GM SUV with about 3,000 miles. The one-week was a 2017 Hyundai Sonata with 18,000 miles and lots of little scratches, but it ran fine for the 400 miles we drove here and there.
It's nice that Costco with "bargain" $2.99 gas is only three miles from the airport. @:-)
Nov 20, 2017, 6:50 am
#18
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Thats a great tip, thanks! Also glad to hear they do have a Gold board, and hopefully keys in car. As I'll be flying in from Europe, AMS-IAH-SFO-KOA, I'll be quite tired at that points and would not like waiting for too long haha.
Nov 21, 2017, 11:10 am
#19
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Best of luck- and enjoy! For those renting the next two months and counting on cheaper fuel at Costco, remember they are closed on certain days (Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day) and the gas station follows this as well. Has thrown me off before, and had to fill up at the Chevron
They do an id check at the booth when heading out. Typically moves pretty quick.
Dec 12, 2017, 8:14 am
#20
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Completed a rental at KOA this week.
Booked F
Received F (Nissan Altima) 9000 miles on the odo.
My name was on the Gold board, and keys in car. Could drive straight to exit, no wait whatsoever, I was pleased with it.
Booked F
Received F (Nissan Altima) 9000 miles on the odo.
My name was on the Gold board, and keys in car. Could drive straight to exit, no wait whatsoever, I was pleased with it.
May 15, 2018, 4:20 pm
#21
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Any idea what the current convertible options are at KOA? Just made a reservation for a week in Sep and plan to use points. Camaro? Chrysler? Just wondering if it's worth a call over to the manager to request something special -- thanks.
Jul 11, 2018, 10:26 pm
#22
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Any recent experiences? I have a F car reservation for this weekend and am PC so curious what if anything I can score an upgrade to. I'll be sure to report back.
Edit: so they wound up giving me a 2018 Chevy Equinox with only a few thousand miles on the odometer.
Edit: so they wound up giving me a 2018 Chevy Equinox with only a few thousand miles on the odometer.
Last edited by krazykanuck; Jul 13, 2018 at 1:06 am
Jul 19, 2018, 10:33 pm
#23
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: SFO, OAK, SJC
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Completed a week-long rental in May out of KOA, booked a Q4. I got a Nissan Rogue with a little under 9,000 miles on it.
At first the agent assigned me a new Mazda CX5 but later realized he chose the wrong person's booking.
At first the agent assigned me a new Mazda CX5 but later realized he chose the wrong person's booking.
Aug 15, 2018, 12:16 pm
#24
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Hertz Kona (KOA) Airport, Hawaii
August 2018
Name not on the board, no text message with pre-assigned car.
Went into the office. Hertz.com rate for my dates was now $100 cheaper. Branch wouldn't match it so I canceled my existing reservation and made a new booking. I booked a full-size car and received a four-door Jeep Wrangler Sahara with about 2,200 miles on it.
My colleague who is also President's Circle and also booked a full-size received a Nissan Armada SUV. He asked about a GMC Yukon XL or Chevrolet Suburban (they had several), but was told it would be $50 extra per day.
August 2018
Name not on the board, no text message with pre-assigned car.
Went into the office. Hertz.com rate for my dates was now $100 cheaper. Branch wouldn't match it so I canceled my existing reservation and made a new booking. I booked a full-size car and received a four-door Jeep Wrangler Sahara with about 2,200 miles on it.
My colleague who is also President's Circle and also booked a full-size received a Nissan Armada SUV. He asked about a GMC Yukon XL or Chevrolet Suburban (they had several), but was told it would be $50 extra per day.
Oct 2, 2018, 2:06 pm
#25
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Thanks.
Nov 14, 2018, 3:00 pm
#26
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Kona Airport - KOA
Booked an FCAR. Despite the rental car lots being really close to the terminal you have to take a shuttle bus. My name wasn't on the board (and neither was the other Gold member on the bus) so I went inside. All they had for me was an Nissan Altima or some SUVs. Took the Altima which was fine, though obviously nothing exciting or special. Employees here are pretty friendly.
Booked an FCAR. Despite the rental car lots being really close to the terminal you have to take a shuttle bus. My name wasn't on the board (and neither was the other Gold member on the bus) so I went inside. All they had for me was an Nissan Altima or some SUVs. Took the Altima which was fine, though obviously nothing exciting or special. Employees here are pretty friendly.
May 20, 2019, 4:21 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 87
KOA Group F4
HI all
Looking to book the following class at KOA airport. Any idea what model this will be and whether it will be 4 wheel drive?
Fullsize Recreational Vehicle (Group L4) FRAR
(L4) Nissan Pathfinder or similar
thanks
JB
Looking to book the following class at KOA airport. Any idea what model this will be and whether it will be 4 wheel drive?
Fullsize Recreational Vehicle (Group L4) FRAR
(L4) Nissan Pathfinder or similar
thanks
JB
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; May 20, 2019 at 6:34 pm Reason: moved into dedicated thread for this location
Jun 3, 2019, 10:07 am
#30
Join Date: Feb 2019
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Honestly not the widest selection, but fantastic and generous staff.
Booking on 5/22: Booked Intermediate, got a Nissan Sentra. Asked for an upgrade and received an Infiniti Q50. Returned since the cargo space was a bit small, got a Ford Flex instead. Swapped one more time since the Flex gobbled fuel, got a 300C (which wasn't much better funny enough)
Booking on 5/27: Booked Group G4, received a free upgrade to a Mustang GT Convertible.
Booking on 5/22: Booked Intermediate, got a Nissan Sentra. Asked for an upgrade and received an Infiniti Q50. Returned since the cargo space was a bit small, got a Ford Flex instead. Swapped one more time since the Flex gobbled fuel, got a 300C (which wasn't much better funny enough)
Booking on 5/27: Booked Group G4, received a free upgrade to a Mustang GT Convertible.