desperate- how to rent car in kauai

[stuNYC]

I have tried several sites (Thrifty and Dollar) who appear to pick you up from the pier, but they are both sold out for the days we will be in port 1/28-1/29. Other car rentals appear to be only at the airport. Do these agency also have pickups from the pier. I am confused.

Kauai is the only port in which I intend to rent a car.

 

Any advice that you can provide will be greatly appreciated. I have an excursion that I need a car to get to

[Jen1000]

I have tried several sites (Thrifty and Dollar) who appear to pick you up from the pier, but they are both sold out for the days we will be in port 1/28-1/29. Other car rentals appear to be only at the airport. Do these agency also have pickups from the pier. I am confused.

Kauai is the only port in which I intend to rent a car.

 

Any advice that you can provide will be greatly appreciated. I have an excursion that I need a car to get to

 

From the cruise critic site: "Getting Around

The best way to get around on Kauai is by rental car. Avis, Budget, Hertz and National operate free shuttle service from the pier as well as Kmart, Hilo Hattie, Coconut Marketplace, Anchor Cove, Harbor Mall and Wal-Mart. Rentals start at about $40 per day. The Kauai Bus provides service between Hanalei and Kekaha daily except Sundays and county holidays. Stops include Lihue Airport, Kukui Grove Center and the Poipu resort area (adults pay $1.50 per trip)."

 

Jen in SoCal

[sailandcruise]

Find the location and click on "More Locations Details" and under the "Additional Information" heading it gives the information about shuttles.

 

Here's what it says for Kauai:

 

Lihue Airport (Kauai): Pier - Approximately 2.5 miles from the pier. Service is available 0600-2100. Please call 808-245-3356 after ship docks to arrange for pickup service.

[Nancyquilts]

We've never had any trouble getting a shuttle in Kauai, no matter which company we used.

[stuNYC]

Thanks for your replies. I rented a car from National at the airport. Even called them up to make sure that they had a shuttle from the pier which they said starts when the ship docks and goes every 10 minutes

 

I have heard that agency sometimes run out of cars despite reservations. What time would you suggest that I pick up the car. If 8AM, I have to rent for two days or return it at 8AM, which I can't because I have a excursion that on the second day that I wouldn't be back until 10AM.

 

Where do you park the car. I have read that the parking lot sells out quickly and you should get a parking pass as soon as you rent your car. Is that accurate?

[Giantfan13]

I'm sure it must happen, but I was assume it is rare that if you have a reservation for a car, that car should be there. You Are usually asked about what time you will pick up the car, and if you are there at that time, your car should be also. But reservations areNOT paid for in advance, so if you reserve for 8:00 and show up at 10:00, looking for your car, you might be out of luck. The agency might run out of the car you have reserved and if that happens, they will offer you an upgrade. If you don't like the upgrade, ask for something better. We reserved a Dodge Stratus, and when we got there, they were out of them. They offered me a Dodge Charger, which I refused as I didn't want a big car which ate up gas, so they then offered a PT Cruiser Convertible, which we gladly grabbed. In fact this happened twice.

 

Anyway if you rent for one day, you have 24 hours from when you pick up the car, to bring it back. If you bring it back an hour over the 24 hours, they have the right to charge you for another day. It's up to the agency if they want to do that, but they are in the business of making money, so if that happens be prepared to pay. You can bring the car back early with no charge, but why do an excursion if you have the car????

[hal2008]

Thanks for your replies. I rented a car from National at the airport. Even called them up to make sure that they had a shuttle from the pier which they said starts when the ship docks and goes every 10 minutes

 

I have heard that agency sometimes run out of cars despite reservations. What time would you suggest that I pick up the car. If 8AM, I have to rent for two days or return it at 8AM, which I can't because I have a excursion that on the second day that I wouldn't be back until 10AM.

 

Where do you park the car. I have read that the parking lot sells out quickly and you should get a parking pass as soon as you rent your car. Is that accurate?

 

 

Take your time. You are on vacation.

While theremay be cases, cant recall reading about it on this board about someone not getting a car after having confirmed reservation at Kauai.

 

On our cruise, parking lot did not sell out as many people parked at nearby shopping places (not sure how risky it is given Hawaii's high car vandalism rate but on the other hand not sure what safety $20 buys either)

 

Car rental agencies do not want to park cars at their lots at airport.

 

Als, the shuttle to parking place (Alcove) starts only after 8:15 AM. So if you are planning to leave before that, you wil get good exercise waking about half a mile or so.

[pizzalady1]

Als, the shuttle to parking place (Alcove) starts only after 8:15 AM. So if you are planning to leave before that, you wil get good exercise waking about half a mile or so.

 

We parked at the ALOHA MARKETPLACE, which is just a short, short walk from the pier. They had a secuity guard on duty after the building closed. They have very limited parking and you must have a purchase parking pass (at the time it was $10). Hal2008, maybe you are talking about a different parking lot?