We rent from Centerline on each trip and they have always taken great care of us. They rescued us on our first trip when Budget totally let us down. One thing I would ask about the rental at the hotel is where you return the car. We pick up our rental just off the airport property (C'Line doesn't have a desk in the airport thus saving the airport tax on their rentals) but then drop it off in a parking lot inside the airport. If you have to return your car at Carambola then will C'Line take you to the airport in their van or does the hotel, have a shuttle?

As for an SUV- if you plan on spending a lot of time on the north shore exploring the hills then I would get an SUV. Scenic Road has been paved but there are still a lot of steep switchbacks up there so if you get off the paved road you are going to need it. To get out to Carambola and then back and forth to C'Sted and the east end - then no, you won't need it.

Centerline will drop off/pick-up at the hotel or at the airport to save you a taxi ride each way. We usually rent a small car when it's just the two of us except when we plan on going to Sandy Point. There are ground clearance issues at a few places on that road. I had to turn around the first time I attempted to drive out to SP in a compact car. The only other reason to get an SUV is because it rides nicer than a small car.

Bassman--The Sandy Point road has now been completely paved--road signs, parking lots and all.

That explains why there was so much of the road plowed up last Dec. I'll definitely check it out this Nov.-Dec. when we're back.

It'll be quite a shock to you! It's impressive looking, although I think it takes away a lot of the old "character."