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If a few of you had been questioning why you hadn’t seen me publish in a number of days, I’ve simply returned from a week-long trip in Hawai’i. It was stunning. What nearly ruined the journey, nonetheless, was the annoying problem of making an attempt to get a rental automobile.
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Hawai’i’s rental automobile troubles have been known for a some time now. And whereas it’s at all times higher to try to get round by strolling or biking on someplace like an island, if you wish to go far or do some grocery procuring if you’re there for an prolonged keep like I used to be, you want a car. And with us eager to go to the North Shore seashores of O’ahu, we wanted a solution to get there.
My makes an attempt to lease a automobile had me undergo two main businesses, a number of hole-in-the-wall spots, after which again to the main gamers earlier than I used to be really capable of get a car. I drained Hertz first. Yeah, I do know I’ve covered all of the bad crap they put folks via, however after they really do what they’re speculated to they’re fairly simple to lease from, particularly whenever you’re a Gold Member like I’m. I checked the primary Hertz location at Honolulu Airport. I used to be stunned I used to be capable of make a reservation. However that is the place I bought burned.
An enormous loophole in Hertz’s rental reservation system is that it permits clients to order automobiles that they might not even have. And whereas the system will cease you if automobiles are booked for no matter dates you’ve got chosen, it doesn’t cease you if the placement you chose is out of the car or car lessons you select. It’s bizarre and doesn’t make sense how their system isn’t linked to some type of car stock system. So due to all of this, I ended up taking a $25 Lyft to the airport for nothing. It was one other $22 to take a Lyft again to my lodge. Hours wasted for nothing.
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The next day, I decided to try my hand with Enterprise. And before looking to reserve, I called to make a reservation. The problem with this route is that calling means nothing. Like Hertz, if you call Enterprise to check anything, from vehicle inventory to rates, you’re not actually talking to someone at the location you’re trying to reserve at; you’re speaking to someone in a call center somewhere. This is annoying because there’s a disconnect between what the call center says and what actually happens at the location; they’ll tell you one thing that’s not necessarily the case once you get there.
With Enterprise, the issue wasn’t that they didn’t have a vehicle, they just didn’t have the vehicle I needed. Enterprise seemed to have more of an awareness of what vehicles were actually available at the airport. I needed a minivan, so I reserved one after I was told that the airport had some available. Another Lyft ride down to the airport, and I found out that the biggest vehicles they had available were “large sedans;” in their case that meant Chevy Malibus and Toyota Camrys. More time and money on Lyfts wasted.
I decided to try and rent from one of the few local places I saw around the city. While these places were locally owned and operated and had vehicles available, they were sketchy as hell. I found one place that was directly across from a hotel one of my family members was staying in. But its whole operation was run out of a gravel-covered lot surrounded by a chainlink fence with their “offices” being tent-covered picnic tables and a tool shed that looked like it came from Home Depot. And the cars were old. We’re talking last gen, early 2010s base Toyota Siennas, Camrys, Corollas, a random NC Miata that needed a wash, and what looked to be a 2016 Chevy Camaro RS convertible that had duct tape on one of the side mirrors.
Suffice to say we decided to bike that day. The other locally owned rental spot I found had cars just as old. One of my cousins actually rented a Sienna from one of these places. It nearly left her stranded after it struggled to start. Twice.
I decided to give Hertz one more go on the third or fourth day. I was actually able to get a vehicle. I was counting on a Chrysler Pacifica because of how good and cozy they’re. However my desires had been crushed. Not like right here on the mainland, the place whenever you’re a Gold Member with Hertz you’ll be able to select the car you need, my van was already assigned to me by Hertz.
“Your car might be in area quantity 62, Mr. Hodge,” the Hertz rep instructed me. I used to be pissed once I walked out to area 62 and located a crimson Dodge Grand Caravan GT that was a minimum of two to 3 years previous. It had nearly 43,000 miles, had items coming off the seats and among the stow-and-go ground covers, and made noises once we went over bumps. It bought us to the North Shore seashores, however I hated each minute of it.
Due to all of this although we ended up strolling and biking practically the entire time we had been there. Which wasn’t a foul factor. Our lodge was centrally positioned close to a number of bars and eating places, and so on. And all that strolling and biking made me lose 5 kilos in order that was a win. However simply know, if you’re planning to trip in Hawai’i, both try to arrange a rental approach earlier than you get there, or take the environmentally pleasant and wholesome route and stroll or bike. In case you don’t, you’re in for a headache.
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