Rent Car in Maui to Save Money

Sometimes you have to spend money to save money. This seems to be true for getting around Maui. You might say that you plan to just hang out at the hotel so you don't need a rental car but it can actually save you money to rent a car in Maui. Here is why. It looks like a taxi ride from the airport can be quite costly. The approximate costs to various locations are:

Kaanapali - approximately $87 one way
Kapalua - approximately $105 one way
Kihei - approximately $40 one way
Lahaina - approximately $65 one way
Maalea - approximately $33 one way
Makena - approximately $65 one way
Wailea - approximately $57 one way

That means that if you are staying in Kaanapali, just getting to and from the hotel by taxi would cost around $174. Adding the cost and inconvenience of getting around Maui to see the beautiful sights without a car makes the answer even more clear. A rental car will actually save you money in the long run if you look carefully for the best rental car deal.

You can often get good deals for rental cars by bidding for one on Priceline. Keep in mind that if your bid is accepted, you can't cancel so that takes away your flexibility. But sometimes the difference in price more than offsets possible disadvantage. If you want to find out what kinds of bids that other people have been winning, go to Bidding For Travel. As you can see, people have been able to get very good deals on rental cars in Maui. Look at the following entries to get an idea of how much to bid. OGG stands for Kahului airport on Maui.

OGG 14/2-19/2 Economy 20$ (133 total) Budget
OGG - Midsize - 2/1-2/4 - Hertz - $20
OGG - Midsize $20/day Avis 3/14 - 3/22
OGG Feb 10-16 Compact $20 Avis

Another reason to rent a car is that you can often find free parking at the beach. In Hawaii, all hotels have to offer public beach access so you can find at least ten free parking spots at every hotel for that purpose. So you can drive around Maui and visit some of the most amazing beaches in the world without having to pay the high hotel parking fees. Look for the free parking or ask the hotel where the free parking is located.

So the verdict is in. Rent a car and save money on transportation while having the added bonus of seeing more of this amazing island. So drive safely and enjoy the view. And don't forget to close your trunk when you leave your car!