Alicante Airport (ALC): Traps to Skip on Arrival

ALC is efficient — and busy. Most “traps” are rushed decisions in the first 20 minutes: accepting an unmarked ride, buying cover you already prepaid, or paying tourist rates for something you can sort cheaper in town.

1. Transport: use official channels only

• Follow signed taxi ranks and official bus stops outside arrivals — ignore anyone approaching you inside the terminal offering a “taxi”.
• Pre-booked private transfers: confirm the meeting point in your voucher (usually arrivals hall with a name sign).
• ALSA and other scheduled coaches leave from marked bays — check the destination board, not a stranger’s WhatsApp offer.

2. Car hire desks — know what you already paid

If you booked online, bring the voucher and a physical credit card in the main driver’s name. Desk staff often push extra insurance, prepaid fuel or upgrades. Decline politely if you already have the cover you want, photograph the car before leaving, and stick to the fuel policy on your contract (Full-to-Full is usually the cleanest).

3. Money, SIM and “helpers”

• Airport FX counters are convenient, not competitive — prefer a bank card with low FX fees or withdraw from a reputable ATM if needed.
• SIM/eSIM: buying in a town centre shop or activating an eSIM before landing is usually cheaper than rush kiosk pricing.
• You do not need a paid porter for a normal suitcase — follow the pictograms to exits, buses and hire-car desks.

4. Keep documents and calm pace

Have booking references offline (screenshot), know your hotel town (Benidorm ≠ Altea ≠ Calpe), and give yourself buffer if collecting a car. Most costly mistakes happen when people are tired and hurry.

Bottom line

Use marked transport, honour the hire contract you already bought, and skip impulse airport purchases. That is enough to leave ALC like a regular — not a mark. For deeper detail, see our car hire and airport transfer tips in the Tips feed.