Does anyone know what is going on in Kona this weekend? We fly in on saturday morning and leave the following sunday, and there are no rental cars available anywhere! Yikes! I really do not want to cancel my trip. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Contributor 
39,615 posts
4 reviews The days are gone when you can do a last minute reservation in high season and expect to get a car, on a weekend. You just have to look hard. There are topics back around Christmas with tips on how to find a car.
Not trying to sound cold, but we always tell people to reserve a car the moment they book their airfare.
Contributor
39,615 posts
4 reviews tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60872-i269-k59443…
Here's a topic with all sorts of tips.
If you are staying at a hotel, you can try the concierge.
First, where are you staying?
Try Discount Hawaii Car Rental for sure ...
Contributor
39,615 posts
4 reviews Oh yeah, I forgot, there is a golf tournament at Hualalai.
hualalairesort.com/index.cfm/…1459
2013 Mitsubishi Electric Championship
Jan 18-20.
That's probably what's causing the sold out weekend.
Edited: 9:56 pm, January 17, 2013Thanks. We are traveling with family and had a miscommunication as to who would rent the car. Hence the late notice.
I will check out the link
Contributor
43,256 posts
44 reviews I did a quick check on hotwire and they do have cars available begining on Monday, so I would book that and then keep searching!
Here is the website the KamaainaK mentioned:
It would be a real shame to have to cancel due to a slip up.
As suggested take a reservation for dates later in the week if that is all that is available for now.
Make sure to call the rental car desks locally prior to departure (now)to see if they can be of help.
Call the local (808) numbers
Also check at the rental car desks in person upon your arrival to see if perhaps they have had some cancellations.
The Mitsubishi Electric Championship is a wildly popular event for many reasons....one being it's location at the fabulous Hualalai. This will be the main reason for the vehicles being gobbled up.
Good Luck
Contributor
39,615 posts
4 reviews Thank you coalminer! I should have provided the link, just I don't have that URL memorized.
I thought Hotwire was nonrefundable like Priceline. It's not? (cool).
I guess it is the golf weekend causing the shortage then, if the cars open up Monday.
There's a hula festival in Kailua the next weekend, not sure if it's a big draw or not.
"IOLANI LUAHINE HULA FESTIVAL - KAILUA-KONA
The 11th annual 'Iolani Luahine Hula Festival will be held on January 24, 25 & 26 on the grounds of Hulihe'e Palace and the Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel in Kailua-Kona."
There are car rental desks at the Fairmont and the Hilton, which is why I was asking where you are staying. I think there's one at the Courtyard too, which is where the cruise passengers rent when they come in to the pier. Maybe the off-airport locations might have one, if you haven't tried them yet.
Thanks everyone! I will keep on looking.
we are staying at Worldmark condos
Edited: 10:27 pm, January 17, 2013Hotwire is non-refundable as far as I know.
Contributor
43,256 posts
44 reviews I just checked there (Hotwire) because they are often cheap - and if they have availability starting on Monday, someone else does too, as they only use the major chains. I just figured get a car reserved was better than NO car, even if they have to hang somewhere over the weekend until they can have a car full time.. Yep - hotwire is non-refundable. :)
