Tips to Hire a Car in Crete for Holidays

Posted by Cretarent on January 15th, 2016

Crete, the largest island of Greece, is a popular tourist destination. The island is famous for its marvelous beaches, picturesque mountains, quaint towns and historical wonders. Crete sees heavy tourist traffic throughout the year, but the number of tourists increases during summer. Aside from the sightseeing, there are plenty of opportunities for adventure. There are a lot of options for hiking, trekking, mountaineering, water sports, and more. 

If Crete is in your mind as your next destination, you would do well to consider renting a car to get around. Despite being an island, there are almost 6,000 miles of roads, from highways to off-road trails. If you want to travel through idyllic small roads in charming little villages to witness the true essence of Crete, then being able to drive around on your own is a must. If you are feeling adventurous, you can even rent a bike. Motorbikes are quite common in Greece, and wavy mountainous roads overlook some of the most scenic landscapes you will ever see make for a great riding xperience. 

However, before you finalize your plans for renting a car in Crete, there are a few things you must keep in mind:

• Pre-Book or Not: Car rental services in Crete do not have any deposits or upfront charges when booking a car. Nor do you have to stick with a car that you pre-booked if you can find a better deal once you get there. However, booking early does give you access to more choice than you usually get for a walk in. Moreover, the airport car rental kiosks and offices can get extremely long queues, particularly in summer. To avoid standing around after a long flight, book in advance and find your car waiting for you when you get there. If you can find a better deal at the airport, don’t hesitate to pick what’s best for you 

• Pick Up Location: Crete has two primary tourist arrival locations – the airport and the port. Whenever you book a car online, specify from where you want the pick up. Some of the rental agencies, particularly the Greek ones offer free pick and drop options for numerous locations. You may not get such an option with international car rental services 

• Car Types: Pick a car you are comfortable with. Roads and highways in Crete are narrow and often curve their way through mountainous terrain. If you have never driven an SUV or a convertible before, Crete might not be the best place to pick one up. The same is true for bikes. If you are used to riding on straight roads at home, Crete will test your skill. A rental car should be about convenience and comfort, not a style statement. On a similar note, specify if you need an automatic as most rental cars in Greece have manual transmission. Also, remember that you are well within your rights to refuse a car if it is too old or dented 

Obey Traffic Laws and Regulations: Remember that you are a tourist, and if you break any rules, it attracts a bad reputation for all tourists. Also, traffic fines in Greece are very steep. So don’t forget to put on the seatbelts, follow speed limits, and abide by all rules. 

About The Author:

Ioannis Kastrinais is client representative at Cretarent.gr, a renowned car rental Crete company with 40 years of experience of providing rent a car in Heraklion, Chania, Rethymnon and hiring cars in Heraklion and Chania airports. If you are looking to hire a car in Crete then you can visit http://www.cretarent.gr/ car rental services in Crete.