Whether you are planning to travel by air for business or pleasure, you will want the experience to be as stress free as possible, and that starts from the moment you leave your front door at home and not just when you arrive at the airport.

So, as soon as you begin to plan your trip, you will be thinking about how you are going to get to the airport itself, and , of course the easiest quickest and most reliable way to get home again after a trip away . There are a number of options, and you will probably want to consider both comparative costs and convenience for leaving your car somewhere.

Firstly , consider travelling by public transport, coach, bus or train. You have to get to the collection point or station, carrying heavy suitcases, not really a pleasant start to a trip.

You may have a reliable friend or family member who is willing to deliver and collect you,and if you choose this option, make sure you are aware of the short stay parking options at the airport . Short stay parking is usually within the airport complex with only a short walk to the terminal, so can be beneficial if you can organize a lift.

You may think about the possibility of taking a private car hire or taxi, but these options are usually expensive , particularly if you are travelling alone, and it might be difficult to locate your driver when you land.

Often after looking at the choices , you may decide the best way to make your journey as easy and pleasant as possible is to simply drive to the airport yourself in the comfort of your own car, park it safely at the airport and take your trip, secure in the knowledge your car will be ready and waiting for you on your return home.

Using long term airport parking is in most cases the best bet! Public transport is not always reliable, and nor are taxis. Also, if you’re travelling quite a distance from the main airport you won’t want to take multiple transits, instead just leave your car in the city. It’s great if you have a friend willing to make the trip, but suppose that person has an emergency or is unavoidably delayed? It wont be much fun hanging around or trying to organize a last minute way to get to the airport when you are under pressure to catch your flight or returning home tired after your trip.

So having decided airport parking is right for you , do some groundwork to find the best deal . Many providers will offer a meet and greet service, where you simply drop off your car and take your flight. Staff park it and have it ready and waiting when you land. Just hop in and drive away. Its even possible to book valet parking, so you arrive back to a car cleaned to a high standard both inside and out.

If you are taking a very early flight , why not consider hotel airport parking? Its possible to book a hotel and parking package meaning you dont even have to worry about getting to the airport first thing in the morning and the possibility of missing your flight.

Its hard to think of any negatives when leaving your car somewhere safe. You get off the plane and can hope right in to drive yourself home 🙂