Car Rental at Chania Airport

Chania Airport is one of the main air gateways to the island of Crete, which is the largest of the Greek islands, and handles approximately three million passengers per year. The airport is also known as the Ioannis Daskalogiannis Airport, after a famous Cretan rebel of the 18th century, and has the official airport code of CHQ. Chania Airport's location is about 10 km from the city center of Chania, nearby Souda Bay, and on the Akrotiri Peninsula. Since that it is only a small airport, its facilities are nothing too spectacular, but there are a number of good car hire companies available, and it offers most of the essential amenities for arriving and departing passengers. A rented car is considered to be one of the best forms of transport on the island, and a great way to explore the area.

All car rental companies at Chania Airport:

• Abbycar: +30 212 213 5282
• Addcar: +30 693 231 1388
• Alamo: +30 282 103 8185
• Autos Holidays: +30 282 106 0911
• Auto-Union: +30 281 530 2310
• Avis: +30 282 106 3080
• Budget: +30 282 106 3080
• Cargini Rent A Car: +30 697 221 9270
• Carwiz: +30 282 108 9065
• Centauro: +30 282 188 8085
• Dollar: +30 28210 63385
• Drive S.A.: +30 281 028 1339
• Enterprise: +30 282 103 8185
• Europcar: +30 282 106 3160
• Firefly: +30 282 106 3385
• Global Rent A Car: +30 211 187 5546
• Goldcar: +30 282 106 6466
• Green Motion: +30 281 034 4072
• Grentals: +30 281 028 1339
• Hertz: +30 282 106 3385
• Idea Mobility: +30 211 187 5546
• National: +30 282 103 8185
• Ok Mobility: +34 902 360 636
• Payless: +30 282 106 3080
• Rhodium: +30 282 106 6466
• Sixt: +30 282 102 0905
• Surprice: +30 698 463 1835
• Thrifty: +30 282 106 3385
• Wheego: +30 282 106 0626
• Yours Car Rental: +30 211 187 5546

At Chania International car hire companies are found in the arrival area of the single terminal building. Cars can be arranged upon arriving at the airport, or in advance. An advanced booking is especially recommended during the summer months of July and August, when the airport is at its busiest. Passengers should also book early if they require a special type of vehicle, or any additional items of equipment to go with their car from Chania. These may include baby or booster seats, luggage racks or a satellite navigation system. Although each item costs an extra few Euro per day of rental, they greatly contribute to the ease and safety of your journey in Crete.

Services from the Crete car hire companies may also include the use of hand controls for disabled drivers, or one way hires, whereby customers may collect the vehicle from Chania, but return it to another rental location, either nearby or in another town or city. One way car rentals from Chania may be more costly if the vehicle is returned to a different city, however, they are most convenient for customers who will not be leaving the island from the airport. Hand controls are useful for individuals with a lower limb disability, as they operate the brake and accelerator pedals of the vehicle, and may also come with a steering wheel knob to further assist the driver. They are usually only available on certain types of automatically driven vehicles. At Chania, hand controls should be reserved at least 48 hours in advance of the passenger's arrival to collect the vehicle.

At the airport, cars of various shapes and sizes are hired. They are usually divided into car groups, and are therefore booked accordingly, rather than by their specific makes and models. Customers may not receive the exact vehicle as shown on the website of their car hire company, but will be allocated a car very similar in size and characteristics. Smaller vehicles may be similar to the Chevrolet Matiz, Opel Corsa or Citroen C2, and are an excellent choice for single drivers or couples with less luggage to transport. They also have cheaper rental rates, and are light on fuel. Families, however, may need a car which is slightly larger, and one which offers more room for luggage. Midsize to Fullsize vehicles may include the Renault Megane, or various types of estate vehicles. Passengers will also find SUV's, such as the Suzuki Jimny, Suzuki Vitara and Daihatsu Terios available, and larger vehicles, similar to the Fiat Scudo and VW Transporter with room for up to nine people.

Driving in Greece is done on the right hand side of the road, which means that cars approaching from the right will have the right-of-way. Slower drivers will be expected to pull over into the shoulder of the road to allow faster drivers to pass, but this should be done with caution, as the hard shoulders can be narrow and end suddenly. They may also be obstructed by rock falls. Drivers should also be aware that it is not uncommon to find animals alongside, or even in the roads, such as goats, and therefore extra attention should be paid to the road. The speed limits in Crete should be obeyed at all times, and are, in general, as follows: 50 km/h or 30 mph in urban/residential areas and 90 km/h or 56 mph on the highways. The speed limits may vary from one area to another, but are usually clearly signposted. In terms of road signs, they are posted in English and Greek.

Passengers renting a car will usually pay upfront for a full tank of fuel, especially for longer rental periods. However, there may be options to pay for half a tank, or to simply return the vehicle with a full tank. There are an adequate number of fuel stations along the roads and highways of Crete, but mainly only those on the highway are open after seven in the evening. Fuel stations in Greece are serviced by attendants, and are not self-service. Some may accept credit cards, but there are no stations where fuel can be purchased with credit cards after closing time. Always ensure that you find out which type of fuel your rented car should use, as it could be diesel or unleaded petrol.

For most of the Chania Airport car hire companies the primary renter should be at least 21 years of age, and have a valid drivers license and major credit card. All further details can be found on the website of your chosen car rental company.