Located to the west of England are the magnificent peaks and amazing beaches of Wales. Passionate about sport, the outdoors, good times and family fun, the Welsh never disappoint when it comes to the wealth of experiences they offer to visitors.

Fly to Wales and you will land at Cardiff Airport/Maes Awyr Caerdydd (CWL), an international airport located in Rhoose, in the Vale of Glamorgan, some 30 minutes by road from Cardiff city centre.

Stay awhile in Cardiff, the nation’s capital, and tour attractions such as Cardiff Castle, the National Museum, Cardiff Bay, and the Millennium Stadium, where huge sporting events and music concerts take place throughout the year, drawing thousands of revellers.

It’s fairly easy to get around by public transport in Wales if you want to hop from city to city, or to a major tourist destination, but if you want to take a road less travelled then you should consider booking car hire in Wales. You can collect your vehicle after touch down at Cardiff Airport and be on the road within minutes.

Having a car is a great way to see the best of Wales, as the list of top attractions is huge and varied. Barry Island, the Gower Peninsula, Cardigan Bay, Mount Snowdon, Brecon Beacons National Park, the Pembrokeshire Coast to name just a few… and then you’ve got cities and towns such as Swansea, Anglesey, Tenby, Abersoch, Llandudno, and Carmarthen that are well worth taking the time to explore.

For the cheapest deals on car hire in Wales, as well as the best prices on plane tickets to Wales, simply use the search tool on TravelSupermarket to compare deals and to book your trip.

The nation’s biggest city is not as well served as you may expect for a capital of its size. The main network of flights is split into domestic and international scheduled services and seasonal holiday traffic.

Flybe is the largest carrier with daily services to the domestic destinations of Belfast City, Glasgow International, Edinburgh and Jersey. They also fly internationally to Paris, Dublin, Milan, Geneva, Faro in the Algarve and Dusseldorf.

KLM flies regular services to Amsterdam, with departures several times a day connecting tow destinations worldwide.

The two largest UK tour operators, TUI and Thomas Cook also have an extensive charter schedule to both beach and ski destinations. Spain and its islands of the Balearics are well served through the summer months with the Canaries having flights year round. Greece, Turkey and Cyprus are also served alongside Malta and the Black sea resorts of Bulgaria, while winter ski charters operate to France and Switzerland between Christmas and March.

Occasional charters also link Cardiff to long-haul destinations in the Caribbean and Orlando in Florida.

Public bus services run frequently between the airport and the city centre. The bus stop at the airport is in front of the terminal building. The journey time is about 40 minutes and the cost is around £3.50 per person. Alternatively, the Cardiff Airport Express bus service runs more frequently and offers leather seating and WiFi. A one-way journey costs from £5 per person. The number 905 bus also takes passengers from the airport to Rhoose Cardiff International Airport railway station for a £1 charge. From this station, travellers can hop aboard a train and be at Cardiff Central in around 30 minutes at a price of around £4 per passenger.

Airport taxis work on a fixed-rate basis, with a journey between the airport and Cardiff Central railway station costing £31. Visit the booking office in the arrivals hall and you will be allocated a vehicle. You can either pay upfront by card or pay cash to the driver.

Another option is to pre-book car hire online, allowing you to save money by collecting the vehicle at the airport and to reach your destination with ease.

If you plan to stay in Cardiff you can take your pick from some of the best hotels in the country. Well-known chain brands operate luxury hotels, both in the city centre and in the bay area, and there are plenty of mid-range and budget rooms available too.

Golfers might also fancy a stay at one of the nation’s top golf hotels, with Ryder Cup host the Celtic Manor Resort attracting fans from around the world.

In the traditional seaside towns along the coastlines of Wales, you will find many great hotels, from family-run B&Bs by the sea to grand mansion-style hotels. Coastal destinations such as Tenby, Abersoch, Llandudno, Rhyl, The Mumbles and Broad Haven are very popular with visitors in the summer months. Hotels by the sea should therefore be booked well in advance for stays in July and August, as well as any other school holiday periods (check term times for both Welsh and English schools if you are trying to book a bargain break outside of the school holidays).

Well-run independent lodging is the norm in Wales, with the range of accommodation running from budget rooms to luxury spa hotels.

Book your break now by comparing prices on hotels in Wales with the TravelSupermarket search tool.