Connecting flight from Athens to Crete and car rental 'issues'
Mar 2nd, 2011, 02:52 PM
#1
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Connecting flight from Athens to Crete and car rental 'issues'
We will arrive in Athens airport on a Saturday at 12 noon. We plan to take the flight to Chania, Crete that departs at 2:20pm. My first question - is this enough time to factor in minor delays, get our bags and over to the gate for the 'puddle jumper"?
Second question - the plan is to fly to Chania and rent a car. A few days later drive the car to Herkalion and leave the rental car at the Herkalion ferry terminal. Because, we are taking the ferry to Santorini. Will the car rental agency let us do this? (and not charge us a premium?). Or should we fly into Herkalion and rent the car there? We are visiting both
Herkalion and Chania.
(sorry for the confusing post, but I think a lot of you are used to reading posts like this)
Kathy
Second question - the plan is to fly to Chania and rent a car. A few days later drive the car to Herkalion and leave the rental car at the Herkalion ferry terminal. Because, we are taking the ferry to Santorini. Will the car rental agency let us do this? (and not charge us a premium?). Or should we fly into Herkalion and rent the car there? We are visiting both
Herkalion and Chania.
(sorry for the confusing post, but I think a lot of you are used to reading posts like this)
Kathy
Mar 2nd, 2011, 03:58 PM
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2.33 hour is enough time, especially if you're changing planes in another European airport where you will have already passed through Passport Control and Customs. But even if you have to do that in Athens you'll be fine.
Once you're in Chania you'll discover that there are several rental agencies with drop-off offices in Heraklion.
Once you're in Chania you'll discover that there are several rental agencies with drop-off offices in Heraklion.
Mar 4th, 2011, 01:56 AM
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Sure you can the time is enough... Even to grab a cup of coffee 
Concerning the car rental, most companies offer oneway rental without any charge. Others do charge only for petrol. Just ask before you book.
You can try a chania based company like http://www.rent-a-car-chania.gr/ or heraklion based http://www.rental-center-crete.com
I have used both with 100% pleasant experience.
Concerning the car rental, most companies offer oneway rental without any charge. Others do charge only for petrol. Just ask before you book.
You can try a chania based company like http://www.rent-a-car-chania.gr/ or heraklion based http://www.rental-center-crete.com
I have used both with 100% pleasant experience.
Mar 4th, 2011, 03:00 PM
#5
I'm also interested in renting a car in Chania and dropping off in Iraklion. Interestingly, we're going at the same time as Kathydreams.
We'll be arriving on Friday 9/16, and I'm imagining that we'll spend that Saturday entirely in Chania. So is it possible to rent the car Sunday morning or should we rent Saturday afternoon?
Current thinking is that we'll be leaving Heraklion on Thursday morning, taking the ferry (surprise!) to Santorini. I'm planning to visit Knossos the prior afternoon, before actually arriving in Heraklion. Does that make sense? If so, where and when (how late?) would we drop the car?
Are there advantages to waiting till we get to Chania to arrange transportation rather than doing it before we arrive? I'm used to making all arrangements before actually getting to the place, so this is a different way of planning and I'm still a little unsure and unclear about it.
Thanks for the help!
We'll be arriving on Friday 9/16, and I'm imagining that we'll spend that Saturday entirely in Chania. So is it possible to rent the car Sunday morning or should we rent Saturday afternoon?
Current thinking is that we'll be leaving Heraklion on Thursday morning, taking the ferry (surprise!) to Santorini. I'm planning to visit Knossos the prior afternoon, before actually arriving in Heraklion. Does that make sense? If so, where and when (how late?) would we drop the car?
Are there advantages to waiting till we get to Chania to arrange transportation rather than doing it before we arrive? I'm used to making all arrangements before actually getting to the place, so this is a different way of planning and I'm still a little unsure and unclear about it.
Thanks for the help!
Mar 4th, 2011, 04:08 PM
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Progol OF course u can rent on Sunday morning... you can specify pick-up of car (or delivery to y our hotel) whenever you want. That would enable you to rent Sunday 8:30 am say, to Thursday 8:30 am.
Yes you can arrange before... but not 6 months before! Wait until August. About dropping the car, discuss it with your rental agency. Sometimes they have you leave it at the ferry dock (keys under the floormat) before you board the ferry. Each agency has an area there for its cars. That way, you wouldn't have to taxi from your hotel to the pier. However, this does mean you'd have to find a parking place for your car in Heraklion, which ain't easy. Ask your agency for advice. I remember one time we stayed at a hotel Kronos on the waterfront, and the agency said, just find a place along the seafront, park the car, leave the keys at the hotel desk.
Yes you can arrange before... but not 6 months before! Wait until August. About dropping the car, discuss it with your rental agency. Sometimes they have you leave it at the ferry dock (keys under the floormat) before you board the ferry. Each agency has an area there for its cars. That way, you wouldn't have to taxi from your hotel to the pier. However, this does mean you'd have to find a parking place for your car in Heraklion, which ain't easy. Ask your agency for advice. I remember one time we stayed at a hotel Kronos on the waterfront, and the agency said, just find a place along the seafront, park the car, leave the keys at the hotel desk.
Mar 4th, 2011, 04:43 PM
#7
No worries, I'm not booking now, but I do like to plan out what I'll need to do when and anticipate how things will need to be coordinated.
It may be a ways away, but the planning keeps the excitement going!
Paule
It may be a ways away, but the planning keeps the excitement going!
Paule
Mar 7th, 2011, 10:59 AM
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Excessive planning is fine - you'll just find out more tips and ideas. Late night planning and reading Fodors gets me through long winter days and nights. I reserved a car via email in advance and they delivered it to my hotel. I left it at the ferry dock on departure as per their directions. No problems.
