CAR RENTAL REVIEWS ON THRIFTY AT KONA AIRPORT, KOA

Good service

Efficient and quick, simple pick-up and return procedures.

The minibus driver was very helpful, assisting with lifting luggage onto the minibus. The Thrifty shuttle bus was easy to locate after arriving at the airport. The staff at the pickup counter were also very nice. When asked what type of fuel to use, they said regular, and specifically mentioned 87 after confirming with a colleague. Communication was smooth overall.

They initially provided a pickup truck, but after repeated requests, they finally exchanged it for the Wrangler I originally booked.

Very close to KONA airport, with a shuttle service for easy pickup and drop-off.

Very satisfied

Extremely satisfied

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.

Satisfied.

Very good.

I initially thought there would be extra charges for the upgrade, but after contacting customer service, I found out no additional fees were charged.

Good value for money and quick pick-up process.

Overall, the service was quite satisfactory.

Quick process without upselling, good vehicle condition, 10 minutes for pickup, 1 minute for drop-off.

Renting a car was very convenient and efficient.