HERAKLION, Crete — Crete is heading into a record summer. The island has been named one of Europe’s fastest-rising destinations for 2026, with UK holiday-package searches up sharply year-on-year and major operators expanding capacity. TUI alone has added dozens of extra summer flights to the island. For Heraklion International Airport (HER), already among Greece’s busiest gateways, that means fuller flights, longer queues and a packed arrivals hall through the core summer months.

Against that backdrop, Heraklion car rental company Cretarent is encouraging arriving visitors to plan the one part of the trip travellers most often leave to chance: getting from the plane to the road.

“Every June, we watch the same thing happen: people step off a four-hour flight with tired kids and then spend another hour in a counter queue,” said Kerry Portokalaki, owner of Cretarent. “It’s the easiest part of the holiday to get right in advance. A car that’s booked, paid and waiting turns a stressful arrival into a five-minute handover.”

Cretarent, a family-run rental company based in Heraklion, is highlighting three practical steps for a smooth arrival in peak season:

Book before you fly.

As arrivals climb, fleet availability, especially for family vehicles and automatics, tightens fastest in July and August. Reserving ahead of time locks in both the car and the rate.

Choose meet-and-greet pickup.

A pre-arranged handover at or near the terminal removes the arrivals-hall counter queue entirely, with the vehicle ready and the paperwork done in advance.

Arrive road-ready.

Having your driving licence, booking reference, and any child-seat requirements confirmed beforehand keeps the handover to minutes, not the long waits common at peak hours.

Beyond the airport, a car remains the only practical way to reach much of what brings visitors to Crete in the first place, the Lasithi plateau, the south-coast beaches, the mountain villages and the inland tavernas that public transport simply doesn’t serve. “Heraklion is the door,” added Portokalaki. “The car is what lets a family actually open it and see the island on their own terms.”

Cretarent serves arrivals at Heraklion International Airport and across the wider region, with a fleet ranging from compact city cars to family vehicles, and offers pre-booked pickup, transparent pricing and local support throughout the rental.

About Cretarent

Cretarent is a family-run car rental company based in Heraklion, Crete, serving visitors arriving at Heraklion International Airport (HER) and travelling across the island. With a focus on transparent pricing, well-maintained vehicles and personal local service, Cretarent helps families and independent travellers explore Crete on their own schedule. More at cretarent.gr.