Airport / arrival tip for Big Island

[Anonymous]

The shuttle busses to the rental car lots we’re jam packed yesterday with the start of spring break. We were shoved aside for two busses without being able to get on one. My husband tried to go about 20 feet down the sidewalk, but I had to ask him a question and there were people between us and I had our stroller. I told my 5 year old “don’t move, left her with the stroller (was wearing the baby) and stepped away to ask my DH a question. Well, a bus for a different rental company pulled up and there was a mad rush and I couldn’t get back to my 5 year old for a few seconds. In that time, someone had grabbed her backpack and put it on the bus and someone was holding her shoulders and pushing her aside. I said “let go of her!” and the person said “she was in my way!” Through her hysterical sobs she told they’d taken her backpack, and I was able to get it from the bus. I’m incredibly lucky no one put her on the bus in the few seconds I wasn’t with her.

So, after that, a group of moms actually built a luggage / stiroller barricade and used it to keep rushing crowds out and get on the next bus.

We got to the rental car company (Avis) and it was normal lines / good customer service. But then the woman in front of me (another mom with small kids) was told that they had a line up of cars to clean and each took 20 minutes and hers was 4th in line. It would be over an hour and my estimate was an hour and a half. She contemplated getting pizza ordered! Luckily our wait times for our cars were closer to 40 minutes (our cars came up pretty close together).

So here’s the tipi: instead of staying together while the family takes kids to the bathroom, gets luggage, and tries to get on a shuttle, if you have the option on adult should beeline for the shuttle relatively luggage free and get the rental car process started. Then come pick everyone up at the airport and avoid the shuttle or at least have the process well underway when the family meets up at the rental place.

[Anonymous]

Yikes! Sorry to hear that.. I hate having to take a shuttle to car rental. Glad your 5 year old is okay, must have been so scary for her

[Anonymous]

Wow - that sounds awful. I hate picking up rental cars at the airport...

[Anonymous]

I'm going to the big island in 4 weeks I hope the spring break rush is over by then .

[Anonymous]

A. Everyone in the world already knows to send one parent for the car and for the rest of the family to wait at the curb.

B. The car rental offices are literally 200 yards from the KOA terminal. Why didn't you walk then?