Car Rental Advice
 

Does anyone have a recommendation for getting the best deal on renting a convertible in Maui (for two weeks or more)?

Maui is very competitive in the car rental biz and rates tend to be low. Check with the place you're staying. Many of them have agreements with car rental firms and/or package deals that include a room and a car for little more than you would pay for the room itself.

Keep in mind that car rental insurance may not cover driving south past Hana - or at least past Lindbergh's grave - on the east end of the island.

www.biztravel.com is good for finding the lowest rental rate.

I am renting a car in Maui in December. What does this mean?

Roads in Maui are rugged, remote and unimproved (read: dirt and gravel roads) beyond that point. (Hana/Lindbergh's grave)

------------------
AlphaSigOU
Causa latet vis est notissima - the cause is hidden, the results are well-known.

Thanks for beating me to the explanation, AlphaSigOU. Since I can't resist adding something, I'd suggest that GM99 find Hana on a map of Maui. The road from the major tourist centers along the north shore is well paved, though incredibly twisty in spots and near the cliffs to the ocean. It's worth a drive if you're not feeling too cautious. (You can fly or ride if you don't want to drive yourself.) The short distance from the town of Hana to Lindbergh's grave is marginally driveable in a standard car if you can keep out of the worst holes. From there on you'd want a Jeep. That's the part where the rental folks don't want you taking their property. There's no need to in the usual tourist situation in any case.

Thanks for the info.
I ahve never been to Maui (Hawaii for that matter) I am sure it will be fun

My suggestion is to NOT rent a convertible in Maui in Dec etc. Get one with an actual real roof. The sun is very hot, the UV (A, B etc) are not good for homo sapiens, the car thieves love to cut-n-loot the converts, the "black snow" from H C & S raise h*ll with white/light clothing etc. My suggestion is to rent a nice small (compact) car for the mostly narrow roads and high gas prices.

Some people really take my nice advise.....others including my daughter, do not (she wanted and rented a convertible). And she got sunburn AND windburn. She sez it was "worth it".

I am renting a truck from Budget for $19 a day, not quite a convertible but maybe I won't get sunburned.

I have rented a wide variety of vehicles on Maui and have to admit that I have enjoyed convertibles and jeeps----but in the most recent trip (two weeks ago) I couldn't find a convertible at what I considered a reasonable rate. I kept on checking the various car rental sites and with their 800 number (I use Hertz Gold and National Emerald Club for the most part). I also bid a number of times (waiting a week between bids) via priceline, bidding up to $40 per day. I ended up with a full size car through Budget at $29.99 per day for a Nissan Maxima.

P.S. In my opinion the road to Hana is worth the ride, but make reservations at Mama's Fish House for dinner on the way home http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif