is it worth it to get a car for just part of the trip?

Since we%26#39;re staying in Waikiki we know there%26#39;s plenty we can walk to and assume parking is a hassle. If we want to get a car part way through the trip, is it worth the hassle of having to pick one up some where for saving the cost of a couple days rental? We%26#39;re only in town Mon - Sun and will probably want a car for half the trip, so not looking at saving a ton by delaying the rental. But if it%26#39;s easy to pick one up some where would love to save a couple bucks. Any experience doing this?

is it worth it to get a car for just part of the trip?

You%26#39;ll be glad you had a car to/from the airport. Hotel parking is not a hassle. Unless you really, really want to spend your week walking around Waikiki Beach, you are better off with a car. There is too much to see on Oahu that is beyond walking distance. Hate to see you cramp a $5000 vacation to save a couple hundred on a rental car.

But it%26#39;s easy to rent a car downtown near your hotel. There are a number of rental agencies that have counters in the Waikiki area.

is it worth it to get a car for just part of the trip?

See this for similar question and answers:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60982-i38-k220392…

I would guess that depending on where you are staying there is a car rental either on site or a very short walk. We stayed at the HHV in July and rented from Hertz through AAA, picking up right at the HHV (they keep their cars in the HHV garage). We used a shuttle to/from the airport (I think it was Ilani, or something like that, arranged through our TA) and then rented the car for the middle days. The most beautiful parts of Oahu are outside of Waikiki - our favorite view was driving up the windward coast with the Pacific on one side and mountains on the other - awesome! Would defintely do it again to be able to see windward coast and north shore at our own pace. Also, we used the car to get to Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor and Hanauma Bay as with four of us thought it to be easier than the Bus (plus we like the flexibility to come %26amp; go on our own time).

Absolutely. It%26#39;s easy to pick up a car on Waikiki - the main rental companies with various locations. Make sure you reserve in advance. If you just want it for a day or two, yes - you%26#39;ll spend alot less on parking and the car. If you rent a car for the final days of your trip, check into returning it at the airport.

Rent a car for the entire time. You can see the island much better with a car.

By the time you pay for shuttles, cabs %26amp; buses, you won%26#39;t save any $$ anyway.

We never rent a car for the whole time, just for a day or two. We tend to like lazing around the beach or pool alot, and like to take one day at Hanama Bay, and another day doing the island loop. We have also taken the bus for a buck to Diamond Head and Hanauma Bay( we have gone many times). If we take the kids we tend to use the car, when it is just my hubby and I, or my friend and I, we take the bus more.

Last time I went our hotel charged us 20 dollars a day for parking, which adds up,, so although I seem to be in the minority I would only rent it for a few days.. there are tons of places you can walk to to pick up a car, it is extremely easy.

PS Watch out for Time Share sellers that masquerade as car rental places, for instance if the kiosk says '; jeep for rent 5 dollars'; just say NO! LOL

PS Taxi from airport was about 35 -40 dollars depending on traffic etc.

You%26#39;re not alone, Joan.

Renting from Monday to Sunday means a weekly rate which is likely equivalent to renting for 3 continuous days. So the only thing is whether the additional parking fees offset the transportation from airport. I tend to agree with Dusty that for your trip, it probably would be similar cost.

BTW, if you stay close to Hale Koa, you can buy multi-day parking pass for $12 a day. Or if you are at the other end of Waikiki I think you can park at Waikiki Sunset for $11 a day. So there are cheaper parking options if you are willing to walk a little.

Thanks for the thoughts everyone. I%26#39;ll check on prices. When going to restaurants in Waikiki is it easy to find parking out and about? This is my first time to Oahu and am wondering, if like Seattle, you can even find a parking spot or garage that doesn%26#39;t double the price of your evening? Is driving hectic around Waikiki?

Many restaurants in Waikiki are easy to walk to,, a car is not needed, and in central Waikiki there isn%26#39;t alot of parking. I would only use it to go to restaurants outside Waikiki ,,or on far edge. Waikiki is not that big, now, if you want to go into parts of Honolulu to eat , yes a car would be handy, don%26#39;t know much about parking outside Waikiki.

I am repeating myself I know, but really, a car to get around Waikiki is really not needed. For outside yes, the island ,definately, but in Waikiki, no way.

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