Thanks, you and Bluwater have been helpful. Ill just go with hotwire because i have had good luck booking with them in the past. Im not going to get a $15 rate but at this point, who cares...Im coming to the islands...WoooHooo
Thanks again.

Fact to be pointed out:

Our rental price was for compact. Many agents give deals (see: AAA) for compact only because, as is the case in VI, most people need more room or 4WD.

That might be the reason.

Also, you can not cancel hotwire rentals. So, if it is close to the same price, you might want to book through Avis. You never know if you need to change or amend you plans. Hotwire will not let you.

Thanks tacman. I'll add this:

Hotwire offers trip cancellation isurance. You buy it when you book, I booked for 8 days and my insurance was $15 TOTAL. Good deal.

I've also gotten upgrades quite often...booking the cheapest car (smallest) and getting what Avis considers a midsize. Ford Focus was the most recent car - booked at the $15.99 rate (economy). Parents got a Chevy Cavalier in summer 2006 (midsize - $21.99 day on Hotwire) , but the interior and trunk was not as large as the economy and they had to use my car's trunk for their stuff. I had the economy on that trip. Again, always thru Hotwire - always getting Avis cars.

They seem to have their sweet spot in the smaller cars. I've checked Hotwire for SUVs and Jeeps - not such great deals - just average.

we're paying $22.95/day for "midsize." Probably should've went with compact, but there are 4 adults and luggage. Hope everything fits!

does anyone know approximately what Avis charges for the additional insurance?

I recall the additional ins being $20 day. That was for collission - not bodily injury for you or others. I go slowly, so I didn't think I would really injur anyone...just thought I might ding it up, which I did.

wow, so the insurance is as much as the rental! bummer. My husband rents vehicles on business trips, and he doesn't purchase the extra insurance (maybe his company does) so I didn't really think about it. But, with all the banging up going on in the VI's, maybe we should. We have Allstate, and tho I haven't checked with them yet for myself, others have posted that they do not cover us in the VI.

Yep, that's what is so great about the cheap rental rate - the insurance doesn't make it soooo bad. You're buying a good night's sleep for $20 a day. Make it up on something else.

I stash a bottle of rum and cans of coke in my beach bag, get ice on the beach and make my own drinks. There's $20 a day. 🙂