Saturday, 06 December 2014 00:00

Getting from Gran Canaria Airport to Playa del Inglés

Taxi in Playa del Inglés Taxi in Playa del Inglés

Playa del Inglés is about half an hour down the motorway from Gran Canaria airport and you can't really get lost. You can rent a car or get a bus or taxi to the resort. 

Package Holiday Transfers

Come to Gran Canaria on a package deal there is a free, shiny bus waiting for you at the airport. In exchange for the lift you get a welcome speech and some sales patter from the rep but it’s never a good idea to sign up for trips and extras on the bus.

The “only a few places left so sign up now” pitch is designed to take advantage of frazzled passengers and tour operator trips are not always the best option. Most excursions in Gran Canaria run every day, or at least twice a week. If  an excursion is full there is always an alternative. Look for leaflets in your hotel reception and check our excursions guide before signing up.

Independent travellers

A taxi ride costs about 40 euros. This sounds expensive but between three or four people it isn’t much more than the public bus. There are always plenty of taxis waiting right outside the arrivals lounge. They are all on the meter and perfectly honest. Be nice to your taxi driver and ask for a card and he may well offer you a cheap ride back to the airport. 

Local blue buses run from the airport down to Playa del Inglés but most people still need a taxi to get from the bus stop to your accommodation. The bus line between the airport and Playa is Line 66: It runs every hour at twenty minutes past the hour between 07.20 and 20.20. Gran Canaria airport is currently being extended so the bus stop moves around. It currently leaves from just to the right of the arrivals gate. If in doubt, ask for the “guagua (wawa) para Playa del Inglés”.

Intrepid or budget travellers can avoid taxi fares when the airport buses aren't running by walking under the motorway to the bus stop just by airport exit. A bus will come along within an hour or two at any time of the day or night, except at weekends. Unless you are seriously short of cash, we recommend getting a taxi instead of standing by the motorway in the dark.

Pick-up services

Several companies offer a personal pick-up service from the airport. They are convenient and reliable but only save you a few euros. For large groups who want to travel together they are worthwhile but but otherwise a taxi is just as convenient. We'd advise you to use the Canary Forum airport transfer service as it is local, has been running for years and doesn't require up-front payment..

 

Published in Playa del Inglés

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Tip of the day

  • How To Choose A Legal Gran Canaria Airport Transfer
    How To Choose A Legal Gran Canaria Airport Transfer

    Gran Canaria's hotels have to be licensed and offer a quality level of service as well as having insurance and complying with fire regulations. The same goes for the boats that take people out to watch dolphins, the companies offering jeep safaris, and even the holiday let apartments. 

    However, not everybody in Gran Canaria follows the rules. For example, there is a significant industry running illegal and uninsured transfers between Gran Canaria airport and the island's resorts. These cars, driven by locals and foreign-residents, are just private vehicles and the drivers are unregulated and uninsured. They don't pay tax and there is no way to hold them responsible if something goes wrong. 

     At Gran Canaria Info we believe that all people and all companies offering services to tourists should legal and above board.

    So, how do you know that your airport transfer service is legal and registered with the Gran Canaria authorities?

     Using legal Gran Canaria airport transfers

    It is quite easy to know if your airport transfer service is operating in a legal way because all registered transfers have the following...

     A blue license plate: Taxis and other public service vehicles in Gran Canaria all have blue plates.

    A VTC sticker in the window: This stands for Vehículo de Transporte con Conductor, the official designation for licensed transfer drivers ans chauffeurs.

    An SP sticker on the car: This indicates that the car offer a Servicio Publico or public service and is therefore allowed to pick up and transfer members of the public. 

    Parked in the transport zone: Official airport transfer vehicles don't park in the public car park of the airport. Instead they have their own parking zone right by the arrivals gates at the airport (next to the taxis and package tour buses). Your transfer driver therefore should not have to pay a parking fee before leaving the aiport. 

    How to spot an unlicensed transfer service

    Unlicensed drivers get away with offerring their service because they claim that they are just members of the public picking up a friend. They are allowed to stand at arrivals with a sign (just like any member of the public can).

    However, they also have to park their car in the public car park and will walk you there with your luggage, stopping to pay the parking fee at the meter. A licensed transfer driver does not need to do this because they have their own parking zone right by arrivals.

    Some unlicensed drivers don't even wait at the arrival gate because the official drivers recognise them and get annoyed. Instead they have to stand further away (often by the Spar supermarket or the car rental desks). 

    When an unlicensed driver drops you at the airport they will not want to be paid in a public area because this proves that they are charging rather than "transporting a friend" for free. 

    An unlicensed car will not have a blue license plate, or a SP or VTC sticker, and will often look like a private car (because it is a private car). 

    What's the problem with unlicensed airport transfers?

    Some people use unlicensed cars because they are the cheapest option and don't realise that they are unlicensed. 

    There are several problems with unlicensed services. The most obvious is that they are uninsured so if something goes wrong or there is an accident, you are not protected. The price that unlicensed drivers offer is only low because they cut corners (hopefully not literally). You have no way of even knowing if your unlicensed driver has a Spanish driving license, insurance and a good driving record. Licensed drivers are vetted regularly and must be fully insured and licensed to work.

    Another problem is that unlicensed transfers undermine the legitimate transfer drivers and businesses in Gran Canaria. Local drivers make a living from transfers and offer a legal, regulated service with minimum standards. Every time an unlicensed service undercuts them, it is effectively stealing from local people and the island economy.

    We believe that everybody in Gran Canaria deserves better!

    Gran Canaria Airport Transfer Services

    To find out more about the Gran Canaria airport transfer, see our Gran Canaria airport transfer article which explains the three different models; man/woman from pub with car, online transfer websites, and local transfer services.

    Or you can book a legitimate Gran Canaria airport transfer at a great price right here. Our service uses local drivers and supprts the island economy because all the money you spend stays in Gran Canaria.

    Alex Says: Using our service also helps the Gran Canaria Info team to keep providing quality local information here and in our Facebook Group

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