Car Rental Hawaii
by NKT Travel
Q: How can you offer such low prices? We just checked with the rental car company directly and the prices on their page were about 30% higher than if we book through you.
A: We have such a high volume each year, we can negotiate great deals with the rental car companies and we pass the discount on to our clients.
Q: If I have to cancel this reservation because of a change of plans, do I have to pay a cancellation fee?
A: No, you can simply go to our cancellation page, enter your confirmation number and Last Name, and cancel or change the reservation at no fee.
Q: Since I don't have to give you my credit card information, how do I know that you are really holding this reservation for me?
A: You will receive a confirmation number after we place the reservation for you. This number guarantees you the rental car. You can always call the rental car company directly, to verify this information (they won't allow you to make changes or cancellations over the phone because it was booked through us).
Q: What do you mean exactly by "reservations are subject to availability"? Does it mean that, when I pick up the car, I may get a different car, because they are sold out of the car I reserved?
A: It means that, after you get a price quote from us, we don't know at that moment if the car is available. It is only after you send the price quote to us and ask us to place the reservation, that we book the car. Only then do we find out if the car is available or not. Should the car NOT be available, we would contact you and discuss further options. If the car IS available, we book it and send you a confirmation number. The confirmation number guarantees that the car will be held for you. If your car is not available at pick-up time, you will get an upgrade at no additional charge.
Q: Where do we pick up the car at the Airport?
A: After arriving at the Airport, please ask for the designated area outside the baggage claim where the Car Rental Agency Shuttle Busses pick up clients. Then board the bus for a ride to the far side of the parking lot where the car agencies are located.
NKT Travel provides service from the following Hawaiian airports:
Oahu: Honolulu International (HNL) & Honolulu Waikiki (HNL2)
Maui: Kahului (OGG) & Kapalua (JHM)
Kauai: Lihue (LIH)
Big Island: Kona (KOA) & Hilo (ITO)
Q: Will it be an NKT Travel Shuttle Bus which will pick us up?
A: No, it is the Shuttle Bus for the Car Rental Agency on which you are holding the reservation.
Q: Does it cost extra to drop the car off at a different location from where we picked it up?
A: Yes, Alamo may charge a drop off fee (sometimes they do, sometimes they don't). The drop off fee is different for each place: Honolulu Airport : Downtown or visa versa) $25.00; Kaanapali/West Maui : Kahului Airport (or visa versa) $35.00; and Hilo : Kona $45.00
Q: Are there any additional charges beside the price stated in the confirmation email?
A: Once the car is confirmed, we send you a confirmation email which contains the confirmation number as well as the final price. This price is not going to change, unless you purchase additional services or upgrades.
Q: Do I need additional Insurance?
A: This is something you have to determine by talking to your car insurance company or your credit card company (some credit cards cover Insurance when paying the charges with it).
Q: Is it possible to reserve a Chrysler Sebring convertible?
A: Unfortunately we cannot reserve specific car brands or models, but we can guarantee that you get, for example, a convertible. We do try to book the car with a rental car company which has the desired car type.
Q: Is there any other car besides the Mini Van which can hold more than 5 passengers?
A: Yes, the Fullsize SUV can hold 7 passengers as well.
Q: Is the SUV a 4-Wheel drive?
A: Yes, all SUV's are 4WD as well as the Jeep Wrangler.
Q: How can I reserve a Full Size SUV? I don't see it as an option in the Car categories.
A: Send us an email for a special request. We will send you a price quote and, if you like it, we can reserve the car for you (if it is available for your preferred dates).
Q: Do I have to pay for the full duration of the reservation, if I drop the car off earlier?
A: If you pick up a car for a 2 week rental and then return it after 12 days, you pay for only 12 days. (rentals are on a 24-hour basis calculated from the pick-up time). Some Rental Car companies apply an early drop-off fee of $15.00.
Q: How does pick up at the pier work?
A: There are free shuttle buses shuttling between the Cruise-Ship and the pick-up Agency. Most of the pick-up Agencies are at the nearby Airport. Only in Honolulu the pickup is arranged by the Down Town Agency). Lihue, Kahului, Hilo and Kona are at the nearby airport.
Q: Should we call the local Agency before we leave the ship, so that they can send a Shuttle Bus to pick us up?
A: No, they will not come to the ship until you are on shore. (note that you will get a list with the phone numbers for all the local agencies once you've booked the cars. PLEASE PRINT THIS LIST AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE IT WITH YOU ON YOUR CRUISE together with the confirmation email for each car).
Q: What pickup location is available for Kauai?
