Crete car rental recommendations

In 2019 we rented from Dimitris at AutoRentals Crete (http://www.autorentals-crete.gr ) and they were very helpful, and the price was very good. We did the reverse - picked up in Iraklio (aka Heraklion) and returned it in Hania (aka Chania). We didn’t rent the car the same day we arrived at the airport, so they brought the car to our hotel (the Kastro) the day we were ready to depart Iraklio. Because it turned out that the streets in Iraklio were so complicated and intimidating, they agreed to lead us out of town with their company car, which we followed in our rental to get clear of Iraklio. Returning in Hania, with its own complicated grid of one-way streets, we parked the car three blocks from our hotel, and they collected it there.

We’ve never needed to do that with many car rentals anywhere else in Europe, but it was essential for our rental on Crete. Also be prepared for oncoming drivers to be coming at you in your lane around blind corners on any twisty mountain road. They get back into their lane in the nick of time, but it was disconcerting every time to have every other driver cut inside on curves!

We rented from the same company. They met us at the bus station in Chania and we returned the car at the airport in Heraklion. The pickup was easy and we had no trouble driving out of Chania. We had a bit more trouble returning the car because we had some difficulty finding them at the airport.

You don’t need a car in Chania so I would suggest getting one as you are leaving as we did. We did not drive in Heraklion. We stayed outside Heraklion, drove to Knossos, and decided to leave the car in the parking lot and take the bus to Heraklion to visit the archeological museum. That worked very well. We returned the car at the airport before our flight the next day which was easy driving.

We rented from them too. Pick up and return to Heraklion. Nice clean car with Apple CarPlay. Apple maps worked great while weere driving around. Would definitely rent from them again.

Our rental from a local company called "Auto Car" was horrid. Avoid them at all costs.