Different arrival and departure airports in Sardinia? Check the car first

Plan the route first

Using different airports can work when you want to visit more than one part of Sardinia without retracing the whole route. Mark your overnight stays, stops and the end of your holiday first: a line between airports on a map does not show how practical the transfer will be. For a stay focused on Gallura, adding Alghero only for the return flight may create a long final journey to manage.

One-way returns are not automatic

Airport pages can help identify rental operators and public connections, but they do not guarantee that a particular company will accept a return in another town. Select both locations in the operator’s own quote and check the final confirmation. Read the terms for that booking: availability, a possible fee, opening times and after-hours arrangements can depend on the company and travel date.

Compare the full price and terms

Request quotes with identical dates, car class, drivers and cover, changing only the return location. Compare the total shown before payment, the deposit and rules for fuel, mileage and late returns. Check which payment cards and documents are required and who may drive. Do not treat a one-way return as free unless the operator explicitly confirms it for your booking.

Include the journey to your final airport

A rental price that looks attractive may leave out the time and cost of reaching the airport for departure. If you plan to take a bus, check its route, stop and calendar on the official site for your exact date; some services are seasonal and timetables can change. Include the transfer from the place where you leave the car to the terminal. Do not assume it is always in the same building.

Allow for changes

For a return in another town, find out in advance what to do if your flight changes, the office is closed or you arrive late. Use the operator’s contact details and stated procedure, and keep the booking confirmation and terms. Leave a buffer between returning the car and your flight, including refuelling and any required inspection. A fallback written into a plan is not a confirmed ride or a known fare.

Choose what serves the holiday

Compare at least two plans: return from the same airport and return the car in another town. For the second, count any fee, transfer and time taken from your final days; for the first, count the trip back to the airport. If you stay in Arzachena or Pantogia, consider how a final stop in the north-west fits the places you want to visit. The useful comparison is the whole trip, not the airfare alone.