 Arnott's GREAT SAVINGS
Arnotts Lodge acknowledges the role that Backpackers and budget travelers have played in the growth of our company by offering special rates for those that stay with us. (Subject to two night minimum stay).
In the case of our Mauna Kea Adventure, our $125 guest price (Subject to two nights minimum stay) is a little over half that charged by other Operators, who all cater to the fancy west side Hotels and charge $200 a seat and more (their website 2010 prices). The Mauna Kea climb uses a lot of fuel, is hard on vehicles and requires an in house mechanic, also the visitor center per head fee (included in our price) has recently risen to $6 a head.
Even our outside guest price at $175 is a bargain compared to competitive rates
Many visitors to the Big Island of Hawaii have found our private bath units are equal to rooms that cost three to four times as much. We can offer this by providing excellent rooms with "No Frills" amenities.
If you can do without daily room service, free shampoo, lotion, TV and a mini bar, you will love our tropical environment where you are surrounded by coconut trees that actually have coconuts on them, unlike their Big Hotel sanitized cousins
Mainland Flights (Continental US.) & Inter Island flights
As of March 2011 there are two Airlines flying to Hilo from Oahu... Hawaiian and GO.
A very recent announcement is that Continental Airlines will be starting direct service to Hilo from the United States mainland in June 2011...please check Continental website as this gets closer...there will be daily service from LAX and once weekly from SFO.
Car Rentals
First word of warning....because of the amount of resident inter-island travel on weekends DO NOT ASSUME you can breeze into Hilo and just pick up a car, make this your No.1 priority.....also if you do find yourself stuck, get creative, many of the local car renters also rent pickups, dumps and cargo vans. Locally owned Ainoa Car Sales also rents out used cars and provides pick up and drop off service 808-935-9958
As with the Airline Industry there is constant competitive action in the Car and Van rental scene.
As of March 2011 we can highly recommend Advance Auto they have a pickup and drop-off service as they are half way between us and the Airport and will also collect you at our Lodge. Advance also has a growing fleet of 15 passenger vans at reasonable rates for your group or team.
Same goes for Enterprise Car Rentals who have a good selection of vehicles and a free shuttle to their off airport site. Both these companies have been giving great rates and excellent service to our guests.
A new company on the island is Island Discount Rentals. They offer older cars at greatly reduced rates by the day, week or month.
Beware of "insurance" for 4x4 vehicles allowed to go up Mauna Kea....even "full" insurance has high deductibles....be warned. We have received many complaints against one rental company for lack of warning on high deductibles and aggressive charges in case of even minor damages.
Several Car Rental companies have free shuttles, we recommend that you patronize these companies to save yourself a $15 taxi fare..
Advance, Enterprise, Alamo, National, Thrifty and Aiona a local company, will all pick you up and drop you off at our Lodge.
Caution
on renting cars on the Big Island
Due to our mountainous terrain and narrow roads in some remote
areas, almost all Car rental companies have restrictions
on where their cars may go and remain insured.
Most rental companies ban travel on the Saddle Road Hwy
200/220) which leads to Mauna Kea Mountain 13,796ft 4200m,
(strictly banned). South Point access road is also banned
by most companies due to it being extremely narrow and
the grass sides hiding large rocks.
We actually began our Mauna Kea Tours 15 years ago, in
response to the number of cars our guests wrecked due to
steep 20% grades and thin air. You also must consider that
all commercial tours have oxygen on board whereas if you
violate your rental contract and go up, you may suffer
Oxygen deprivation and pass out, or a family member may
pass out leaving you to drive and tend to them at the same
time. The summit is remote and there are NO SERVICES.
Some rental companies will rent you a 4x4 cleared
for Mauna Kea and you still have the Oxygen problem. Signage
at the Visitor station at 9000ft (2740m), warns against
taking children under 16 up the remainder of the mountain,
and of potentially life threatening consequences to certain
people with medical conditions or weak systems. These companies
have high deductibles even when you take their "full" Loss
damage waiver and we advise caution in renting any 4x4
vehicle.
Some other Rental companies have 4x4s but do not allow
off road or Mauna Kea use. Be sure to be specific when
booking your vehicle and when picking it up, some mainland
reservation centers are not fully aware of local restrictions.
While this is a very large Island with a relatively small
population of 195,000 it has only one belt highway, which
apart from occasional passing lanes, is one lane in each
direction. Allow for average speeds point to point of only
45mph (72kmh). Kona to Hilo for instance at 120 miles (193km),
will take a good three hours without much sightseeing.
Copyright © 2012 Arnott's Lodge & Hiking Adventures • 808.339.0921
Guests of Arnott's Lodge or Tours and others may freely use pictures or links on this website for non professional purposes.
Website SEO and Updating by Marcus Interactive
|
