Written by the Condado Rent a Car team, based in the resort and driving these roads daily
If you’ve just booked a flight into Región de Murcia International Airport (RMU) and you’re staying at Condado de Alhama Golf Resort, you’ve probably already hit the same wall every first time visitor hits: taxi fares that seem to vary depending on who you ask, a bus network that looks confusing on the AENA site, and no clear answer on whether it’s actually worth renting a car. This guide answers those questions with real numbers, not vague ranges pulled from the official airport transport pages, the Condado de Alhama community forum, and traveler reports.
Condado de Alhama sits about 38 km from RMU, off the Ctra de Mazarrón (RM-2 → RM-23), and the drive takes 25–30 minutes. A metered taxi runs to roughly €43, a private transfer is usually €60–€90 fixed, and a detail most guides miss there is a seasonal direct bus route from the airport that actually passes through Condado de Alhama, run by the Interbus/AENA “San Juan” line. For most visitors, though, picking up a car at the airport through a resort-focused rental like Condado Rent a Car works out simplest: one pickup, no onward taxi, and the car is already at the resort with you for the rest of your stay.
RMU (Región de Murcia International Airport, opened in 2019 as a replacement for the old San Javier airport) is a relatively new airport, and Condado de Alhama a resort of roughly 3,500 properties built between 2007 and 2009 near the town of Alhama de Murcia (postcode 30849) predates it. That mismatch is why so many older travel guides still route people via San Javier or Alicante, and why locals on the Condado de Alhama community forum keep having to re-explain the correct road and fare every season. Below is the current, corrected picture.
From arrivals at RMU, head out toward Fuente Álamo de Murcia, join the RM-2, then merge onto the RM-23 (the Ctra de Mazarrón corridor) and take exit 5, following signs for Condado de Alhama / Al Kasar. The full journey is around 38 km and takes 25–30 minutes outside peak traffic. The same road continues on to Mazarrón and the coast, which is why many Condado owners also use this route for beach days (the coast is roughly 20 minutes further on).
This is where most articles give you a lazy €40–€65 range and move on. Here’s the real breakdown, based on the official Murcia taxi federation tariff structure published for airport pickups:
That puts a daytime (Fare 1, Mon–Fri 7am–10pm) metered taxi at roughly €43. Late-night trips, weekends, and public holidays fall under Fare 2, which runs noticeably higher budget closer to €55 to €65 for those hours, plus any luggage or golf bag surcharge. Taxi ranks are outside arrivals, and Radio Taxi Murcia is the main licensed operator serving the airport.
the Condado de Alhama community forum has repeatedly warned about unlicensed “pirate” taxi and transfer touts working the arrivals area, especially during peak golf season. Stick to marked, licensed taxis or a pre-booked operator an unmetered “flat rate” offered by someone approaching you in the terminal is usually a red flag, not a bargain.
Most sites will tell you flatly “no, take a taxi.” That’s not quite accurate. AENA’s official airport bus network does list a seasonal coach route out of RMU that runs via Camposol, Mazarrón Country Club, and Condado de Alhama before continuing toward San Juan de los Terreros this is genuinely a direct option, but it runs on a limited seasonal timetable (not daily, and schedules shift between summer and winter), so it only makes sense if your flight lands at the right time.
The more reliable public option is the regular airport shuttle to Murcia’s San Andrés bus station (€1.85, about 30 minutes, run by Interbus), but from there you’d still need a taxi or onward connection to reach the resort which usually erases any savings once you add up the extra journey time and a second fare.
In practice, this is exactly why most Condado de Alhama guests skip the bus math altogether and go straight for a car. If your flight time doesn’t line up with the seasonal coach and you don’t want to juggle a bus-then-taxi connection with luggage or golf clubs, picking up a car at RMU through Condado Rena Car gets you to your apartment door in the same 25–30 minutes as driving, with no second fare and no timetable to work around.
If you’re staying more than a couple of days, want to visit Mazarrón beach, Cartagena, or Murcia city (all roughly 20–30 minutes from the resort), or you’re arriving as a group, renting a car at RMU is usually the better economic choice over multiple taxi legs — especially once you factor in a return airport trip and any local errands during your stay. The big international desks (Europcar, Avis, Hertz, Sixt) are at the terminal, but they’re built for one size fits all city rentals, not for guests going specifically to Condado de Alhama.
This is exactly the gap Condado Rena Car fills. As a rental service that works specifically with Condado de Alhama visitors, we offer
Booking ahead is strongly recommended in peak golf season (spring and autumn) and summer, when airport-wide availability tightens fast. If you’d rather skip the general rental counters and go straight to a company that already knows this specific route, get in touch with Condado Rena Car before you fly.
For families with luggage, golf clubs, or a late/early flight when public transport isn’t running, a pre-booked private transfer removes the guesswork:
Condado de Alhama itself is built around two hubs the Condado Club (sports and dining) and the Al Kasar town centre (supermarket, restaurants, bars, and services) connected by walkable paths, plus the Jack Nicklaus Signature 18-hole golf course and roughly 20+ communal pools spread across the resort. The nearest town, Alhama de Murcia, is about 10 minutes away by car and has a weekly market, a clinic, and a school. None of this is reachable on foot from the airport road, so whichever transport option you choose, you’ll want it to take you to your specific accommodation gate rather than just “the resort.” Once you’re settled in, our guide to things to do near Condado de Alhama covers what’s worth the drive beyond the resort gates.
Yes, but only seasonally. AENA's airport bus network includes a route toward San Juan de los Terreros that stops at Camposol, Mazarrón Country Club, and Condado de Alhama. It doesn't run year-round or on a frequent schedule, so check current timetables before relying on it — most travelers still find a taxi or transfer more practical.
Night, weekend, and public holiday trips fall under the higher Fare 2 tariff. Where a daytime fare is roughly €43, expect closer to €55–€65 after 10pm or on Sundays/holidays.
Ride-hailing apps have limited and inconsistent availability in the Murcia region compared to major Spanish cities. Licensed taxis and pre-booked private transfers are the more dependable option for this specific route.
If you're only staying on-resort and not venturing to the coast or Murcia city, a taxi or transfer alone may be enough. If you plan to visit Mazarrón beaches, Cartagena, or Murcia's old town, a rental car pays for itself quickly since those are all separate 20–30 minute drives from the resort. Short-stay rentals through a Condado-focused company like Condado Rent a Car are usually priced for exactly this kind of trip, rather than a standard week-long city rental.
Yes — this has been flagged repeatedly by the Condado de Alhama community. Unlicensed operators sometimes approach arriving passengers directly in the terminal offering "fixed price" rides. Use official taxi ranks or a company you've pre-booked.
