Cardiff Airport Car Rental
The Cardiff Airport was officially established in the early 1940's as a military operation. Like many airports post-war, the Cardiff was transformed into a commercial enterprise years later. In the early 90's the passenger count increased by over 100,000 for the first time, increasing passenger count to over 700,000 by 1992. The airport currently supports over 2 million passengers per year.
The Cardiff Airport services more than 50 direct destinations and over 800 1-stop destinations around the globe. Early in 2009 the airport changed the name from Cardiff International Airport to simply Cardiff Airport or Maes Awyr Caerdydd, meaning Cardiff Airport in the Welsh language. 
Car rental companies located at the Cardiff Airport include Hertz, Avis, National, Europcar and Alamo. Each of these companies should provide a quality car at a fair price. They all offer a one-way car hire out of the Cardiff Airport, but you should count on extra fees to bring the car back to its original location at the Cardiff Airport.
When exiting out of the Cardiff Airport, you may find it easier to exit via Port Road - especially if traveling to Cardiff. Port Road runs north to A405, then towards the town of Cardiff. You will be able to access Port Road on the Eastern end of the airport facility. Cardiff will be about a 20 km rental car drive from the airport. As you travel to Cardiff, you will travel thru the edge of Barry. When approaching Barry Docs Link Road (A4050), you will travel left or North. Continue North until you run into the Culverhouse Cross Roundabout. Stay right and travel about 5 km to the Cardiff City Center. For those that haven't driven in Wales, watch for instruction road directions painted on the road. (See Below Picture).
While there are few inns near the airport (within 5 km's or so), there is one that is really close and convenient to Cardiff Airport travelers - the Holiday Inn Express near the Cardiff Airport. The hotel is fairly basic, but also reasonably priced.
Currently, you can rent a basic room there for less than £ 50.00 including VAT. While the hotel won't wow you with its luxuriousness or amenities, it is within 500-600 meters from the front of the terminal.
Food choices are somewhat limited, but you should find something to fill your belly at the Cardiff Airport. The Food Village, the Echo Bar and a Burger King offer choices both before security and after security in the Departures areas in the Cardiff terminals. Tax and Duty free shopping is available at the Nuance Shop. Pick up some good priced liquor, cosmetics or perfume here.
An executive lounge is also available at the Cardiff Airport. Wi-Fi is not free at the lounge, but you do get free use of internet terminals. For some that may be enough. Airport lounges offer a nice, quiet place to get away from the hustle and bustle of airport chatter. The lounge here currently costs about £ 17.50 per day. The lounge is open form 5 am to 9 pm.
As mentioned above, the distance from the Cardiff Airport is about 20 km. However, not everyone who arrives at the airport is ultimately headed to Cardiff. For those folks we have compiled a list of other nearby towns and attractions and the distances needed to get there in your hired car. These are estimates only, and are calculated from the Cardiff Airport.
Barry, United Kingdom 8 km.
Trowbridge, United Kingdom 124 km.
Caerphilly, United Kingdom 32 km.
Penarth, United Kingdom 18 km.
Pontyclun, United Kingdom 20 km.
Pontypridd, United Kingdom 30 km.
Llantwit Major, United Kingdom 12 km.
Bridgend, United Kingdom 26 km.
Porthcawl, United Kingdom 35 km.
Swansea, United Kingdom 68 km.
Gloucester, United Kingdom 122 km.
Bristol, UK 92 km.
Cheltenham, United Kingdom 134 km.
One place worth mentioning in this space is the Cardiff St. Fagans National History Museum. The museum was originally a manor-house built in the 16th century, and was donated and opened to the public as a museum in 1948. This Welsh attraction is free to the public and gives tourists an idea of what life was like hundreds of years ago Wales. To get there, you will travel in your rental car just like you would travel to the city of Cardiff, except that you follow the A48 around the Culverhouse Cross Roundabout and then travel North on Michaelston Rd., a narrow two-lane road all way to the Museum. The museum was formerly called the Museum of Welsh Life, so watch for signs with this wording as you approach the facility on the left-hand side of the road. 
Several types of vehicles are available here at the Cardiff Airport. Economy cars, SUV's, Luxury cars and regular intermediate vehicles are all generally available here. Also, check out the add-ons available when booking your car. GPS's, additional drivers, and different types of children's car seats are typically for rent as well. Eurocar Rental's easy booking engine makes the process quick and painless.
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Airport Basics.....
The Cardiff Airport was officially established in the early 1940's as a military operation. Like many airports post-war, the Cardiff was transformed into a commercial enterprise years later. In the early 90's the passenger count increased by over 100,000 for the first time, increasing passenger count to over 700,000 by 1992. The airport currently supports over 2 million passengers per year.
