No. 14 of 30 at HER

Royal Rentals

Name: Royal Rentals at Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis": Counterwise rating
Item: Royal Rentals (Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis")
Rating: 5.9
Author: Counterwise

at Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis"

Short walk

Medium consensus Check prices ↓

At a glance

Royal Rentals at Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" is ranked No. 14 of 30 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 5.9/10 (Poor).
The Royal Rentals desk is in a nearby car park or building, a short walk from the terminal at Heraklion Airport (walking time not confirmed yet).
A credit card in the main driver's name is required; the deposit amount is not confirmed yet.
Fuel policy: same to same. Opening hours: 08:00–22:00 daily.
Main red flag from travellers: Multiple recent reviews say a credit card was refused (for example a combined debit/credit or digital card) and they then had to pay roughly 80-350 EUR extra or buy the desk's cover, sometimes when the booking site had not made this clear..

Based on 235 reviews analysed · Last updated 13 November 2026 · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 155 informative Google reviews after excluding 28 (hotel-station, quad/motorbike, secondhand and staff-praise reviews), experiences are mixed. Many travellers with a valid credit card report quick handovers, no upselling and prompt deposit refunds. A steady minority report old or faulty cars, downgraded or cancelled bookings, extra fees or compulsory cover when a card was refused, and some disputed damage charges; web evidence agrees on the mixed picture but is mostly undated.

AI-assisted summary of 235 recent Google reviews and web reports, reviewed by our editor on 13 November 2026. How we do it

Score breakdown

Each sub-score is out of 10. Higher is always better for you. How the weights work

Deposit & damage disputes(30% of score)

Poor5.5/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 24 reports · medium confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor5.0/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 28 reports · medium confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor4.5/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 35 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Mixed7.5/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 16 reports · medium confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Poor5.0/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 50 reports · high confidence.

How this score was built

AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 5.4 · counts 70%
Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 7.1 · counts 30%
29 of 264 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (other locations, solicited staff praise, other reasons). How we clean reviews
Pulled 13% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (104 after weighting by age).

Medium consensusOur independent signals mostly agree, with some differences.

What travellers flag

Red flags (4)

Multiple recent reviews say a credit card was refused (for example a combined debit/credit or digital card) and they then had to pay roughly 80-350 EUR extra or buy the desk's cover, sometimes when the booking site had not made this clear.
Many recent reviews describe old, high-mileage or poorly maintained cars with faults such as warning lights, worn brakes, weak air conditioning, empty washer fluid or dirty interiors.
Several recent reviews report not getting the booked car category, being given a smaller car, or being told at the counter that no car was available or the booking was cancelled.
Reviews since mid-2025 report damage charges of about 100-300 EUR for scratches or minor damage that customers say were already there or were minor, and a dated Trustpilot review from 2026 reports a similar dispute at this airport.uk.trustpilot.com

Green flags (5)

Many travellers with a valid credit card report no pressure to buy extra insurance or add-ons at the desk.
Reviews often describe a short walk of a few minutes from the terminal and quick pickup and return, typically 5-15 minutes.
Staff routinely ask customers to film or photograph the car at handover and note existing damage, which helps protect against later disputes.
Several reviews from the last 13 months report the deposit being released within 1 day to 1 week.
Some customers report quick replacement cars when a fault appeared during the rental.

Practical facts

Location	Nearby car park or building, a short walk from the terminal (minutes not confirmed yet)source
Opening hours	08:00–22:00 dailysource
Credit card required	Yes, in the main driver’s namesource
Typical deposit	Not confirmed yet
Fuel policy	Same to samesource
Shares the desk with	Ecovia

“Not confirmed yet” means we have not verified that fact yet. We never guess.

Sources

Web pages behind this rating’s facts and flags, found through search APIs. The review analysis also used 235 recent Google reviews of this desk, which we do not republish.

Before you go

Tick these off at the counter. (Nothing is saved; it's just for you.)

Take photos and a short video of the car at pickup, including wheels, windscreen and the fuel gauge.
Check the fuel level matches the contract before you drive off.
Decline duplicate insurance at the desk if you already have excess cover. Bring proof of your policy.
Bring a credit card in the main driver’s name with enough available credit for the deposit (amount not confirmed yet).
Allow walking time from the terminal, longer with luggage.
Check the closing time (08:00–22:00 daily). If your flight lands late, call the desk: some wait, others close on time.
Same-to-same fuel: photograph the gauge at pickup and at return.

Royal Rentals at Heraklion Airport: questions and answers

Is Royal Rentals at Heraklion Airport any good?

Royal Rentals at Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" has a Counterwise Score of 5.9/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 14 of 30 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Many travellers with a valid credit card report no pressure to buy extra insurance or add-ons at the desk.. Main red flag: Multiple recent reviews say a credit card was refused (for example a combined debit/credit or digital card) and they then had to pay roughly 80-350 EUR extra or buy the desk's cover, sometimes when the booking site had not made this clear..

Do I need a credit card to rent from Royal Rentals at Heraklion Airport?

Yes. Royal Rentals at Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" requires a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit.

How much is the deposit at Royal Rentals at Heraklion Airport?

The deposit amount at Royal Rentals at Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" is not confirmed yet. Check the rental terms when you book. The lowest confirmed starting deposit at this airport is at Rental Center Crete (€0).

Where is the Royal Rentals desk at Heraklion Airport?

The Royal Rentals desk is in a nearby car park or building, a short walk from the terminal at Heraklion Airport (walking time not confirmed yet). It shares the counter with Ecovia.

What are the opening hours of Royal Rentals at Heraklion Airport?

Royal Rentals at Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" is open 08:00–22:00 daily. Fuel policy: same to same.

Other desks at Heraklion Airport

Ranked by Counterwise Score. Compare all 30 desks side by side