Rent a Car in Gran Canaria for Playa del Inglés: Driving Guide

Honestly, for a beach-and-pool fortnight you may not. Playa del Inglés runs straight into Maspalomas, and the Maspalomas Botanical Garden, Playa de las Mujeres, Meloneras and the Maspalomas Lighthouse all sit within about 2 miles. Playa del Hornillo, Playa de Meloneras and Aqualand Maspalomas are around 2.5 miles away, which is a short taxi ride or, for the energetic, a walk in the cooler hours.

The picture changes once you look slightly further out. Palmitos Park is roughly 6 miles from the resort, Mundo Aborigen about 4 miles and Playa de las Carpinteras just over 4 miles. With children, beach bags and the July and August highs of 31 to 32°C, having your own wheels makes those days far easier. Many travellers settle on car hire in Gran Canaria for Playa del Inglés for just a few days of a longer stay rather than the whole holiday.

The obvious pick-up point is Gran Canaria airport (LPA), which has direct flights from the United Kingdom and sits about 24 minutes' drive from the resort. Collecting on arrival means you skip the transfer and have the car for the whole trip, which suits families planning several outings.

If you only want a car for part of your stay, check the comparison on this page for collection options closer to Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas, then pick it up once you have settled in. That way you are not paying for a car that sits in the hotel car park while you lie by the pool.

Distances here are short. From Playa del Inglés, the airport run takes about 24 minutes, Meloneras and the lighthouse are roughly 2 miles, Aqualand about 2.5 miles, Mundo Aborigen around 4 miles and Palmitos Park about 6 miles. Most of your driving will be brief hops rather than long stretches.

The port at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is about 29 miles away, worth knowing if you are tempted by a day trip by sea. Before taking a hire car on a ferry, check your rental terms carefully, as many agreements restrict this.

In high summer, with July and August averaging 31 to 32°C and no rain to speak of, park in shade where you can and keep water in the car. Rain is rare most of the year, though November sees the most wet days, around five on average.

Choose a full-to-full fuel policy where you can: you collect the car with a full tank and return it full, paying only for what you use. Read the excess terms closely and decide in advance whether you want cover to reduce it, rather than deciding at the desk after a long flight.

If you are travelling with young children, reserve child seats when you book, not on arrival. Demand rises during UK school holidays, so book early for those weeks. The live comparison on this page lets you set your exact dates and pick-up point to rent a car in Playa del Inglés, Gran Canaria, and compare the offers side by side.