Gran Canaria Car rental

A car turns a Gran Canaria holiday from a resort week into an island one. The GC-1 is quick, the distances along the coast are short, and the places worth the drive, from Tejeda and Roque Nublo to Teror and Agaete, lie inland or along the north coast, away from the resorts. The island's bookable hire fleet is concentrated at the airport, so the usual plan is to collect on arrival and return on departure. From the airport, Playa del Inglés and Las Palmas are both 27 minutes away and Puerto de Mogán about 45.

Three things catch people out. A physical credit card in the main driver's name may be required, depending on the car, so read the car's own conditions before booking. A hire car is allowed on paved public roads only, and the interior has tempting unpaved tracks. And the mountains are slow: Roque Nublo is 66 minutes from the airport, longer than the drive to Puerto de Mogán, with no parking at the rock itself.