A: There is only one place to pick up cars in Kauai, which is at the Lihue airport (about a 5 Minute drive). So to do the booking please use the Lihue/Kauai location.
Q: Are there rental cars available for cruise ship customers in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island?
A: Yes, you can pick up cars in Kona between 7am and 11am at the pier and drop them off between 2:30 and 3:30pm to get a ride back to the pier.
There is also a Dollar rental agency in the hotel next to the harbor within walking distance. Dollar rates are a little higher but might be worth it for the time savings. They rent only midsize cars and larger. The final price for a midsize car is about the same as a compact car picked up at the airport because of less tax. The downside is that this location closes at 4:30pm and, therefore, the last drop-off has to be before 4pm.
Q: Where is the pick-up location in downtown Honolulu?
A: It is at 1778 Ala Moana Blvd. near the Ala Moana Shopping Center (on the corner of Hobron Lane and Ala Moana Blvd at the Discovery Day Center, lower level, under Starbucks) about 10 Minutes from the pier.
Q: Is it possible to return the car in downtown Honolulu late at night?
A: No. The agency closes at 7:30pm and there is no after-hours drop off. You have to drop it off before 7:30pm or the next morning after 7am.
Q: Is there parking at the pier in Honolulu?
A: No. And, if your car gets towed, the cost is about $100 to $160 Dollars. The only parking is several blocks away in the underground parking of a shopping mall.
Q: Is it possible to return the car at the Honolulu Airport Location?
A: Yes, you can pick-up at the Downtown location and drop-off at the Airport Location. Alamo charges you a drop off fee of 20 dollars. (Some cruise ship customers get a free ride to the Airport - in this case of course you can arrange pick up and drop off at the Airport. But if you don't have the free transfer, you MUST arrange pick up at the Down Town Location, since none of the rental car companies come from the airport to the pier for pick up).
Q: What is the pick up station for my stay in Lahaina/Maui?
A: The pick-up station for Lahaina is called "Maui - Kaanapali". There is a shuttle bus running between the harbor and the location (please be advised that this location closes at 5:30pm.)
Q: I am staying on Maui (Kahului) and Kauai (Lihue) for 2 days each. Should I rent a car each day, and return it in the evening, or should I rent one car for the entire time and, if so, where can I park it overnight?
A: According to feedback of other cruise ship customers that have rented cars through Car Rental Hawaii, we suggest you rent a car for 2 days. There is a designated parking area where you can park the car at the pier or nearby. Ask the steward or the security agent when you leave the ship where to park the car overnight. Some of our customers have reported that someone tried to steal gas out of the car overnight, so if you have a choice to have it parked for a fee in a secured parking area, we recommend doing so!
Q: Is it better to rent the car on Maui or Kauai for 1 or 2 days?
A: If you reserve the car for 2 days and you return the car after 1 day, they charge you an "under stay fee" of $15.00. In other words, you have to pay a penalty if you drop the car off earlier than arranged.
Q: How precise does the timing have to be if, for example, we are scheduled to pick up the car at 9am and then we come at 8am or 10am? Does this cause a problem or cost more?
A: No. You can easily play with plus or minus one hour. No problem.
Q: Our boat docks one night in Lahaina and the next day in Kahului. Can we rent a car in Lahaina and then drop it off at Kahului airport?
A: This is possible, but you would have to pay a $35 drop-off fee because the pick-up and drop-off location vary. Also, if you park the car in Lahaina and on the following day, are in Kahului, you would have to get to Lahaina to pick up the car (which is over an hour roundtrip).
Q: How far is the Lahaina pick-up location from the Lahaina Harbor?
A: The Lahaina pick-up location is called the "Maui - Kaanapali" location. It is about a 10 minute drive from the harbor to the location. (If the shuttle bus is not there, we suggest that you do not waste precious time waiting for it. Check with other guests and share a taxi).
A: If you book the car with Alamo, as of January 1st 2007 one additional driver is free and every other one thereafter costs $8.00 per day (plus tax), in addition to the regular rental charge.
If the additional driver is your spouse or partner, we suggest you check our Budget rate and see if it makes sense to book it this way. With Budget, the additional driver is free (if they're older than 25 years and the spouse or partner of the driver).
To get the quote for Budget, just unclick the "show me best price" option and see the other price quotes.
Budget does not charge more than $45.00 if the additional driver is not the partner (for instance, if it's your daughter over 25, she cannot be called the partner. Therefore the rate is $9.00 per day, but not more than $45.00).
Charges for additional driver (over 25 years old):
• Alamo - first one free, each additional $8 per day
