Our reservation price did not match what Thrifty had. Took 30 minutes to straighten out. Agent was very nice. We also had to wait 30 minutes in line because although there were 8 counters, there were only 2 agents. We were very tired and had wished things had gone more smoothly & a little faster. We ended up taking an hour to get our rental car.Reviewed 24 Jul 2024
review from
2.0
We had to wait two hours to get our car and staff were not friendly or apologeticReviewed 23 Jul 2024
review from
4.0
we paid for a full size suv and they tried to give us a mini vanReviewed 22 Jul 2024
review from
10.0
Great!Reviewed 22 Jul 2024
review from
2.0
Terrible! It took 3 hours to pickup my car after I arrived!!Reviewed 7 Jul 2024
review from
2.0
Well...it all started when I landed at the airport and walked over to the rental car counter. Thankfully there was no wait at all which was nice. However, after pulling up my reservation they immediately told me they did not have the vehicle I reserved. Which is the entire point of making a reservation, so they would hold (aka reserve) the vehicle I selected. So off the bat that was very disappointing. That was strike one. They offered me a "complimentary upgrade" to a minivan. Going from a full size SUV to a minivan is not an upgrade in my eyes and I told them that. As a result, they offered me a downgrade to a smaller SUV, but didn't offer any kind of discount in the total fee. So that was strike two. After settling on a vehicle, I handed over my license and credit card and low and behold, another ~$138 bucks were due at the counter. This was for taxes/fees/usage/blah blah blah (not gas), all the things that I thought I already paid, and the only reason I went with this booking was because of the lower rate. Turns out it was just as expensive as all the others after you added in these additional charges. Why in the world would you not charge these at the time of the booking? I'm sure they can offer some explanation consisting of "We don't charge these at the time of booking because if your trip changes then these charges will change and blah blah blah blah", but the truth is likely that they don't charge them up front so it looks as if you're getting a better rate. Then when you walk in the door to pickup your car, and you have no other options because all of the other vehicles are booked, you're up the river without a paddle and you're forced to proceed if you want the vehicle. There's strike three. Normally they'd be out, but it keeps going. After finishing the paperwork and going through the above hassles (after a full day of traveling keep in mind), I short stroll down to the parking garage where I'm directed to the vehicle. I do a walk around the outside to check for damage, which there was minimal damage in the form of small scratches and dings, I hopped in and got on my way. To my unpleasant surprise, about 20 minutes into my drive away from the airport, I noticed an ant on the center console. I squished it and didn't think much of it. It wasn't until the second ant, then the third, forth, fifth, sixth...etc appeared and were squished that I realized there was an ant infestation in the vehicle. Luckily it seemed to be centralized around the center console, however my party did end up with multiple unidentified "bug bites" by the end of our trip. Strike 4. Needless to say, after trip suggestions to Thrifty and any other companies involved in this rental experience: 1. Don't offer a reservation if you do not understand the definition of a reservation. That is the definition of incompetence. 2. Don't try to up--sell a customer to something they don't want, and adversely, if the customer settles for a lesser vehicle than what was "reserved", give them the appropriate discount. 3. Don't hide fees or costs, if you can't compete with other rental companies by being honest about the total cost, you shouldn't be in business. That's unethical and shouldn't be part of your "business plan" for success. 4. Clean the cars. It's not hard. Seriously. I will say, on a positive note the overall time to pickup and drop off the rental car was very quick. Also the attendant handling the multitude of issues was professional and polite.Reviewed 27 Jun 2024
review from
10.0
Car was great, they accommodated us to an economical vehicleReviewed 8 Jun 2024
review from
8.0
Was fast this timeReviewed 15 Apr 2024
review from
2.0
They didn’t even have a car for me. Told me I would have to wait 3 hours or I could go somewhere else. They only could say I could call there corporate office! They were absolutely no help and completely terrible! Horrible experience!!!Reviewed 6 Jan 2024
review from
4.0
Did not like discovering the hidden costs of adding a second driver. The pickup experience was AWFUL - 2-and-a-half-hour wait for the vehicle in a sultry garage without water or bathrooms - after we had completed the rental agreement. Will never rent from Thrifty again.Reviewed 25 Sept 2023
review from
2.0
Pros:Car was goodCons:Had to take a cab from the airport after waiting 45 minutes for thrifty shuttle. AwfulReviewed 17 May 2021
review from
6.0
Cons:Only 2.5 employees writing up contracts, it took about 50 minutes to get the carReviewed 16 May 2021
Top tips for hiring a car from Thrifty in Honolulu
When you book Thrifty car hire in Honolulu, you’ll have the option to book with two branches. The first branch is at the Honolulu International Airport where customers will be required to get a shuttle from the Arrivals Terminal to the Thrifty car rental station. The shuttle journey will take customers around 5 minutes. The second Thrifty branch customers can rent from is on Waikiki Kalakaua Avenue which is close to the coast and perfect for seaside breaks. The two branches are around a 20-minute drive from each other.