The Cardiff Airport services more than 50 direct destinations and over 800 1-stop destinations around the globe. Early in 2009 the airport changed the name from Cardiff International Airport to simply Cardiff Airport or Maes Awyr Caerdydd, meaning Cardiff Airport in the Welsh language.
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Cardiff Airport Car Rental.....
Car rental companies located at the Cardiff Airport include Hertz, Avis, National, Europcar and Alamo. Each of these companies should provide a quality car at a fair price. They all offer a one-way car hire out of the Cardiff Airport, but you should count on extra fees to bring the car back to its original location at the Cardiff Airport.
When exiting out of the Cardiff Airport, you may find it easier to exit via Port Road - especially if traveling to Cardiff. Port Road runs north to A405, then towards the town of Cardiff. You will be able to access Port Road on the Eastern end of the airport facility. Cardiff will be about a 20 km rental car drive from the airport. As you travel to Cardiff, you will travel thru the edge of Barry. When approaching Barry Docs Link Road (A4050), you will travel left or North. Continue North until you run into the Culverhouse Cross Roundabout. Stay right and travel about 5 km to the Cardiff City Center. For those that haven't driven in Wales, watch for instruction road directions painted on the road. (See Below Picture).
When returning your vehicle from Cardiff, you will generally reverse the directions above. We generally recommend that you re-fuel your rental car's gas tank before making the journey back to the Cardiff Airport. There are no available fueling stations within a close radius of the airport.
Hotels Near the Cardiff Airport.....
While there are few inns near the airport (within 5 km's or so), there is one that is really close and convenient to Cardiff Airport travelers - the Holiday Inn Express near the Cardiff Airport. The hotel is fairly basic, but also reasonably priced.
Currently, you can rent a basic room there for less than £ 50.00 including VAT. While the hotel won't wow you with its luxuriousness or amenities, it is within 500-600 meters from the front of the terminal.
Airport Amenities.....
Food choices are somewhat limited, but you should find something to fill your belly at the Cardiff Airport. The Food Village, the Echo Bar and a Burger King offer choices both before security and after security in the Departures areas in the Cardiff terminals. Tax and Duty free shopping is available at the Nuance Shop. Pick up some good priced liquor, cosmetics or perfume here.
An executive lounge is also available at the Cardiff Airport. Wi-Fi is not free at the lounge, but you do get free use of internet terminals. For some that may be enough. Airport lounges offer a nice, quiet place to get away from the hustle and bustle of airport chatter. The lounge here currently costs about £ 17.50 per day. The lounge is open form 5 am to 9 pm.
Car Rental Driving Distances.....
As mentioned above, the distance from the Cardiff Airport is about 20 km. However, not everyone who arrives at the airport is ultimately headed to Cardiff. For those folks we have compiled a list of other nearby towns and attractions and the distances needed to get there in your hired car. These are estimates only, and are calculated from the Cardiff Airport.
Barry, United Kingdom 8 km.
Trowbridge, United Kingdom 124 km.
Caerphilly, United Kingdom 32 km.
Penarth, United Kingdom 18 km.
Pontyclun, United Kingdom 20 km.
Pontypridd, United Kingdom 30 km.
Llantwit Major, United Kingdom 12 km.
Bridgend, United Kingdom 26 km.
Porthcawl, United Kingdom 35 km.
Swansea, United Kingdom 68 km.
Gloucester, United Kingdom 122 km.
Bristol, UK 92 km.
Cheltenham, United Kingdom 134 km.
Cardiff Attractions in Your Rental Car.....
One place worth mentioning in this space is the Cardiff St. Fagans National History Museum. The museum was originally a manor-house built in the 16th century, and was donated and opened to the public as a museum in 1948. This Welsh attraction is free to the public and gives tourists an idea of what life was like hundreds of years ago Wales. To get there, you will travel in your rental car just like you would travel to the city of Cardiff, except that you follow the A48 around the Culverhouse Cross Roundabout and then travel North on Michaelston Rd., a narrow two-lane road all way to the Museum. The museum was formerly called the Museum of Welsh Life, so watch for signs with this wording as you approach the facility on the left-hand side of the road.
Vehicle Types Available at the Cardiff Airport.....
Several types of vehicles are available here at the Cardiff Airport. Economy cars, SUV's, Luxury cars and regular intermediate vehicles are all generally available here. Also, check out the add-ons available when booking your car. GPS's, additional drivers, and different types of children's car seats are typically for rent as well. Eurocar Rental's easy booking engine makes the process quick and painless.