TRAVEL ARTICLES
Thursday, 20 December 2007
How to Get to the Airport
You've packed your bags and you're ready for the off, apart from you've forgotten that you actually have to get to the airport. No to worry though, there are plenty of ways to get to the UK's airports without too much hassle, but one thing you will need to consider is the cost. You can always drive to the airport and park there, you could get a train or a taxi, or you could even hire a car and drive to the airport, eliminating the need to park. However, which one is best?
How you get to airport should be determined by your travel demands - such as how long you are going away for and how many are in your group, while the distance you need to travel to get to the airport also needs to be taken into account.
If you're off backpacking around the world for a year, then it's nonsense to park at the airport for £50 a week. You'll be best off taking a train, especially to the London airports, which are accessible from the London Underground. You could also consider a taxi or hire car option, but this is almost certainly going to work out as more expensive, and significantly more so if you hold a Young Persons Railcard.
Taxi's often work out as horrendously expensive. A taxi from Leeds to Heathrow can cost around £250, so even getting train tickets for the entire family can work out cheaper. Take a cab if you live locally (within fifteen minutes drive). It'll cost about £15 - £20 for this option, which is usually cheaper than a week of airport parking. You should also consider the local buses.
Parking at the airport is the way that most people do it. It usually works out as by far the most cost effective method if you're traveling with a group or your family. Of course, there's also the cost of petrol to consider if you're driving a long distance, so make sure you bear that in mind. A week of Gatwick Airport parking currently costs around £45, while it's closer to £60 at Heathrow, but significantly cheaper at other airports. You can go for special services like extra security or valet, which are often quite reasonably priced. Just make sure you book in advance. Gate fees are very expensive, and even if you book the day before you could be in for a big saving, while booking well in advance generally brings the price down.
One of the cleverest tactics to drive costs down if you're in a large group but going away for a long time - say a month - is to hire a car and drive it to the airport, so you don't have to park. Hiring a car normally comes in as more expensive than a week long stint at an airport car park, but for the long term it can be a better option. However, also make sure you keep your eyes peeled for long term car parks, which could work out cheaper again. If you're thinking of this option, take a look at car hire as offered by Holiday Autos.
Here are the five golden rules for getting to the airport:
Additionally, if you've missed out your extra bits for your holidays, such as your travel insurance, then we recommend taking a look at the new AA website to get a good quote.
How you get to airport should be determined by your travel demands - such as how long you are going away for and how many are in your group, while the distance you need to travel to get to the airport also needs to be taken into account.
If you're off backpacking around the world for a year, then it's nonsense to park at the airport for £50 a week. You'll be best off taking a train, especially to the London airports, which are accessible from the London Underground. You could also consider a taxi or hire car option, but this is almost certainly going to work out as more expensive, and significantly more so if you hold a Young Persons Railcard.
Taxi's often work out as horrendously expensive. A taxi from Leeds to Heathrow can cost around £250, so even getting train tickets for the entire family can work out cheaper. Take a cab if you live locally (within fifteen minutes drive). It'll cost about £15 - £20 for this option, which is usually cheaper than a week of airport parking. You should also consider the local buses.
Parking at the airport is the way that most people do it. It usually works out as by far the most cost effective method if you're traveling with a group or your family. Of course, there's also the cost of petrol to consider if you're driving a long distance, so make sure you bear that in mind. A week of Gatwick Airport parking currently costs around £45, while it's closer to £60 at Heathrow, but significantly cheaper at other airports. You can go for special services like extra security or valet, which are often quite reasonably priced. Just make sure you book in advance. Gate fees are very expensive, and even if you book the day before you could be in for a big saving, while booking well in advance generally brings the price down.
One of the cleverest tactics to drive costs down if you're in a large group but going away for a long time - say a month - is to hire a car and drive it to the airport, so you don't have to park. Hiring a car normally comes in as more expensive than a week long stint at an airport car park, but for the long term it can be a better option. However, also make sure you keep your eyes peeled for long term car parks, which could work out cheaper again. If you're thinking of this option, take a look at car hire as offered by Holiday Autos.
Here are the five golden rules for getting to the airport:
- Take the train if you're travelling a long distance on your own, or if you'll be away for a long time.
- Hire a car if you're in a family group and going away for a long time.
Get a taxi if you live locally. - Book airport parking if you're in a large group and travelling more than ten miles.
- Of course, the best way is to get a lift - it's free!
Additionally, if you've missed out your extra bits for your holidays, such as your travel insurance, then we recommend taking a look at the new AA website to get a good quote.
