Discover Top Destinations in Heraklion with a Car Rental Service

Heraklion has something to offer toevery kind of traveler. Ancient monuments, magnificent mountains a breathtaking coastline, pristine beaches, quaint little towns and villages, museums – Crete has it all. Discover the top ten destinations in and around Heraklion at your pace with a rental car:

• Palace of Knossos: The ruins and the re-creations of this ancient capital city of Minoan Crete is a major tourist draw, and for good reason. The ancient palace has been destroyed and rebuilt more than once. The original structure is over four thousand years old. Knossos is also the place where the myth of the Minotaur, the half bull-half human mythical beast originated.

• Samaria Gorge: A 16km (10 miles) stony trail is a busy and popular hiking spot. The gorge is nearly 500m (over 1600 ft) deep, but the walls are only 3m (10 ft) apart at the narrowest point. All manner of hikers come here, and the trail ends in the coastal village.

• Mt Gingilos: The path upwards starts at the start of the Samaria Gorge, and it is a fairly easy climb for a mountain. It has a near vertical face on one side, making it look spectacular. The views along the path are breathtaking

• Heraklion Archaeological Museum: The perfect place to get a sense of the rich culture and history of Crete. The museum was recently renovated and there are several options for guided or even private tours

• The Arkadi Monastery: The Moni Arkadiou is about a 2 hour drive from Heraklion, on Crete’s southern coast. This is the site of a relatively recent event in 1866, when hundreds of locals sacrificed their lives to end the tyranny of the Ottoman onslaught. Other important buildings nearby include the Venetian Church

• Vai Beach: While the beach itself is wonderful area with beautiful palms and turquoise waters, the 2 hour drive from Heraklion is almost entirely with the sea on one side and sheer mountains on the other. A great trip for the driver and the passengers

• Dikteon Cave: A beautiful subterranean cave with ancient inscribed stone tablets and magnificent views, this is a must see. Legend has it that Zeus himself was born here

• Bembo Fountain: This delightful fountain was built in the 16th century, and is oddly devoid of tourists. Built from bits and pieces of different structures, this was Heraklion’s first fountain

• Church of Agios Titos: Built by the Byzantines in 961 AD, it was a Catholic Church in the Venetian era, a mosque under the Ottomans and is now an Orthodox Church

• Iraklio Wine Country: Tour the fantastic vineyards and wineries that dot the slopes and valleys and discover the wonders of Cretan wine

Mandatory Things to be Taken Care of before Renting a Car in Chania

Chania is a regional unit and also the name of the second largest city in the island of Crete. Administrative boundaries and titles aside, recent excavations have unearthed relics that prove that it was inhabited since at least the Neolithic age. With such a long and checkered history and its vibrant natural landscape, it has a lot to offer to tourists and travelers.

Chania has a number of towns and villages situated throughout the region including ancient harbor towns, fishing villages and several monuments and buildings from the Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman era. In addition, the agro-tourism and eco-tourism are becoming very popular. The best way to experience these treasures is with your own vehicle. And with a rental car, you can do just that. All you need to do is be mindful of a few things and you should be set to enjoy a lovely vacation in Chania.

·        · Acquire a Valid License: Find out how to obtain an international driving permit, or if your country’s license is acceptable

·         Driver Restrictions: Car rental services in Chania tend to be quite laid back about a driver’s age, but the legal minimum driving age is 21 years. However, some agencies may refuse to allow drivers under 25 and over 70 years of age (or they may charge more). They also allow additional drivers at no extra cost

·      Insurance Options: This is often overlooked, but a very important aspect of renting a car abroad. Find out about insurance options for damage, accidents and theft of the car. Also, ensure that you have international personal accident coverage. Traveling insurance may or may not cover medical costs and bills if you need hospital care

·        Car Specs: It is best to rent a car you are comfortable driving. Roads and even highways in Crete are narrower than what you may be used to, owing to the landscape. Most rental cars have manual transmission, so find out options for automatic if you need it

·       Extras: You may not need a GPS in the age of smart phones (though most cars would have them), but other accessories like child seats are best requested beforehand. Most car rental services give them for free or charge a nominal amount

Pick up and Drop: Find out about free pick up and drop options. Ask about options to drop off the car in a different city than the one where you picked it up. This way, you can pick up a car in Chania and drop it off in Heraklion if your itinerary calls for it.