DianaGS,

Check out priceline. I checked real quick and found $279 on their regular rates, which means if you went with name your own price, expect around $235. Also worth checking with Hotwire. I ran 10/11-10/15 to include a weekend.

Have not used carrentalhawaii.com but usually a reputable company like PL or HW can beat those priceses anyway.

Good luck and happy travels!

We've used Priceline & Hotwire for "name your own price" bidding and, with one exception, found it worth the effort (can be time consuming) about 60% of the time.

Keep in mind: 1) that your credit card is charged immediately and you won't know the company until afterward. (If concerned about Alamo, Priceline includes them; pretty sure Hotwire doesn't.)

2) There have been several threads recently about airline schedule changes. If that happens, it could cost you money. (On a trip to Texas a few months ago, our flight was delayed four hours, but the car rental clock started ticking per the contract; we ended-up getting charged for an extra day which more than wiped-out the savings on a three day rental.) Also,

3) If you pay now, and a sale at a lower price materializes in the next three months, you don't have the option of cancelling & rebooking.

Imagine there are other pros & cons, hopefully others will chime-in.

P.S. I emailed Jerry for a quote, but haven't received a response yet.

Kamaainawannabe,

I have been using PL and HW for years now, and not once have I had the clock start before I picked up the car. I was 6 hours late getting into Reno last year, and not only did they wait for us, they also upgraded the car at no charge. That is surprising that the rental company you had did that. You are correct about sales, but I find with cars, it is unusual to have the type of fluctuation that airfare does, so it is usually OK. I also try not to book to early – usually I will reserve a vehicle on line with Expedia or the rental company directly early, and then start shopping PL and HW. If I get a better deal I cancel the original. Usually an educated bid is accepted. I also wait until 2-6 weeks out to bid, unless it is a busy time of year. FWIW.

The prices one is able to get can be outstanding; I think I paid less than 18 a day back in May.

Good luck and happy travels!

I just rented a car for a family member on priceline yesterday. $20/day from Avis. I don't know what they would charge for a Hilo drop off though.

U can go ahead and book with car rental hawaii and then call alamo to see if they have ur reservation. Then u r totally safe right? As long as they don't take money from ur credit card immediately. I don't I think they shud even credit card details. Try it :-)

Echolynch,

Happy for you that you had better luck than I did, but am guessing is was at the Rental Agencies discretion (independent of Priceline) and since the overwhelming majority are franchises, experiences can vary widely.

Pricelines "name your own price" policy states: "Rental cars are non-refundable, non-transferrable and non-changeable even if the reservation is not used.

It's been awhile, but there was a "Venting thread" here on TA wherein, as I recall, the traveler took an earlier than scheduled interIsland flight, arrived at the counter and was told (despite the fact that there appeared to be numerous available cars), "you have to wait until the contracted scheduled pick-up time" (have zero recollection if it was Alamo). Had it not been a pre-pay, it wouldn't surprise me if the solution would have been to simply walk to the competition next door.

Don't pretend to know the intricacies of the business, but perhaps (probably?) Priceline rentals are lower profit-margin to the chagrin of some (many?) Franchisees who are forced to comply with Parent company acceptance policies whether they like it or not...and there may be plenty of times in popular tourist destinations where there is local "who needs Priceline anyway?" resentment.

It's also been awhile, but seems as though many Kipplinger/Smart Money etc. articles on Priceline include a horror story of a completely cancelled vacation with 100% forfeiture of the cost of a pre-paid car (or Hotel) rental.

Guess it sums up as another case of "no free lunch"; get a lower price/accept higher risk/pay your money/take your choice.

Far as I'm concerned (other than relay of price from Discount Hawaii) enought time spent on this issue; so if the last word is a priority, be my guest.

Date: 7/26/2006 9:46 P.M.

From: rentals@discounthawaiicarrental.com

Budget Rental: Economy (4dr Chev Aveo or similar)

Pickup location: Kona airport (KOA) Oct/01/06 Hilo return Oct/06/06

5 days at $29.00/day: Base rental: $145.00 plus taxes (Hawaii highway tax: $15, Sales, airport and vehicle taxes: $19.15) Estimated total rental charges: $179.15

Mahalo nui loa,

Ron

888-292-3307/www.DiscountHawaiiCarRental.com

I was just about to write a "thank you!" and that I got a great quote from DiscountHawaiiCarRental, when what do I see here?! LOL! Thanks everyone!

Diana

PS - Y'all are putting FL to shame in the help-outedness (is that a word?!) factor! If you ever come to Central FL on the Gulf coast and want to see manatees face-to-face off our dock, or in the water, drop me a line!

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