Car Hire Lahaina Help!

[lenorjen]

I am cruising to Lahaina and are going to hire a car...likely to be Alamo... which I understand this and all other companies have their Depots either at the Airport or nearby...

However I cannot find or get a definate response whether a shuttle is offered at the port to take you to the depot ...and when you drop off at the end of the day is there a shuttle back to port....also does anyone know if you can drop vehicles back around 9.00pm...

I have searched many past entries on this but there appears to be conflicting details and I would like something recent...hope you can help...Cheers Jenny

[beachchick]

I am cruising to Lahaina and are going to hire a car...likely to be Alamo... which I understand this and all other companies have their Depots either at the Airport or nearby...

However I cannot find or get a definate response whether a shuttle is offered at the port to take you to the depot ...and when you drop off at the end of the day is there a shuttle back to port....also does anyone know if you can drop vehicles back around 9.00pm...

I have searched many past entries on this but there appears to be conflicting details and I would like something recent...hope you can help...Cheers Jenny

 

You may already know this and be talking about the West Maui (commuter) Airport (designator: JHM). But coming into Lahaina you must NOT rent from the main Maui airport in Kahului (designator: OGG). It is almost an hour's drive each way and no rental company will shuttle between Lahaina and Kahului. Besides, you don't want to spend that much time renting and returning.

 

If you do an advanced search on this forum only for "Lahaina car rent" and similar, you will find a bunch of threads specifically addressing where you can rent on the west side.

 

Here are a few to get you started:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1536987&highlight=lahaina+car+rental

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1433072&highlight=lahaina+car+rental

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1541052&highlight=lahaina+car+rental

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1561593&highlight=lahaina+car+rental

 

beachchick

[lenorjen]

You may already know this and be talking about the West Maui (commuter) Airport (designator: JHM). But coming into Lahaina you must NOT rent from the main Maui airport in Kahului (designator: OGG). It is almost an hour's drive each way and no rental company will shuttle between Lahaina and Kahului. Besides, you don't want to spend that much time renting and returning.

 

If you do an advanced search on this forum only for "Lahaina car rent" and similar, you will find a bunch of threads specifically addressing where you can rent on the west side.

 

Here are a few to get you started:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1536987&highlight=lahaina+car+rental

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1433072&highlight=lahaina+car+rental

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1541052&highlight=lahaina+car+rental

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1561593&highlight=lahaina+car+rental

 

beachchick

Hi there...thankyou for your help....I had read most of the archived posts in regard to the hire of cars......and what I decided was to use Hertz which were at the Hyatt a short walk down the beach...rather than rely on shuttles etc to the airport ...I had emailed 2 Hire Companies and could not get any response in regard to the shuttles to port ...only the airport to the pick up spot so I just found it easier to go with Hyatt.....

so hope I have made the right decision....thanks again cheers Jenny

[Middleager]

Several companies will shuttle you from port to their rental location, north of Lahaina. However, most of them close at 4 pr 5pm. You can return at 9pm, with key drop-off. But then you'll need to cab back to port, to catch the tender back to ship (which is what we did).

[lenorjen]

Several companies will shuttle you from port to their rental location, north of Lahaina. However, most of them close at 4 pr 5pm. You can return at 9pm, with key drop-off. But then you'll need to cab back to port, to catch the tender back to ship (which is what we did).

 

Hi there...thankyou for your help....I think going with Hertz will be OK being closer to the port will give us a little more flexibility...especially as we want to return it back later that night....as I have booked at Dukes on the Beach for dinner so will drive back from there and drop car back on way...that's the theory anyway!!!

Cheers Jenny

[AJs Grandpa]

I am on the Golden Princess...left Maui yesterday. I rented from Dollar and regret it. All companies other than Hertz require a less than reliable and timely shuttle. I saw the Hertz van come by at least twice before other companies came.

 

Dollar staff was friendly, car was fine, and rate was good, but the hassle of getting to the rental office and back outweighed any cost savings. You'll either have to adjust your schedule to be sure to make the last shuttle or pay for a taxi. The cost of the taxi could equal or surpass any savings vs using Hertz.

 

I'll post more when I return, but the bottom line IMHO is renting on Kaui and Hilo is very easy with virtually any company--frequent shuttles to and/from airport rental sites. Maui and Oahu warrant more strategic thinking when deciding which agency to use.

[lenorjen]

Hi there...I am so happy to hear from someone with personal ..."at this minute " experience...I hesitated so much and booked originally with Alamo thinking they all had shuttles running often ....but with the early return for the vehicle ...thought that was also a little unsuitable so I cancelled that booking and then re-booked with Hertz...the only difference was the car...I really wanted a Mustang ( which wasn't guaranteed either with Alamo ) and with Hertz they offer a ford Spyder...never mind ...hubby's dreams of the Mustang will live on! So I feel very happy to hear from you...and do hope your Hire Car hassels improve.....also hope you enjoyed Maui......I visited there last year ...but mainly shopped in the port ...but we are overnight this time round and thought the car would be a better option to do the things we wanted....did you drive far ...and what were some of the highlights...cheers Jenny

[AJs Grandpa]

Sorry to be terse, but I am posting from ship headed back to LA. Only spent the day in Mauai. Did whale watch from Meamea (sp?) Bay. That was part of my problem and why I encourage strategic thinking for Maui. Will elaborate with my lessons learned next week.