Your lodging and air is booked, so what’s next? I recommend you reserve your rental car as soon as possible. Rates most likely will go up, but what if they go down?SECRET: You don’t need a credit card to reserve a car with most agencies and cancellation is free. Book away without the stress! If you find a cheaper rate, simply book the new one and cancel the other.
A rental car in Maui is a must
You might be asking, do I need a car in Maui?The answer is simple, yes! Unless you are someone who wants to spend your entire trip sitting by the pool at your hotel, you will need a car. Maui is best enjoyed by exploring the island. And guess what, you will save money with a car! Wait what? If you have a car, you can hit up the grocery stores for food (there is a reason your hotel doesn’t list prices on the menu), buy inexpensive souvenirs at Walmart like macadamia nut pancake mix, coffee, wood bowls and toys (locals don’t kill me for this recommendation, but this is always my last stop on the way to the airport), and drive to “Turtle Town” to snorkel or do the Road to Hana on your own instead of paying for a guided tour.
SECRET: Check out Kihei Rent A Car for discounted rental prices on used cars if you are staying in South Maui. The cars and Jeeps are a bit older so you look like a local, which helps deter break-ins. Super nice people and if you rent for 5 days or more, a van picks you up at airport for free. Bonus: car seats and boosters are free if reserved in advance.
Finding the Best Rates
Always compare these places before booking your car:
– Kihei Rent A Car (If your plane arrives late, I recommend you stick with the major national brands with desks at the airport since their shuttle doesn’t run at night.)
– Your favorite travel search engine. I like Kayak, Travelocity and Orbitz.
– If you are a Costco member, I’ve found the cheapest rates for national brands on their travel site (especially for minivans). It usually ends up being with Alamo, where we’ve always had a great experience.
Once you’ve narrowed your options down to the best rate, always check directly on that specific rental agency’s website to compare rates. Like I do for airfare, I prefer to book directly through the company vs. a third party/travel search engine in case any issues come up. You are out of luck if Expedia drops the ball and Alamo is out of cars. You can also see if you can find any coupons, but I haven’t had much luck finding ones good outside the mainland. (Please let me know in the comments if you’ve found any.)
Not sure which car type to rent? Read this post.
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