I specifically rented a Jeep Wrangler for stargazing at the Mauna Kea Observatories, but when I arrived at the rental location, they informed me that their Wranglers had been massively recalled and none were available. After insisting that I needed a vehicle capable of reaching the observatories, they initially provided me with a Dodge SUV and instructed me to exchange it for another vehicle before heading to the observatories. At the time of pickup, apart from the $200 deposit, they added a fuel service charge as a refundable deposit, promising a full refund if the car was returned with a full tank. Two days later, I went back to exchange the vehicle, but they still didn’t have a Wrangler and gave me a Ford pickup truck instead. Unfortunately, the truck bed had no cover or cargo straps, so my luggage got wet. Luckily, I had brought my own straps to secure the luggage and keep it in place. During the handoff, I asked the staff how to switch between 4H and 4L on the truck, but they asked for a tip in return for the explanation. The rental company's service was average, but the pickup and return process was efficient and didn’t waste my time. Despite returning the car with a full tank both times, the company still deducted the fuel service charge without notifying me, and the amount they deducted was 10% higher than the initial deposit. Fortunately, I had kept the fuel receipts and photos showing the fuel level at the time of return. After returning home, the rental platform resolved the issue and refunded the amount. Considering their efficient handling of pickup, exchange, and return, as well as the fact that they eventually refunded the fuel service charge, I decided not to leave a negative review.
I rented twice, and it's best to return the car at a whole-hour time (e.g., if you pick up the car at 9:48, it’s better to select 9:30 for return). Otherwise, you won’t be able to extend the rental on the website, and the system will show an error. If you're chasing something urgent like volcanic eruptions, extensions are very common. Returning the car and then renting again from Hilo can be exhausting. Overall, the process is quite convenient, and I didn't encounter any major issues. The price for this small sedan is unbeatable in Hawaii. However, there are some differences in the models—my first rental, a Forte, was much better than the second one, a Versa (the Versa didn’t even have proper CarPlay). The cars are assigned by the staff, so I’m not sure if it's possible to request a specific model or offer a small tip. There's no need for a large four-wheel drive vehicle unless you're heading to the observatory. If you are, you could consider carpooling with some kind-hearted people—there are plenty of kind-hearted people around.
About QEEQ:10.0/10
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