The public transport in Honolulu is good; however, it’s also great to have your own car to travel around the rest of Hawaii. If you’re visiting Honolulu by plane, you may want to consider renting a car from the airport terminal and driving it to your accommodation in Honolulu. This will give you the freedom you need to navigate other beautiful spots in Hawaii. As Thrifty offers their customers to pick up and drop off their vehicles at different locations, having a car to get from the airport to the inner city branch will save you a lot of hassle when handling your and your family’s luggage.
If you’re new to Honolulu, Thrifty offers you the option to book a satellite navigation system as an additional product you can add to your rental. Having a satnav system is ideal for discovering new places and being able to easily navigate back to your accommodation. The Thrifty car rental on Waikiki Kalakaua Avenue is a short walk away from hotels such as the Westin Moana Surfrider Resort and Spa, as well as the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach resort. Having accommodation options close makes the inner city Thrifty branch the ideal drop off and pick up location for short day trips.
Thrifty car rentals give customers the choice of several car categories to choose from when they book Thrifty car hire in Honolulu. When you book online or in-branch, you can select vehicle types based on their size and specific features. Choose from compact, economy, speciality, mid-size, standard-size, full-size, premium, luxury, SUV, and van vehicle types to ensure you get the most out of your trip to Honolulu.
Intermediate car hire from Thrifty in Honolulu are around 78% cheaper than other car types, on average.
FAQs about hiring a car from Thrifty in Honolulu
Where is the best place to park my Thrifty hire car in Honolulu?
When you rent a car with Thrifty in Honolulu, it's always important to make sure you leave your vehicle in a secure parking spot when you’re not driving it. There are several parking spots in Honolulu where you can leave your hire car to explore the city or the iconic coastline. These spots include the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor Diamond Parking Lot, Kaimuki Municipal Lot 1 and the Waikiki Banyan Car Park. When you return our Thrifty hire car back to the rental station, you will be able to leave it in the returns parking and take the keys back to reception.
What insurance should I get when I book Thrifty car hire in Honolulu?
The insurance you get should cover you according to the risk of theft or damage your trip poses. If you’re going on a long-haul trip around Hawaii, you need to make sure you are fully covered against damage and that you pay to have your excess liability reduced. If you’re planning on travelling to the rural parts of Hawaii, you need to ensure that glass and tyre damage is fully covered in case rough roads impact the vehicle in this way.
What documentation do I need when I book Thrifty car hire in Honolulu?
Anyone renting a vehicle from Thrifty in Honolulu needs to make sure they bring their passport, their valid driver’s license and a credit or debit card that can cover the rental fee as well as any security deposits and potential excess due. When you rent from Honolulu international, you will also need to provide all the information about your flight and your flight itinerary.
What is the most popular car hire from Thrifty in Honolulu?
Intermediate (Mazda Mazda5 or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type from Thrifty in Honolulu.
How many car hire locations does Thrifty have in Honolulu?
Thrifty has 3 hire locations in Honolulu. Take a look at our Thrifty hire location map to find the best car hire near you.
Does Thrifty have a car hire location at the airport: Honolulu airport (HNL)?
Yes
Does Thrifty offer shuttle or airport pick-up services from Honolulu airport (HNL)?
Yes
Everything you need to know for your Thrifty car rental in Honolulu