Airport Parking Tips: Find That Fair Price, Travel With Free Mind

You can now avail the best of utility services – airport parking included – thanks to the Internet. Facilities at Gatwick Airport Parking, Manchester Airport Parking, Heathrow Airport Parking, Stanstead Airport Parking and Heathrow Airport Parking lots all offer a fantastic 'Meet and Greet' service.

Once you find the best price for the period of time you want to leave your car securely parked at the airport, you can pre-book a valet to greet you at the terminal you are leaving from. He will take the keys from you and go park the car while you proceed with a free mind. On your return, the valet will meet you at the reception to hand over the keys. Your car will be waiting right there outside the terminal!

This luxury, though a trifle high-priced, has great utility. You must consider it if you're:

•    travelling alone as a single woman or with a large family

•    have too much luggage to handle

•    with senior or physically challenged people

•    too daunted by the task of locating a parking bay for your vehicle.

Ideally, you should consider checking out airport parking booking options online the day you book your travel tickets. Also, parking at airports is charged on the basis of:

•    Rush parking

•    Short-stay parking

•    Medium-stay parking

•    Long-stay parking

Gatwick Airport Parking, Manchester Airport Parking, Heathrow Airport Parking, Stanstead Airport Parking and Heathrow Airport Parking areas also have some bargain-priced hotels that include free parking if you stay overnight or longer. You may consider booking into a hotel if you have an early morning flight and don't want to rush your drive or have children travelling with you.

Advanced booking at airports is always a good idea because space is always short and if you decide to drive in at the last moment you may waste precious time finding a parking bay. With online pre-booking of parking space at airports you can save up to 25-70 percent at Manchester Airport Parking, Birmingham Airport Parking, Gatwick Airport Parking, Stansted Airport Parking and Heathrow Airport Parking lots.

Airport security has improved across the board over the last few years. However, if you're a single woman travelling alone, do try out chauffeur services. Most parking lots of close-circuit televisions and round-the-clock surveillance but for the peace of your mind, as a single woman, a valet service will prove quite convenient.

Before booking airport parking space online, ensure that the site guarantees secure monetary transactions and pledges not to share your private data with a third part for any use.

Sometimes you may also consider off-site parking lots that may be a little distance from the airport. For example, Gatwick Airport Parking facilities have off-site parking lots at Cophall Farm, Courtlands and APH Gatwick while the on-site Gatwick Airport Parking options include Parking Express South, Summer Special facility and NCP Flightpath.

Manchester Airport Parking has about 16,000 parking bays included in its eight public car parks. The airport also has 10 privately-owned parking lots. All airport have a shuttle service to the terminals so you really don't need to worry about parking yourself if you have the time or inclination.

Parking can vary according to the status of the airport. It's the cheapest at Birmingham Airport Parking lots with a two-hour parking stay costing only £1.20 for the first 30 minutes. However, this can go up to £7.99 or more for the same duration at Heathrow Airport Parking.

Again, the trick is in figuring out the optimum combination of need, parking area, time at hand and some advisory help from an efficient online travel company to ensure that you find a fair price and travel with a free mind.