Kauai Rental Car?

[RumpunchGirl]

I've been looking on the web for good deals on rental cars. I'm hoping for info on a good place to rent. Can you pick up cars at the port or do you have to go to the airport? Thanks for any and all help!:D

[beachchick]

You cannot pick up a rental car right at any of the piers. It's not possible in terms of space, security, logistics, personnel, etc.

 

I don't recommend one company over another. We go pretty much solely by price and have not had a problem with any major company in Hawaii. For a cruise, you'll want to make sure they send a shuttle to the pier from the airport locations (except as noted for specific ports).

 

In Hilo, Nawiliwili (Lihue), and Kahului (Maui), you will be best served by renting from the airport locations. Hilo is ITO; Lihue is LIH; Kahului is OGG. For Honolulu, you have aiport and downtown options. For Kona, the Dollar or Thrifty locations at the King Kamehameha Hotel across the street from the tender pier (and only available for cruisers; usually sells out in advance as the location is small) is better than the airport, which is nearly 30 minutes away (and most companies don't send shuttles to the tender pier). There's also an Enterprise (I think) in Kona. Lahaina is complicated and I've explained it in detail in a few of the threads I'll link for you.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=825929&highlight=rent

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=860504&highlight=rent

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=809793&highlight=rent

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=868680&highlight=rent

 

Hope that gives you some ideas.

 

beachchick

[RumpunchGirl]

Thanks beachchick for the info. We are in the process of booking a car. So my next question is where do you leave the rental car if you have it for both day? We talked to NCL and they said there is not parking at the port. So, do you bring the car back to the airport each day? It's hard to know what to plan for. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks! :confused:

[RumpunchGirl]

Well, I did find answers to some of my questions. After doing a search for Kauai port parking, I did learn that we could buy a parking pass at a shopping mall lblock from the pier. One post mentioned Anchor Cove, one mentioned Aloha Marketplace. One talked about a place that rents Mopeds in front. I'm fairly sure we'll find. But i am wondering how early these places are open to buy the $10 parking pass. Also, how early in the morning do the rental car shuttles start picking up at the port?