Chania Airport → Chania Town, Agia Marina & Platanias

How it works

You book before you travel, give your flight number, and the price is fixed for the whole car. The gap between the bus and a car is smaller here than on any other Crete route because the distance is short, so the decision is really about luggage, children and whether your address is awkward to reach. Chania's old town is largely pedestrianised, and a driver who knows it will get you closer to the door than a bus stop will.

Good to know

• •Be honest about whether you need this. Two people going to a Chania town hotel save around €20 to €30 by taking the bus, and the bus takes about the same time.
• •For Platanias, a car removes the change in Chania entirely. That is the strongest case for booking one on this route.

How it works

The rank is immediately outside arrivals and licensed cars wait there for flights. This is a short run on a good road, so it is one of the more predictable taxi journeys in Crete. Agree the fare in euro before you set off, and expect the figure to sit somewhere in the mid-twenties to mid-thirties for the town depending on exactly where you are going.

Good to know

• •Carry cash. Card machines in Crete taxis are common but not dependable.
• •Chania is a small airport and the rank empties quickly when two flights land together. If you are last off, the bus may genuinely be faster.

How it works

You collect at the airport and are on the national road within minutes. Western Crete is the part of the island where a car changes what you can see: Balos, Elafonissi, Falasarna and the Sfakia coast are all poorly served by public transport, and the day trips people remember from this end of Crete almost all involve a drive. If that is your plan, collect the car on arrival rather than renting later in the week.

Good to know

• •We are not quoting a daily rate, because an honest one does not exist: it swings with season, category and how far ahead you book. Price it for your own dates.
• •If you are in town for the first few days and touring later, hiring from a town office for part of the week can work out cheaper than parking a car you are not using.