Travel Wise is aimed at helping people travel smart, especially independent travelers seeking good v

Adding to the problem was a longshore strike late last year that affected car shipments from distribution sites in Long Beach, Calif., and Los Angeles, said Clem Bason, president of the Hotwire Group.
Most rental-car agencies don t charge for changes or cancellations (some do for no-shows), meaning you can take advantage united kingdom holidays of better deals if you find one later. That doesn t always apply to discounted prepaid rates, so check cancellation and change policies carefully.
Agencies base pricing on supply and demand, Wigand says. As demand united kingdom holidays goes up and inventory goes down, prices go up. Rent now for Dec. 15, and you might pay $250 (per week). Wait until September, and it could be $450.
When I m in Maui, I rent from Enterprise Rent-A-Car s Hana Highway location, two miles from Kahului airport. A check on the Enterprise website in late January for a week s economy-car rental in early March turned up a rate of $239 at the Hana location versus united kingdom holidays $551 at the airport.
Check various third-party websites (airline sites, Orbitz, Expedia, united kingdom holidays etc.) against rates posted on the car-rental agencies own websites. If you haven t booked early, call directly to see about last-minute cancellations. Ask about AAA or AARP discounts (10-20 percent), or try a travel agent.
: Finally, rethink your need for a car. Will you really need one every day or just for a day or two? Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii have inexpensive public buses. They re easy to use and a good way to meet locals and save money.
Travel Wise is aimed at helping people travel smart, especially independent travelers seeking good value. The column covers everything from the best resources to how to tap into the local culture. It runs each Sunday in the Travel section.